Chapter 10.

In the quiet hours of the evening, Lila sat down on the veranda of Shun's mansion, watching how the leaves of the trees were dancing to the blowing breeze. With her glass of wine, she sat and read her favourite novel, thinking of the tribulations she was facing in her marriage.

“Had she known that things would go as sour as this, she wouldn't have rushed to marry at all; perhaps she would have been lucky to marry someone who deserves her true love and will treat her like a queen.” She thought to herself. From afar, she saw her husband driving in as the gate was opened by the security. Just before he could finish parking the car, his mother came out of the backyard and went to welcome her son. They talked for a few minutes before proceeding to the entrance of the house.

“I'm sure she's reporting what happened today to her son," Lila thought.

Fear gripped her because she was scared of how her husband would react. “If he could be so mad at me when she lied that I poisoned her food, what more would he do this time? Because for sure, I know she'll tell him that I beat her blue-black, or maybe something more serious.” She lamented all by herself. Lila was always ready for any humiliation she would face from her husband that day, but to her greatest surprise, Grey proved all her thoughts wrong.

“A very good evening to the most beautiful woman in town.” He greeted her with a side hug and a kiss on the forehead, while his mother stood and looked, throwing her face out of their sight.

“Goo… Good evening, my love. You're welcome.” Lila said while stammering because she least expected such a reaction from him.

“I thought his mother told him about the misunderstanding we had during the day, and he's supposed to act cold towards me, so why is he acting so nice instead of the opposite? Something must be wrong somewhere, and I'll find out.” She thought.

“I have good news for you, baby!” Grey happily lifted her and set her in front, while he grabbed her waist and followed her behind in a romantic way as they headed to their bedroom.

“My love, Before you say anything, I have something to say.”

“Go on, wifey, I'm all ears,” Grey responded.

She shifted and sat down on the sofa, gumming her body to his. She placed her palms on his palms. “I'm sorry, Grey. I'm sure she must have told you already. Your mother and I argued earlier on, and I talked back to her. I don't know what came over me, but I'm sorry. Please don't be mad at me.” Lila explained with a remorseful voice that even the most heartless person cannot withstand.

“Com'on wifey. Yes, she told me, but I'm not mad at you, nor am I supporting you. I believe you must have been pushed to the wall to react in such a way. Everything will be okay, my love. Even if all my family should go against you, I promise you my love and commitment.” Grey assured her with a kiss, gently lowering her head on his shoulders.

“Back to our discussion.”

“Yeah, sorry for my interruption. I'm all ears now to hear that good news,” Lila said with a smile.

“Guess what? You're now seated with the new managing director of Dungs Textile!” He exclaimed, taking out his promotion letter and giving it to her. “My dear, I couldn't have achieved this without your support. “You're my world,” Grey confessed as he gently held her back, kissing her on the forehead, until they both moved to the cloud in a moment of sweet love-making.

Lila's face brightened with a smile once again. At least now she's feeling like the luckiest woman on earth. “Finally, he is beginning to know my worth,” she thought to herself. Seeing the excitement in him, Lila thought of informing him of the blessings that had befallen them, which she knows will call for a double celebration.

Handing a piece of paper over to him, she exclaimed, “A double congratulations to you, baby; you're soon going to be a father!”

“No, Lila! This is impossible!” Grey shouted as his countenance changed immediately, with sadness written all over his face.

Everything happening seems like a movie to Lila. "But I thought this should make you happy, then why the negative reaction? Aren't you excited to be a father soon and fulfil your mother's wish of always wanting to have her grandchild?” Lila asked.

Putting on a fake smile, he held her hands and lifted them for a kiss, as he admitted.

“Come on, my love. Of course, I'm happy. In fact, I can't thank God enough for these double blessings in one day. I was only surprised because today is just the second time we've been intimate after our marriage, and you're pregnant already.”

“This woman has ruined our plans. I know my mother would be so disappointed in me right now for allowing this to happen. Lila, you'll never give birth to this child alive. I'll do everything to ensure that a child doesn't come between you and me." Grey thought to himself.

“Has this not always been his mother's wish? Was it not because of this that she pleaded with me to fast-forward our wedding? Shouldn't it be a thing of joy to him that the breathtaking moment we had on our wedding night yielded a good result? Lila was lost in thought, looking for answers to her numerous questions.

“No, I'm sure that I'm just overthinking. He said it already; he can't wait to be a father soon,” she convinced herself.

Lila felt her sight was deceiving her the next morning at the sight of her husband who had left for work in the early hours. “Oh my gosh! Grey, what are you doing here? I thought you should be at work.”

Lila screamed in fear at the sight of her husband sitting down in the living room.

“It is finished, Lila. Everything is gone!” He admitted, wearing a long face.

“I don't get your statement.”

He took out a brown envelope and gave it to her. “Everything is in there,” he said.

“No! This can't be!” Lila shouted.

“Sack letter? Only a week after your promotion?” Lila lamented.

Lila's world crumbles because nothing she does seems to please Grey again.

“Please, allow me to go out there and look for a job. At least something that can keep us going, for now, pending when you'll get another job. Lila pleaded.”

“Oh, so now you're mocking me as a jobless man. I just lost my job a few hours ago, and you've begun looking down on me already. and her bitter marriage episode was back in full again. No day passes by without her having an issue with her sister-in-law and mother-in-law. Grey yells at her for every slight mistake she commits.

Lila was preparing sausage in the kitchen when her husband called her attention to their room.

“Please, I can't find my driver's licence. Could you help me out in searching? Just get the maid to look after what you're doing. Lila seconded and helped out. She was lucky to find the licence in his documents, and she left for the dinning to eat her food.

“Do we have a ghost in this house? I just left my food here on the table, and I can't find it again. Laura!” Lila called the attention of the housemaid.

“Laura, I need an explanation as to why my food is not on this table.” Lila was furious.

“Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am. I thought you were not eating anymore, that's why I carried the food to the kitchen.” The maid apologised as she carried the food and gave it to her.

Grey stared graciously at his pregnant wife, eating the food with so much joy.

“Ah, you're very hungry, I see.”

"Yes, my dear, this pregnancy is making me feel hungry all the time.”

“Finally, my plans are falling into place. Lila, let's watch and see if that baby growing in you can survive.