Episode four

Char was the only child of her parents, She lost them both before her eight birthday.

Her mother died when she was three years old. She had more memory of her father who died when she was eight going to nine.

 He had ivory blond hair and green eyes, but unfortunate situations of life made him look gaunt, old, and sad. 

Char's mother Valeria came from a wealthy home, her father was a realtor who made good money and lived an expensive lifestyle.

 He was also a strict man, he didn't care who you were or the relationship he had with you, once you went against him he would cut you off. 

His family feared him and lived by his strict rule until his only daughter Valerie fell in love.

"I don't want to see you around that young man again, he is beneath me, no class, no heritage." He scolded his daughter who was now shaking from fear.

"Yes, Daddy," Valerie said, not looking at her father. He wasn't a man of great looks, he was short, obese with mean eyes. However, what he lacked in height he made up with wealth.

"You can go now." He said and sat on his favorite seat that looked like a throne. 

Valerie had lost her mother immediately when she gave birth to her, her father had loved her so much and he once told her she reminded him of her. 

Most times she believed her father hated her and might even blame her for her mother's death. 

She went straight to her room to brood, she knew she was already deep in love with Michael but for her father's sake she would end their relationship.

 She put a call across to Michael from the phone booth near her home  "Can we meet now, it's important."  She hung up and went to his house, he worked as a security guard and was on night shift this week.

Micheal heard the urgency and fear in her voice and was worried about what could be wrong.

He didn't waste time opening his door immediately when he heard her knock. As she saw him, she felt sad all over again. She couldn't bring herself to end things with him. 

He looked handsome in his pants and sweatshirt, and had kind eyes, she always felt safe with him.

"Father said I must end this and you know how difficult he can be." She said crying into her hands. 

Michael held her to him trying to comfort her as she gained more composure and her shoulders stopped shaking from her sobs, he lifted her chin to face him.

"I love you Valerie, whatever you decide is okay by me but I hope you would fight for our love." He said and bent to kiss her.

The kiss lingered longer than planned, they were totally lost in each other's warmth and their bodies shook and begged to be satiated.

Micheal's hands found his way under her shirt as he caressed her nipples, gently he lifted her from the couch and into the bedroom. 

Their bodies exploded with passion with each penetration until both of them were consumed.

……………………………………

Two months later

……………………………………

Valerie felt spasm as she rose from her bed, she felt nauseous and weak. She remembered that she threw up yesterday and her period was late.

"Am pregnant." She simply blurted out when she saw Micheal the next day. They both had been so careful and he always used protection.

"We were always careful, Valerie, how come." He looked and sounded confused. 

"The last time you forgot to use a Durex, I feel so stupid, my father would surely kill me ."

She wept profusely, while Micheal paraded the room. "Don't worry Val, we would get through this together " he reached out and held her hand, his demeanor made Valerie worry less, at least with Micheal by her side they would conquer.

***

"Get out of my house, you peasant." He screamed, his face twitched as he spoke, he was very angry now.

"I would never bless this union or accept the child." He now turned to his daughter, "As from today, I cease to be your father neither are you, my daughter."

Valerie cried and begged her father, she knelt touching his feet. "Father forgive me please, do not cast me out." 

But her father was beyond reasoning, she had disobeyed him and worst of it all she was pregnant.

He couldn't begin to imagine the gossip and slander that this would cause if words got out.

"You brought this to yourself." He fumed "You humiliated me, you are dead to me." He kicked her so hard that she fell backward.

Micheal who had had enough walked over to Valerie and lifted her up, he also wanted to kick her father too for hurting her but thought better of it.

Valerie cried so hard as they walked out of her father's presence, she knew her father would never take her back.

Her father's eyes filled with tears as they closed the door behind them. He felt as if his heart had been ripped off, she had failed him by dating that boy and falling pregnant.

Valerie and Michael had a small wedding, he wasn't rich but they were happy. After seven months she gave birth to a beautiful daughter and named her Char.

Valerie sent words to her father after the birth of her child, but he didn't respond. She later got information that he had sold his properties and relocated to a place where he was unknown.

His circle of friends had 

mocked him about his daughter and her living conditions, he couldn't take it anymore.

"I failed my father Michael, all his pain was caused by me. First, my mother died giving birth to me, and now all this" She said her eyes red and puffy from crying.

Valerie fell into depression, she became thin and wan. She stayed in bed too late and when she was awake she looked morose and absent-minded. 

Nothing could cheer her up, not even her daughter. Micheal did his best, but she only got worse. 

One day as Michael got home from work he saw his daughter who was 3 years at the time beside her mother, she was trying to wake her up.

He ran over to his wife and immediately called the ambulance, she was pronounced dead as a result of cardiac arrest.

 Micheal wept and held his daughter for comfort.