Chapter four 

Cherie slowly turned around.

“Hi cianne”Cherie said avoiding cianne’s gaze.

Cianne walked up to her.

“Congratulations on your wedding..dear sister”

She jibed immediately she got to where Cherie stood.

She picked out a shoe and scrutinized it.

“Would you like to switch places with me...no one knew about the marriage anyway so they wouldn’t even notice if we switch places”

She said as she compared the shoe with the one Cherie had.

“Am…sorry”

Cherie muttered but Cianne ignored her.

“ I think this would suit you better…don’t you think”

Cianne said, holding the shoe up to Cherie.

Cherie nodded and Made to receive it but cianne released her grip and the shoe dropped to the ground.

She smiled at Cherie and beckoned her to pick the shoe up.

Cherie swallowed knowing she was no match for cianne.

She slowly bent to pick the shoe but someone beat her to it.

He picked the shoe up.

“Sorry I was looking for a pair of this for my girlfriend…did I interrupt something”

Theo said looking from Cherie to cianne.

Cherie breathed out.

Just then Lilian came running.

“ am so sorry madam…the rest room was full”

She apologized.

“Madam?”

Cianne huffed angrily and left.

“We need to leave and get ready”

Lilian said.

Cherie nodded to Theo and left with lilian.

She was really grateful for his intervention.

THE STERLING MANSION

Noah walked in with Cherie.

Cherie took her seat while Noah went ahead to meet his father.

In the master bedroom

“ Did you do what I asked?”

Charles asked Noah as he stood before the window,staring down while sipping tea.

“Yes dad…. we delayed the divorce.”

Noah replied, taking his seat on the couch and reaching for the kettle to pour himself a cup of tea.

“I’ll meet the president and request a marriage for you and Kristine”

“What if he doesn’t agree to it”

Noah asked, dropping the teacup after taking a sip.

“He will…he always wanted you as his son in law”

After the discussion with his father

He was on his way downstairs when his step brother,Zayn intercepted him.

Noah made to leave but Zayn stood in his way again.

“How do you like the gift I sent to you “

Zayn said.

Noah looked at him

“What gift?”

There was a little noise downstairs and he peeped and saw Kristine being welcomed by his stepmother.

Then it hit him.

He slowly looked at Zayn who raised an eyebrow at him with a triumphant grin.

Confirming his suspicions.

“You told the vice president about my background, just to make me marry someone else so you could marry Kristine?”

He was stunned.

Zayn shrugged and took a step closer to the rail where he looked down at Kristine, his mum and Cherie.

“You know father still thinks of you as his heir…even when it’s obvious that I am the only legitimate heir.

He took his hand off the rail

“everyone knows how Kristine feels about you ... .so this is my chance…but actually I never intended for you to marry the wrong person…you were just soo unlucky”.

There was a pause.

Noah regained his composure and chuckled

Zayn was taken aback as he expected a defeated expression from Noah.

“I see you’ve become smart..or wait…you couldn’t have thought of this alone.” he pretended to think.

“Ahhh…it’s mothers idea isn’t it…I knew it…I knew your brain is too dull for this.

Zayn's expression changed.

“You see..”Noah approached him slowly. “I may be of illegitimate birth but you’ll always come second…maybe you should stop trying so hard to prove that you're beneath me…it’s already obvious.”

With that he headed to his room.

Kristine excused herself and left to meet Cherie where she quietly sat as she played games on her phone.

“Is that candy crush…it’s my favorite game”

Kristine cooed as she sat beside Cherie who was a bit startled.

“Really?”

She asked as she tucked her phone away.

“Yeah…i used to play it all the time with Noah when we were younger” Kristine replied.

“Ohh”

Cherie let out wondering why Kristine was telling her all that

“I was like 15 when I met Noah for the first time…..that’s quite a long time right?”

She chuckled as she clutched a pillow.

“Noah had a tough life and we were supposed to get married…but unfortunately”

She pretended to be sad. “ speaking of which,I met the daughter of the Ashworth family a few times at a diner”

She scrutinizes Cherie

“She looked nothing like you..are you…?”

Cherie coughed and hurriedly got up.

“Am sorry I have to use the restroom”

She said and scurried away.

She went into a corner to breathe.

“What does she want from me”

She pondered as he peeped and saw Kristine still sitting,seemingly waiting for her.

Just then she saw a maid coming out of a room.

“Excuse me”

She called out walking to meet her.

The maid stopped

“Could you show me the restroom please”

Since she’s Noah’s wife.

“Upstairs,The third room by your left “

She said and excused herself.

Cherie, wanting to go away and hide from everything, hurriedly went upstairs.

She found the room and got in Locking the door behind her. She breathed out as she backed away from the door.

She looked around.

It was quite a Spacious room.

With a study and lounge.

She searched for the bathroom and entered.

She was in the middle of her stuff when the door opened and Noah entered

She screamed as she tried to pull her dress down

Noah hurriedly turned around.

“What are you doing here”

He asked trying not to look at her

Her alluring legs would make any man want to stare longer.

Cherie wore her panties and hurriedly got up.

“I..I was pressed and the maid directed me here.”

She replied.

Noah turned back when he noticed she was done.

Cherie made to leave but he held her shoulder and pulled her back.

She was quite weightless.

“Did you…clean up?…you’re not going to have dinner without washing your hands will you?”

Cherie was embarrassed

Noah found her expression quite cute and he thought it was fun teasing her.

“Go ahead and clean up…I’ll be in the room.”

He said and left,closing the door behind him.

Cherie hurriedly went to lock the door and buried her face In embarrassment.

After a while and Cherie wasn’t out Noah knocked on the door.

Just as he knocked on the door there was also a knock on the main door.

Noah, thinking it was one of the maids, went ahead to open the door but was surprised to see Kristine.

“I haven’t seen you since I arrived…I was quite worried”

She said and walked in before he could stop her.

“Wow…your room still looks the same…nothing has changed really “

She marveled and looked around.

Just then the bathroom door opened.