Chapter 72 Let's get married right here and right now
"But, I can't..."
Loney's expression darkened. His hopes were crushed. His heart pumped with the speed of an aeroplane. She didn't want him?
"You - can't - marry - me?" He let out word by word, his heart shredding. According to the contract, this was where it ended. He had nothing to hold her to. She agreed to be his woman but she didn't want to be his wife.
"No, don't overthink this. I mean, I can't let the world know that I'm yours." She wanted him but she feared that whoever ordered her abduction might want to hurt her child. So, she wanted him without the knowledge of the world. It was simple but complex.
"Make me understand, Danica" Loney didn't want to hope but he wanted to introduce her to the world as his. He wanted to let go of everything for her.
"I want our marriage to be kept secret," she uttered in plain words but Loney was incensed. Could her meeting her Pastor be the reason for taking this decision?
"Because you are a Christian and you don't want to be associated with the likes of me?" Loney felt bitter but Daniella felt stabbed. Her eyes widened in horror.
"No, I will rather die than leave you. It's just that after everything that happened, I'm merely scared that someone would hurt our child. That's why I want you to keep us a secret please." She implored him.
Loney facepalmed. Her words were like honey to his heart. His eyes brightened. Every pain and disappointment dissolved. He couldn't tell her it was her sister's game all along. She wasn't ready. She just had a child.
"Okay then. We shall have a secret wedding," he forced a smile, instantly searching for the ring he picked. He checked his pockets, confusion clouding him.
"No, no weddings. Let's get married here and right now," Danica's words startled him. He shifted his attention back to her, her words sinking deeper. A discreet frown contoured his features.
"What?"
Danica understood his confusion. He wanted posh and lavishness but she wanted none of those. She didn't want jealous eyes following her and she didn't want to attract more evil to herself. All she wanted was her God, her man, and her child. "Call Pastor Lawson to bless our marriage," she cleared the misunderstanding.
"I lost the ring I picked, "Loney checked his shirt pocket and trouser pocket. He wanted to surprise her but seemed to have lost it when he got physical with Ray.
"It's a secret, remember? We can sign in court later but I want us to be married today and we don't need a ring. All we need is each other."
"But, what about witnesses?" Loney was trying his best to understand her.
"Then it will no longer be a secret because every witness has a trusted friend."
"Not even Herty?"
"I will let her know that we are married but for now, No."
Loney shook his head in complication. If he didn't know her better, he would have said she was hiding something but he knew her too well. She was excited about her decision. Indirectly, she was protecting him too because his enemies would never know about his wife or his child to blackmail him with. "Okay," he muttered and stepped out. Minutes passed. Mabel returned and left again with an excuse. Then, Loney returned with Pastor Lawson.
He sat on the chair beside Danica while Pastor Lawson counselled them.
"I am pleased that the two of you took this decision. Marriage is beyond the bliss portrayed by movie stars in luxury gowns and all. Marriage is a covenant between two people. It doesn't matter how you are clothed or where it's done but what is in your heart. It has to be true and never broken."
"I am here to bless your marriage and I hope that love will keep you soaring above your enemies. Remember to be quick to forgive, slow to anger and reminiscing in love. True love isn't expressed only in words but in deeds and actions. I hope you both understand." They nodded their heads in unison. "There are no witnesses today but you have to understand that God is all-seeing and all knowledgeable. He is our greatest witness."
For the first time, Loney let out a genuine smile. He has never met someone like Pastor Lawson. He made his wealth useless yet, it felt good. He understood one thing that even if he loses his wealth, he would still have the most important things in life. Love and family. Danica loved him for who he was and not because of his wealth or power which was why she would toss his wealth into the gutter but would never leave him.
Pastor Lawson took them through the wedding vows. They were at his fingertips because he has blessed at least twenty marriages every year. "With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. I would also like to see you kiss your wife," he said with sincerity.
Loney stared at Pastor Lawson. Then at Danica. His sentiment was obvious. They weren't bound by a piece of jewellery. They were bound by an eternal covenant. A vow they will keep and cherish for the rest of their lives. He snaked his arms around Danica's neck and pressed his lips on hers. He must have forgotten that Pastor Lawson was still there because their kiss prevailed, soft, hot and intense till they gently pulled away to catch their breath. "So we are married?"
"yes. We said the vows and we have to keep them," Danica Glowed with excitement.
"I will work on the legal aspect. I'm a practical man so I need some proof." Loney explained. Pastor Lawson laughed and said. "You should."
Loney accompanied Pastor Lawson to his car and returned to his sleeping wife. He hadn't slept since yesterday but he was bent on tying some loose ends and had no intention of leaving Danica's side. After pecking her sleeping form on the cheek, he went to meet with Jones.
Daniella was startled by her environment when her eyes flicked open. She was on a hospital bed but why? Suddenly, it dawned on her. She was going to meet Jerome to change clothes with Danica. Then she drove into a trailer. She couldn't remember anything else. She gazed desperately at her environment. Jones was sitting by her bedside. His expression was unreadable. Paul was standing by the door and Herty sat at the edge of the bed.
Confusion muddied her. Did they know it was her? She couldn't tell. Did Jones tell them? She couldn't guess. She tried to sit up but something didn't feel right. Her right leg didn't seem to do her bidding. Fear harnessed her, she stared at Jones.
"I will tell the doctor you are awake," Jones sounded exhausted. He was about to stand up when Loney's deep voice vibrated through the ward.
"No need. She will still die anyway." Daniella's heart tightened in her chest. She was already in pain. So much pain than her body has ever endured. Loney found her out and she was doomed. Herty didn't know the details so she thought Loney was heartless. Paul was helpless.
Jones let out a bitter smile. "May I have a private audience with you, Mr Hubert?"
"This isn't official Jones. I don't need a formal address." All the same, he stepped out. Jones followed him and Herty moved to sit beside Daniella, trying to console her. Paul only shook his head in empathy. She lost her right leg. That should be enough punishment, right?
"Mr Hu...I mean, Loney. I don't have the right to say this but please permit me. I know the extent of damage Daniella has caused you because of her sister and you have every right to avenge but I can only plead for Mercy." Jones said as soon as they got a quiet place away from wards.
"I am not God Jones," Loney barked.
"I know. I want you to give her a second chance," Jones tugged his luck. He knew Loney had an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth personality but he was determined to protect Daniella once again.
"That would never happen," Loney spat out. His eyes. His demeanour. Everything about him inclined for vengeance.
"Have you thought about how Danica would feel if she finds out you have a hand in her sister's death?" Jones pulled a sensitive strong. He knew the only person Loney would shudder to was Danica because he loved her and as expected, he stiffened.
"She won't have to find out," he gritted his teeth and said.
"I believe you haven't told her the one responsible for the ordeal right?" Jones guessed. He knew that no matter what, Danica would still have the heart to forgive her sister if the truth was revealed to her.
"Well, she thinks it's someone after me but I don't intend to tell her anyway. She can live with that assumption."
"I think you should tell her. She would be hurt but she would forgive."
Loney's face hardened, "why are you pleading for Daniella? Do you have any idea what she did to her sister?"
"Trust me, I do and I know the worst things that you don't know about her," Jones truthfully responded.
Loney was smack into confusion. Why would he beg for her life, knowing full well her evil traits? "And you still want to save her?"
Jones nodded without a blink. "Yes."
"Why?" Loney couldn't understand.
"I think she deserves a second chance. She can change," Jones firmly assured but Loney was agitated. He had known Daniella from college and she only grew worse.
"People like her don't change."
Jones' face fell, "She already lost her right leg."
Loney's muscles tightened. "But it's not enough."
Jones run his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Ray is my uncle," he found himself confessing for reasons only known to him. Loney didn't hide his concussion and Jones noticed it.
"I'm nothing like him," he clarified. "I'm the one who got him arrested and I once did worse things than Daniella did but I've changed. You can attest to that. I've worked with you for four years, Loney. You entrusted a whole branch of your company to me without meeting me in person. Because of my credibility."
"I will keep Daniella under my roof. I will take her through counselling and rehab. I will be responsible for everything concerning her and I will make sure that she doesn't trouble her sister anymore."
Loney saw something in Jones as he confessed everything and pleaded for Daniella. He had seen it somewhere before. Yes. In Danica. Selflessness. Did it have anything to do with their belief? Why did they have to go the extra mile to protect a terrible person?
"If she's alive, Danica would want to know about her. She still doesn't know that her pregnancy was faked. She might be exhausted now but will begin asking for her sister when she settles down. The only news I want to give her is that her sister was involved in a car accident and died in the hospital."
Sadness crossed Jones features. He understood Loney's plan. He didn't want Daniella to leave the hospital alive. It was so much Loney. No one will suspect his involvement. Jones was heartbroken. "Please Loney. I will exchange my life for hers."
Loney froze. "Why would you do that?" He just couldn't understand Jones. His ways were similar to Danica's and it confused him greatly.
"Because I love her," Jones confessed. The dots were now in place. Loney found clarity as Jones continued. "That somehow, I feel responsible. Maybe, if I had told her, she would have known that she was also loved." His voice was teary. He was begging Loney with everything in him but Loney was smart. He figured out something. If Jones was able to bring down Ray, something he Loney had tried to do for years, then...
"So you kept covering her tracks?" It wasn't a question. It came with confirmation.
"I apologize but I was also looking out for Danica. I wouldn't have allowed the kidnapping to happened if Ray hadn't strived to run away. I wouldn't have allowed Daniella to hurt Danica. But now, Ray is with Interpol and will soon be arraigned before court. I have enough evidence to nail him for at least twenty years."
A smirk appeared in the corner of Loney's lips. Jones was smart. He was always a step ahead. "I will let her off on one condition."