"You have absolutely no right to walk into my house without prior notice," Amina said angrily after sending Jade into her room with her baby brother Jason.
"Coming from the mother of my children who has not seen me for six months. It is more like you are not happy to see me."
"We have nothing to talk about Jibola. I have moved on and seeing you is not part of my way forward."
"Seriously! Are you sure we have nothing to talk about I don't think you can just take my kids away from me without fighting back?"
"Did you just say your kids Jibola? The kids you have put their lives in danger so many times that I lost count. I even thought I was going to lose that boy at birth because of what you put me through and you are telling me you are going to fight for them."
"Whether you like it or not they are still my children."
"And whether you like it or not I am their mother and they are staying with me."
"Your sister put you to this right?"
"I just found out how stupid I was to fall for your sick promises because now I know better."
"I want my kids Amina. I am their father and I will not allow you to take that privilege away from me."
Amina laughed before facing him again. "Do you have what it takes to be a father? Do you think I will follow you into that God-forsaken place you called a house?"
"You did not complain before coming back to me then."
"That was before not anymore. You should be thankful I sent you a lawyer and make your sentence shorter."
"You know me too well Amina. I will so frustrate your life until you have nothing."
"Thank God you have said it now because my lawyer will get in touch with you."
Jibola stood up and looked around the house again. Jade's toys and Jason's stuff were all over the place and all he could do was smile.
"You want to fight me with your wealth, isn't it? Whether you like it or not, I am still the father of your children and I still love you more than you could imagine."
Amina laughed hysterically and held her two hands on her waist before uttering another word. "If it is not that life is doing you. You see your children in this kind of environment and you expect them to follow you into that rat hole you called a house. Love is indeed blind but I was a big fool to have believed you once but read my lips Jibola, that stupid Amina is dead."
"Amina, we can settle this amicably without all this fighting."
"I am not fighting with you either Jibola but we are not following, so you start going." Amina escorted him out and locked the door behind her.
Vanessa walked past Henrietta and walked straight into her office. It's been a week since they have had a misunderstanding and Henrietta is already tired of it. She followed her into her and opened the door without knocking.
"Curtsy demands you knock before invading someone's place."
"And curtsy demands you greet when you enter a place."
"What do you want?" She dropped her pen and faced her.
"I am sorry."
"For what exactly?"
"For everything. I am just tired of you treating me like a baby who needs security. I am an adult and I can take care of myself."
"Okay, I heard you."
"So, am I forgiven?"
"No, Henrietta, I just want you to be happy without any troubles. I feel as a friend I should always look out for you. I love you so much that to let some unreasonable things be rubbing you of your sleep."
"I am sorry again but I still stand on the fact that I want to know every damn happening. Don't sacrifice your happiness for me and that is how much I love you too." Henrietta smiled as they both hugged.
"Soji was the one threatening me all these while. He was the one sending boxes to me."
"You can say a lot of things about him but the one you just said I would not have. Soji is a good man and he can't do such a thing."
"A poor man can do anything to get rich Henrietta. Be careful with who you trust"
It's true what they say first love never dies but poverty can be a plague and a drift between lovers. Henrietta was deep in thought not until Joy tapped her.
"Hey, Joy." Henrietta smiled as she watched Joy come in.
"Are you okay?" The girl asked with her tiny voice.
"Sure I am fine. Just had a busy day at work that's all."
"Do you want to take some time out to rest? We can always go out some other time. You can just rest tomorrow."
"No, we are going out tomorrow. I will be fine." Henrietta squeezed Joy's hand softly.
"Mama said I should call you downstairs. The family doctor is here and he wants to see you."
"Okay, I will join you shortly. Let me wear something decent."
Henrietta walked downstairs moments later and all eyes were on her. It seems everyone is eager to have her downstairs.
"Good evening Mrs. Aderibigbe. I am sorry for bothering you to come downstairs but I had like to give you this report personally." The doctor said.
"What is so special about it that you could not give it to my mother-in-law." She collected the envelope and opened it before everyone just for her facial expression to change after reading.
"Henrietta, are you okay?" Mrs. Aderibigbe asked curiously.
"You don't seem happy with the news." The doctor said.
"Sure, I am happy just that my husband is not here to celebrate with me."
"Can somebody just tell me that my sister-in-law is pregnant?" Pamilerin screamed.
"Yes, I am pregnant."
"Oh, my darling that is great news. Whether Damola is here or not, he will be so happy to hear this."
Deep down Henrietta is not happy with the report but she had no choice but to pretend to be happy before the whole family. "I just pray it's Damola's pregnancy." She thought as others express their happiness over the news. "Dear God, help me. I don't want this pregnancy." She cried on the inside.
"You are pregnant?" Vanessa asked confused.
"Yeah, I am married and it is bound to happen anyways." Henrietta gave a smile.
"Will you stop fooling yourself thinking you are fooling me?"
"What do you mean?"
"You need to get rid of this thing before it causes a problem we will not be able to handle."
"Problem? I still don't get you."
"Whose pregnancy are you carrying?"
"My husband's."
"Are you sure Henrietta? Because the last time I checked."
Henrietta interrupted her, "I don't know where this conversation is heading but believe me Vanessa I don't want to know. I just want to share the good news with you and that is all."
"Think well Henrietta. You can't bear the consequence."
Amina looked at her two kids playing and she couldn't hold her tears. Jibola is not an easy man and what he said he would do is exactly what he will do. She reached for her phone and put a call through to her lawyer.
"Good day, Barrister. I need your help."
"Is anything the matter Amina?"
"He is out of prison."
"Who?"
"Jibola, the father of my children."
"Okay."
"He came by the house this morning and he made some threats about taking my children away from me. I can't deal with that, I am even scared of going out, Bolaji is a hooligan and he is dangerous."
"So what exactly do you want me to do?"