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“You brought your wife down here and now you are hiding her from me?”

In a bit to redeem herself and save her neck from her mother’s strangling glares, Ivory quickly took the spotlight away from a slightly riled Leon and spoke in his defense.

“Dad, it was actually Nana Esther that took Ella away from us, when we arrived here. You know how Nana Esther is fond of her.”

“Oh, I see!” Rex shook his head in reply while smiling. He could sense the uneasiness in Ivory’s tone and the sudden chilly atmosphere. So he concluded that the reason for Ella’s current absence in the room and Ivory’s tension was because of Marissa.

“Well, it was thoughtful for Ella to come over, knowing fully well that she has a company to run. Good job, Leon.”

“Thanks, dad!” Leon’s lips curved into a smile.

Marissa on the other hand wanted to choke in her hatred for Ella. She couldn’t believe that one minute, they were all talking and laughing; while reminiscing on beautiful memories, and the next minute, Leon’s gold-digging wife’s name pops up.

At that moment, Marissa thought of a way to erase the name Ella from everyone’s lips. So she decided to change the line of conversation.

.....

“Leon, Maxwell told me that you are now the new chairman of the Treshvire empire.” Tell us, how does it feel?” Marissa faked a smile amidst her poisoned heart.

Leon chuckled as he clearly understood his mum’s theatrics.

“It’s a great honor, mum! Filling in dad’s shoes is an enormous responsibility. I...”

Cough, cough!

“Dad, are you alright?” Leon and Ivory both asked at the same time.

“I’m fine! “I’m fine!!” Rex replied curtly but his voice was faint. He raised his right hand in the air to stop anyone from attending to him or worrying over him. Then he buzzed in Monica and inquired about Nana Esther’s whereabouts.

“Nana is in the kitchen, cooking with a young lady,” Monica replied hastily. She was greatly intimidated by all the pairs of eyes that were staring in her direction.

“Oh, Nice!” Rex smiled. “Please tell her to send my usual tea through the young lady, who happens to be my son’s wife.”

“Okay, sir!”

“Stop right there, Monica!” Marissa’s eyes flashed in anger.

She had been trying to put her emotions in check since Ella’s name came up but this time around, she wasn’t going to sit still and watch the little tramp melt her way into Rex’s heart.

“Sweetheart,” Marissa directed her gaze to Rex, “you don’t need to stress yourself when I’m here for you. I will go get the tea from Nana Esther, okay!”

Marissa stood up and made moves to walk away when Rex quickly grabbed her hand and stared keenly into her eyes.

“My dear, if I want someone to run errands for me, it definitely won’t be the love of my life. Please sit down by my side and keep me company. Monica can get me the tea but I want to see Leon’s wife. That is why I want her to bring the tea, herself. Okay?”

Marissa took in a deep breath and force it out. She looked away from her husband and scanned the pleading faces of everyone in the room. Everyone except Yvonne.

Yvonne couldn’t hide her displeasure due to her father’s request. She felt like standing up and talking some sense into her father but she feared the repercussion of that. Hence, she remained glued to her seat and just stared at her mum helplessly.

Marissa slowly walk back to Rex and took a seat beside him. she took his right hand into hers and gently stroked it. Then she said between gritted teeth.

“If that’s what you want, go right ahead.”

“Thanks, my love!”

Rex smiled and turned his gaze to Monica.

“Go ahead and do as I have instructed!”

“Yes, sir!”

Monica dashed out of the room, leaving behind a frigid atmosphere where a ticking time bomb was about to explode.

———–

Back in the kitchen, Ella and Nana Esther were having their own special moment.

Having finished her bowl of delicious succulent blueberries, Ella started craving the sweet-smelling dish Nana Esther was preparing.

The tantalizing aroma of the creamy polenta, with white beans and roasted broccoli, wafted through the air, making Ella stand up from her seat.

Like a little child being called home to his mama’s delicious cooking, Ella stuck up her nose in the air and kept inhaling the mouth-watering aroma. She slowly walked up the Nana Esther until she was so close to the steaming pot of food.

“I hope you don’t want me to add a slice of your nose as part of the ingredients?” Nana Esther teased while chuckling. She was so intrigued by Ella’s childish attribute. She also loved the way Ella’s appetite was building.

“Miatisa, this dish smells so delicious!” Ella’s eyes sparkled as she licked her lips in anticipation of a great dining experience.

“Wait until you have a taste of it.”

Nana Esther pick up a flat plate and dished some of the food on it. She handed it over to Ella and also gave her a spoon.

“Go on, try it, and tell me what you think.”

“Thank you, Miatisa!” Ella beamed. She raised the plate of food to your nostrils and sniffed in the sweet-smelling aroma one more time.

“It smells so wonderful!”

She scooped a little of the food and put it into her mouth. Then she shut her eyes and gradually chewed on the food while savoring the different sensational flavors from each ingredient.

“Yum!” She opened her eyes and licked her lips.

“Yummy, yum, yum, yum!” She shook her body excitedly.

“It’s delicious, it’s sensational, it’s tantalizing, it is like nothing I’ve ever tasted in my life before. This is the best meal in the whole wide world, Miatisa!”

“Aww! Thank you, darling!” Nana Esther fondly plucked Ella’s cheeks. “I told you you will like it!”

“I don’t just like it, I love it!”

Ella licked the front and back of her spoon. Then she greedily ate up the food on her plate and asked for more.

“This whole pot is just for you. So, eat as much as you want, my darling.”

Nana Esther dished more food into Ella’s plate, which she hurriedly finished in the twinkle of an eye.

All the while Ella was eating, Nana Esther couldn’t stop watching her. She noticed her voracious appetite and the glint in her eyes.

She thought of all the hurdles Ella was about to cross and this made her frown because she would not be around to help Ella through all of it.

A deep regret crossed her eyes but vanished immediately as she observed that Ella had stopped eating and was looking at her.

“Miatisa, do you think I eat too much?” Ella inquired in an embarrassed but cute way.

“No! Not at all! In fact, I would suggest that you eat more because it’s not just one but two generations growing inside of you,” Nana Esther said proudly.

“Two!” Ella’s eyes widened. She stared at her tummy and then at Nana Esther’s beaming face.

“Are you trying to say that I am...”

Ella’s ears picked up approaching footsteps and her heartbeat picked up its rhythm. She stood up and dropped the plate she was holding on the table while bracing herself for whoever was about to walk through the kitchen door.

“Oh God, please, let it not be either Marissa or Yvonne!” Ella prayed silently.

Nana Esther, observing Ella’s apprehension, walked up to her and stood beside her.

“Don’t forget, your Nana is here for you!” Nana Esther said in a hushed tone, making Ella’s tensed face break into a smile.

Just then, Monica walked into the kitchen. She stuck her nose up into the air and breathed in the sweet-smelling aroma.

“Oh Nana, you are at your magical work again.” Monica’s eyes glimmered in excitement.

“How I wish I could have a taste of this delicious meal that my nose seems to be eating and my mouth watering.”

“Is that the reason why you came down here to disturb my peace and that of my daughter?” Nana Esther snapped angrily at Monica.

“Oh, no, no, no! I’m so sorry, Nana.” Monica clasped her hand together and pleaded.

“Where are my grandchildren? Nana Esther asked impatiently.

“They are all in Rex’s room, including Mrs. Treshvire and Mr. Maxwell.

“Hmm... So what brought you here?”

“Mr. Rex sent me to you for his special tea. He requested that his son’s wife should bring it to him.”

At first, Ella felt that something was wrong with her hearing. The words that came out from the chubby-looking lady dressed as a nurse attire, didn’t make much sense to her. Maybe the lady was referring to Marissa. After all, Marissa was Nana Esther’s son’s wife.

“But wait a minute, didn’t the lady just say Rex’s son’s wife?”

Ella stared at the chubby lady, who seemed to be saying something to her but for some unknown reasons, she wasn’t hearing a word that was coming out of the lady’s mouth.

“Ella, Ella!”

Ella thought she heard a faint voice that sounded like Nana Esther’s voice. So she placed a finger in her ears and wriggled it.

“Are you alright my dear!” Nana Esther asked worriedly.

“I’m fine, Miatisa!”

Ella couldn’t process what just happened to her or the fact that her forehead was beaded with cold sweat. However, she was happy that she could hear again.

.....

“I thought I heard this lady say that Rex wants me to bring over his tea.”

“That’s exactly what I said,” Monica interjected.

“Hahaha!” Ella giggled apprehensively. “You must be joking!”