Chapter 8: The problems at home

PEARL’s POV

Back home my Nana and I have been crying heavily. We were still lost and were even more broken when Jordan explained to us that he owed Dante money.

‘Of all people to lend money from, why are you owing Don Dante money? What made you even go to him for money? He literally kills people without mercy! I never really liked you, Jordan.. Fucking Dick!’

He was still in the house begging and pleading with Nana to forgive him.

I stood there looking at him with rage.

“So why were you trying so hard to get married to my sister when you are not even ready?! What was your plan? To make my sister suffer? To starve her? Where did you even get the money to sponsor this wedding? Huh? Where?! Did you borrow again?!”

I screamed with tears pouring out of my eyes and rolling heavily down my cheeks while he just bowed his head and his friend, Christian, held me.

“He needs to tell us how we are going to get my sister! She can't survive over there.. I've heard horrible things about that place! Rosa.. Can't.. She..”

I fell on my knees and Christian patted my shoulders as he knelt with me.

“He’s going to work on it.. Rosa.. She.. Please, Pearl, stop crying, alright? Rosa, will be back before you know it, okay? Please, believe us at least, okay? Nana..”

Christian looked back at Nana who hadn't said a word since we got back from the hall.. Only tears rolling down her cheeks.

Nana is a strong woman.. She is handling the situation better than me.. I thought as I sat next to her and wrapped my hands around her shoulders.

She stared at me and nodded her head.

“We will get her.. She is my baby.. My Rosa.. Our Rosa..”

She said softly to me and a new round of tears rolled down my cheeks again.

“You two can hate me.. I know I deserve it.. I'm sorry Nana and I'm sorry Pearl.. I never knew things would get out of hand like this. I never wanted things to go south this way.. I am deeply sorry..”

“Jordan, this isn't the solution now, is it? This is not the solution, Jordan.. Apologising and saying sorry is definitely not the solution.. We need to solve the problem by bringing Rosa back to her family.. Pearl and Nana will definitely appreciate that.”

Christian said and I flickered my eyes with a little forced smile just to show my appreciation.. Because at least he is wiser and smarter too.

He also agreed with a nod.

“I will have to mortgage the house to get the money.. My Rosa..”

“Nana, what did you say?”

“Mortgage our house? Why? This isn't on us but on Jordan! Why should we mortgage our house? You sold my sister, you used her as collateral so you should fix it shit! I blame Rosa for being so naive and thinking you care about her..”

“I do! Pearl, you’ve been accusing me.. You..”

“Rightly so! You deserve everything I've been saying and if my sister doesn't return tomorrow or next at least! Then whatever happens to you or comes your way you brought it upon yourself!”

Everywhere went silent and my stomach gurgled.. The tension in the room was on a pedestal.. The atmosphere was so tight that I couldn't breathe while speaking. I gasped heavily as I spoke and my face was red.

“I will try and see what I can raise.. I will come up with something..”

“Nana..”

I groaned angrily but she grabbed my hands.

“We are not doing anything for Jordan! We are doing it because we need to! Rosa, is my granddaughter. I can't sit and fold my arms while she is stuck in a supposed monster's house.. How will I sleep at night knowing that my Rosa is not home with me? Huh? I am doing it for us, and not him!”

She stared at him from head to toe and walked upstairs carefully.

“Well.. You can go home now Jordan.. Go get or find a way to rescue my sister.. What? Do you want to shamelessly wait around for my Nana to put all the money together? Huh?”

He rolled his head and angrily barged out of the sitting room.

“He will find a way, okay, Pearl? He will.. Please.. Just be with Nana and.. I am deeply sorry.”

I nodded without looking at him. I saw them off to the gate and I walked back to the sitting room, looking and scanning around.

“Rosa.. I warned you about this boy! I warned you but you turned a deaf ear to me!”

My phone rang and it was my boyfriend, Zade.

‘Ah, I will tell y’all about him later, but for now, I am more focused on my sister.’

“Hey.. Hey, Zade.”

“I will let you call me Zade instead of baby or my love for today because of the situation at hand, huh?”

I chuckled and wiped the tears off my cheeks.

“Your voice is cracking my love, how much have you cried and screamed? Please, it is enough, okay? Huh? Please.”

“The stupid man in the questionnaire isn't even helping the situation and doesn't look like he even cares.. No sign of remorse from him.. Not a bit!”

“Ouch.. But I'm sure that he's going through it though. He must feel like complete shit and failure..”

“As he should! He is a disgrace to men!”

“And me? I miss you, baby.. Pearl, I know this ain't the time, right? But babe.. Pearl..”

“Zade, please.. I miss you too, but Nana.. I can't..”

“I don't mean you should come over to my house, babe.. I just want to take you on a drive around the place, huh? To calm down your nerves, please, babe.”

“Fine.. Just a night drive and I will return home, Zade.. Promise?”

“Yeah, of course. I mean.. What.. What do you think? You don't trust me?”

“Well, the last time I decided to trust you, what happened? Huh? Where did I end up Zade?”