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"I am done! I don't need anything more out of life. I have you and that's enough."

*****

"Have you decided?" Naomi asked to one person in particular.

Sharleen fidgeted nervously on the sofa as several pairs of eyes were directed to her.

Unfortunately for Sharleen, it has been a week since she was told by her mother in law to think about their proposal and it seemed the time for her to make the decision had arrived.

Sharleen looked around the room, her eyes connecting with each pair of eyes for a second and going to the next.

First was her friend Nicole who looked at her with encouraging eyes, as if saying 'i am with you in whatever you choose'.

Next was her mother in law who's eyes were begging, saying something like 'please agree, this is for your sake'.

After Naomi, her eyes went to Matthew who's looked confused her greatly but his eyes were very determined, but determined for what? She did not know.

Lastly, her eyes landed to the one she despised the most, Sam. As always he was his arrogant self, his eyes screaming something like 'you have no other option but to be with me sweetheart'.

Sharleen had thought about this for a few days now. If there were bad people as her mother in law said then she did not want to put herself at risk.

Seeing as to how serious Naomi was to the situation, she knew this was not an empty threat nor was this a bluff. There was no day that Naomi had given her a reason not to trust her so she believed her mother in law.

In addition to that, Sharleen had more to worry about than herself. She had a beautiful creation inside of her. The outcome of her's and Kevin's love. She would do anything for her child. Anything. Even if it meant getting married again in order to be safe. So be it.

"Yes i have decided." Sharleen declared. "I will get married."

The first thing that Sharleen heard after her declaration was a sigh from her mother in law. Her once worried face now looked relieved.

Nicole however took the news differently, Sharleen noticed. She looked shocked and full of confusion. Sharleen gave her a small smile as an assurance that all will be okay. That she was going to explain later.

Sharleen saw from the corner of her eyes Matthew nodding his head to his son and a ghost smile appearing in the corner of his mouth.

Sam however was a different story. Sam was looking at her with eyes filled with amusement. Like a rat had gone right into the trap without knowing. His mouth had a permanent mischievous grin.

"But..." Sharleen continued after noting all their reactions. "I won't be married to him." Sharleen said sternly, pointing at non other than Sam.

The looks at their faces again changed. If it were in another situation, Sharleen would have laughed her ass off at how these people were able to change their faces from happy to confused to anger in less than a second.

Naomi looked confused, same as her friend Nicole. The father and son however was a different story. Matthew's hardened jaws and balled fists was a clear indication that he was angry, although his nonchalant face said otherwise. His son though was not good at hiding his emotions. At all. His anger was so clear that steam was almost coming out of his ears and nose.

"What the hell are you talking about? I thought we agreed very clearly it was my son who you were going to get married to!" Matthew said loudly, cutting the thick uncomfortable silence that dominated.

"No, we did not agree to that. You told me to go and think about it and that is what i did. I thought about it and i have agreed to get married but to the man of my choice." Sharleen explained her stand.

"And who might that man be?" Naomi asked, still confused.

"Devlin. Devlin has agreed to marry me and keep me safe." Sharleen said.

From near her, Sharleen heard Nicole gasp but did not say anything. Her mother in law looked even more confused, if that was even possible.

"Who the hell is Devlin!" Sam talked or rather spat for the first time, his voice thick with anger.

"Devlin is my friend and also Kevin's friend, so i trust him." Sharleen informed looking at father and son.

"Look Sharleen, this is family affairs. No need to bring in a man that knows nothing about our family and risk his life. Sam here has agreed to marry you. You do not need another man when my son is willing to help." Matthew tried persuasion.

"With all due respect, i can't marry someone i don't know, let alone trust. Marriage is not a child's play. And besides, Devlin agreed knowing the dangers involved. He is ready to protect me. Isn't that what you wanted? Someone who can protect me?" Sharleen asked loudly, her voice full of frustration.

"What we wanted was for you to get married to Sam not some supposed friend of yours whom we don't even know." Matthew answered, his anger now visible.

"I know Devlin. He is a good man, and a good friend too." Naomi said after being silent for too long.

Sharleen could not help it but throw a thank you smile to her mother in law for the support. The father and son were really getting under her skin.

"Fine! We have warned you but you did not take this seriously. Do as you wish, but don't come back to us crying. Excuse us." Father and son stood and stormed out of the room, leaving the ladies uncomfortable in their seats.

"Are you sure about Devlin." Naomi asked after some minutes.

"I am sure mum. He would do anything for me and your son. He is willing to help." Sharleen answered.

"Devlin was a good friend to my son. I trusted him and i still trust him. I hope everything goes on well." Naomi prayed.

"I hope so too." Sharleen answered.

The three stayed silent for some time before Sharleen thought of something.

"By the way, there is something i have not told you mum." Sharleen said nervously.

"What us it?" Naomi asked slightly confused.

"I am pregnant." Sharleen said, touching the small bump that had started to form.

"Really? I am going to be a grandma? I am going to be a grandmother!" Naomi hugged Sharleen excitedly and touched her belly as if greeting the baby.

Sharleen and Nicole watched her with amused faces. They had never seen Naomi this happy. In fact, they had never seen Naomi happy.

"This calls for a celebration." Naomi exclaimed cheerfully.

The three ladies exited the room and went directly to the kitchen. Naomi insisted that that the celebration to be of food and non alcoholic drinks for all of them. Her argument was that even the smell of alcohol was harmful to the baby.

The three ate and drank to their fill. They had heart to heart discussions that Sharleen was really happy for. She was more elated that her mother in law was finally opening up, and as the closest relative she was of Kevin, Sharleen couldn't be happier.

But as it is said, happy moments don't last long. Sharleen's phone vibrated on the counter, something that brought a frown on her face. Her best friend was at home with her and Devlin rarely texted her, so who was it?

Opening her phone lock, Sharleen read and reread the message. Her face went paler with each word and her hands started shaking. The room was suddenly cold and the voices of her companions became distant.

"Sharleen, what is it?" Nicole, who noticed the changes in her friend asked but did not get any reply.

While Naomi was trying to sooth Sharleen and calm her down, Nicole quickly snatched the phone that was almost falling from her friend's shaking hands and read the massage that caused her friend to act like she had seen a ghost.

Unknown Number
Choose the easy way or the hard way. Either you choose, we are going to milk every coin from you. Oh, wait... It is not even yours to begin with!

"Shit!" Nicole cursed.

"Devlin..." Sharleen mumbled, fear vivid in her voice. "Call Devlin."

"Okay. I am calling him now." Nicole said, fumbling with Sharleen's phone to find Devlin's contact.

"What is going on?" Naomi asked but no one answered her. Nicole was busy talking or rather shouting to Devlin to come ASAP while Sharleen was trying to come back from the shock.

Within ten minutes Devlin was at the door, his mother close behind, both faces covered with worry.

Sharleen did not waste any minute and ran into Devlin's waiting arms. Being engulfed by him washed away all the worry that she could not help but sigh in content.

"What happened?" Devlin asked, still not letting go of Sharleen who was now listening to his heart beat and the way his chest rumbled as he talked.

Nicole showed Devlin the massage and he read it all without any emotion on his face. Neither did his face show fear nor did it show anger. He was passive.

"If they are as dangerous as they say they are then we should stay close to each other, so that it can be easy for me to protect you all." Devlin said calmly and they all nodded.

"What about our home?" Dorcas asked.

"We can go there for some times just to make sure it's safe and then come back here. Don't worry mum, when this threat is done you will go back." Devlin assured his mother.

"You are welcomed here to stay as long as you want, and thank you Devlin for helping us." Sharleen said for the first time.

"The marriage must happen as soon as possible." Naomi said with voice full of worry.

"Don't worry, we will handle it tomorrow." Devlin said and they all nodded.

When they were all trying to relax and adjust to the situation, Sharleen's phone vibrated again signaling another message.

"Shit!" Sharleen cursed.

Every one of them looked at the phone on the table as it lit up with a message notification on the top.

Devlin picked the phone and gave it to Sharleen so that she could unlock it.

"It's the same unknown number." Sharleen said lowly, but this time the fear was not as great as the last time.

"That means they are watching us." Devlin said taking the phone from Sharleen's hand so that he could read the message.

Unknown Number
I see you have brought your pretty boy to protect you. That means you chose the hard way, huh. The hard way it is then. Tick, tock!

*****