Chapter 4 A finger to the world

I knew for sure that I didn't drop it carelessly, drunk or not. If I did something stupid every time I was drunk, then my father would have long thrown me out. I always had a sense of propriety even when drunk, though I couldn't rule it out because you could never be sure of what you did when dead drunk.

My head still throbbed from the hangover, and Aunt Mariam glaring at me wasn't helping in the slightest. But I had to answer the question, no matter how stupidly it was phrased. The problem though was; what the heck could I say?. So I just stared at my hand stupidly for a moment or two before I looked back at the Crams and said the only thing my aching head could formulate;

"I really don't know".

........

The situation turned heated in a split second. Aunt Mariam went above and aboard by ordering the whole security guards to search the whole yacht - well except the guest rooms. After the search turned up furtive, she told the guards to search the maids and then themselves. The ruckus woke every guest and everyone walked up to the deck to see Richard shrieking like a banshee and his mother giving everyone a death glare.

I just stood at the corner silently and watched the whole drama unfold, as if I wasn't right in the center of it all. I was waiting for the time their focus would snap back to me, and my heart couldn't stop rushing. The time came faster than I thought as Richard left his mother's side and stumped all the way to my corner like an angry giant. Miranda silently walked to my side as she was already on the deck like all the other guests. From my corner I could see the ship's harbour growing closer and the yacht had started to slow, but Richard was already in front of me.

"How useless can you be?, just to hold a ring, one job, yet you lost it. I really thought you had a bit of sense but I was wrong. All you are useful for is to bridge the gap between our families."

The words sank into me, yet It didn't shake me at all. His words were noisy at best, I had years of experience under my gown coping with insults, so compared to my father on one of his tirades, this was weak. The only reason I hadn't replied was because the missing ring was somehow my fault, it was on my finger after all and the fact that the marriage was needed for my Father's company. So I just stared right back at him with an indifferent look on my face, the rage and pride within me not allowing me to act sorry. And that just seemed to piss him off more.

"What happened to your tongue, you sorry excuse for a bride. No wonder your father never put the company in your hands, such a disappointment - You can't even handle a contract marriage properly, you even have a son..."

I tuned Richard out as he continued ranting, my mind trying to recollect exactly what happened last night. How did I lose the ring?Did someone take it from me while I was out?Who could do that?... Then felt something heavy constrict my throat, Richard's infuriated face loomed right In Front of me and I could barely breathe, as he spat;

"I AM TALKING TO YOU BITCH, you threw the ring on purpose didn't you. You are a witch, a whore, that's why you have such a useless son out of wedlock."

That was the straw that broke the camel's back for me, how dare he insult my son. Rage blinded my eyes, or maybe it was the lack of oxygen, but I said it before I could stop myself;

"You called me a witch?, I'm not the one who gave you a little dick. You better look to your mother, you sorry excuse for a Man".

Richard's hand slackened as he looked at me at first in shock, then it turned to blistering rage. He raised his hand but before he could do anything, his mother's voice rang for the first time ever since we started.

"Richardson stop!."

Richard's hand paused in the air, then he looked back to see all our guests staring back at us, and his mother walking up to us, her face still indifferent to it all. She moved gracefully and everything flowed, being the only person moving, all attention was on her. In one single graceful motion, she came in front of me and I felt it before I saw it.

PA

The slap sent me reeling and my mind went blank for a minute. I think I heard Miranda gasp but everything sounded muffled as my ears rang. The pain came later.

I looked up to see my Mother in-law, her face cold and stern. Then she spoke, her voice even colder;

"Leave my sight and do not return without my ring. As of now, you are not a Cram and I never want to hear that name from your smelly mouth, you can say goodbye to the contract. Now - disappear."

I looked blankly for a moment, while Miranda stood at my back, wringing her hands clearly uncomfortable. Then I shook my head, before I walked out.

As I went, I stared at each and everyone of the guests, Arthur - Richard's best friend just looked shocked at the whole situation, his eyebrows raised. From the corner of my eye, I could see Sheila smiling at me, then waving slightly - I ignored her. The only thing I was thankful for was that Andrea was not here to see this happening to me and honestly I missed my son after all the noise and events.

It was time to go home, but I couldn't leave without thanking the hosts for the boat cruise, so I raised my chin and with all the confidence I could muster, lifted my hand to the give the world a big, fat

Fuck you.