That was the smoothest lie Jeffrey had ever heard. He looked at Rhoda before biting his lower lip. "I am sorry I disturbed your…. Uhm," he stretched his hand towards the sofa. "Feel free to continue. Don't mind me. I'll be upstairs," he said and walked out of their presence.He had to come back home since the trip he was planning on going on had been canceled. He decided to come home early and take the day off instead of resuming back to work. But walking in on Rhoda like that made him remember why they had to get married again. That was all bullshit to him, though. Especially the fact that he got to know the reason he married after the wedding.Her family business was going down the drain and if his father wanted to help, he should do so without getting something as huge as a marriage in return.That was all bullshit to him. Especially the fact that he got to know the reason he married after the wedding. He should have told him the reason beforehand. He shouldn't have blackmailed
Jeffery got out of bed and went to the bathroom to get ready for work. He rushed out some minutes later after hearing his bedroom door banged open and urgent footsteps. He held the towel at his waist and looked at the luggages scattered on the floor. What was going on?Minutes later, his wife dashed in with a fierce expression on her face. She was obviously angry given the way she was dropping her bags on the floor. Why was she bringing her things into his room? Yes, they were married, but when did they ever share a room? They never did, not even once. So, he was confused."Rhoda? What's wrong?" He asked."Kelly is at the door and she's here to spend the weekend. I haven't let her in because I can't let her see me carry my bags from the guest room here. You get what I mean?""Oh, yeah. Okay.""Okay? Just okay? Come on, help me carry my luggages in here," she said as she started to rush out the door."Wait, you have more bags?" He was surprised she could still have more than what was
"Rhoda, are you okay?" Jeffrey asked as he touched her shoulder, but she leaned away and placed the cup on the table. In a normal circumstance, he wouldn't have asked. He would have laughed instead since he knew the reason she was coughing.She nodded. "Yeah, I am fine. Thank you. Uhm… I guess the tea took the wrong route, so I choked," she explained as she avoided looking at his eyes. She might actually lean in for the kiss if she did. "Oh, okay." Wrong route, of course. No one was expecting that. "Do you want me to get you a glass of water in the dining room?" Kelly asked."Yes, but in the kitchen please. The door after the dining room. Thank you," Rhoda said and watched her leave to get the water. She stood upright and turned her back to her husband. She needed to get a seat, but he hindered her from moving an inch. "What the fuck is wrong with your sister?"Jeffery laughed. "You already know how she is, but don't think I'm going to give you a goodbye kiss. You can 'choke' all yo
Rhoda finished doing the house chores which she rarely did before and had become tired. All she could think of now was to sleep. Anyone would have been wondering why she wasn't going to work. Well, it was obvious why. She didn't have one,clearly. She has tried to find a job, but to no avail. The employers, most of them, wanted to give herself to them just to secure a job which was something she would never do, while the rest said she wasn't qualified for the job which was absurd. She knew she was qualified as an accountant. And she was a first class student in Accounting and was also a certified chartered accountant. If that was easy, they should give it a try. But most Nigerian employers suck. She was offered a job in her father's company, but how could she accept that when it was the damn reason she had to get married to a stranger because it was about to liquidate? How could she bring herself to work in the place that ruined her plans and brought her misfortune.Yeah. Misfortune
Kelly gulped down another shot of tequila as she tried to avoid the man beside her at all cost. She had only come back to the bar with him because he insisted he wanted to talk. That was why she asked him to drop Rhoda off at her husband's office since it was closer to the bar and she had gotten drunk already after two shots. They had gotten back to the bar and all she had done was ignore his questions. There was no point in telling her ex boyfriend of a few hours ago how she was doing, right? Why would he suddenly care about her when she broke up with her some hours ago?"Kelly? Talk to me, please. And stop taking these shots. You're close to getting drunk, babe," the young man said to her with concern wrapped around his voice."Babe? Did you just call me that, Francis?" Kelly asked while looking at him, but tore the eye contact sooner before she drowned in the ocean of his eyes. "You have broken up with me, have you forgotten that? You do not want me anymore. How did you even know
If Jeffery was expecting everything to go smoothly the following day, then he had better think again. What even made him think that Rhoda would be cool with what happened between them?He had woken up first and had gone to the bathroom to bathe, while Rhoda was still sleeping. He had driven her home the previous night and made her sleep on his bed, but they ended up having another round of their love making. To think that she was naked under that blanket was giving him joy somehow and even earned a smile from his lips. Just that…. He had expected too much. He had his doubts in his office the previous day, but after getting home, all of those doubts were wiped off. How could he think everything was going to be okay?He could no longer label what he was feeling for her. She had him grinning like an idiot. I mean, just the day before, he was sure he hated her. And now? He didn't know what to feel. He couldn't have just loved her overnight, could he?He returned to the bedroom to see her
Jeffrey had asked his best friend to hang out with him at their usual bar outside the city to talk over a drink or two. And since they had agreed to go in Jeff's car, he was the one who went to his house to pick him up and they made their way out of the city to Laury's bar. They had made the place their favorite place to hang out because it was where they met for the first time. Then, the bar was run by a middle aged woman who recognized them as her regular customers. The situation that brought them together was quite funny. Jeff had been in high school then and he had skipped school to bring his girlfriend to the place to have some fun and surprisingly, Francis was there for the same reason.But unfortunately and then fortunately for the friends, their girlfriends knew each other and had gotten into a terrible fight that day. They had exchanged numbers that day after separating the girls. And they had been shocked when they found out that the reason the girls fought was because the
Rhoda alighted from her car and walked into the restaurant Tim had asked to meet him. She removed her sunglasses as she entered the dimly lit room and looked around for him. She saw him waved at her and walked towards the table, making up her mind as she went. She had decided to end everything with him and just focus on her marriage. Well, there was a slim chance she was going to live happily ever after with him, but who knows? And the fact that he made love to her should give her hope, right?Every thought aside, she should do the needful first before thinking about the rest. And the needful was breaking up with her boyfriend. That was too soon, but she wasn't doing that because she loved her husband. She was only hoping things could change after what happened between them.She sat before him and exchanged pleasantries. She was a little surprised when he only smiled at her. He would have given her a hug before, but that didn't matter. "You said you wanted to see me. I actually have
“Oh, gosh! Rhoda!” He exclaimed as soon as he barged inside. “How did you fall?” He asked as he rushed to her side. She was in tears and couldn't utter a word. He helped her up and hugged her. “It's okay now. You're fine,” he consoled and she tried to subdue the tears. She shook her head in disagreement to what he said. “I'm not fine, Jeff. I don't think I'll ever be able to walk again. I can't even stand up by myself after falling. I am doomed!” She cried. “Sshhh!” He said, looking her in the eyes. “Don't say that. You are not doomed and you'll walk again. I'll make sure that happens,” he assured, wiping her tears with his thumbs. She sniffed and nodded. He lifted her up in his arms and was about to put her back on the bed when she stopped him. “I need to use the restroom,” she said, looking everywhere but him. He smiled at her shyness and helped her to the bathroom and waited outside to help her back to the bed when she was done. “Are you okay now?” He placed her on the bed, po
After being discharged, Rhoda decided to go to Jeff's house. He didn't oppose it. He was surprised instead. Why would she want to go to his place instead of her boyfriend's? And why would the guy agree to it? No matter how he looked at it, it seemed odd to him. She wouldn't even go to her parents' house. Well, Rhoda gave him the excuse that she had to stay with him because of her parents since they didn't know about the boyfriend. Made sense, but at the same time didn't. He said nothing as he drove her to his house and helped her out of the car onto her wheelchair. She has not been able to stand and walk on her own properly even though there has been improvements in her condition, but the doctor insisted that she should keep using the special chair for a while. And of course, just as Jeff had predicted, Rhoda had been against it but had been left with no choice. As he was about to put her on the chair, she glared at him. "Are you kidding? I am not sitting there. I have legs," she
Few days later, the doctors finally concluded that Rhoda had had enough rest and could be visited, but one after the other. Rhoda said nothing as she saw her father walk in. Her mother had just gone out and she knew he was going to do the same thing her mother did. Apologize. And she was already tired of that. She had forgiven them and had told her mother that. She hoped she would relay the message to her father. She was getting bored with the apologies. When would he even come in? She thought. "Dad," Rhoda called and smiled. He held her hand and squeezed it a little. "I am glad you're better now. Rhoda, I am …"She nodded repeatedly. "I know, dad. I know you are sorry. You regretted it. Not telling me about Sharon, the marriage and sending me abroad? I know. I've forgiven you. So, you don't need to apologize."When would anyone ask her how she was feeling and not just assume that she was better? It seemed no one was interested in that even though she had just been to the moon and
Rhoda got rushed to the hospital in an ambulance without much time. Her pulse was very weak and she was bleeding profusely from the gunshot and was barely holding on. Jeff drove behind the ambulance with the family and his friend. He had been warned a couple of times to slow down his speed, but he paid no heed to them. He tried to. It just wasn't working. "Jeff, calm down. You don't want to kill us all and then get to know in heaven that Rhoda made it to your funeral," his sister said and he shot her a glare from the rear view mirror, but said nothing and slowed down. They arrived just as Rhoda was being wheeled in. He ran to her and kept calling her name, begging her to hold on. "You have to make it, babe. Please," he pleaded as he pushed the wheel alongside with the nurses with bloody hands and into the emergency ward. He was asked to wait outside the ward as the doctor and nurses attended to her, so he obeyed hesitantly, but not before using everything he knew and believed in t
Jeff's phone started ringing. He rolled over on his bed and looked at the phone beside him to check who the caller was. He didn't bother picking up when he realized it was his best friend. Ex-best friend. Moments later, it started ringing again and that happened a couple of times more until he got frustrated and forced to pick up. He put the phone to his ear. "What's up?""There's something I need to tell you," Francis said from the other end. "And it's urgent. Can you come over now? Please?"Jeff was still sleepy and it was evident in his voice. "Why would I? Sorry, but no. Bye…" he said and put the phone out of his ear. "Rhoda," Francis said as fast as he could before he hung up and Jeff put the phone back to his ear and sat upright immediately. The sleep left his eyes all of a sudden. "What's wrong with Rhoda? Oh, wait! Is she your partner too? Is that what you want to confess?" He was irritated and annoyed and he didn't bother hiding that from his tone. "Jeff, no. You know she'
Rhoda paced her room back and forth as Steve told her about the man he had seen that was following her. From the description, she knew who it was. He had found her. It seemed that fate wanted them to cross paths again. "I told him I am your husband –"She squeezed her face as she tried to re-listen to what he had just said. "You did what? You told him that you're my husband?" That would make him confused. "He wasn't sure if it was you. Well, with the look on his face, he was quite sure, but I stopped him from following you," Steve said as he crossed his legs and relaxed on her bed. He sensed and noticed the anger that was building up in her, but chose to ignore it. She wouldn't get mad at him. And if she would, he was ready for it. He would readily take her anger. He was going to be protective of her until the end. Rhoda had been an amazing person and he had grown to love her. He wouldn't let her go back into a life where she wasn't valued and appreciated. He was even ready to fathe
Sharon got out of her car and walked to the entrance of her parents' house. She paused at the door as she hesitated on knocking. She was going in to see her parents. Her biological parents. She had seen them before, of course, but then she had been pretending to be sick. Now, she was all well and good, going in as their only daughter. The only daughter of the parents who gave her up for adoption because they didn't want her. She wasn't needed. And now, she was going, pretending to be someone she was not. The original daughter. That realization stung and it hurt her really bad. She raised her head and fought back her tears because she wasn't the type that cry. They didn't even look for her. She had wasted so many years thinking they would, but it was sad that they were fine without her. The hurt pierced through her heart, but she refused to let a tear drop. She had become too strong for that. She hoped. It was obvious she was an unwanted child. It was only a matter of time and she wou
Meredith walked closer to where her husband was sitting and took her seat beside him. He had been avoiding her and saying little or no words to her ever since their argument. He was about to stand up and leave when she grabbed his arm. "How long do you plan to ignore me? Please, listen to what I have to say, at least."Rhoda's father said nothing and took his seat again. He ignored her totally and continued with the news he was reading on his iPad. "It was a mistake, Fred. A terrible mistake that I — regret.""Really?" He asked sardonically."Listen to me, please. I admit I allowed something wrong with your brother, but the kids are yours. Believe me," Meredith pleaded. She tried to hold her husband's hands, but he jerked them away. "Don't touch me, Meredith. Why are you so adamant about this? Why won't you admit it? Your secret is already known, why deny it? The kids are mine? Really? Care to enlighten me on how, you whore? How could you sleep with my brother?""I didn't sleep wit
Jeff could not have been more shocked in his life, because, now, he realized what had been going on in his life. Now, he knew the reason he was doubtful of his wife after the accident. It was because of one thing. The wife at home wasn't the one he got married to. Now that he was looking at his wife, he could see the differences between them. But how possible that he was able to confuse the two? They looked so much alike. What was going on? He thought."Oh, my God!" He exclaimed as the answer suddenly struck him like thunder. "Oh, my God!" He exclaimed again and all he could picture in his head was the lady he met at the bar the day he went there with Francis. He started finding it hard to control his breathing. He held his neck as he tried to get the full picture of what his brain was telling him. This lady in question had been the one he saw in the bathroom and had blamed Rhoda for it for months! How could he not know?! But who is the lady? And most importantly, why would she