NINA STANLEY:"Hello, Mom," I said, walking up to the dining table to sit on one of the white chairs there."Nina, how are you doing tonight? Has Joseph returned home from the office?" Mom asked, and I sighed heavily."Yes, Mom. He is back, and we are preparing to have our dinner now," I replied, and she asked me, "How did he react upon seeing you?"I took a deep breath as I didn't want to reveal to my mother that Joseph Ericson didn't look happy upon seeing me. Instead, I lied to her, "He was surprised, Mom, but at the same time, happy."As I said that, Lady Tope stepped out of the kitchen and looked at me in shock. She witnessed Joseph's reaction and knew that I was lying to my mother, but she didn't say a word. Instead, she walked up to the dining table to serve dinner there silently."Okay, that's nice. I will call you back tomorrow as I want to have dinner with your father now, and I don't want to keep him waiting. You should be a good girl to Joseph. Is he there with you? Let me
JOSEPH ERICSON: After my dinner ended, Lady Tope stepped out of the kitchen and cleared the dining table while Nina and I went to the top-floor sitting room."So, Nina?" I called her name, and she looked at me."Yes, Joe," she replied in a sultry tone, and I took a deep breath."Let's sit down and discuss. I want to talk to you about our marriage and your staying here," I told her as I settled into a chair behind me while she did the same.Nina appeared nervous as she sat across from me. I had milk couches scattered around my sitting room on this second floor, similar to the black couches in my living room."So, I want to clarify your staying here." I began. "Honestly, I appreciate the fact that you came here to bond with me, but I don't want us sleeping together in the same bed until we are married. I am a man, and I could get tempted to touch you before our marriage, which wouldn't be right. So I want us to use separate rooms."Nina's face fell as she said, "I don't have a problem i
AMAKA RICHARD I arrived home late in the evening due to traffic. My son was already fast asleep when I came into the room and saw him sleeping on the bed.I didn't meet Maureen's mother in the living room, so Maureen and I went to her room for me to unwind and have my bath."Welcome, Amaka. How was work today?" Maureen asked me as I stepped out of the corporate wear that I had worn to the office.My mind was in turmoil. How do I begin to explain to Maureen all that has happened today?"Amaka?" Maureen called my name again, and I jolted out of my reverie."Yes, what do you say?" I asked her as she stood there dressed in a green nightdress. She sighed and walked up to meet me."Where was your mind? I was asking you a question just now and you seemed lost. What were you thinking about?" Maureen inquired, and I sighed deeply again."Maureen, you cannot believe what I saw today. I am so confused," I told her, walking up to the chair in the room to sit down. The room had two black chairs, m
AMAKA RICHARD:As I stepped into the living room, I made my way to the dining table to join Maureen, her mother, and my son for dinner."Mom, help me climb the chair," Jason said, as he was unable to climb the dining chair on his own. As I helped him sit, I took a seat beside him, lost in deep thoughts about what had happened earlier and Mrs. Ann advising me to arrest Joseph.I didn't want to arrest Joseph. At least, let me confront him first and find out if he's my baby's father or not."Amaka, what are you thinking about?" Mrs. Ann asked, just as I was lost in my ocean of wild thoughts."Nothing, Ma. Let me go and help Maureen in the kitchen," I replied, rising from the dining chair beside my son. I made my way to the kitchen to assist Maureen in serving our dinner.In the kitchen, Maureen was finishing serving all the meals in different soup plates along with fufu for us to swallow."Amaka," she began, turning to look at me just after she had closed the soup pot."I am sorry that yo
AMAKA RICHARD: The following morning, Maureen's fiancé arrived early to pick her up, and we assisted her in carrying some of her boxes outside to his car. Maureen wore a green night dress, so she went to have her bath after we were done packing her loads. As she stepped out of the bathroom, she donned a yellow top with a black skirt, pairing it with black sandals. She had this born-again look that made it difficult for anyone to know she was raised by a single mother. Although, her tummy looked protruded like she was pregnant but I didn't want to ask her about it. To avoid making her feel uncomfortable."Thank you, Amaka," Maureen said to me once she was through applying a simple touch of makeup on her face. White powder and a red lipstick on her lips. "I am going to miss you," Maureen hugged me after she was through, and I caressed my hands on her back and told her, "I am only a phone call away. Don't worry, I will come over to see you today after I close from work." Chris Augus
Amaka's POV:As I left the house, I hurriedly made my way to the bus stop further down the street. We lived in an estate, so I had to walk to the gate because I didn't have a car yet.Although Maureen's mother has a small car, since she was taking Jason to school, I didn't want to inconvenience her."Hello, good morning," a black car pulled up beside me. I peered inside and saw a man in a black suit sitting there. He greeted me, "Hi, I see you're in a hurry. Where are you rushing to?""Um, never mind. I have someone to pick me up," I said to the man in the car. He smiled and replied, "Alright. Do you live around here? I've seen you around and would like to get to know you better. I live down this estate road too." He said, and I frowned."Alright. But I'm in a hurry right now. Maybe some other time," I said, wanting to shoo him away. I couldn't believe a man would be chasing after me this early in the day when many passersby were rushing to their workplaces."Alright. Please, miss, he
Joseph's POV:Early in the morning at my house, I awoke in my bed and prepared to leave for the office since Nina and I had slept in different rooms. Nina slept in the guest room downstairs while I slept alone in my room. After getting out of bed, I went to take a shower in my bathroom. As I stood under the shower, I recalled returning home the previous night and seeing Nina in my house. I was not happy that Nina had come to live with me, but I couldn't protest her staying here. It was high time I got married. After finishing my shower, I walked out of the bathroom, went to my closet, and dried off. Next, I donned a black suit and prepared to leave for the office. Even the work project I had brought home the previous night to work on remained untouched, so I planned to tackle it at the office. I didn’t feel like staying in this house. After that, I grabbed my briefcase just as I finished putting on my black shoes, then I set out to leave my house, picking up my car keys from w
Joseph's POV: As I entered my office, I tried not to think too much about Amaka and whether I should inform Nina and my mother that I wasn't ready to get married yet. But who was I fooling? I moved over to my office chair to sit down while Nina gasped as she entered my workspace. "Wow! You have a very beautiful office, babe. I love the white paint, the style of your office, and how spacious it is," Nina said excitedly as she moved around my office. I managed to reply, "Thank you." I sat in my office chair and looked through the glass that revealed Simon's office. "Wow! So you can even see the next staff office here on the top floor? It's so lovely," Nina said as she moved over to the glass to look at Simon's office. Just then, Simon and Amaka entered the office, and I watched in jealousy as Simon moved over to Amaka's desk to speak with her. One thing I couldn't hear whatever they were discussing, but I could see them clearly. "What office is that?" Nina asked me as she
Amaka's POV:"Let's go in. Don't mind Jason. He will calm down," I told Ethan as I walked up to meet him.Although Ethan had a calm look on his face and I couldn't read his mind, I assumed that he wasn't happy with his friend's visit, but he masked it well."Fine. Let's go in. I still want to have a taste of the delicious rice and chicken pepper soup," Ethan replied, and we went into my apartment together.Although Jason had stopped crying, his face still looked sad. I gave him his food to eat, but he refused to eat while I fed him.The dining table fell into an awkward silence as Ethan silently ate the food.I fed Jason and ate along with him, and after a while, Jason's mood improved, and he reached for the spoon to feed himself."I can eat on my own, Mom," he said, taking the spoon from my hand, and I let him be.I sighed, focused on my food, and continued eating.After dinner, I stood up to clear the plates, and Ethan asked me, "Should I assist you in the kitchen?""No, I am fine,"
Amaka's POV:As I walked out of my house gate to wait for Ethan's arrival, I saw Joseph pulling in with his car at the same time.His black car slowed down just as Ethan's car came to a stop in front of my new house gate."Hey, Amaka," Ethan waved at me, unaware that Joseph had slowed down and was peering at us.I swiftly looked away from Joseph's face and went to unlock the gate for Ethan to drive in.Once Ethan drove his black car into my new compound and parked, I locked the gate and went to welcome him.I didn’t bother to look at Joseph’s face, not caring whether he was angry about seeing his friend at my place.If only I had the heart to love another, I would have fallen for Ethan to use him to get my revenge on Joseph."Hi, welcome to my new house," I told Ethan once he parked his black car and got out to look around.Ethan wore a white polo and black jeans, paired with white canvas shoes, as he smiled."Wow! I wasn't expecting you to live around here. Although Joseph's house is
Amaka's POV:I finished preparing dinner and saw that it was after 5 PM. I left the kitchen and called my son's school headmistress to arrange for him to return home on the school bus since I wasn't able to go to his school and pick him up.As soon as I finished the call with the headmistress, my phone rang again, and it was a call from Ethan."Hello," I answered, and his deep voice came through."How are you doing, Amaka? Are you still in the hospital with Joseph?" he asked, but I shook my head and replied, "No. I am at home now.""Okay. So how did the test results go? Did they show that Joseph is the true father of your son?" Ethan pressed, and I sat in the dining room chair, waiting for my son to return home so that we could have dinner together."Yes, it proves that Joseph is the father of my child," I said, trying not to break down at the thought of it."Do you want to get back with Joseph now that he has seen proof that your son is truly his?" Ethan asked."No. I don't want him,
JOSEPH'S POVI knew the test result would be positive, but I wanted to be sure—and for my parents to be sure as well—that Jason is indeed my child."Joseph," Mom called me as we stepped out of the hospital and strode towards our car."Yes, Mom," I said, sighing and turning around to face her."Do you want to get back with Amaka and marry her instead of considering a new woman?" Mom asked me politely, and I sighed."That depends on if Amaka will forgive me or not, Mom. I am not so sure, but if she does, I want to get married to her. I already made this promise to her in the past, and I guess it's fate that is playing a trick on us," I said, smiling sadly as I recalled the past where I made a promise to Amaka that I would marry her and no one else."Alright. Just try again and see if you both can be together and have more kids together. But I can see that she is still angry with you." Mom had a distant look on her face as she watched the hospital gate that was left open for cars to driv
AMAKA RICHARD.Joseph walked up to his car door and gently pulled the back door open for me to enter. I looked away from his face, holding my breath as I didn't want to inhale his masculine scent.Dammit. I didn't want to be reminded of that moment four years ago when I foolishly fell for him and believed him.I thought he was genuine about his feelings for me, and I could hardly understand why he cut me off. Just like that. The memory stung, but I swiftly discarded the thought of him as he shut the side door of the back seat and got into the front driver's seat.The black car was filled with his scent as it was a brand new vehicle and still had most of the nylon wraps on the seats.Joseph got into the driver's seat and reminded me in his deep voice, "Fasten your seat belt.""Mmm..." I exhaled and did the same, and he started his car and drove ahead to the hospital.The drive to the hospital was silent as only the car engine and other cars passing by us on the way filled my eardrums
AMAKA RICHARD.The day went by quickly, and the time for the DNA test result came out.It was Wednesday morning, I was supposed to go to work, but Joseph called me and asked me to come directly to the hospital so that I wouldn't think that he had altered the result.My fist clenched as I didn't appreciate him calling me on the phone, and he used another number to contact me, making me wonder how many phone numbers he had.I first prepared Jason for his school and dressed him in his school uniform."Mom, aren't you going to work today?" Jason asked me, seeing that I was still in mufti and not set to go to work."Yeah, Jason. I am not going to work today. I am going to the hospital to check the test result to show to your Daddy that you are really his son," I said, and he looked at me thoughtfully."Does Dad think that I am not his son?" My four-year-old son asked me."Jason," I caressed his cheek as I was done preparing his tea."You won't understand, but he doesn't think that way. Exc
Joseph's POV.I awoke in my room and sat up on my bed. As I was about to go into the bathroom to freshen up and leave for the company, I got a phone call.When I went to pick it up, I saw my father's lawyer was the one calling me. My brows furrowed, but I answered it to know why he was calling me."Hello, good morning," I greeted him coldly, trying to control my rage. My father was really getting on my nerves with his insistence that I must marry Amaka. For goodness' sake, she had moved on, and I had totally messed up that I don't think I would easily win her back."Morning. Am I speaking with Joseph Ericson? This is Barrister Anthony calling you as regards your father's company," Barrister Anthony said. He is a middle-aged man, and my fist clenched as I sighed deeply."What happened to his company?" I asked, trying not to show annoyance over the phone call."If I clearly remember, my father handed over the company to me. So why are you calling me again?" I asked, with a raised brow a
Amaka's POV: Jason and I arrived home late, and since we already had dinner at Maureen's place, we went straight to bed and fell asleep. The next day, I woke up early and prepared my son for school. Since we had relocated, I didn't know if the school bus was aware of our new location, but I set off to prepare him for school since I had to go to Joseph's company. Although I shouldn't have bothered with resuming there, but Joseph was right about the fact that I couldn't just resign from his company. So, I made my way to the kitchen, wearing a white shirt and black skirt, and prepared breakfast for my son and me. We had tea and bread for breakfast, and Jason asked me, "Mom, are you going out?" "Yes. I am going to work today," I told him as we sat at the dining table and had our breakfast. "Okay," Jason replied, focusing on finishing his tea. Once he was ready, I waited a few more minutes, but seeing that his school bus wasn't arriving to pick him up, I set off to drop him of
Joseph's POV:Danna escorted me out of our father’s house and asked me, "So how did the DNA test go? I heard from Mom that Dr. Kingsley asked you both to come to the clinic on Wednesday.""Yes," I replied, and Danna sighed, following silently to my car. We stopped beside my car, and she said, "I hope the child is yours. I truly do admire that little boy.""Mmm." I exhaled heavily. "It’s well. Let's wait until the test results prove it. But her child truly resembles me.""I already collected her phone number from Mom, and I will call her to beg on your behalf. But that's if you are willing to get back with her," Danna said, and I stood speechless."Do you want to marry Amaka?" my sister asked, and I stood silently, feeling the evening wind blow on my face."I don't know. She doesn't like me, and it seems like she is dating Ethan," I told my sister, and her eyes widened in surprise."Ethan Godson?" Danna asked, her eyes wide open."Yes. They are kind of dating. Anyway, don't let it trou