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Caroline sat beside her husband. She sighed and shook her head.
"She is still crying?" Abraham asked. Caroline nodded.
"She loves him" Caroline said helplessly.
"I can't allow this. After what that good for nothing did. I'm not against my daughter loving someone but she cannot love that Olumide."
"Why did he show up now she's getting better. What do we do now?" Carol asked.
"I don't know"
"I guess we have to keep loving her" Carol said in tears. Her husband held her in his arms as she wet his shirt with her tears.



"You are not supposed to be here." Olumide said.
"Why? You don't want to be with me again?" Stella asked.
"I can't let you put yourself in any harm. We can't be seen together."
"You are my husband for goodness sake!"
"You need to learn to forget about me. There is no way your people will accept me again and my life is dangling on a noose. I can't give you the live you deserve." he said, shaking her violently.
"Stop. You are hurting me."
Olumide released her. He might ve released her body but definitely not her heart. She stared at him. Olumide turned away from her, scratching his head.

"I'm sorry, but you should leave now. Don't come looking for me again."
"Why?"
"'cause my life is in danger. You have to get use to me not being around. Go now" he walked to the door and opened it for her.
Stella met his eyes with pain in her eyes, Olumide looked away. He didn't want to see the pain he caused her. He only wanted what's best for her. He couldn't imagine putting her through torture again for no good reason.



Stella was too tired to talk to anybody. She prayed to be able to avoid Kelvin. That man doesn't know what someone's space means. God knows best...cause her prayer wasn't answered.
She was about unlocking the door when she heard her name.
"Stella" She jumped back.
"Wha....what do you want?" she shouted.
"I'm sorry I startled you"
"It's OK. So what is it."
Kelvin hesitated at her tune.
"Well, I just wanted to check on you."
"I'm fine."
"I can see that" he said sarcastically. Stella glared at him.
"I guess I should go" he turned to walk away.
"Wait" Stella called.
"I want to ask you a professional question."
"Sure. Darling, you can ask me anything."
Stella hesitated.
"Come inside." she said
"It's about my husband" she started, unsure of her.
Kelvin scowled inwardly. Stella continued anyway.
"I know you are now aware of our situation. He said they are after his life. I don't know if there is anything we can do to help him legally. He is not a bad person."
"Do you know why they are after him?"
"I think it's because he left them."
"I doubt he asked you to do this."
"Can you help?"
"I don't think I can."
"OK."
"Stella, isn't it time to stop? Get yourself together."
"He is my husband and I love him"
"Hell! I love you" Stella was stunned.
"I love you." he said again before taking her face in his hands, kissing her.
When he finally released her,
"I'm sorry, I just can't..."
"Please leave now" Stella said huskily.
"I'm really sorry."
He got up and left.

Olumide approached the room number given to him. He stood in front of the door for few seconds to brace himself up for whatever happens, before knocking on the door in the systematic way they did. Yesterday's events ran through his mind. He had gone to visit Stella and ended up making love to her. He didn't plan on that but seeing her had rekindled the need in him and he couldn't stop himself from touching her exquisite body, then he had returned only to find a note on his center table. His stomach rumbled and his heart beat faster with fear as he read the note. It was a room number in a hotel and he needed no soothsayer to know who the note came from.

"Get in" Tokumbo ordered.
"Sit" came Smith's deep voice, Olumide obeyed.
"So do you have our money?"
"I don't owe anybody" Olumide said with a defiant look at Smith.
He scoffed. "I thought as much. Now you listen, that much money is not something to joke with. We are a team and no one plays with others risk. We got that money together so everyone gets a share even when they did nothing."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Oh I know you know what I mean. You were just an extra hand. You don't bring jobs, you don't give suggestions, nothing."
"How can you say that? I lost my wife because of you all" Olumide said, raising his voice.
"Oh shut up. You would ve lost her completely if not that she regained her sanity and escaped.This is how it goes, you obviously don't ve our money so this is a deal I'm willing to make so you can be free from us. Some business men are coming in with quite a huge dose and they are coming through the airport road of course, so we are making a hit and you are leading it."
"Are you crazy??" Olumide sprung up from his seat.
"Sit down" Smith commanded with a stern look that dared Olumide to do otherwise. He hesitated before sitting.
"You have no choice."
"I can't. It is over my dead body."
"So be it" Smith said, pointing a gun at him. " And the best part is your little love will die too. I know you've seen and been with her. I will advice you to stop your selfishness for once."
"No. No you can't be this heartless" Olumide shook his head.
"I give you two days. Leave." he waved his gun towards the door. Olumide was too downcast to stand up. He walked as if a heavy metal rested on his knees.


**********
"It's been long since I've seen you this happy and lively." Caroline said smiling at her daughter.
Stella knew her mother wouldn't want to hear that Olumide visited. She just smiled and continued singing as she washed the dishes.
"Have you heard from Kelvin?" Caroline asked.
"Oh yes I have." She had pushed the forming regular thought of Kelvin aside after seeing Olumide. She wondered why he made her feel funny whenever he was around. She enjoyed his company but he could never be Olumide.

Stella stood up to answer the door when they were eating dinner.
"What are you doing here by this time?" she asked.
"I want to see your parents and you." Olumide answered.
Stella looked at him with wild eyes.
"Have you lost your mind?"
"No, my love. I need them to forgive me as well."
Unshed tears blurred Stella's vision. She shook her head with fervor.
"They won't want to see you."
"Please" he pleaded desperately.
Stella moved aside to let him in.

Caroline dropped her spoon at the sight. Abraham almost chocked to death. He reached for the lifesaving water he needed which his wife was too shocked to notice. He coughed till tears filled his eyes, everyone looked on like a zombie.
"What... what is he...is he doing here?" Abraham asked amidst coughs, pointing at Olumide.
His wife finally got out of her numb state to calm her husband.

"How dare you, filthy creature. You want to see the damage you caused? And you" he said, turning to Stella "You even have the mind to open my door for him??"
"Dad please hear him ou..."
"Shut up!!!!"
"Have you completely lost your mind?"
"No, dad, but I will if you let him leave me again."
"I have a stupid daughter! Lord why did you give me such?" he said, lifting his hands and looking upward.
"He steals and on top of that he brings home his gang members and they raped you and drugged you, then he runs away, leaving you to die which made you insane, yet you side for him?"
"He is my husband and I love him" Stella said in tears.
"I said, shut up!!. Don't make me disown you and push you out of my house with him. Caroline moved to his husband's side, calming him and begging him to stop.
"You" he pointed at Olumide and then at the door "leave my house now"
"Sir, please forgive me, even though I don't deserve it. My life depends on it. I regret everything and I know I can't change it but even if I live with it for the rest of my life, I want to do so knowing that I have been forgiven."
"You don't deserve to live. Don't come back here again."

Olumide blinked back a tear. He turned around only to face Kelvin whom no one had noticed his presence since. He had knocked but no one answered, so he let himself in because the door was open. Olumide walked passed him. Stella moved to go after him.

"If you step out that door, you are no longer my daughter." Abraham said hotly. Stella waited before making for the door but Kelvin grabbed her, holding her back. She cried and fought frantically to be freed.

Chapter Eight
An insistent knock disturbed Stella's morning sleep. She covered her ears with her pillow so as not to hear the knock. She hoped the person would eventually go away but the knock continued.
"Oh...."she punched her pillow "go away"

I know you're in there, he thought to himself.
Stella grudgingly stood up. She brushed her teeth and washed her face hoping the person will go away before she was through.
"I can hear you in there, open the door" Kelvin called.
Stella wiped her face with a towel, adjusted her nightwear and sighed before walking to the door.
"Good morning" she greeted." Okay, if you're not going to reply my greeting then come inside."
Kelvin smiled "I just love looking at you" he said before walking into the room, Stella smiled shyly.

"I just wanted to check to know how you're doing" Kelvin said after he was comfortably seated beside Stella. "With the way you just bolted I swear I almost had a heart attack seeing you like that."
"I'm sorry for that" Stella apologized.
"He was your husband, right?"
Stella's eyes widened with shock.
"How...how did you know that?"
Kelvin ran his finger through her face, Stella flinched but Kelvin's hand settled on her cheek.
"My dear, you've been through a lot and I think it's time for you to live a little and I'm willing to be there for you."
Stella looked into Kelvin's reassuring eyes and held it. Spellbound by the moment, she jumped when a knock came on the door. She averted her eyes from his towards the door.
"Are you expecting anyone?"
"No" she got up to answer the door.

Kelvin was becoming bothered about the silence at he door and the fact that Stella had gone for a good five minutes. He decided to go check out what was keeping her and her visitor.
"Stella what's..." he stopped abruptly and glanced from the door to Stella and back.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had company." Olumide said.
"Oh, it's nothing, I will leave now" Kelvin said. Stella glanced over her shoulder at Kelvin. "Stay."
"No my dear, I don't want to cause any inconveniences" he said, placing a hand on Stella's shoulder. Olumide's eyes dropped to the hand and back to Kelvin's face. They glared at each other before Kelvin exited the room, despite how much he hated to leave her alone with that beast of a man.

An awkward silence lasted for a while before they both made attempts to speak the same time.
"Stella, I know..."
"Why did you leave?"
"I thought you died. You weren't breathing. You just lay there unconscious and the circumstances were beyond me."
"Beyond you? did you just say the circumstances were beyond you?"
"Stella, I know you hate me for what I did to you, I hate me for that too but all I ask is forgiveness."
"How can I even hate you?" she asked, more to herself than him "I wish I knew how to. You broke not only my heart but every other part of me. You broke my sanity." she was determined not to cry before him and it took all she could do not to throw herself into his arms in tears.
"I know I'm upsetting you. You have a live now that doesn't include me" he glanced at the door "All I want is your forgiveness, I can't live without that. I will leave you if you ask me to."
"How dare you? how dare you say such words as if it were the truth? How dare you even think anyone could replace you in my heart." She wiped a stray tear.
"I don't deserve you. There are too many things, my dear."
They stared at each other for a while. Olumide reached out for her, he cupped the back of her neck and drew her closer slowly and gently. Stella rubbed her lower lips wet with her tongue unintentionally, Olumide's eyes dropped to her lips, he tilted his head a bit to match his lips with hers perfectly. They kissed gently then the kiss grew slowly, passionately and hotter.She wrapped her hands around his neck, digging the tips of her fingers into his back in a desperate urge and responses to the kiss. Olumide ran his tongue over her lips and sucked gently, she opened her mouth to invite his tongue in. All the while, his hands ran throw her slender, curvy, familiar body. He reached her nipples and teased it gently before caressing her full breasts one after the other. Stella moaned softly as his roaming fingers found her wet womanliness. She ached back a little to invite him in...
And like they say; the rest is history.

Stella came out to draw water when she saw Kelvin approaching, she made to run back in before he could see her...Well, it was already too late for her.
"Stella, wait" he called, stopping Stella. She turned slowly with a shy look.
"Hey. How are you doing?"
"I'm...I'm fine" she stammered.
"I hope you are no longer feeling embarrassed over yesterday's occurrence"
"What makes you think I was embarrassed?"
"Well, you've been avoiding me"
"Avoiding you? I don't even know you"
"Exactly. I want you to get to know me and I to know you. Please make my heart's desires come through" Kelvin said, placing his hand on his chest and holding Stella's hand captive with the other. A thrill ran through Stella. She swallowed and looked into the passionately pleading eyes that held her gaze.

"Okay" she said finally.
"But I want to know what you want from me"
"I want to spend time with you. go out with you."
A frown graced her face. "Go out?"
Kelvin let out a little laugh. "It's not what you're thinking. We are going to go out as new friends to have fun."
"Oh.okay."
"So when will be okay by you.?"
"Tomorrow.... no, Wednesday. Wednesday is fine by 4pm."
"You do realize tomorrow is Wednesday, right? well, get ready." Kelvin said and walked away smiling, leaving a stunned Stella.

Stella took her bath and was through with making up about an hour early. Why are you so excited? I'm not excited. But you're all dressed up and eager about going out with him like your first date with Olumide. 'Shut up" she said out loud to herself. "Shut up. He is not Olumide. Olumide abandoned me" She grabbed a towel and wiped off her make up frantically. She slumped into a chair and cried.

"Oh my. You are not even ready. My dear stop doing this to yourself" Caroline moved over to her daughter.
"You have a fine young man waiting for you outside and you are still soaked in tears."
"I'm sorry mom. Is he here already?" Stella asked, wiping her tears.
"Yes. Let me help you get ready."

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting." Stella apologized.
"Oh. It's nothing at least it was worth my time" Kelvin said, giving a thorough appraisal.
They drove to an eatery, all the while Kelvin made small talks.
When they finally arrived.
"So tell me why you're visiting and how long you intend staying"
"Well, my firm is doing great and I decided to take some time off and I thought why not visit mumcy it's been long luckily for me I set eyes on one amazing person and I said to myself, if this regal beauty beside me can just show me her wonderful dentition in one mind blowing smile then I might just take the whole year off instead of the initial one month plan."
Stella couldn't stop herself from smiling. Kelvin's hand held her to a halt.
"I want to see it very well so I will never forget. I want you to know the importance of this moment." Stella's smile deepened and Kelvin smiled back.

Stella turned to make her way to the eatery's entrance. The sight she saw jolted her back. Her smile died instantly.
Olumide was in a dazed state. He was unable to think or move. His mouth opened and closed momentarily.
Stella stood too numb to move but a sudden urgency drove through her and she ran.
"Stella" Olumide called or rather murmured.
"Stella wait." Kelvin called. He threw a glance at Olumide then ran after Stella who had already entered a cab. He entered his car and zoomed after her.


Stella rushed pass her parents into her room.
She wasn't ready to talk to anyone. She didn't want to cry. Her mother was already seated beside her and placed a hand on her back. She shook her head again and again as she shed tears.
"This my baby when will you ever listen. I have told you not to cry over that husband of yours. You break my heart my dear. He doesn't deserve your tears. He is probably dead and you have to..."
"No no no mum. He is not dead. He can't be dead. I saw him mum. I saw him."

"So that bloody bastard is still alive abi. Ohhhh. let me set my eyes on him. Let me just set my eyes on him." Abraham was boiling with anger a few minutes later.
"So after using my daughter for rituals he still has the mind to show his face around town. I'm going to crush him."
"He didn't" Stella said.
"What is this one talking about?" Abraham asked, pointing at Stella.
"He didn't use me for rituals"
Stella narrated her ordeal in the hands of Olumide's gang members.
"So he is a thief" Carol said sadly.
"He changed when things got rough. After what they did, I woke up and couldn't find anyone. It all led to my mental problem and I vaguely remember someone taking me up from the street. I recognized them as the people that raped me and a shock came over me. That was how I regained my senses. I thought they would kill me according to a phone conversation I overheard though I wondered why they didn't do so where they found me. I managed to escape and come back here."

A deafening silence settled in the room for minutes.
Abraham stood dejected for minutes before walking out of the room. Carol followed.

"I was mocked by people for allowing a similar case as my sister's befall my daughter. I was angry that my pride and that of my family was damaged. I was angry for the wrong reasons. For insignificant reasons and towards the wrong persons. But look at what happened to my daughter. Even if she recovers from the shame of madness and people forget she was ever mad, will she forget and recover from this dent on her?" Abraham lamented.
Caroline was moved to tears and she laid her head on her husband's chest for comfort.

joliematt:
always touching, Jst increase ur flow of updates n d crowd will locate u,d updates re nt regular like before, if is even once a day is beta Dan non at all,

OK dear. I will try my best.

"Mama I thought we all agreed on you not working again" Kelvin said.
"My son, I need to keep making my own money."
"Why mama? are you not making enough money from the rent your tenants pay you? plus the one we give you monthly."
'You know I can't stay idle all the time and I don't want you children to keep bothering about my upkeep."
"Well you look good o" Kelvin threw back his head to give a proper assessment.
Mama Sade laughed "This my son eh. Tell me how you are doing please"
"You can see I'm fine" he said, spreading his arms.
"Yes but you are not completely fine until you marry omo mi"
"You have started again, I'm just coming now o. Instead of you to give me food you are disturbing me with marriage talk."
"Disturb you say, well let me get food for you but you know it would ve been better if your wife were here to help."
She brought food for her son and they talked about many things during the meal.

Kelvin was now fully fed and relaxed. He sat beside his mother on the couch picking his teeth.
"Mama please when did that beautiful girl I saw outside pack in"
"Beautiful. Don't tell me you have an eye for her."
"Mama please o. I just asked about her."
She sighed.
"She is Stella, you know mama Stella and her husband she is their daughter Stella."
"How come I haven't seen her before?"
"She is married."

Kelvin's jaw dropped. Married??
"Who...who...who is her husband?"
"Mmm. My son how can you know him" she shook her head.
"Hers is a pitiable situation." She shook her head again.
"She got married to the man she loves even though it took her parents time to consent. I don't know how their marriage was but we heard her husband became very poor and decided to use her for rituals to make money. We heard Stella saw his charm calabash and ran mad while Olumide became perpetually poor and ran away after his parents disowned him."
Kelvin was too shocked to think. His mouth opened but he couldn't say anything.
"Em... how come she is okay now?"
"Who knows? she was taken to many psychiatrists but none could cure her before her parents money ran out and they took her to a local herbalist. She ran out from there, screaming her husband's name and no one could find her then she came back here sane after two years. people say Olumide is finally dead."
"Mother, I want to help her."
"You are a lawyer not a mental doctor."
"I know but she seem too secluded to her world. I want to make her happy. I want to see her smile."
"It's a good thing my son. She needs it."


*********
Stella was screaming and struggling with her pillow in her disturbed sleep.
"Wake up! Wake up!" she heard a voice calling and pulling her and she fought even harder to free herself.
"Open your eyes. Stella Stella open your eyes."
She obeyed and rushed into the waiting arms, crying.
Minutes passed before she got back to her senses and jumped out from the arms that was soothing her a moment ago. She was going to ask who he was before...."What are you doing here...oh my God...what are you doing in my rooooom?"
"I'm sorry I..." Kelvin tried apologizing before Stella cut him off "Leave!!!!!" she pointed towards the door.
Kelvin stood from his bending position.
"I just heard you screaming so I decided to come to your aid."
"Thanks but I'm okay now. You can leave."
Kelvin stared at her then walked out of the room.