*EPISODE 10*
(MY SOULMATE)
When Gloria got to the farm, she was told her parents had been rushed to the nearby clinic. She rushed to the Clinic only to meet her parents in severe pains, bruises and swollen faces. They had been beaten by the gun men, who warned them to keep their daughter away from Ogbuefi’s household.
Seeing her poor and innocent parents in such state, broke Gloria’s heart so much. She couldn’t help but blamed herself for everything.
She had to make use of the little money she had saved, during her stay at Ogbuefi’s mansion, to pay her parent’s hospital bills. They were discharged after receiving medical checkups and treatments. Gloria woke up every morning with tears and regrets as she attended to the wounds of her poor parents. She just wished she could turn back the hands of time.
In all these, she still wanted to confront Chris so badly for ruining her life. And gradually, she started developing hatred for him in her heart.
Meanwhile, Chris returned after spending four weeks abroad and when he returned, the first person he asked of, was Gloria. He quickly rushed to her room but she wasn’t there. He rushed down stairs and asked,
“Mom, dad?. Where’s Gloria?. How come she’s not here?.” He asked totally confused and curioused.
“There’s no need searching for her Chris. Cause she has gone back to her parent’s house never to return again.” His mother said.
“What?. Why?. Is there something you are not telling me?.” Chris asked totally confused.
“Well, maybe you are in a better position to answer that question. How would you feel, if you saw a picture of the one you love laying n***d with another?.” She asked crossing her leg.
“I don’t still understand. What are you talking about?.” Chris asked still confused.
“Well, I guess you must have been too drunk to even remember what you did that night with Vanessa.” His mother said.
“Vanessa?.” Chris asked totally confused. He then turned to his father and asked. “Dad? What’s mom saying?. What’s actually going on here?.” He asked.
“Son, let’s go for a walk in the garden. I have something to show you.” His father said standing to his feet.
Chris reluctantly and curiously followed his father from behind till they arrived at the garden. Then his father brought out his phone and showed him the picture of him and Vanessa laying n***d in each other’s arms. Chris who was totally confused when he saw the picture, couldn’t help but kept wondering how and when he and Vanessa ended up together on bed.
“I would like you to explain what you and Vanessa were doing in your hotel room.” His father said.
“Father Believe me, I’ve got nothing to do with this picture. I’m so confused and lost right now. I sincerely can’t remember inviting Vanessa over to my hotel room.” Chris said.
“But Vanessa called in last weekend to say she is already pregnant from this thoughtless act of yours.” His father said.
“Pregnant?. Vanessa?. For who?.” Chris asked with his head spinning.
“Son. I would have understood you if you came out to say you’ve made up with Vanessa and you no longer want Gloria. Then I would have spoken to her parents about this. But you didn’t only disgrace me before Vanessa’s parents you went ahead to prove to Gloria’s parents, that you are untrained and loosed. Why would you send this very picture to Gloria?. Must you rub it to her face in such detestable and hurtful way?. We made a promise to her father remember?.” He raged Angrily at Chris who was totally confused about the whole situation.
“Father I swear. I have no knowledge about what’s going on here. I’m completely innocent of all the allegations made against me. I have not set my eyes on Vanessa ever since the last time we saw at her parent’s house.” Chris said.
“Really?. But you’ve been sending her money through out your stay in abroad?.” His father questioned.
“My goodness. What’s actually going on here?.” Chris asked almost shedding tears.
“You know what?. From today henceforth, you won’t leave this house till your marriage with Vanessa is sealed. The mistake has been done already. And I won’t let my grandchild to be born outside this home. Get ready. You are getting married to Vanessa this weekend.” His father said pointing angrily at him.
“Father please don’t do this to me. I’ve only loved Gloria and no one else. Can you at least permit me to go see her for the last time?. I just want to see how she’s doing. Please.” Chris pleaded kneeling before his father.
“That will never happen. You are not going there to add more salt to her injuries. She has suffered a lot because she chose to be with you. Now is the time to let her go son.” His father insisted.
“Father please. This is so unfair. Gloria will have the wrong perception about me. She will come to hate me in her heart for the rest of her life. I wouldn’t want that from her father. Please permit me to go explain myself to her. I beg of you.” Chris pleaded with tears rolling down his cheeks.
His father ignored him and walked away. As he was walking back to the sitting room, he said in his heart.
“Forgive me son. But I have to do this for the sake of you and Gloria. I’ve realized that, the more you get closer to Gloria, the more she becomes open to danger. I’m trying so hard to play along. Just to keep you both from unpredictable dangers. And I promise to take good care of Gloria as a compensation for all she’s been through in the hands of your desparate mother and Vanessa. I just hope you will be able to forgive me someday for forcing a snake like Vanessa on you.” He said fighting back tears.
Through out that night, Chris couldn’t sleep. He kept reflecting on all the wonderful moments he shared with Gloria. From the first day he saw her coming out of his restroom, to the last day he embraced her promising to come back for her. He hated himself so much that he remained indoors for days crying himself to stupor.
Meanwhile, Gloria was with her parents when she suddenly felt dizzy. She suddenly had this sudden urge to throw up. But before then, she had been having signs of fever. She quickly ran outside to throw up but nothing came out. She stood there confused on what was actually going wrong with her.
Her mother suspected it to be early signs and symptoms of pregnancy but in order to be very sure, she advised that they go for a general test. The results came out and Gloria tested positive to Pregnancy.
She returned home from the hospital with her mother dragging her feet. Her father who was curioused about the outcome of the test, urged them to speak out and stop putting him in suspense. Gloria couldn’t utter a word. All she did was break into tears.
When her father heard the outcome of the test, he was disappointed and heartbroken. He angrily went back into his room and dialed Chief Cosmas Ogbuefi’s number. When he picked, Gloria’s father then requested that they meet somewhere for an important discussion.
They both met in an enclosed place. And there, Gloria’s father told him of his daughter’s current condition. As he was already aware of the last attack they had in their farmland.
“This is good news. But I’m afraid. We will have to keep this between us till the time is right.” Chris’s father said.
“When is the right time?. Is it until my daughter grows old and lose all her chances of getting a husband?. When exactly is the right time chief Cosmas. You promised to take full responsibility if something like this comes out from my daughter’s stay in your house.” Gloria’s father raged.
“Don’t you get it?. My wife will stop at nothing to make sure my son does not marry your daughter. A woman that can frame her own son up can do the unimaginable to another person’s child. If you truly want your daughter to live, then I expect you to understand me. My son will be getting married to Vanessa this weekend.” Chris’s father revealed.
“What?.” Gloria’s father exclaimed in shock.
“Yes. And it’s against his will. He truly loves your daughter. And wouldn’t mind risking everything to be with her. But I don’t want our children to keep getting hurt. Which was why I have decided to play along.” Chris’s father said.
“What then happens to my innocent daughter?.” Gloria’s father asked.
“I won’t forsake her and my grandchild. I will fulfill my promise by taking full responsibility of her and her unborn child. I will take good care of them. But you must not let anyone know that the support is coming from me. That way, she can get to stay away from further troubles. As long as I live, I will make sure to reveal the truth and bring back Gloria and my grandchild back to Ogbuefi’s household when the time is right. And please, I will advise you relocate to a different place with your family to be on a safer side. Do your calculations and send me the cost. I wouldn’t want anything to harm Gloria and her unborn child. This I beg of you.” Chris father said.
Gloria was still trying to get over the news of her pregnancy when she heard the news that Chris was about getting married to Vanessa. She doubted it at first until she came across their pre-marriage pictures which was pasted at every corner of the village. She also heard rumors of Vanessa being pregnant for Chris.
This broke her heart into pieces. It was then, that she believed and accepted that the text and the picture that she had received back then, were actually from Chris.
“This explains why he didn’t bother to come check on me when he returned. So he never loved me?. Now I know that all the promises and romance were all based on Deception.” Gloria cried profusely.
Her father hid the truth from her and told her to get ready for they would be relocating before the week ran out.
The day they were to relocate, was the very day Chris and Vanessa were getting married. Gloria tried stopping herself from going but her heart couldn’t. And before she knew it, she found her legs leading her to the place where the marriage ceremony was being held.
She covered herself with a veil to avoid being recognized by Chris’s mother. Arriving at the location, she found her way through the crowd and before she knew it, she was standing in front staring at Chris as he received wine from his wife.
She was still struggling to accept the reality when she found herself walking towards them. Everyone started wondering who she was cause her face was covered with a veil. All she desired at that moment, was to pierce a hole through Chris’s heart.
Chris and Vanessa stopped and turned to see the strange lady walking up to them. But suddenly, Hilary ran from where he stood and tightly embraced Gloria to confuse the curioused crowd. He knew she was the one cause he saw her on his way coming. And he knew how dangerous it would be if her identity got revealed. He kept tapping her on the back to calm her down and all she could do was break into tears. Chris looked at her wrist and immediately he saw the bracelet he gave Gloria on the wrist of the lady, tears rolled down his cheeks.
Hilary succeeded in calming Gloria down. And stylishly, he led her out of the crowd straight into his car. Gloria kept crying as he drove her home. When they got to Gloria’s house, Gloria found her parents looking everywhere for her.
They thanked Hilary for bringing her back in one piece. And after a while, they took their belongings and left Umudike village. Every step Gloria took, reminded her of the beautiful memories she shared with Chris.
“Goodbye to all the sweet dreams and imaginations I had in umudike village. Goodbye to Chris who walked into one of my dreams. It’s time to wake up to reality.” She said with her head up and a smile filled with optimism.
After their marriage, Chris whose heart was heavy, walked up to Vanessa and said,
“Congratulations. Are you happy now?. You may have succeeded in marrying me. But just so you know, you will never have a place in my heart for the rest your live. And I will do whatever it takes, to uncover the truth and get reconnected with my soulmate.” Chris said.
