*Episode 14*
(LOVE AND DECEPTION)
Beatrice and her mother managed to wrap Felix with bedsheet. They made sure no one was in the sitting room before the managed to get Felix’s body out of the house straight into the boot of madam Grace’s car.
Beatrice’s body was literally shaking as she helped her mother. They both drove out with Felix’s body inside the trunk of the car. And instead of taking him to the hospital, Madam Grace suggested the dumped his body in a far place.
“Mother?. You can’t do this to Felix. Father would surely investigate and find out the truth through one way or the other.” Beatrice cried.
“Then, if the police should ever arrest me, I will make sure I’m the only one to take the blame. I can’t afford having you thrown out of the Johnson’s family because of my deeds.” Her mother said.
“All you’ve ever cared about is your reputation, wealth and luxury. Mom is that really all that matters to you? We’ve never been close like other mothers and daughters. You only pick interest in what I have to say or the things I do, only when it involves me hurting people. Have you thought about how your greed will ruin my life completely?. Do you think I will be able to live happily ever again?. Now you’ve harmed Felix. What exactly is our gain in all these? We are always restless and anxious. Because there has never been peace in our lives.” Beatrice cried yelling at her mother.
“You should be grateful that I’m doing all these for you. You should be grateful that I want the best for you.” Her mother said.
“Lies mom!. This is all for you. I don’t think you are doing any of these for me. You’ve always wanted to be recognized. You’ve always wanted to feel important, accepted and appreciated. Nothing satisfies you again. Even when I was growing up, you never let me be. You always found fault in everything I do. You always set me up for competition with my friends. You have never appreciated me for anything other than me hurting my friends or doing some messy work with you.” Beatrice lamented sobbing bitterly.
“I won’t have you question me in my car Beatrice. Shut up!.” Grace shouted.
“What would you do? Hit me like you hit Felix? Is that it?.” Beatrice shouted back.
Then her mother out of anger and frustration, landed her a slap.
“Shut it! You good for nothing rift raft. You ungrateful bitch. Don’t you ever talk to me in that manner ever again. I made you into who you are today. I brought light into your life. You would not have been known as part of the Johnson’s family if not for my efforts. So, whatever I demand from you is just in all ramifications. You should be grateful that I’m helping you get rid of one of your headaches.” Madam Grace shouted.
When they finally got to the deserted area, Madam Grace quickly brought out Felix’s body and dumped it there. Returning to her car, she drove off.
She got to the Johnson’s mansion and dropped Beatrice. Then she drove away to her apartment. Beatrice was restless all through the night. She kept seeing Felix in her dreams and it was beginning to hunt her.
She woke up at exactly 4:am and drove out. She drove back to the location where her mother had dumped Felix’s body. She managed to lift him into her car. Driving in full speed, she arrived at the Johnson’s family doctor’s house. He was still asleep when Beatrice call came in.
Waking up from sleep, he sluggishly picked the call.
“Hello doctor…can you hear me…?.” Beatrice asked gasping for breath.
“Yeah….who am I speaking with this early morning?.” He asked yawning.
“Are you still asleep? Please come outside. I’m at your gate. Please sir your help is urgently needed.” Beatrice said shivering in fear.
“Who is this?.” He asked still half asleep.
“It’s Beatrice sir. Beatrice Johnson. Of Johnson’s company.” She said.
Hearing the name Johnson, the doctor sprung up from his bed. Now fully awake, he dashed out of his room. He got to the gate and opened it for Beatrice who drove in.
“Please sir. Help me. I and my brother were playing last night when he fell and hit his head on the ground. I thought maybe he would wake this morning but it seems like he is not waking up anytime soon.” Beatrice lied crying.
The doctor quickly opened the back door of Beatrice’s car and with the help of Beatrice, he carried Felix inside.
“For how long has he been like this?.” He asked feeling his pulse and checking his heart beat.
“Since last night.” Beatrice said.
“And you didn’t bring him here since? Do you want him dead or something?.” He quarreled.
“No sir. I was just scared.” Beatrice said.
The doctor quickly performed a Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Felix. When he was done restoring his blood circulation and breath, he came back to meet Beatrice who was restless and scared as she waited at the sitting room.
“How is he?.” Beatrice asked.
“He is safe. His blood circulation and breathing level are back to normal. He just need some time to finally wake up.” The doctor said.
“Ahhhhh!. Thank God. Thank you doctor. What would I have done without you?.” Beatrice said kneeling to appreciate the doctor.
“No no no no. Please get up. It’s fine. I was just doing my job.” He said.
“You don’t understand. I thought he wouldn’t wake up again. So I was so scared.” She said standing.
“Yes. Only God knows what would have happened if you didn’t bring him at the time you did.” He said.
“Thank you doctor. But please can you please keep this as a secret from my parents? I know it was a mistake but they won’t take it easy on me when they find out.” Beatrice pleaded.
“No need to worry. Your secrets are safe with me.” He assured.
“Can I go and see him now?.” Beatrice asked.
“Sure.” The doctor said leading the way.
Sitting beside Felix’s bed, Beatrice held his left hand as tears rolled from her eyes. She flashed back to the when they were still in school.
The very day Felix dragged her to a corner and introduced himself as her brother. And how he had kept her secret all these years. She also remembered when Felix came to her seat to tell her that he didn’t like her after they were paired to work together in preparation for the upcoming interschool competition.
She also remembered when he would always defend her and protect her from other guys.
“I’m sorry Felix. For bringing all these upon you. You have been one true friend and brother to me. Please you have to get well soon so we can fight for a plate of food like we used to. I will miss us fighting for dad’s car and who will drive him to the company. I will miss all your annoying, stubborn and sweet attitudes towards me. Please wake up so i won’t be lonely for long.” Beatrice sobbed holding his hand.
* * *. * * * * * *
At exactly 5pm, Benjamin drove Belinda who was beautifully dressed into his father’s house.
She walked into the sitting room like a queen that she was. Each step she took, reminds her of her mother’s words of advice.
“Walk with your head up high. You are a queen. You are unique. You are special and your worth can not be measured with money. Being poor is not a crime….” Her mother said to her.
Few moments later, The Johnson’s family pulled up to Mr. Gideon’s house. Mr. Johnson had thought that Felix must have gone before them to Gideon’s house since he was friends with Benjamin. But his wife wondered why he left his car behind.
“Maybe his car had issues. Which was why he packed it at home.” Beatrice mother said.
Hearing this, Beatrice gazed at her mother who rolled her eyes at her.
While they were all seated, Benjamin’s parents were surprised as to why the entire members of the Johnson’s family were present in his house.
“I thought this meeting was supposed to be between us and Belinda alone? Why are the Johnson’s family here too?.” He asked Benjamin.
“Relax dad. You will soon find out.” Benjamin said smirking at him.
Standing before everyone, Benjamin began.
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I’ve got something interesting to tell you all. But first of all, I would like to invite Beatrice and Belinda to the front.” He said.
Beatrice and Belinda stood up and walked to where Benjamin was standing facing the two families.
“Mom and dad, I would like you to ask these two ladies same questions you’ve wanted to ask Belinda if she came here alone. Cause I believe in equality irrespective of one’s background.” Benjamin said.
“Son what do you think you are doing?. Respect yourself and take Beatrice back to her seat before I do something crazy to you.” His father raged.
“So, it is right for me to undergo series of interviews and tests to see if I’m worthy of your son’s love. But it’s wrong to let Beatrice follow thesame process?. Why? Because she has a rich father and I don’t?. What makes us different?. We both grew in thesame environment. We attended thesame school, we studied thesame course and wrote thesame scholarship examination. We were both born of a single mother. Yet, we are worthy to be treated equally because of money?. Sometimes I wonder, What if my dad was also a very wealthy man like Beatrice’s father. Would you have brought me here for questions and interviews? But because I’m from a humble background you all think it’s only just that I get to be questioned. There’s no need for your questions. I truly love Benjamin and I’ve known him since we were kids. We all attended unique high school. And back then, I didn’t know whose son he was. I played and read with him. We were almost inseparable that year. If I had written the scholarship examinations with them, then I would have graduated from thesame university with them. Back then in school, I didn’t approach him because of his father’s wealth. We just reunited again after 7years and it has absolutely nothing to do with his family background.” Belinda said.
“Yes she’s right.” Beatrice attested.
This came as a shock to everyone.
“What are you doing?.” Beatrice mother whispered
“Belinda has been my childhood friend when we were growing up. She hated any form of discrimination and stood against injustice even as a child. You all have to believe her for she is saying nothing but the truth. I have been the wicked and heartless one. I have a rich father yet, I’m the most greedy and ambitious one here. I’m not as contented as Belinda. Belinda here has a pure and innocent heart. She and Benjamin truly loves each other. I have tried in different occasions to separate them but fate kept bringing them together. And her mother is not a loosed woman. She didn’t get pregnant from just any man. She got pregnant for her long time lover who abandoned her and her unborn child till date. And in such case, I don’t see any reason why Belinda should be held responsible for her father’s irresponsibilities. I totally understand her pains cause I know how hard it was for me growing up without a father. I admire her mother for not pushing her into doing abominable things just to gain her father’s attention. My own mother led me into poisoning Belinda when we were in school.” Beatrice revealed.
“What?.” Everyone shouted in disbelief. Belinda and Benjamin could not believe their ears either.
“Don’t listen to her she is lying.” Beatrice’s mother said.
“No. She is telling nothing but the truth. I have recorded evidences saved in my phone. How about I play it to the hearing of everyone?.” Felix said entering into the sitting room with their family doctor holding him.
