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“Don’t you dare mum me!” Marissa hissed. “You’re feeling this way because you know I’m telling the truth. Instead of bonding with your sister and me, you decided to choose a pretentious stranger over us..”

“Mum, you know I’m still here right?” Leon said in a slightly chilly tone. “The least you can do for me right now is not to talk ill of my wife in my presence.”

“Okay, I wouldn’t be talking about her if she had not brought herself down here to take away my children from me.” Marissa resumed sobbing.

Ivory stared at her mum in bewilderment and frustration. A million questions raced through her mind and she wonders what spirit of jealousy had suddenly possessed her mother.

“Mum, you know I like speaking up my mind irrespective of who feels bad,” Ivory said in a depressed tone.

“Ivory, let it be! Just go!” Yvonne cautioned.

“No!” Ivory replied angrily as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Mum is not the only one hurting here, I’m also losing my dad. I have been on the air for almost four to five hours without using the convenience. So tell me, is it a crime to be pressed? Should I pee on myself before you know I’m telling the truth? Moreover, what’s wrong with my brother’s wife being my friend?

.....

“Ivory, please!” Leon gritted his teeth in frustration. He hated the fact that his mum was stirring up trouble and making Ivory cry.

“What’s with all this rancor?” Maxwell asked as he stepped into the sitting room.

He observed the crying faces of Marissa and her children and also the exhausted face of Leon.

“Uncle Max!”

Ivory, who was already standing, ran into her uncle’s hands and hugged him.

“I don’t know what I did wrong but mum is being mean to me.” Ivory sobbed quietly in her uncle’s arms.

“Marissa!” Maxwell frowned while he gently soothed Ivory.

“That’s not true, Ivory, you know fully well that mum loves you so much” Yvonne interjected.

“Speak for yourself!” Ivory remove her face from her uncle’s chest and flashed Yvonne a deadly stare.

“Do you now see how one person has come in between us and is destroying this peaceful home?” Marissa sobbed harder.

“Who?” Maxwell asked in confusion.

“Ella!” Marissa and Yvonne chorused.

“Wait a second! You all are quarreling because of Ella?” Maxwell’s forehead furrowed in annoyance.

“Story of my life!” Leon breathed down his anger and prayed inwardly that his mum would release him for a few minutes to check on his wife.

“Mum and Yvonne both hate Ella and they’re now being mean to me for liking her.” Ivory sniffed while wiping her eyes with the back of her hands.

“Shhh! don’t talk like that Ivory,” Maxwell tried to placate her.

“You know your mum and sister love you so much. Aren’t you the baby of the house anymore? How dare anyone mess with the boss baby.

“Marissa,” Maxwell directed a stern gaze to her. “Quit being overly dramatic and come attend to your daughter. You’re hurting her feelings and this is not what Rex would want. Imagine if he came out here and finds you all fighting over nothing. If it makes you happy, I will address this whole issue so that we can all live happily.”

Maxwell’s stern but calming words came down like soft drizzling rainfall on Marissa’s chaotic heart. She slowly released Leon from her firm grip and stood up. She walked up to Ivory and took her into her arms.

“I’m so sorry, my baby. Please, forgive mummy.”

“Okay! I forgive you and I love you so much.”

Ivory wrapped her hands around her mother and gave her a squishing hug.

“Forgive me too, boss baby!”

Yvonne joined in the hug, crying and laughing at the same time.

“You are partially forgiven,” Ivory replied with an animated smile.

Leon on the other hand was almost successful, sneaking out of the sitting room when Rex’s nurse informed everyone that Rex was finally awake.

“Shit!” Leon frowned.

—

Ella felt so peaceful and relaxed after having a cool bath. She dried up her body, applied some flower essence body lotion, and dressed up in a light blue off-shoulder summer dress.

When she stepped out of the bathroom into the bedroom, while raking her hands through her curly hair, Nana Esther beamed with satisfaction.

“My grandson is a lucky chap! You’re such a glowing beauty, my pumpkin.”

“Thank you, Miatisa,” Ella smiled, revealing her perfect white dentition.

She quickly took a seat beside Nana Esther and tucked her hand into Nana Esther’s arm as if she were her mother.

“I fill so blissful after the shower. It was like bathing in magical water.”

“You can never tell, the water could be magical.”

Nana Esther gently stroked Ella’s hair and kissed her forehead.

“For you, anything is possible on this island. So tell me the good news.”

Nana Esther made Ella sit up and face her. She took both of Ella’s hands into hers and gazed lovingly into Ella’s eyes.

Ella shyly looked away from Nana Esther’s inquiring eyes and smiled. Her face reddened as she understood what Nana Esther was referring to.

“It’s me, my sweetheart,” Nana Esther slowly turned Ella’s chin to face her.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed whenever you are with me. Moreover, it’s just the two of us.”

“Okay, Miatisa,” Ella replied happily. “As of today, I’m two months pregnant.”

“Oh, my pumpkin!”

Nana Esther’s eyes were instantly clouded with tears. She pulled Ella into her arms and kissed her forehead. Then she gently placed her hand on Ella’s tummy and stroked her baby bump fondly as happy tears fell freely from her eyes.

“This is the best news that any grandmother could hope for.” She kissed both of Ella’s cheeks and embraced her in a warm motherly hug.

“This is the reason why we struggle to live on amidst so many ailments that come with old age. How I wish my husband lived long enough to experience the joy I’m feeling right now. Thank you my darling angel for giving me this priceless gift! I love you so much!”

“I love you more!” Ella whispered as silent tears flowed down her cheeks.

Although Ella was excited that Nana Esther was happy about her pregnancy, she still felt hurt due to the heavy burden in her heart.

Her prince charming was yet to share in her joy. Also, the scary thought that Leon might reject the pregnancy kept bugging her soul. Hence she decided to bring it to Nana Esther’s knowledge.

“Miatisa!”

“Yes, pumpkin!”

Ella sat up and stared into Nana Esther’s watery eyes.

“Leon doesn’t want children! He practically begged me never to get pregnant. This pregnancy resulted from my carelessness because Leon gave me some contraceptives that would prevent this from happening. If not for my doctor’s encouragement, I would have terminated it. I’m scared that he might reject me if he finds out.”

“My goodness! You were considering abortion!” Nana Esther’s eyes widened in surprise. She placed her hand on her chest to calm her thumping weak heart.

“God bless that wise doctor of yours and thank you for listening to her.” She took Ella’s two hands in hers and kissed them tenderly.

“But what about Leon, I’m still scared!” Ella bit down on her lower lips as more tears flowed down her cheeks.

“Shhh! You don’t have to be scared.” Nana Esther dabbed at Ella’s tears with her beautiful knitted handkerchief.

“Your pregnancy is a blessing and all blessings bring about happiness in the present or future. My grandson is a strong-willed child and might react unfavorably but, you must be strong for your child or children. Do not act weak in his presence or give in to the outrageous demands that he will make, okay?”

“Okay!” Ella replied in a muffled tone.

“Leon might reject the pregnancy now, but he will be an awesome father in the future. Remember, I asked you if you love my grandson the first time you came to my house. Do you still remember?”

“Yes I do, Miatisa.”

“Good. So I’m going to ask you again. Ariella Treshvire, do you love my grandson?”

“Yes, I do! I love Leon with my body, my heart, and my soul.” Ella smiled as she said those words.

“Beautiful!” Nana Esther beamed. “This pregnancy is going to test your love for my grandson. Can you promise me that you will never leave my grandson when he treads the wrong path?”

“I promise, I will never leave him,” Ella said convincingly.

“Thank you my darling angel for granting an old woman’s dying wish.”

“Dying!” Ella instinctively pulled out from Nana Esther’s arm and stood up in a panic. She placed her right trembling hand on Nana Esther’s forehead and neck; to check if she was having a fever. While her terrified eyes roughly scrutinized Nana Esther’s body for any abnormality.

“Are you sick too? B...b...but you look fine. Y... You can’t die, Miatisa! I can’t afford to lose you! My whole world will turn upside down if you leave me. I need you now more than ever! P...please...”

“Pumpkin, calm down!”