Two years ago…..
Narrator
"Sharon, you're a disgrace!" Adira was forever ready to send her daughter to an early grave. She wasn't taking things easy on her at all.
The very moment the news of the incident came to her notice, she had to run down to the addressed hospital immediately to see how the following victims were doing. She met her best friend—Ella whom is Jide's mother, looking ever so devastated in the waiting room. Her last child, Wendy who was heavily pregnant was sitting on the couch beside her.
Adira felt so ashamed of what her daughter had done. This family were doing to be their in-laws in a few times and this happened?
How could she explain this or hide her face from them now? She had no idea what came over her daughter. She hopes this doesn't escalate soon while she discipline her daughter on the other hand.
Ella was trying her possible best to shield Sharon from all the heavy blows and beatens Adira was lacing on her. She's been crying so hard from the brutal hits, even the security had to warn them that this was a hospital and not a soldier training room.
"Mommy, please!" Sharon has never seen her mother gotten this furious in her entire life.
Each time she try hiding under Ella's protection, Adira would swung her out and give her the brutal beating of her life.
It's not as if Ella wasn't touched by the havoc Sharon did that cost her son his life to be in the emergency room right now. But at the same time, she's considerate because Sharon will be her daughter in-law soon. And, she has also looked at Sharon like a daughter too. If it were to be someone else, she'd have arrested them immediately.
Meanwhile, Kiki and Ire's parents had called Adira and threatened her that they will have Sharon locked up behind bars if anything happens to their children.
"Look at the damage you've done." Adira's voice almost pulled down the ceiling. "Tell me, where should I start from, eh? Where?"
Sharon choked hard on her tears. By now, she was already on her kneels, pleading. Even Wendy pitied her but couldn't save her because of her condition. "Mommy, I'm sorry... I'm sorry, it was a mistake... I'm sorry…."
"Will sorry fix this? I'm asking you! Because of your stupidity, Jide is lying lifeless in the emergency. Kiki and Iretomiwa are fighting for their lives under diagnosed oxygen."
"Mommy…." Sharon sobbed hard. She wished she never crossed her brother's line in the first place. Now look at the number of person's lives she endangered. "I'm. Sorry. I'm sorry, everything is my fault."
Adira placed her hands on her hips, "Is he your age mate?" She reverted her hands from her hips and grabbed Sharon's ears, pulling it up, causing her to scream in pain. "Sharon, is Sebastian your age mate?"
Sharon shook her head vigorously even before Adira completely her sentence. Hot tears running down her swollen bruised cheeks.
"For goodness sake, Sharon, how many times do I have to remind you that he is seven years older than you? He is even four years older than Jide talk more of you who is his younger sister. How dare you think you could challenge him, hm? There's never a time you've showed him the respect of an elder brother that he deserved. Ypu always think you could cross him over or trespass him without him protesting about it. You crossed the line today, putting others at high risk."
Sharon winced and screamed louder when Adira twisted her ears and pushed her away.
"Auntie, please take it easy. Everything will die down soon." Wendy interfered. "I've already contacted one of my friend who is a journalist. She's helping with the tabloids."
Adira turned towards her in fury, "Wendy, didn't you see how she embarrassed herself on social media?" She looks at Sharon, "Your father is still in Nigeria. I'll wait until he returns so I can also give him a piece of myself. He is responsible for your waywardness. By now, I believe he hasn't heard a word yet. But I assure you, before he returns, I'll turn you into a dead living creature."
"Ah, Success…" Ella said, pitifully. "Please don't say that."
Adira looked at Ella as if she was her archenemy. The disappointment in her eyes shows she was unbelievable at the moment even to the fact that it was her son in the CPR.
"Don't tell me to calm down, Nkechi. Where did I ever go wrong in raising her? Where? Point it out for me! Sebastian is not a troublemaker. Fine if he's tough skinned but at least, he is not wayward. In the past, I used to have only one problem with him and that is the fact he doesn't want to get married. Now that he has finally decided to, Sharon entered the picture and ruin it. And you stand here, telling me to calm down? No! I can't."
"He….he started it first. I was only paying him back." Sharon finally said.
"Shut up!" Adira gave her a resounding slap that send her face flying and shaking the hospital walls.
Wendy and Ella gasped in heart pounding surprise. They never knew Adira had such temper hidden inside her these years.
"Jesus, Success," Ella placed a hand on her shoulder, "That was too harsh of you. You have to calm down, like seriously or else you might end up killing her."
"Yes, allow me kill her." Adira snapped, jerking Ella's hand off her shoulder. "She's my daughter. I carried her in my womb for nine fucking whole months, nurtured her, baited her. I brought her into this world and I can also send her back to the pit of hell."
"Violence won't solve this, Success." Ella is trying to make peace in her best power. "I'm the one who's supposed to be doing this but I'm not. My son is lying in there, begging for his life in the middle of pain. Please don't add more problems to the already cooked ones. I'm begging you, my dear friend."
Adira ignored her and continued her ranting and torture on Sharon. "Your brother only did what he thought was right. Because he never wanted you to suffer what I suffered thirty-five years ago…" she breaks down in tears and Ella put a hand on her shoulder.
Just the memory of thirty-five years ago flashing inside her brain all over again, send her goosebumps. Even after all these long years, everything still felt fresh, like yesterday to her. The ambush, the beatings, the ripping of clothes, the dragging, the pains, the thrusts of several men taking turns on one body, the screams, the violence, the force—everything made her still shiver till today. It was after that incident she had her first child—Sebastian. It was a moment of horror memory and whenever she sees her son, the memory just keeps flying back again.
"For goodness sake, he loves you…" She try her best not to break down even though her voice was trailing off already and the hot tears running down like streams. "So much. He hate to see you hurt. He protects you and never stopped loving you as his dearest sister. But what did you do to return the favour? You tampered with his girlfriend. The only person he has chosen to be his wife."
She turned away to sniffle the tears in, "If I ever had an elder brother in my life….I don't think I would have passed through that torment thirty-five years ago."
Tears welled in Ella's eyes too. "Success…."
"But…." She plastered a weak smile on her face. One that said she was proud to still be Sebastian's mother. "I don't regret it today because, Sebastian is the product and I'm benefiting from it today." She turn to Ella. "Sometimes, I just wondered if my late sister bewitched her before dying. Ella, it feels like my twin sister is not dead. It feels like….she left her legacy behind."
When Ella slowly shook her head into a pitiful NO, she added, " What's the difference between her behaviours and Sharon's? She wears colored wigs, smokes, drinks and wear contact lenses too. And even dresses like a retarded slut."
Ella sighed, "You're overreacting."
"Allow me to!" Adira raised her voice before Ella landed her last statement. "Felix caused all these. He's the reason behind her naughtiness. He spoiled her so much to the edge. Ella, it's your son we're talking about here. He's in there fighting to survive."
But what more can Ella do? There's absolutely nothing she could do.
She had to hide the news from her husband and the rest of her children, if not….hell would have rained since. "That's the faith I'm having, Success. Yes, because I know Jideofor will definitely survive for his fiancée."
"No way!" Adira gave her bloodshot eyes. Her temper floating up than its usual state again. Sge turn to Sharon, "You see this engagement? I'm calling it off."
"What!?" Ella and Wendy's eyes popped in shock. Even Wendy had to stand up to process Adira's words.
For good few seconds, Sharon felt like her world had collapsed. If there was anything she wasn't doing to sacrifice or let go, it would be her engagement. For goodness sake, she'll be getting married to her fiancé. The same guy who is fighting for his life right now amd her mother just said this?
No way.
Maybe she has dementia and she doesn't know.
"Mommy, no, no. You don't mean it, right?"
"Yes! I meant every damn word of it. Since you decided to destroy your brother's only happiness, I'll make sure you don't find yours either."
"Please, no…" the tears fell down again. "I love Jide so much, you know I love him with the whole of my life. You...you can't….you can't just—"
Adira narrowed her eyes at her, pointing a warning finger at her, "You won't be marrying Jideofor anymore and that's finally." She turn to Ella who was still battling with the surprise and disappointment, "I'm sorry my dear friend but I can't see myself digesting this kind of shame forever. It's embarrassing. And not until Sharon goes to clear things up with her brother, there will be no wedding."
"Success —" Ella was speechless.
Adira snapped her dangerous gaze at her, irrespective she was her bestie, "Hey! No one has ever seen my cruel side before because I've been tolerating enough. But now, I've had it up to here." She points at her gullet. "I'm done. She tampered with the only woman her brother loved. So let her go and make peace first before I heed to her plea and approve of her wedding."
Sharon looked at Ella and Wendy for interference and help but the two just stare down at her helplessly.
Adira raked her manicure nails through her brown bob wig and sighed in deep frustration. "My God! What kind of daughter is this? I'm finished. She's killed me. That was the woman Sebastian was going to marry. He's already preparing a proposal for her by next month and...and….oh Sharon has spoiled things for me."
"Mommy…." Sharon was too scared to crawl towards Adira nor reach for her feet. "...Please. I love Jide so much. He is my everything. You can't do this to me."
"No, you don't." Adira try hard to control the deadly urge of lashing out on her again. "If you had, you wouldn't have dragged him into the mess you made. Especially when you knew the kind of person your brother was."
Sharon looked at Ella and Wendy for concern, "Auntie Ella...Wendy, please help me beg my mother. I can't lose Jide. He's my life. Please tell her."
"Auntie—" Wendy wanted to interfere but Adira shut her up.
"Wendy! Don't even think about it. Don't." She warned thoroughly. "She'll never become your future sister in-law. Don't get your hopes up too much. For this she has done, it'll be a lesson to her. I can't see the truth and still hide it just because she is my daughter. A daughter like this is nothing but a disgrace and I'm not a mother that supports bad tactics."
Ella was going to interfere but her daughter's sudden scream jerked her off the edge of speaking.
"Ah! Ouch!"
"Oh my god, Chinwendu?" She quickly nudge her back on the couch.
Adira who had been vibrating in anger and Sharon who was on her kneels, all ran towards Wendy to see what the problem was.
"Wendy?" Sharon reached for her arm but Adira slapped it off.
"Don't touch her, you shameless wanton."
Wendy was breathing heavily to catch a breath.
Ella was trying her best to soothen her. "Relax, my child. Iku ume. Were ume miri emi, mmanụ aṅụ. Ọ? (Breathe. Take a deep breath, honey.)" She rubbed her back steadily as she reassured her in Igbo language.
Adira patted Ella's arm when she saw something, "Her water is broken. She's in labour."
"Mommy, am I gonna die again for the third time?" Wendy cried in pain. Just the thought of doing into labour and pushing a baby out gives her strings of goosebumps.
Sharon stood in fear, trembling that one day, she'll also be like Wendy. She had been hoping to ask her how it felt carrying a baby inside the womb and the delivery process. Even Adira hates to tell her about it.
Just the sight of seeing water dripping down Wendy's thighs made her heart sank into her stomach. She can't care less thinking about an adoption now.
"Shh," Ella kept rubbing her back. "You're about to become a mother for the third time. So don't mention such awful words, my dear. Ị ga-adị mma. (You'll be fine.)"
Yes, she'll be fine.
Wendy took several deep breaths to console herself that she'll be fine but it wasn't helping. She screamed again and again until the nurses and doctors ran out to her aid. Ella had to go to the labour room with her, leaving Adira and Sharon alone in the reception.
***
Few hours later, Ella ran out with the brightest smile drawn all over her face. It didn't even look as if her son was also hospitalised in the same hospital.
She looked overjoyed. And Adira ran to her the moment she saw her stepping out. "How is she?"
"Success!" Ella beamed, dancing around and swinging Adira's arms in joy. "I'm a grandma for another time again! Chinwendu just dropped a set of twins tonight!"
Adira gasped, covering her mouth in shock "Set of….twins?"
Ella shook her head vigorously, the smile not wearing out. "A boy and a girl."
"Oh my world. Congratulations! I'm so happy for you."
"Come and see. The babies are so cute and chubby." Ella took Adira's hand and they both disappeared into Wendy's ward.
Sharon wanted to follow them and see the babies but her mom would rip her soul out. She was too scared to be anywhere around her right now. Especially with the situation she caused on ground now.
A nurse walked out of a passage and saw only Sharon sitting on the couch. She recognised her statement on the file as the patient's fiancée so she didn't need to interrogate her again.
Sharon stood up at once when she saw the medical nurse approaching. "Is he—"
"He's awake and he says he wants to see you." The nurse said when she reached Sharon's frontage.
Sharon took a deep breath of relief and thanked God inwardly in her heart before going with the nurse.
When they reached the door post, the nurse departed.
Sharon clutched onto the doorframe, peeking at him from the entrance. Her greatest fear was what her mother told her few minutes ago and what she'll be hearing from him after the mess she put him through.
He was still diagnosed in oxygen, his body still healing gradually to the treatment.
Tears flowed down Sharon's cheeks the second she remembered the torture they went through at Sebastian's place hours ago. She was too ashamed to look at Jide twice.
The moment he noticed her by the door, he reached his hand forth and called her, "Hey."
Sharon gulped, hot tears hitting her lips like rain drops. "Jide…. you're awake."
A small smile crest on his lips. "Come in here. Why are you standing by the door?" His voice was low and light as a result of the pain.
Sharon gathered all courage to go in and hold his outstretched hand, "I...Jide I am... I'm sorry, I caused you this pain."
"Hey, hey, hey….shh," he clasped her hands in his tightly and brought it to his mouth for a soft kiss. The sight of it made Sharon sniffle. "It's okay. Stop crying."
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and nodded, "How are you feeling?"
"Not too good. My back still hurts a lot." He sighed.
Sharon reached for his head and caressed it. "Oh dear, I'm so sorry. I couldn't save you."
"From your brother?" Jide chuckled lightly. He winced when the pain struck him again. "Darling, you're so funny. Even the strongest man alive can't defeat him. Jesus. He's so energetic and supreme. Just the thought of having him as a brother in-law gives me goosebumps." He laughed softly. "I think I'll have a lot to deal with now."
Sharon couldn't believe he was still ready to face whatever challenge Sebastian would give him in the future, all because of her. All for her sake.
"Mom is calling off our engagement." She said.
And Jide gave her a narrow look, "What?" He wanted to sit up but Sharon nudge him to lay back. "Why? My mother has no right to do that. It's about us."
"It's not Auntie Ella." Sharon invaded the empty chair beside the bed. "It's my mother."
Jide was tongue-tied. He don't know what to say or comment. He was still shock why Adira wanted to call off their engagement. "But...why? Why did Auntie Adira wants to do this to us? We don't have a problem, do we?"
"Sbe said it's either I clear things up with Seb or there will be no wedding and she'll make sure of it."
On a recess, Jide gave her words a second thought and realised Adira was right. "The truth be told, my darling…" he held her hand in his and sighed, "You really messed up and I think she's right too. You should ask for your brother's forgiveness."
Sharon snapped her hand off his, "He'll kill me. Didn't you hear it? He said he doesn't wants to set eyes on me again."
"Believe it or not, he won't hate you to that extent." He carefully stated. "The difference between you two, are just paternities. As far as you two share one biological mother, he'll be considerate."
But doesn't seem considerate when he tortured them earlier?
Sharon hid her face in shame. "I hate what I did, Jide. This havoc eats me every seconds…" she sobbed. "It makes mom think I'm Auntie Cecilia's younger version."
"Hey, hey, hey, look at me," He lifts her face by the chin and gaze into her yellow contact lenses, "You're not cruel, okay? Your mother's twin was insane and malicious. Such a psychopath. And you're very far from that." He thumbed off the tears on her cheekbone, "You're a sweet soul, indeed."
"What's the difference?" Sharon sobbed harder, her hand holding his grasp on her cheek, "Auntie Cecilia ruined my parents marriage. If not for Sebastian's quick intervention, mom would have been dead by now."
"You told me the story before. How Auntie Cecilia almost destroyed your family."
"She wanted to kill mom and marry dad. She was so obsessed with dad and jealous of mom. Today…..I feel like I'm taking after her. I can't believe I crossed a line with my brother today. God, this is so disgracing."
"It's okay now. We'll work this out. Just the two of us." Jide reassured her with a promising smile.
"I'll try my possible best to talk with Seb but not currently. Things are still fresh and he's raging off. I'll let everything subside first." She mumbled.
"Exactly." Jide pulled her hand into a kiss again.
Sharon found the urge to free her conscience with him now, "Your sister put to birth this evening."
His brows furrowed, "You know I have three sisters. So, which one?"
"Wendy." Sharon chuckled.
Jide's eyes grew big in surprise, "Chinwendu gave birth?" When Sharon nodded, he exclaimed, wincing when a pain at his back hit him. "Wow. I'm a uncle again. So what did she dropped?"
Sharon poke two fingers out, "Twins."
He gasped, "Twins? It's a lie. Tell me my brother in-law—Mark didn't double his DNA this time."
Sharon burst into hard laughter, "Yeah. I think he did. A boy and a girl on deck, honey."
Jide looked at the ceiling, "God, if not that I'm struck right on this bed, I'd have run to see my little nephew and niece."
"Your mom is with her. Including her husband too." Sharon said. "The babies are so cute. They look just like her and her husband."
"I'm so happy for her. Four kids on deck now. The family is expanding gradually—"
"Sharon!? What did I say earlier?" Adira bagged in uninvited, cutting Jide midway.
Fear strikes Sharon's chest as she quickly stood up, shivering. Her hand left Jide's clasp at once. "Mommy, I—"
"Get out this minute!" Adira pulled Sharon's red wig off her head and beat her with it.
"Ouch! Ah! Ah!" Sharon cried when Adira pulled her out by the ear.
It was so painful that Jide could not stop the scene or interfere because of his condition. "Auntie—"
"Jide, no!" Adira snapped at him with fury and bloodshot eyes. "My answer is no, not until she does what's right. So, you two better cut off ties because there'll be no wedding."
"Auntie, she is indeed very sorry." Jide tried to reason out.
"Sorry won't take you out of that bed without pains." Adira said. By now she had already made Sharon kneel on her kneels. "Sorry won't heal Kiki and Iretomiwa. Sorry won't cover her disgrace in the tabloids. Sorry won't mend the trust her brother once had for her. Sorry won't repair the damage she caused that innocent sweet soul she hit up at the bridge hours ago. No, sorry won't solve all of these."
She looks down at Sharon who was sobbing her guts out, and remarked in Yoruba: "Loni, iwọ yoo mọ iru iya ti o ni. Loni, Emi yoo fihan ọ pe Mo ti farada to lati gbogbo awọn ibinu rẹ. Boya Mo pa ọ tabi Emi yoo ba ọ jẹ. (Today, you'll k ow the kind of mother you have. Today, I'll show you I've tolerated enough from all your tantrums. It's either I kill you or I'll frustrate you.)"
When she started pounding on Sharon again, Jide shout out for help but no one interfered. "Auntie, you're hurting her, please stop."
"Mommy—ah!" Sharon shielded her face but the slaps were coming in and dashing on her cheeks every seconds.
"Auntie—"
"She is my daughter!" Adira warned. "Allow me caution her to my satisfaction. Don't get involve." She looked down at Sharon, "You want me to kill you with my bare hands before you—"
She was obstructed when Sharon stood up and ran into the bathroom with her hands covering her mouth.
Adira is not a child. She definitely understood the meaning of that movement and she wouldn't lie. Sne was happy and sour at the same time. But she preferred to show the sour side because of the situation on ground.
Adira turned her gaze towards Jide and tossed Sharon's wig at him in aggression and fury, "Really? Like seriously!?"
Jide quietly took the wig off his face without complaining and dropped it on the chair Sharon once occupied.
Ella dashed in, looking devastated and confused. Her eyes darting from Adira to her son. "Nna, you're awake?" She went to him and clasped his hand.
But then, her attention was drifted when she heard the loud vomits coming from the bathroom. She looked at Adira who was fuming in anger, "What is it again? I'm hearing your voices from Wendy's ward."
"Well, congratulations!" Adira snapped her aggression on Ella the moment Sharon stood at the bathroom's door, shivering. "Your son played a very fast shot on my daughter."
Ella was getting tired of Adira's dramas already. "Success, I don't understand your crazy parables. You've been acting like a psychopath since and it's not nice, I won't lie."
"Nkechi, my daughter—Sharon is pregnant and your son—Jide is responsible. Is it clear now?"
Ella was filled with double excitement in one night. Her eyes moved from her son to Sharon who was shivering by the bathroom door, then back to Adira. "Oh my….wow! That's great news."
"Great news!?" Adira retorted, Ella had to pull back from the fierce of Adira's anger. "In this critical circumstance, you think it's great news? Jesus, I can't even believe you're this unbelievable!"
"Auntie, it doesn't matter—"
"Shut up!" Adira shut Jide out and turn towards Sharon who was now sobbing silently, "You! Sharon Pelumi Felix, you're doing this on purpose, right?"
Sharon shook her head vigorously, "Mommy, no, no, no. I….I... I'm just finding out now, I swear."
"Will you keep quiet before I descend my annoyance on you? Shut up!"
"Success, I don't like how you're treating this girl." Ella interfered, whining. "She's twenty-seven for goodness sake and she's not a baby or somewhat teenager. This pregnancy ought to be celebrated not pulling out a tug of war."
Adira placed her hands on her hips, her brows lifted, "Oh….so with all the mess, chaos and havoc she committed today? No. I don't see myself cheering a glass of wine with her tabloids floating everywhere in the internet. And as for you Sharon," She points at her, "You'll meet me in the house. Trust me when I say I'll so kill you. Come home and meet me."
Sharon dropped on her butt, sobbing the moment Adira left.
When Jide sat up to come down from the bed, Ella nudge him to stay put. Reminding him he wasn't strong enough.
She went to meet Sharon and pulled her from her squatting posture to her feet. "Shh. It's okay, my dear." She pulled her into a hug, "She won't hurt you. You have a new family now, hm?"
Jide clenched his fists. He wished there was something he could have done to change the situation now.
Ella wiped the tears on Sharon's cheeks. "Believe me when I say your mother can not do a thing to you. She's my best friend and I assure you, she won't hurt you."
"Auntie…" Sharon sniffle. "Do you think I'm a prodigal child?"
"Hell no." Ella whined. "You never were in the first place." She place a hand on Sharon's abdomen. "Little Jide is sleeping in here. Your tears will frustrate him if you don't stop sobbing."
A small smile appeared on Jide's face whereas embarrassment made Sharon blushed hard. She quickly look down and wipe off the tears.
"It's okay now." She pulled Sharon into a warm hug and peck her forehead. She pulled back with a dashing smile that brought out her dimples. "I'll leave you to your fiancé now, hm? I need to meet Wendy." When Sharon nodded, she looked at Jide. "Please watch over her, dear. Will you?"
Jide nodded with a reassuring smile, "I promise, mom."