₦airaland Forum

ifud:
There are comments you don't dignify with a response. You remain my best writer on this platform. Your narrative and word joggle is way over the moon. Keep up as I'm following religiously.

Awwn.

Thanks love

Amopeekun:
Wow! @Millie, this is mmmmuah...
I started reading yesterday and I am glued. It is a mind-blowing story, every chapter is. U try wella and I am so in love with every character and scene, u r the bomb!!!
I will patiently wait to read from u, thank u.

Thanks love.

I'm glad you like it

oghenekome51:
This is sooo nice!
Most times I savor the brilliance of each updates.
Millieademi, you Rock!
Thanks for the update!

Jah Bless You with more inspiration!

Amen. Thanks love

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Tanya slotted the spare key she had stolen from Gabriel’s wallet into the keyhole and unlocked the door. She wanted to give him a surprise. She could only hope he’d like it. She turned to lock the door and dropped the overflowing shopping bag she was holding. She didn’t know his favorite food so she bought a lot of ingredients to make as many dishes as she could. She rubbed his pink palms and carried the shopping bag to the kitchen.
One of the things she loved about Gabriel was his neatness. She never met a dirty plate in the sink and the house was always spick and span. She brought her groceries out of the bag and set them on the counter. She heard the front door open and she glanced at her watch in surprise.
I thought he’s on afternoon duty.
She shrugged and left the kitchen to the living room. Her smile fell as she saw Gabriel together with MJ. Her heart broke. She had assumed they were over after she gave him a concussion. So why then were they holding hands looking all jolly and dandy.
“Tanya, how did you get in here?”, Gabriel said in irritation.
“I took a key after you got out of the hospital. What is she doing here?”, Tanya asked glaring at MJ and her fingers interlocked with Gabriel’s.
“She is my girlfriend.”, Gabriel answered and put his arm around MJ's waist. The act caused a cheeky grin to appear on MJ's face.
“W-what?!”, Tanya asked.
“Do you have cotton wool in your ears?”, MJ snapped. “Im his girlfriend now.”
“Babe, calm down.” Gabriel said. “Tanya, we were just f**k buddies. It was fun but it meant nothing.”
“Gabe, I- I, you said you love me and… Gabe, I’m pregnant. I’m pregnant with your baby.”, she wheezed.
“Tanya,”, he said as he removed his arm from around MJ's waist. “I can get you money for an abortion. A friend of mine works in a hospital that covertly carries out abortion. I can take you there. It’s safe and inexpensive and….”
“Gabe, I don’t want an abortion. I want you. I love you.”, Tanya said as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Drama queen.”, MJ commented snidely.
“Tanya, you can’t have me. I belong to MJ now. I never felt anything but lust for you. And it was fun while it lasted….”, Tanya slapped him then.
“You took advantage of me.”, Tanya shouted.
MJ scoffed. “You threw yourself at him.”
“Tanya don’t overreact. Stuff happens. I don’t love you. If you want to keep the baby then it’s your problem. If you want the abortion then I’ll transfer money to your account tomorrow. And I never want to see you again.”, Gabriel said.
“I hate you. The two of you. You can keep your blasted money.”, she spat and stormed out of the house.

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MJ stood up and placed as she waited for him. Why was he taking so long? She had a loose end to take care of. Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned. Tanya was nothing but a ticking time bomb. Make that an atomic bomb. She had been pushed and she could pull the plug on her entire revenge plott. She didn’tneed that. Especially so close to the end of Tinu's trial. She had to take care of Tanya. Or better yet she’d have Gabriel do it. He was the one foolish enough to get her pregnant.
She looked at the door as it opened.
“About time.”, she said and hissed.
“What is the problem, dear?”, he said as the guard unlocked his handcuffs.
“Ekeh, I’ve warned you about terms of endearment. They irk me. Why did you two want to see me?”, she asked the two men with her. Ekeh sat down and smiled.
“Do you still have the contact you have in the Oduah's household?”, the other man asked.
“No, why?”
“We need to plant evidence against Chris in the house.”, Ekeh answered.
“He’s dead. What’s the point?”, MJ askeed.
“The enquiry panel is not convinced with the documents produced. If we can’t convince them, Oduah Mining will get off unscathed.”, the man stated.
“Look, I’ve helped you with all I know. I don’t know what else you want me to do. The lady I was using then is no longer available. So I can’t help you.”, she stated.
“MJ, you are always illustrious. Is there no way you can get the documents into Chris’s safe?”, Ekeh asked. “Can you try to break into the house?”
The nerve. What help had he given her to bring her plans to fruition? Nothing. But he was asking for help from her like a baby. If he couldn’t go through with his plans on his own, why did he begin in the first place.
“No, I can’t.”
“MJ, I'll pay you for it. You could say you heard about his death and you wanted to pay your respects to…”
“No. Abi something else dey there. Ekeh you decided to help Al-Nasser bring down the company. I offered you help. I don’t have any help to render now. Abi na by force.”, she snapped and picked up her bag. “Ekeh, I get problem of my own o. Don’t call me again.”, she said and walked out.

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Felicia sighed and downed the cap of blood tonic. She hated the metallic taste but it was a necessary evil. She cringed and then gave Jaiye a watery smile.
“Are you happy now?”, she said and washed the taste away from her mouth with a drink of water.
“Yes. Are you feeling better?”, he asked and packed the medicine bottle back in its packaging.
“Im so so. I still feel weak. But I guess it will take a while for the drugs to begin their work. But I don’t still understand how I have anaemia.”, she said as she rinsed the cap. “I always eat food rich in iron during and after my….”
“What happened?”, Jaiye called in fear. “Do you need to vomit again?”
Felicia stood still, hoping and praying she was wrong. She couldn’t be pregnant, could she? Her last period was two months ago by her quick calculation. She hoped her baby was alright. She should have listened to Jaiyé's advise. What if the different brands of malaria drugs had hurt her baby? Would she have another stillborn? Her doctor had expressly told her during her previous two pregnancies not to use malaria drugs. She had even read it on the pamphlets that came with the drugs that they were not suitable for pregnant women.
How could she have been so careless? It wasn’tlike it was her first pregnancy. She should have noticed the signs her body was giving her.
“Felicia, are you okay?”, Jaiye said as he shook her.
“What?!”, she said.
“You spaced out on me. Are you okay?”, he asked in worry.
Tell him.
No. She couldn’t. If anything happened to their baby, it would be her fault. Jaiye would not forgive. She knew he wanted more children. He had told her numerous times. And she knew he was expecting it with their active sex life. If something was wrong with their baby because of her stubbornness, he’d resent her.
Trust me.
No. Her heart raced. She couldn’t tell Jaiyé. She would not. The case he was working on would have the first hearing tomorrow. Jaiye would be leaving the house to stay with his colleagues in a hotel so they could work effectively. If for any reason she miscarried, he would never know. And what Jaiyé didn’t know couldn’t hurt him.
“I’m fine. I just remembered Tinú.”, she lied. She heard the Holy Spirit groan at her disobedience and lie.
I’m sorry.
She just didn’t want to lose the Jaiyé she had now.

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“Ajiri, calm down. Stop crying and try to tell me what happened.”, Dele said calmly, though his thoughts were as calm as a tempestuous sea.
“Dele, I’m scared. Tinu’s trial is going badly. The judge ruled out the option of life imprisonment. If we lose, Tinu is going to be killed.”, Ajiri sobbed.
“Ajiri, calm down. There’s always an appeal, right? You should know that. You’re the lawyer. We will not give up on Tinú. And thankfully Chris left her enough money to fight this case for as long as it takes.”, Dele said.
“I know but this is my best friend we are talking about. I’m tired of seeing her in prison. Somehow, I thought we had a good case. This lady on the other side is tearing apart everything we have one by one. It’s like she researched into the background of all our witnesses and Tinu’s time in prison. She even brought the lady Tinú fought with in prison. Dele, I’m scared. Every time I go to see the twins, they ask me when their mum is coming back. They are getting tired of hearing soon.”, Ajiri whined.
“Don’t worry. Let’s have faith in your friend. He’s one of the best there is in the country. He’ll figure it out.”, Dele said.
“Okay. Thank you, Délé.”
“Its okay. I’ll be in Abuja tomorrow. I’ll be there for you guys.”
“No problem. Say me well to your mum.”, she said and hung up.
Délé groaned. He had hoped the trial would go smoothly. He couldn’t afford Tinu’s death. He couldn’t lose her. Not now.

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Elsa sat antsy waiting for Donald to come up before Délé was done with his call. She looked pleadingly at Jolá but he remained adamant. She hated his resolve.
Iru wahala wo ni ele, sin.
She heard a bark and Délé’s small laughter in the hallway and she cringed. Her blood pressure rose and she hated that she opened the door to let Jolá in.
This is all your fault, Donald. You better come back here fast.
She turned to face the hallway and Délé and Robert came into the living room.
“Guess who I found sleeping in the hallway.”, he said. He saw his father and growled. He charged at the man and pulled him up by the collar of his shirt. His eyes bore into his father’s screaming one sentence.
How could you?
“Dele, please.”, his mother pleaded holding his arm.
“I asked you to leave.”, he growled at the man.
“Go ahead and hit me. Do your worst. I will not leave this place till you forgive me.”, Jolá told him point blank.
Délé tightened his hold on the man's collar. “Old man, I’m deadly serious. Do not tempt me. Leave this place and do not come back.”
“Young man, I am not leaving. Throw me out if you will but I will come back every day till you forgive me.”, Jolá told his son. “Are you scared to hit me? Do you only run your mouth or do you actually have the balls to hit me?”
“Ayobamidele, jo, ma da l'ohun. Don’t hit your father.”, his mother shouted.
“Come on. Hit me. It’s only if you’re a bastard that you will let me go.”, Jolá shouted.
Dele raised his hand just as Donald walked in. “Dele, it’s okay. He’s not worth it.”, Donald scolded. Elsa sighed in relief and hoped Dele would not follow through the blow he intended to deal on his father.
“Don’t be a wuss. Do it. I’m not afraid of you. If hitting me will make you get over the anger you’ve felt at me for thirty-two years, then do it.”, Jolá said.
“Oko mi. Please, don’t.”, his mother begged.
Délé huffed and puffed in anger. “I hate you. Don’t you ever forget that. Let it ring in your head for as long as you live. I hate you and I hope you die a miserable death.”, Dele put in and released his father.
Elsa exhaled in thanksgiving.
“Jola, I suggest you leave.”, Donald advised and Robert concurred by barking. “Please.”
“Mummy, I’m leaving. Tinu’s trial is getting worse. I have to go to Abuja. I’ll come and see you some other time. Mr. Donald, bye.”, Dele put in and left the apartment.

Zuriel100:
thanks millilove...... happy new year, this we must meet

Lol

Send me a message and we'll see what we can do

“.............


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“Ajiri, calm down. Stop crying and try to tell me what happened.”, Dele said calmly, though his thoughts were as calm as a tempestuous sea.
“Dele, I’m scared. Tinu’s trial is going badly. The judge ruled out the option of life imprisonment. If we lose, Tinu is going to be killed.”, Ajiri sobbed.
“Ajiri, calm down. There’s always an appeal, right? You should know that. You’rethe lawyer. We will not give up on Tinú. And thankfully Chris left her enough money to fight this case for as long as it takes.”, Dele said.
“I know but this is my best friend we are talking about. I’m tired of seeing her in prison. Somehow, I thought we had a good case. This lady on the other side is tearing apart everything we have one by one. It’s like she researched into the background of all our witnesses and Tinu’s time in prison. She even brought the lady Tinú fought with in prison. Dele, I’m scared. Everytime I go to see the twins, they ask me when their mum is coming back. They are getting tired of hearing soon.”, Ajiri whined.
“Don’t worry. Let’s have faith in your friend. He’s one of the best there is in the country. He’ll figure it out.”, Dele said.
“Okay. Thank you, Délé.”
“It's okay. I’ll be in Abuja tomorrow. I’ll be there for you guys.”
“No problem. Say me well to your mum.”, she said and hung up.

Khriztarl:
Milly who killed tinuke's parents?? who does oduah holdings actually belong to..??
why is mr jason hiding chris??
where is katrina she cnt just giveup her son even after hearing of chris's death.??
you said last year that bamidele and tinuke where going to cum bck soon..so why did bamidele nd sheyee cum bck??
you potrayed bamidele to be selfcentered so why did he take up chris's regina..
does chris really love tinuke??
who is tanya or wateva she's called to gabby??
is fola an officer too..if yes is he the person incharge of the female prison..??
i need answers please i need updates..

Folá is the Attorney General of the Federation.


Any question that isn't answered in this book will be answered in the next.

However, you might not like some answers.

Just a word of caution.

Please don't hate me o. It's just my imagination you should hate. It's crazy.

Khriztarl:
yeah i might have started the reading quiet late..am kinda a lazy reader nd it took me a week to catch up..but millieademi..u made me cry..yeah i was already deeply in love with chris..(though not more than tinuke) and when i read he was dead..i just felt hatred for u..i actually thought u killed him becoz u never liked him *yeah u clearly stated that last year*
That aside u made tinuke suffer..plus going through the truama of her regina was dead..
Just when i had gotten my self to believe christopher's death u raised him up from dead..
and u knw wat..
Now i feel the love i have 4 u grow so large nothing can contain it..
i love u milly so bleeping much..happy new year..more ink to ur pen..

Awwn. Love you too.

I just pray you keep loving me after what happens.

Ayomide93:
Please who knows the name of this animal?

It's a mongoose.

skubido:
Happy new year OP


Thanks for the update ooooooo

Thanks love.

You're welcome

Bridgovoks:
Happy New Year Milliademi
Thanks for the update

Thanks love

“Jaiyé, it’s not like that. I don’t just want to waste money going to a hospital…”
“Please, have I ever asked you to pay for your bills yourself? Or is the allowance I give you not enough?”
“Jaiyé, I’m used to it. I know what is wrong with me and it’s my body.”
“Your body?”
It’s not your body. Apologise and mean it.
“You know what? You’re right. Do whatever you want. I need to make a call.”, he put in and left.
She sighed and she felt her stomach and throat work like a piston. She swallowed back spit to push the vomit back to her stomach but it would have none of that. It fought its way to her mouth and she lost the battle. She ran into the restroom and vomitted into the sink. She heaved and hurled until it felt her stomach would be coming out as well. She sighed and flushed her vomit down the drain with water. She rinsed her mouth and then the sink. She had only made it ten steps away from the sink when vomit waged another war that she lost. She ran to the sink and dry heaved. Tears fell out of her eyes as she tried to vomit whatever it was that was in her stomach. She hated whenever her malaria got this bad. She sank onto the floor sobbing quietly. She had been dealing with this for two weeks now. She wondered if the drugs she bought in the pharmacy were fake. The pharmacy looked too prestigious to sell fake drugs.
Abi, is it just packaging?
“Felicia.”, she heard Jaiye call.
“I’m here.”, she said but it came sounding like a whisper. She wondered if he heard.
“Felicia, I have news about Tinú…”, his words died as he saw her sitting on the floor. “Are you ok? Why are you crying?”, he asked and sat on his haunches beside her. He pressed the back of his palm to her forehead.
“You don’t have a fever. Are you feeling weak?”, he asked.
“I just vomitted. I think I puked out my entire alimentary system. I feel weaker than before. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you. You probably want to tell me I told you so.”, she wheezed.
“I’d rather see you better than be right.”, he said and carried her in his arms.
“Wow, my husband, the chivalrous prince.”, she cooed and rested her head on his shoulder.
“And my wife, the pigheaded and obstinate damsel. Don’t we make a pair.”, he commented and placed her on the bed. “When Dapo gets back, we’ll drive down to the clinic.”
“Thank you, Jay. What about Tinú? You said you have news.”, she said closing her eyes.
“Well. Tinu’s case is bad. Real bad. According to the lady on the case, she doesn’t have any defences. Unless the defense is saving it for later. She seems innocent. I’d hate for her to lose the case.”
“If she loses, life imprisonment, right? She can still get out on parole, right?”, Felicia asked sitting up.
“Felicia, the consequence of her losing is death. She’ll be hanged. The judge ruled on the first trial that the case was not a manslaughter case and he would not hear anything on manslaughter.”
“Mercy, Jesus! I have to see her.”, Felicia said in worry. “Jaiye, is there no possibility for allocutus or what do you call it?”
“Justice Ekpo is really stern. Bordering unmerciful. I doubt he’d listen to any pleas. All I can pray is that Tinú gives her life sooner rather than later.”, Jaiye said.
“Jaiye, we can’t give up. If God was able save Peter, He can save Tinú.”, she put in.
“You’re right but I am stating the facts. If He decides not to save her, we can’t hold it against Him. He is God. Getting her on the side of righteousness is better than hoping for a release.”


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Jolá sat in the stuffy living room twiddling his thumbs. He looked up at Elsa who was pacifying a crying baby and the man in front of him. Was he Elsa’s husband? He looked at the man’s hand and saw no band there. He looked at Elsa again as she bounced his granddaughter. And he smiled. His first grandchild.
“ Is she feeling well? I can help.”, he said.
“Jolá, don’t worry. The sound of you knocking woke her up. She’ll be fine once I can convince her to go back to sleep.”, she said and started humming.
“Elsa, I think it’s the heat. I’ll put on the inverter now.”, Donald said as he stood.
“Thank you so much, Donald.”, she said smiling and continued humming. Donald left into the house and soon the power came on. The ceiling fan began to turn and soon the room got cooler. As soon as it got cool, the baby stopped crying.
“Is she better?”, Donald asked as he reappeared.
“Yes. You’re getting the hang of taking care of babies.”, Elsa said smiling.
“I have a good teacher.”, Donald replied. Jolá could not help the wave of jealousy that crashed through him. If not for Fola, that would have been him beside her.
“Jolá, pardon my manners. Jolá, this is Donald, my best friend.”, she said smiling. The wave crashed again. He used to be her best friend, her confidant and partner in crime.
“Don’t let Robert hear or he’ll throw a fit.”, Donald said smiling.
The wave of jealousy in Jolá turned into a typhoon. There was another man?
“Where is he, by the way?”, Elsa asked as she dropped the sleeping baby in the cot.
“Somewhere inside.”, he put in and sat down.
“Hmmn.”, she replied.
Jolá rubbed his hands to calm the storm of jealousy in him.
“So, what brings you here, Jolá?”, she asked.
“I was thinking we could talk in private.”, he said.
“Don’t worry. I’ll excuse you. I think a bottle of wine will do the trick with Mr. Agbe.”,he said and left the apartment.
Jolá sighed in relief. This was harder than he thought.
“So?”
“I’m sorry for coming here like this. I had to talk to you. You didn’t pick my calls. I was desperate.”, he said.
“Jola, everything that happened between us is in the past. I’ve forgiven you wholeheartedly. I’m too old to be keeping grudges. I’ve forgiven your sons as well. There’s nothing to talk about.”, she said.
“Dele.”, he whispered.
“That’s very tricky. Left to Dele, you’re not supposed to be here. The only reason I let you in is because he’s out of the country and won’t be back till the end of the month. You’re persona non grata to him.”
“How can I fix that?”
Elsa swallowed the “Go back in time to thirty-two years ago.” and shrugged.
“Elsa, please help me. I want to part of his life and my grandchild’s.”, he said staring at the cot.
“Jola, you made your bed. I know this sounds crass but you have to lie in it. I don’t think Dele will forgive you. He’s every bit as unforgiving as you were. And now that he doesn’t need a father, it’s going to be difficult to get him to forgive you.”, she said and picked up the throw pillow Donald had been holding before.
“Is he willing to accept Donald as his father?”, he blurted. Elsa looked at him with questioning eyes. “Elsa, is there something I should know?”
“I don’t think so. My life is not your business anymore.”

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Felicia fought the dizzy spells bewitching her body and made her way to the restroom to pee. She didn’t like this malaria at all. She hadn’t been able to go to work or to go to the prison. The drugs she bought were not working. They even made her feel woozier. She splashed water on her face after easing herself and shuffled back to bed. She crawled in and pulled the duvet over her head and tried to sleep. Since she awoke with the urge to pee, her head had been banging. She clamped her eyes shut and tried to force herself to sleep. She always felt better after a little rest.
She needed to rest. Dapo would be back soon and he’d need her to go over his assignment. Jaiye too would come back and he’d be hungry. She groaned as she remembered she had been postponing going to the market. Now, she had used up all her soup ingredients and there was no soup left in the freezer.
Felicia, why?
The soft bed was alluring and compelling and considerably better than a trip to the market. But she knew what she had to do. She sat up and groaned.
Father, help me.
How?
She sighed and hated herself more. He had warned her against her habit of procrastinating when it came to things of her home time and time again but she always gave excuses. He had warned her to treat her home with the same gravity she treated her work. Now, she had no one to blame but herself.
Father, I’m sorry. Please, just give me strength.
Strength is not what you need. I’ve given you what you need.
She wondered what He meant by that. She prayed to God that He didn’tmean an argument with Jaiye or an incident with Dapo. She hoped He mean her learning the hard way. She was tired of learning through bitter experiences. She turned as she heard the door open as her husband came in. She glanced at the bedside table to check the time. It was just three thirty.
“Jaiye, good afternoon. Why are you back so early?”, she asked and stood slowly. He dropped his satchel and jacket on the nearest sofa and walked straight to her and hugged her.
“Why did you not tell me you weren’t feeling fine?”, he asked as he sat her down.
“You’ve been busy with the case against the thirty-six states. Adding my health to your problems would be selfish.”, she said.
“Keeping it to yourself is one step short of selfish. I know I’ve rarely been around the past two weeks but you should have told me.”, he said. “Finding out from Mmesoma was embarrassing.”
“I can take care of myself, Jaiye. I did…”
Stop.
She sighed as she realized what she had been about to say would have hurt his feelings.
“I did not mean to hurt you. Next time, I’ll tell you. Am I forgiven?”, she said smiling.
“Of course. What did the doctor say?”, he asked as he took off his cufflinks. She groaned inwardly as she knew she was busted. Jaiye never believed in self diagnosis and prescription and he had warned her to stop it. She watched nervously as he took off his shoes and loosed his tie.
“Felicia, I said what did the doctor say? Is it malaria or what?”, he asked and stopped his undressing.
“Its malaria.”, she said earnestly and she gave herself away.
“Is that what the doctor said?”, he asked and she kept quiet. “You didn’t go to a hospital, did you?”. His aggravation and exasperation at her stubbornness caused him to groan and continue removing his shirt.
“Jaiye….”
“No, Felicia. What is wrong with you? It’s like you take pleasure in not listening to me. You probably think let him talk his own and when he is done, he will shut up. I can do whatever I want to do.”
“Jaiye, it’s not like that. I don’t just want to waste money going to a hospital…”
“Please, have I ever asked you to pay for your bills yourself? Or is the allowance I give you not enough?”
“Jaiye, I’m used to it. I know what is wrong with me and it’s my body.”
“Your body?”
It’s not your body. Apologise and mean it.
“You know what? You’re right. Do whatever you want. I need to make a call.”, he put in and left.

manduwem:
Happy new year to y'all n Millie
Wish us the best of the year 2020

Amen. Thank you sweetie.

mhizv:
Happy new year!!! millieademi

Thanks love

kaakaa1:
Happy New Year Millieademi!!! You’re a great writer, may your craft sell even more this year. To everybody who’s been following, even fellow ghost readers like me may we grow in knowledge and Power in our quest to learn!

Amen o. Thanks b

Hi guys....


Happy New Year and Happy New Decade. May God bless us and prosper the works of our hands this New Year. May He preserve our whole bodies and souls blameless till His Coming. May we harvest bountifully from all the seeds we've sown.


So, sadly, I didn't complete Ocean of Secrets last year. So sad.

But, New Year, new opportunities.

So I'm going to drop something now and probably later in the evening. I still need to sleep off the vigil lag. God is our muscle this year



I love you so much and you are all amazeballs.

Figured I haven't told you that in a while.



.......


So here goes....



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Elsa smiled as she watched the baby in Donald’s arms empty her bottle. She sure had a healthy appetite, going through tins of formula in days. Not that she was complaining. This was the closest she had to having a grandchild and raising one. Guilt hadn’t let her be around for Tèmí and Tóminí. Her smile broadened at Donald’s cluelessness.
“What do I do next?”, Donald asked with his brows furrowed as he gently rocked the baby girl. She collected the bottle from him and showed him how to burp the baby. “Am I doing it correctly?”, he asked in fear.
Elsa chuckled lightly and nodded. She knew this was novelty for Donald. His wife had died together with their child during childbirth. This was his first time in his over seventy years to feed a baby. When he had told her he had never fed a baby, she thought it had to be the most ludicrous thing she had ever heard. And now, after weeks of persuasion and cajoling, he finally agreed to feed Regina.
She watched as he teared up at little Regina yawning and smacking her lips sleepily.
“Look, she wants to sleep.”, he whispered in excitement and Elsa beamed at him. “Thank you, Elsa.”
“You’re welcome, Donald. Give her to me so I can place her in her cot.” He nodded and placed the baby gently in her arms. Elsa smiled approvingly at him. He had gotten better at handling the baby. Elsa left the balcony to place the baby in the cot in the living room. Robert, sending his rival for attention was gone, roused from where he was lying and growled in protest.
“You’re still my baby, Rob. Nothing’s going to change that.”, he assured and the dog barked in glee. He had gotten Robert four years ago when he couldn’t take the loneliness after his goddaughter got married. He sighed and thought of his life. He had always been alone. His parents had never really been there and he was an only child. Growing up, he never really had friends. In primary school, his mother didn’t let him play with the other children. In secondary school, his mates thought him to be a snobby and snooty smarty-pants. In university, his mates were more interested in using his brain than getting to know the lonely boy behind the Donald five point zero he was called behind his back.
He believed his being alone would end when he had a family of his own. Fate had other plans. He lost his wife and baby on the same day. His grief was indescribable. Two years after his wife and child died, his closest friend died together with his wife in a plane crash. He had had to raise their four children as he was their godfather and they had no immediate relative willing and able to take them in. He had been given a chance at a family and he took good care of the four girls to the best of his ability. Now they were all married he rarely got to see them.
At least, he was compensated with Elsa’s company and Robert. They were his family. He felt warmth in his heart as he thought of her. For the first time, he felt he had a friend, someone who wanted to be with him and spend time with him as much as he did. As if sensing his thoughts, Robert barked in affirmation.
“Yes, I know. Elsa is one special lady.”, Donald put in and the dog laid back down and whined in satisfaction.
“Are you gossiping about me?”, she joked as she came back in. “I heard my name.” Donald smiled at her and said, “Of course, we were. It’s only fair since you and Robert do the same about me.”
The dog barked in assertion. “You can’t keep a secret, can you?”, Elsa asked the dog and it barked I negation.
“That’s what I thought.”, Elsa put in and patted its head. “I think we should get together and gossip about Robert for a change.”, she whispered in Donald’s ear.
He smiled and said, “Maybe we should. How’s Dele?”
“Fine. At least, that’s what he tells me. I just wish he’d get married soon. I try as much as possible not to get worried because of what happened the last time. But I feel worry is something I got baptised into since I gave birth to him. I worry about his safety, his health, his marital life, his company, his diet.”
He held her hand and squeezed softly. “Cast all your cares and burden upon him for He cares for us. If I didn’t learn anything else from that Donut Man CD you’ve been playing for Regina, I sure learnt that.”
She smiled and said, “Thank you. Thank you, Donald. God definitely saved the best for last with you. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”
“Awwn!”, he gushed and Robert barked eagerly.
“And you too, Robert. You’re definitely the best.”, she said and scratched his ears and he gave a whimper and whine of ecstasy.
“You’re spoiling him too much.”, Donald said.
“I can’t help it. He’s such a good boy.”, she cooed and smiled down at the dog.
“Someone has a visitor.”, Donald said causing Elsa to turn to look down at the car that just pulled up in the parking lot.
“Donald, we have to stop doing this. We are too old for this kind of joblessness.”, Elsa protested but still watched the car eagerly.
“Hmmhmn. What would you have us do? There’s no light. And you don’t want to flash Mr. Agbe one of your smiles so he can repair the fuse.”, he said.
“I’ve told you. I’m not flirting with anyone for favours anymore.”, she said laughing.
“Then we continue in our joblessness.”, he said. “I wonder who’s visitor he is. It’s a Mercedes. I’m guessing one of those girls on the first floor.”
“No, jo. It could be for that upcoming actress on the fourth floor. You should have seen the way she was looking at Délé the other day. Since then, she started greeting me ten times. Somebody that doesn’tgreet me before.”
“O ti to mother-in-law.”
“Mother-in-law ni kan ko. She should better be finding her mother-in-law to the front. She even gave me tickets for the premier of the movie that she’s third lead actress in. Should we go?”
“You want her tickets but you don’t want to be her mother-in-law.”
“Shey tickets now resemble proposal? Abeg, I am enjoying the proceeds of having a handsome son. Is this person not coming down, ni?”
“I thought you were tired of this joblessness.”
“I still have energy.”, she said as the person got out of the car and her breath caught.
“Do you know the person?”, Donald asked in curiosity.
“That’s Jolá, my ex-husband.”, she said at the same moment Jolá looked up.



.......

I'll continue with the trial in later updates.

Ok....

I have to say this....

Tope Omotosho, you are simply wonderful.... This is a fine Christian romance. I enjoyed and fell in love with the characters (except Nene. Call me prejudicial but I feel there's a skeleton in her cupboard)

I really hope to be able to write like this someday....

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Tinú watched stoic as Margaux, the detective and the coroner give evidence that she was the murderess of her husband. She prayed in her hear that a miracle would happen. She watched Ajiri climb onto the witness stand and hoped her testimony could clear the doubts the judge had about her innocence.
“Tell us about the accused.”
“Tinu and I have been best friends since primary school. Tinu is very sweet and kind. Tinu can ensure inconvenience to make someone she loves happy. Tinu cannot kill a chicken. I mean, Christmas after Christmas she’d settle for frozen chicken rather than have to kill a chicken herself.”
“In your opinion, did the accused love the deceased?”
“Yes. Even when I told her to forget about him and reject his marriage proposal, she chose to keep off from me rather than leave him. She loved him. She lost herself after his death. I don’t believe she could have killed him.”
“Thank you.”
Tinu sighed and wondered what questions the prosecutrix had to ask.
“Mrs. Mai, is it safe to say you've known the accused for up to twenty years?”
“Yes, I’ve known Tinu for twenty years.”
“Wow. That’s a long time. In those twenty years, I’m sure there’s been arguments and quarrels. Yes or No.”
“Yes.”
“Good. So tell us about Tinu’s temper.”
“Tinu, well, when angry is like any other person.”, Ajiri said.
“Mrs. Mai, you’re a lawyer. That’s a vague answer at best and ridiculous if I was being honest. This court doesn’t know what any other person’s temper is like. In fact, we do not care. What we are bothered about is Tinu’s temper. So I ask the question again. What is Tinu’s temper like?”
“Moderate.”, Ajiri answered scrunching up her nose.
“That’s still vague. My lord…”
“Counsel, rephrase the question.”, the judge said and turned to look at Ajiri. “Witness, try to be clearer with your answers.”
“Ok, what can Tinú do when she’s angry? And remember you’ve sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”, the prosecutrix said and crossed her arms across her chest.
“It depends on the situation. Sometimes, she might cry or be passively aggressive or simply ignore the person that made her angry.”
“Has she ever flared up and done something intense and dramatic?”
Ajiri swallowed the truth and kept mute. She wouldn’t be the one to knock in the final nail in Tinu’s coffin.
“Mrs. Mai, please kindly answer the question.”, the lawyer asked. Ajiri wondered if the prosecutrix had found out what Tinu did.
“I don’t know.”
“I’ll go out on a limb here and call that a blatant lie. Are you trying to tell this court that in twenty years, two decades, Tinú has never done anything dramatic when angry? I think it’s either of two things. It’s either she’s a saint or you’re a pathetic liar…”
“Objection, my lord. Counsel is badgering the witness.”, the defense lawyer shouted.
“I wouldn’t say badgering. I’m just calling things as I see them, my lord.”, the savvy woman answered.
“Counsel, stick to asking questions.”, the judge said.
“Yes, my lord. Mrs. Mai, answer the question. Has the accused ever done anything intense when angry? Yes or no.”, the lawyer said.
Ajiri mulled over the question for minutes and wondered whether to say the truth.
“Mrs. Mai, we don’t have all day.”, the judge said.
“Yes.”, Ajiri finally said.
The prosecutrix smiled diabolically and said, “Tell this honourable court about the incident.”
Ajiri looked down at her nails and started, “I was in my penultimate year in the university and Tinu in her final year. She had just written her final exams and we went out to celebrate. We went to a pepper soup joint outside campus. We were dancing and a guy, out of the blues, groped her buttocks. Tinu was angry and then she…” She couldn’t bring herself to complete it to say what Tinu had done.
“Mrs. Mai, what did Tinu do?”
Ajiri shook her head and hated her weakness at not being able to insist on lying.
“Mrs. Mai, answer the question put to you by the counsel.”
“My lord, you have to understand. We were young and she was provoked…”, Ajiri said turning to the judge.
“Mrs. Mai, answer the question put to you.”, the judge said plainly, unwavered by Ajiri’s teary eyes.
“I plead section thirty-six sub eleven of the Constitution.”, Ajiri said without thinking.
The prosecutrix smiled snidely and said, “I don’t know what law school you graduated from but in case you weren’t taught, section thirty-six sub eleven applies to the person on trial and not the witnesses. Please, Mrs. Mai, answer the question.”
Damn me and my candor
“Tinu broke a bottle that evening and threatened the guy with it.”, Ajiri said in shame. “But she was provoked.”
“Please, let it be noted that the witnesses testified that when provoked the accused can do anything even going as far as threatening someone’s life.”, the prosecutrix stated facing the judge.
“No, I didn’t say that. I….”
“I have no more questions for the witness.”, the lawyer stated and returned to her seat. Ajiri looked up and saw the tears gleaming in Tinu’s eyes and felt like a traitor.

“So do you believe Tinú could resort to any means to get what she wants?”, the prosecutrix asked as she took off her glasses.
“Objection my Lord. Counsel is leading the witness.”, the defense attorney snapped as he stood.
“Sustained.”, the judge said and continued writing.
“Humbly guided, milord. So Mrs. Oduah-Onuogha. Tell us what happened on the fourth of February last year.”, the prosecutrix asked and stood by her desk.
“Well, my mother and I went to visit my brother and his family. It was after the Tinu and baby Chris’s accident. We met my brother and his wife arguing. Tinu thought my brother was cheating on her.”
“Was he?”, the prosecutrix asked.
“I don’t know. But she threatened my brother’s life that day. She told him she’d kill him if he was cheating.”, Margaux said.
“No further questions, my lord.”, the lawyer said and returned to her seat. Tinu sighed and hoped her lawyer could poke holes in Margaux's testimony.
“Mrs. Margaux. I can call you Mrs. Margaux, right?”, the lawyer said as he stood before her.
“Yes, you can.”, she said.
“How long have you been married?”
“Five years.”
“Your marriage is relatively young. Permit if I may ask, has there ever been an incident of infidelity in your marriage?”
“Objection. Relevance.”, the prosecutrix shouted.
“Counsel change your line of questioning.”, the judge said.
“Okay. I won’t ask about your marriage. You seem familiar with your brother’s marriage to the accused. Are you aware of the fact that your brother cheated on the accused?”
“Yes. But it was before they were married.”
“But after they were engaged to be married?”
“Yes.”
“You are aware that from that indiscretion a child was born?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Now, after the accused found out about her husband’s love child, did she act in a manner that could have put the deceased in fear of grievous bodily harm or death?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Mrs. Margaux, yes or no answers please.”
“No.”
“So why then would she actually kill the accused?”
“I…”
“No further questions, my lord.”, the counsel put in and returned to his seat.
The prosecutrix returned for cross examination with a scowl on her face. “Mrs. Oduah-Onuogha, you said you were close with the accused?”
“Yes, I did.”
“So you can tell if the accused is joking or being serious?”
“Yes.”
“Do you believe the accused was joking or bantering that day?”
“No, I do not.”
“Thank you. I have no further questions.”

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Tinú watched stoic as Margaux, the detective and the coroner give evidence that she was the murderess of her husband. She prayed in her hear that a miracle would happen. She watched Ajiri climb onto the witness stand and hoped her testimony could clear the doubts the judge had about her innocence.
“Tell us about the accused.”
“Tinu and I have been best friends since primary school. Tinu is very sweet and kind. Tinu can ensure inconvenience to make someone she loves happy. Tinu cannot kill a chicken. I mean, Christmas after Christmas she’d settle for frozen chicken rather than have to kill a chicken herself.”
“In your opinion, did the accused love the deceased?”
“Yes. Even when I told her to forget about him and reject his marriage proposal, she chose to keep off from me rather than leave him. She loved him. She lost herself after his death. I don’t believe she could have killed him.”
“Thank you.”

Chapter 25
Margaux stared at her reflection in the mirror and hated herself. Why did she have to be one of those women who put on a lot of weight with pregnancy? And this was her first. She held up her arm and hit the flabby flesh that dropped. She cringed as she recalled how Daniel had forged her kiss hours ago.
She was pudgy but was she that revolting that he didn’t want to kiss her. It wasn’t like she had body odour or something. Or did she? She lifted her arm again and sniffed her armpit. She still smelt like the deodorant. So what was his problem?
Me.
She was his problem. He had hurt her but she’d fix it. She loved Daniel and if he couldn’t stand her being fat she’d fix it. She walked towards the rack and tried to pick out a dress. Today was the first hearing for the murder of Chris and she was testifying. Anger at Tinu erupted within her. Her brother had loved that witch with his all. He had been prepared to walk away from Oduah Holdings, a company he had given his blood and sweat to, if it meant losing her and she killed him. She was a snake, a pretentious snake. The lawyer had told them she could either get life imprisonment or the death sentence. Personally, Margaux wanted to hang. She wanted to watch her convulse and pant for air as the pressure on her windpipe got unbearable. She wanted to watch Tinu go still and then swing. She wanted her to suffer just like she made her brother suffer.
She didn’t know she was holding the hanger in a death grip till her husband came up behind her and wound his arms around her waist.
“Baby, I’m sorry.”, he whispered in her ear.
The surprise at the act caused her to drop the hanger and her knuckles sang for joy. Her breath caught on feeling his arms around her waist. She snapped out of her surprise as she remembered what he did.
“Are you sure you want to be holding me? I might give you the black plague or something.”, she stated and tried to wiggle out of his embrace.
“I’m sorry, Marge.”, he called and pressed open-mouthed kisses to her neck and then to her shoulders. It had been so long since they were intimate, hence the little act had her writhing. He slid the straps of her silk nightdress off her shoulders.
“I thought you didn’t want to touch me anymore.”, she said with her eyes squeezed shut as she enjoyed the feel of his kisses.
“Margaux, you’re the woman I love, my wife, the mother of my firstborn. I will always want you.”, he whispered softly as he pulled down her dress so he could access her breasts and handle them. She fought and lost the battle to swallow her moans.
“Daniel, I – you…” Her words got lost and a scramble went on in her brain. It couldn’t string together a single thought but only feel the touch of her husband.
“You do not disgust me, Marge. On the contrary, you excite me, you drive me crazy.”, he said and pressed his erection against her and she groaned in pleasure. “I love you, Margaux. And I never want to lose you.” He confessed his fears and hoped he would never lose her. He had decided to put his guilt behind him. If the police had not found out that Chris was overdosed by now, then they were never going to find out. Chris was already buried and the Oduah family mausoleum sealed. There was no way anyone would think to exhume Chris and discover his secret. He’d protect his marriage and family from ever learning the truth. And if Tinú had to be the sacrifice for his marriage, so be it.

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Tinu shifted her weight from one leg to the other as she listened to the lawyers on both sides give their opening statements. The prosecution had sworn they would prove beyond reasonable doubt she killed her husband and the defense had promised to reveal her innocence and she didn’t know who to believe. She sighed and prayed to God. He had to help her. He just had to intervene.
“Prosecution would like to call their first witness – Mrs. Margaux Onuogha.”, the sassy prosecutrix announced. Tinu watched the clerk proceed to call Margaux from the hallway. Her eyes followed Margaux from the door of the courtroom to the witness box. She listened to Margaux swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Tinu doubted Margaux had any intention to tell the whole truth. She’d probably cook up a concoction of half-truths and exaggerations.
“For the record, please introduce yourself to this honourable court.”, the lawyer said as she stood by the witness box.
“I am Mrs. Margaux Oduah-Onuogha. I am sister to the deceased and the accused is my sister-in-law.”, Margaux said boldly.
“For how long have you known the accused? And what was your relationship with her”
“About seven years. I met her while she was working for my brother. I got acquainted with her when she married him. We used to be close. I used to think of her as my sister.”, Margaux stated.
“So would you say that in the seven years you’ve known the accused, you can testify about her character as a person?”
“Yes, I can.”
“So tell us. What is the character of the accused?”
“Id say Tinu is a very determined woman. Anything she sets her mind on, she achieves. She snagged my brother at a time Chris didn’t want a relationship. She made my brother marry her and accept her children from her previous marriage.”
Tinu could not believe her ears. She couldn’t believe Margaux could say that about her. So much for sisterhood.
“So do you believe Tinú could resort to any means to get what she wants?”, the prosecutrix asked as she took off her glasses.

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Seyifunmi groaned as the knock on the door chased sleep away from her. She bit her pillow as she cussed whoever was knocking. She sighed and rolled out of bed. Her night was a nightmare. Well, it was not a nightmare per se. She got back together with Dele.
That was a plus. She thought as she stood groggily. The downside was after giving her a kiss that riled up everything feminine and human in her, he sent her into her uncle’s house all primed, ripe, moist and throbbing. Her cold shower did nothing to help me her sleep was worse. Her dreams starred Dele in X-rated fantasies.
She clamped her thighs together to assuage the dull, sweet ache she felt down there. She was just having another one and she had been enjoying it. It did i nothing to help with the pain. She knew nothing but Dele could fix it. She sighed again. She was all h*rny and aroused and unfortunately, Dele would have flown out of the country by now. She looked up at the wall clock and groaned louder. Definitely, Dele was not within the Nigerian borders anymore. Why was she even being disturbed? It was a Saturday for crying out loud.
She made her way to the door and unlocked it. She opened the door and saw Rosanna standing in the hallway. She groaned and walked back to flop onto her bed.
“Good morning to you too.”, Rosanna greeted as she entered and closed the door behind her. Seyifunmi grabbed a pillow and put it over her face.
“Look, I am not in the mood. What do you want?”, she grinded in a muffled voice.
“I overstepped last night and I apologize.”
“Okay. Please leave. I’m trying to get back to my dream. Please.”, Seyifunmi put in right before she felt the bed dip under Rosanna’s weight. She removed the pillow from her face and turned to look at her cousin.
“Shay, I was just worried about you.”, Rosanna whined with both her eyes and voice.
Seyifunmi turned on her side and propped her head on one arm. “I understand. Thank you. You’re more of a sister to me than any of mine and I was stupid for talking to you like I did. And frankly, I’m grateful for what you did. Maybe if you didn’t, Dele and I might not have made up.”, she said and wagged her eyebrows.
“No way.”, Rosanna gasped in shock.
“Yep. Apparently, my pride can be useful in some instances. I was stuck in the rain last night and he picked me up. We fought and we kissed and we made up.”, she explained.
“So was there any make up sex?”, Rosanna said wagging her own eyebrows.
“God, Ro! Next time, try I’m happy for you first or a congratulations. Then, maybe, I might be inclined to tell you if there was any make up sex.”, Seyifunmi said and curled up into a ball, hugging her pillow.
“Is that a no?”, she asked and silence followed. “I’lll take that as a no You’re grouchy and touchy. That means you’re h*rny…”
“What?!”
“Anytime Dele is not around you get so moody and touchy…” Seyifunmi winced and said “I think we’re too close for our own good.”
“No, an. We’re not. Give me the juicy details. Did something happen?”, Seyifunmi chippered in glee and knelt on the bed.
Seyifunmi smiled bitterly and told her cousin, “Ro, nothing happened. God, that man is frustrating. After dropping me off, we kissed. I was hoping we’d go back to his place but no such thing happened. Now, he’s going to be out of the country for a month.”
“Ooh. I guess it’ll be sitting on the dryer for you and dealing with cranky Seyifunmi for us.”, Rosanna said.
“I’m not that desperate or that cranky.”
“Have you seen yourself? You remind me of this character in a paperback I read a couple of weeks ago. The hornier he gets, the more sour his attitude.”
“Ro?”
“Yes?”
“Shut up a little.”
“Oh, Dele needs to get back fast.”, Rosanna teased and got off the bed.
“Shut up. Youre making it sound like I’m some sex addict.”
“Your words, not mine.”, she called mischievously and her cousin hurled a pillow at her.
“Get out, Ro.”
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Wheels turned in MJ’s head as Gabe’s fingers ran to and fro her upper arm. This was just a small price to pay. She needed Gabe on her side. If sleeping with him and giving him a mirage of her supposed love for me would do it, then she’d act hopelessly in love with him. Gabe always acted irrational when he got angry. He could go to the police and tell them everything they needed to know to prove Tinu's innocence. She didn’t need that. An unhappy Gabe meant a sloppy Gabe. Her hatred for Tinu ran deeper than her desire for a platonic relationship with Gabe. And once Tinu swung and her body was cold, she’d drop Gabe as fast as hot potatoes.
For the meantime, she’d enjoy the anonymity of her plans and the sex. At least, he was good in bed. She slowly rose from the bed and smiled at him.
“I love you, MJ.”, he called like a child. She swallowed the bile that rose up to her throat at his yearning and smiled wider.
“I love you, Gabe.”
Her phone rang and she got off the bed. She picked it up from the table across the room and stared at the Caller ID. She sighed and walked into the restroom. She picked the call and whispere-yelled, “What?”
“MJ, you were supposed to come over today. Why the hell didn’t you?” the voice asked.
“Look, I’m taking care of loose ends. And that is more important.”, she gritted.
“To you. Not to me. Have you seen the news?”
“No, what about it?”
“Oduah Holdings’ mining license has been suspended temporarily. The trial for the termination of their license is in two months. Investors have been pulling out. Contracts are being discharged and waived. The proce of their stock is in the toilet. Without Oduah Mining, Oduah Holdings is nothing.”, the man said and laughed.
“That’s good. So long as Al-Nasser doesn’t slip up then in two months there’ll be no more Oduah Mining. The Oduahs will regret messing with us.”, MJ gloated smiling.
“How goes it with the man-child?”
“Under my leash. He’s putty in my hands so long as he believes I’m in love with him.”
“Good. I expect you here tomorrow.”
“Don’t order me around. I’ll be there when I have the chance. Goodbye.”, she huffed and hung up.


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Daniel Onuogha paced the length of his living room and left a trail of worried footsteps on the ivory tiles. The pills were not working and he didn’t know what to do. The insomnia was the least of it. The worst part was sleeping beside his wife, day in day out without telling her the truth. Margaux loved her brother with an intensity that shocked him. He could still hear her whimpering and sobs when she first received the news of his death. He wanted to console her and tell her the truth but he couldn’t.
If she found out the truth, she’d never forgive him. How could he tell her he was responsible for her brother’s death? How could he tell her that he was the one who mistakenly overdosed him? The worse part was seeing Tinu get blamed for his mistake. He wondered why the autopsy didn’t reveal that Chris died from an overdose. At first, he was grateful. The new Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal didn’t take kindly to case of negligence and they were quick to revive the license of any doctor who killed by negligence.
How could he have miscalculated? He was sure it was five mililitres he injected into the medicine port of Chris’s IV bag. Why did things then go wrong? He had never made such a mistake in his close to ten years of practice. Why did it happen now? And with the beloved brother of his wife?
He couldn’t begin to imagine the hatred Margaux would feel if she found out the truth. She’d leave him no doubt. And she’d take their daughter with her.
God, please help me.
“Daniel?”, his wife called and he turned to face her. “My love what are you doing awake? I felt the bed for you and you weren’t there. Are you okay?”, she asked in worry. “Something’s disturbing you.” She cupped his face in her hands and stared into his eyes.
He had gotten so good at lying that he could stare back into her eyes and smile as though nothing was wrong.
“Go back to bed, Margaux. I just had a troubling day at work. I’ll be fine.”, he said smiling.
“Are you sure, Daniel?”, she said.
“Yes, I am.”, he answered.
His heart tore as his wife smiled at him lovingly. She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. She wound her arms around his neck and sought passage into his mouth. He denied her access.
She descended to her soles and looked up at him in wonder. “Daniel, what’s wrong?”
Those three words asked volumes. They asked questions he could never bring himself to answer. He could not just say, ‘Sorry, Margaux. It’s just that I killed your brother and I’m worried you’ll hate me, I’ll lose you, our daughter and my license to practice and an innocent woman may die for what I did. Just give me a minute to get myself together and I’ll be fine.’
So he did the only thing anyone in his situation would do. He lied. “Nothing. I’m just tired.”
“Daniel, no matter how tired you were in the past, you were never too tired to make love to me. Now, it’s like I repulse you. You don’t touch me anymore, you don’t kiss me anymore. You can barely sleep on the same bed with me. Don’t think I don’t notice how many times you wake up at night. Sometimes, you leave the room for minutes or hours. Do I disgust you? Or have I lost my appeal to you? “his wife said with tears in her eyes. “Daniel, it’s been months since we last made love. Talk to me.”
A tear fell from her eyes and he hated himself more.
“Margaux, it’s nothing like that. If we haven’t made love, it’s because of everything that has been happening. I mean, you were mourning your brother. I know how much you loved Chris. It would have been insensitive of me to want to jump your bones then…”
“Now, I’m ready. I’m not mourning anymore.”, Margaux said and tried to kiss him again but he pulled away. She looked at him in shock and a sob escaped her lips. She couldn’t believe what just happened. She had dodged her touch like she had Ebola. She had merely stated a few unruly thoughts that had danced in her mind. But the way he avoided her made her certain her husband was disgusted by her.
Could Daniel be that superficial? So she had added a lot of weight since she put to bed but she was working on losing it. So she wasn’t the lissome lady he married anymore but she was still Margaux. Was he that in love with her body and not her? She heard a lot of men changed towards their wives after children came but she never thought it could happen with her and Daniel. She had thought wrong. She tried to stop the tears that fell but couldn’t. She was heartbroken. If he was that affected by her looks, why didn’t he say something? Kenechi, one of her friends, had bragged that her husband had worked out with her and dieted with her to lose the baby fat she had put on after delivery. That was what real men did. Not hide away and act disgusted by the touch of their wives.
“Margaux, it’s not what you think.”, Daniel called and tried to touch her.
She took two steps backwards as he approached her. “G-g-goodnight, Daniel.”, she said and walked away.

Hi guyyyyyyyzzzzzz,


Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, E ku odun o.


I love you all. It's been a wonderful four months with you.


So....


I would have loved to drop an update today to do Christmas for you guys but then I, long story short, didn't have time to write.


So, I decided to drop a link to a little something I wrote for a competition on Okadabooks. It's a short story, something for Christmas.


Please, help me manage it.

So, unfortunately, I doubt that I'll complete this before the year ends. But anyhow sha.


I love you all. Happy Holidays.

https://okadabooks.com/book/about/detail/21738

EvaJael:
Merry Christmas millieademi! So, this is my first post on your story and I must say kudos to you. I love the fact that your characters are plenty and interrelated in one way or the other and yet you still have control over the plot.

So, I noticed something yesterday. The colour of Seyifunmi's eyes. People do not exactly have black eyes. Eye colours usually range from incredibly darkkk shades of brown (which is what most of us in this country have) to lighter colours like sky blue, light green and all that. Except you're going to shock us later sha and reveal to us that she has an eye defect that affects her eye colour, then okay.

Merry Christmas once again! Keep up the good work on this beautiful story

Thanks girl.

Merry Christmas to you too.

If you want the explanation, I'll chip it in an update.

Zuriel100:
millilove..... u just putting me on cloud 9... tnx..Merry Christmas in advance

Thanks love

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Seyifunmi groaned as the knock on the door chased sleep away from her. She bit her pillow as she cussed whoever was knocking. She sighed and rolled out of bed. Her night was a nightmare. Well, it was not a nightmare per se. She got back together with Dele.
That was a plus. She thought as she stood groggily. The downside was after giving her a kiss that riled up everything feminine and human in her, he sent her into her uncle’s house all primed, ripe, moist and throbbing. Her cold shower did nothing to help her and her sleep was worse. Her dreams starred Dele in X-rated fantasies.
She clamped her thighs together to assuage the dull, sweet ache she felt down there. She was just having another one dream and she had been enjoying it. She clamped her thighs tighter but it did nothing to help with the pain. She knew nothing but Dele could fix it. She sighed again. She was all h*rny and aroused and unfortunately, Dele would have flown out of the country by now. She looked up at the wall clock and groaned louder. Definitely, Dele was not within the Nigerian borders anymore. Why was she even being disturbed? It was a Saturday for crying out loud.
She made her way to the door and unlocked it. She opened the door and saw Rosanna standing in the hallway. She groaned and walked back to flop onto her bed.
“Good morning to you too.”, Rosanna greeted as she entered and closed the door behind her. Seyifunmi grabbed a pillow and put it over her face.
“Look, I am not in the mood. What do you want?”, she grinded in a muffled voice.
“I overstepped last night and I apologize.”
“Okay. Please leave. I’m trying to get back to my dream. Please.”, Seyifunmi put in right before she felt the bed dip under Rosanna’s weight. She removed the pillow from her face and turned to look at her cousin.
“Shay, I was just worried about you.”, Rosanna whined with both her eyes and voice.
Seyifunmi turned on her side and propped her head on one arm. “I understand. Thank you. You’re more of a sister to me than any of mine and I was stupid for talking to you like I did. And frankly, I’m grateful for what you did. Maybe if you didn’t, Dele and I might not have made up.”, she said and wagged her eyebrows.
“No way.”, Rosanna gasped in shock.
“Yep. Apparently, my pride can be useful in some instances. I was stuck in the rain last night and he picked me up. We fought and we kissed and we made up.”, she explained.
“So was there any make up sex?”, Rosanna said wagging her own eyebrows.

Tinu sat on the field reading the pamphlet Felicia had given her the day before. Tears streamed down her face as she read. She was angry with God. He took her parents away from her at a time they would have started enjoying the fruits of their labour over her. He let her suffer all Dele put her through and numerous trials and storms she went through with Chris. He took Chris away from her. He stood by and watched as she was wrongly accused of crimes she never committed. He let her innocent baby suffer and die. She wasn’t the worst sinner in the world. She stayed away from everything her mum told her to while growing up. She obeyed the ten commandments and tried not to lie. She kept her virginity until what happened with Dele. And it wasn’t her fault. She’d have kept it till her wedding night if it never happened. That was her mother’s dream and wish. And she wanted to honor it. Though she didn’t take church seriously, she prayed at least once a day like her mother had taught her.
The only time she willfully went against him was when she had an affair with Chris. But it wasn’t her fault as well. She never paid Chris two thoughts at first. It wasn’t like she came to Abuja to cheat on Dele. Her entire motive behind the move was to save her marriage. She thought Dele would want her if he missed her. He didn’t and that drove her into Chris’s arm. And she didn’t regret that it happened, only how it happened.
So why did God punish her so much? Yet, the pamphlet claimed that He loved her. They claimed God is the greatest lover who gave His son’s life for people who didn’t love Him in return. She knew that. All the sermons she heard at her mother’s church had sung it like a refrain in her ears. She still maintained that He might love everyone like the pamphlet claimed but He loved some more than the others. That was the only explanation for all the things she went through. He was just too busy pay keen attention to those he loved more to notice the unworthy Atinuke Coker.
She forced herself to continue to read because she promised Felicia she’d read it. ‘The Greatest Love Story of All Time.’ She sighed and opened the folded parts of the pamphlet.
Have you ever loved someone or something so much? So much that you feel your heart ache with the love in it? Has your heart ever ached so much with love that you think you might explode? Have you ever felt love in your heart for no reason at all?
If you have, imagine that sensation a billion times intensified, coursing through the heart of God at the beginning. The Lord Almighty was so restless with love that His spirit moved over the waters looking for something to love with all the love in His heart, all the love He is made of. Despite all the praise and worship and glory and honor and adoration He received from the millions and billions of angels and the twenty-four elders and the four beasts, the yearning to pour out his love on something or someone was not satisfied. He moved and moved but found nothing to love. Rather than sulk, He decided to embark on a project. To create something he'd love, an object for His tumultuous affections. He decided to make a world, a project; something that’d consume Him.
As He got closer to the end of completing His pet project, He realised He didn’t need a world to love. He needed someone just like Himself, someone that He could fellowship with, someone He could love and someone that would love Him back.
He then created man. He created man in His image and likeness. And the first man created was perfect, divine and just a little lower than the angels. God was so besotted with His new found love that He fellow shipped with him every evening. With every fellowship, He was moulding man into the stature of the bride He could marry. It didn’t matter how long it took, He had all the time in the world. He and His newfound love were eternal and you never rush perfection.
God gave man everything befitting of a bride of God- dominion and control and authority and free access over the world He had created. He held nothing back from man save the one thing that could kill the being loved. Man didn’t understand but someone else did. And he took advantage of man’s naivete and failure to heed to God’s instructions. He created a ginormous bridge between the two lovers. God was heartbroken and mad. How could the Devil? How could he destroy and make impure the perfect bride he was nurturing? How could man? How could he betray Him that way?
Rather than apologize, man blamed God and God saw red. How could he blame Him for his indiscretion and infidelity? And He cursed them in anger. God was not proud of what He did. And He knew that if man were to eat from the tree of life, He would never get the perfect man he had been grooming for Himself. He banished man from their love nest, the Garden of Eden.
Man regretted his actions and God forgave Him. The relationship with the first man was gone and a ginormous gap was between the two lovers. They ceased to understand each other and man grew so distant, he forgot about his first love.
It was horrible. Unrequited love. To love someone who does repeatedly things to spite you. Man spat in God’s face over and over and over and over and over again. Breaking all His laws and rules. As if that wasn’t bad enough, man took up other lovers. God saw red. If He never made man and fell in love with man, it would have been better. His heart would not have been so horrendously broken. He’d wipe it all away. Erase it all and forget the heartache and pain his lover and caused Him.
God looked all over and could barely find but a household still in love with Him. In His rage, He wiped it all away. With the calming of His anger, He regretted His decision. And promised man that He would never wipe the earth again by flood. And He promised that whenever I He saw the rainbow He'd remember his promise.
Years later, men became worse than before. Man became so haughty and proud he sought to approach God by means of a tower rather than seek to restore the fellowship broken. Rather than have that, He divided the unity of man. That was done and God realised the gravity of what he had done. He had pushedHjs unfaithful partner farther away. And then He decided enough was enough, He'd have His lover back. And He designed a redemption plan version 1.0.

He deposited her in the passenger seat of his and rushed over to the other side and got in. He locked the doors using the control panel by his side. And he turned to meet her glaring at him and he glared back. He had never met a woman more annoying, more arrogant than the Spitfire before him. Yet, his heart was beating erratically for her.
“This is false imprisonment at best and kidnapping at worst. I don’t need your ride anymore. I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing that before I met and after you left me…”
“I left you?!”, he inquired in outrage. “You can really say that I left you?”
“Yes. You left me. You got some other woman pregnant….”
“Will you open your eyes? For crying out loud. I never got any woman pregnant. Throughout the time we were together, I was faithful to you. You wanted exclusivity and I respected that.”, he shouted at her.
“And the baby? What? The Holy Spirit dropped it at your door?”, she asked refusing to listen to reason.
“For Pete’s sake, she’s not mine.” He sighed as he recalled he wasn’t supposed to let anyone know that. This woman. He pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “Seyifunmi, she’s not mine.”
“Whose is she?”, she asked in disbelief.
“I can’t tell you. If that is the basis of your anger, then I’m sorry because I can’t let you know her parents.”, he said.
“Then, why are we here? You think you can tell me she’s not yours and I’ll believe you without hard evidence?”, she said softly.
He sighed and said, “If I didn’t love you so much that it slowly kills me, I’d have said you weren’t worth the bother.”
She looked at him blinking. “Dele, take me home if you won’t let me out.”, she mumbled and turned to face the windscreen.
He looked at her in awe for a almost half a minute before he started the car.


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He pulled up in front of her uncle's house and waited for her to leave his car and life for good. If she could not believe his words then there’d be no future for them. She turned to leave and his heart rent for the umpteenth time since she asked him to take her home. The next thing she turned back to face him.
“Dele.”, she called and he turned his gaze from the windscreen.
“Yes?”, he answered clipped. He didn’t want
“I believe you. And I love you too.”, she said and kissed him in one breath. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in closer. He kissed her back with equal zeal.
“Is that an I’m sorry?”, he asked as he pulled away from their kiss.
“Fine, I’ll swallow my god forsaken pride and say it. You’re sorry.”, she said.
“I’m sorry?”
“Yes. I forgive you. And I’m sorry.”, she said smiling.
He smiled and shook his head. “You’re something else.”





Tinu sat on the field reading the pamphlet Felicia had given her the day before. Tears streamed down her face as she read. She was angry with God. He took her parents away from her at a time they would have started enjoying the fruits of their labour over her. He let her suffer all Dele put her through and numerous trials and storms she went through with Chris. He took Chris away from her. He stood by and watched as she was wrongly accused of crimes she never committed. He let her innocent baby suffer and die. She wasn’t the worst sinner in the world. She stayed away from everything her mum told her to while growing up. She obeyed the ten commandments and tried not to lie. She kept her virginity until what happened with Dele. And it wasn’t her fault. She’d have kept it till her wedding night if it never happened. That was her mother’s dream and wish. And she wanted to honor it. Though she didn’t take church seriously, she prayed at least once a day like her mother had taught her.
The only time she willfully went against him was when she had an affair with Chris. But it wasn’t her fault as well. She never paid Chris two thoughts at first. It wasn’t like she came to Abuja to cheat on Dele. Her entire motive behind the move was to save her marriage. She thought Dele would want her if he missed her. He didn’t and that drove her into Chris’s arm. And she didn’t regret that it happened, only how it happened.
So why did God punish her so much? Yet, the pamphlet claimed that He loved her. They claimed God is the greatest lover who gave His son’s life for people who didn’t love Him in return. She knew that. All the sermons she heard at her mother’s church had sung it like a refrain in her ears. She still maintained that He might love everyone like the pamphlet claimed but He loved some more than the others. That was the only explanation for all the things she went through. He was just too busy pay keen attention to those he loved more to notice the unworthy Atinuke Coker.
She forced herself to continue to read because she promised Felicia she’d read it. ‘The Greatest Love Story of All Time.’ She sighed and opened the folded parts of the pamphlet.

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Only the soft purr of the engine could be heard as they drove in silence. He had put on the heater of the car and she was grateful. She tried not to look at him but she couldn’t resist. He had trimmed his beard low. Somehow, it didn’t put her off like Emmanuel sparse beard. Rather she longer to skim her fingers over the dark hair. She wondered what it would feel like against her bare skin as he peppered her with kisses.
“God!”, she swore.
“Did you forget something?”, he asked and turned to look at her.
“No.”
He went silent and faced the road. She drummed her fingers on her thighs and wondered where he was coming from.
“What happened to your other car and the SUV?”, she asked.
“They’re fine. This isn’t mine. I just got it for my mum and the nanny. I’ll be out of town for a while.”, he answered.
“So you’re just coming back from the car dealership?”, she asked rather too inquisitively. He turned to look at her with an eyebrow lifted.
“Since when did you start bothering about my coming and going? You didn’t seem obliged to inform me about yours.”, he said and turned back to face the road.
She scoffed. How dare he? “Well, I’m sorry for asking.” She turned to face her side of the window fuming. Minutes later, she turned back to face him in anger. “You know what? I’m not sorry. It’s not my business. It ceased to be my business when you didn’t hold my mother, the woman who gave birth to the woman you claimed to love, in esteem. And it was most definitely no longer my business when you put a woman in the family way. You cheated on me but you act like the victim. I was the one insulted and cheated on.”
He turned to look at her and he scoffed and shook his head.
“Don’t you shake your head at me. I... Why are you parking the car?” She asked in worry.
“So I can listen to your baseless rants without causing an accident.”, he stated and unbuckled his seatbelt and turn to face her squarely.
“I am not ranting and they are not baseless. You hurt me and I’m trying to be civil. Yet you’re acting like I’m the one who was unfaithful. You know what? This was a bad idea. I’d rather die of hypothermia than be in the same car with you.”, she said and got out of the car. “Goodbye, Dele.”, she said and slammed the door.
Who does he think he is?
Her heart throbbed in protest but her ego was in charge. There’d be no apologies. At least, not from her. Not under her ego's watchful reign. She stamped her bare feet as she trudged down the road in anger. The rain was now soft showers. If she walked farther enough, she’d get a cab. She heard his car door open.
“Seyifunmi, come back here!”, he shouted. She in turn raised her right middle finger and shouted “Get lost.”
Screw him. She heard the door slam and her heart sank. He didn’t even put up a fight. She scolded herself. This was Rosanna’s fault. If she had minded her business, then she’d be in bed with a hot guy getting Dele out of her system. Not in the cold rain, pining hopelessly for him. The next thing she knew someone dragged her arm and turned her around. She knew it was him from the sparks that flew within her.
“What the hell is your problem?”, he growled at her in a voice that made her insides melt.
“Didn’t you hear me loud and clear? F*** you and get lost.”, she gritted more in anger at her reaction to him than for him to get lost. “Go away. Leave me alone. I’m not your problem anymore and….” A Yelp escaped her as he picked her up and carried her on one shoulder.
“Put me down now, you idiot.”, she screamed and hit his back with her shoes. “Are you deaf? Put me down. Put me down now, Dele!”
He responded by spanking her butt hard. “Will you stop your shouting?” That silenced her as a wave of pleasure shot through her groin.
He deposited her in the passenger seat of his and rushed over to the other side and got in.

Slyvesterjosh:
Millie, where have u been
We miss u mhen.

Thanks my love.

Missed you guys too. I've been busy working on something else and some personal issues.

I pray for strength to complete this story this year.

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Gabriel had the air knocked out him as he saw MJ standing at his doorway. His hand on his door knob slackened momentarily and then his grip tightened in anger. What did she want? To kill him off? Since the concussion didn’t work.
“Hi, Gabe.”, she greeted.
“What do you want?”, he said curtly. He glared at her and caught a glimpse of contrition.
“Gabriel, I’m sorry. What I said and what I did…. I’m so sorry…. I was just shocked. I…”, her words failed and a couple of tears fell from her eyes. Each drop thawed his frostbitten heart. He couldn’t stand to see her cry. And he sighed at his weakness when it came to her.
“Gabe, I’m sorry.”, she whispered and pressed her lips to his. He was too stunned to react to the feel of her lips against his. She looked up at him and said,. “I don’t want to lose you. Please.”
“MJ, what exactly are you saying?”, he asked.
“Gabe, seeing you lie in the hospital unconscious for days scared me. It was like Simon all over again. I can’t afford to lose someone I love again.” She looked down at her feet.
“Someone you love? You said you don’t love me. So what are you trying to say?”, he asked in confusion and crossed his arms across his chest.
She sighed and looked up at him. She sniffled. “Gabe, how can I not love you? You’ve been at my side since I can remember. If I told you I didn’t love you,it was because I don’t want to lose you like I lost Simon. I can’t lose you as well. I just want you alive, Gabe. What happened that evening made me realize, I’d have you anyway than not at all.”
He couldn’t believe his ears. “Are you joking?” She shook her head vehemently.
“I’ll understand if you don’t want me anymore after all the hurtful things I said to you. It’s alright. I know I hurt you and… forget I said anything…. I’m just glad you’re alive…. I’ll leave you now.”, she said and made to leave.
“Wait.”, he called desperately. She stopped and turned to face him. “You’re not pulling my legs, MJ?”
“No, Gabe. I love you.”, she said. He pulled her closer and hugged her.
“You don’t know how happy you’ve made me.”
She mewled in pleasure and hugged him tighter.

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Seyifunmi threw her head back as she swigged down her fourth tequila shot and sucked on a wedge of lime. She winced at the strong tingles it left in her mouth. She exhaled and turned to face the dance floor. She’d sit this song out. She turned to face the bar and tossed a couple of cashews into her mouth.
Damn her and her strong tolerance for alcohol. Damn Rosanna and her know-it-all attitude. Damn Dele. Damn her stupid heart for still pining for him even with all his baggage. Three children. Why did she have to fall for a man with children?
She bit her lips and ordered another tequila shot. She wanted to get drunk. She wanted to get drunk and forget all her pain. She loved him. She had really loved him. But it wasn’t meant to be. As if the heartache wasn’t bad enough, watching Rosanna get cozy and act lovey-dovey with Dare was like salt to her barely healed wounds. Now, Rosanna was telling her to get her shit together? Had she forgotten the numerous times she held her hair out of the way after she had drunk herself to the point of being sick after the issue with Dare? Or the notes she had helped her copy because she couldn’t bring herself to go to class? Or the numerous ice cream buckets and tissue boxes she had helped her clear from her room while she mourned the loss of virginity and her stupidity? Now, because luck was on her side and things turned out well for her with Dare she could tell her to get her shit together?
She sighed. It was her fault. She couldn’t blame Rosanna. She was the one with the problem. And she’d fix it. She asked the bartender for her bill and paid up. She downed her drink and got down from the bar stool. She ignored the stares she got and walked out of the club and into a heavy downpour.
You have got to be kidding me.
She got soaked immediately. Why did it have to rain? It had literally rained on her parade. She couldn’t go back into the club looking like a drenched cat and she knew she’d be out there waiting for a long time before she got a cab. She knew she should have swallowed her pride and gone home with Rosanna and Ose.
New rule. Always go out with your car. Regardless of who is taking you out.
She hugged herself and cried in pity for her patent leather heels. She took them off and rushed underneath a tree by the side of the road. The deluge pierced through the thick canopy of the almond tree in a slightly heavy shower. She sighed at least it was considerable better than standing under the direct torrent. She looked at the direction traffic was coming from and saw headlights zooming down the road. She waved her arm to hail the vehicle in the hopes it was a taxi. The headlights drove past but not without baptising her with the water that had pooled on the road.
“Ugh!”, she groaned and wiped her face. As she dragged down the moisture on her face, three more vehicles passed and renewed her baptism. She moved backwards to avoid more sprays.
What wickedness.
She stood for minutes and contemplated going back into the club. No, she was too proud. She was in this situation because of her pride. Her pride would kill her one day. She sighed and her hopes rose as she saw the low headlights of a car. It had to be a taxi. She moved closer to the road and try to flag the taxi down. The vehicle drove past and her hopes were dashed. At least he didn’t bestrew her with puddle water. A small smile graced her lips and her heart leapt for joy as the car reversed.
Thank you, God.
A good Samaritan. She watched the car retrace his tracks till it stopped right in front of her. The tinted windows rolled down and she peered in to look at her benefactor.
“Seyifunmi, get in.”, Dele called.
Her heart did a backflip and cartwheel on the beam it was on and landed in a perfect stance that would have earned a gymnast a ten. She berated herself and hugged her self as her teeth chattered
“It’s no bother. I called a cab. He’ll be here any moment now.”, she said.
“Will you stop being proud and get your ass in here. You’re freezing.”, he scolded. She sighed and got into his car.