*EPISODE 15*
(LOVE AND DECEPTION)
“Felix? How is this even possible?.” Madam Grace marvelled.
“Welcome big bro. You came on time.” Beatrice said smiling at Felix.
“What’s going on here? Why is my son looking so tartared and sick?.” Mr. Johnson asked standing to his feet with curiosity written all over her face.
Felix’s mother quickly walked to her son and examined his body.
“Are you hurt any where? Why are you like this? Who did this to you?.” She asked all at once.
“Mom, you will soon find out.” Felix said.
He turned and his gaze caught with Belinda who was looking at him with her eyes filled with sadness, worries, and pity for him. He just smiled at her, giving her the assurance that all was well.
“I guess you all are surprised to see me in this condition. Well, I’m glad I’m alive and I was able to survive the plans of the wicked. All thanks to my sister here. Thank you so much Beatrice for doing what you did at the right time.” Felix said.
Madam Grace was infuriated and Confused at thesame time.
“What is he talking about? Is he not aware that it was I and Beatrice that threw his body and left him for dead? How come he is showering praises on her right now?.” She marvelled in her heart.
“Surprised right?.” Felix asked Grace who was now uncomfortable. “I know someone must be so tensed right now. Trying to figure out how I managed to come out alive after all her evil deeds.” Felix said.
His words got everyone Yizef stories totally confused that they kept Wondering what was actually going on.
* * * * * *
Flashback
Earlier that day, when Felix finally regained his consciousness, the family doctor informed Beatrice of his recovery. And she quickly drove back to his place to check on Felix.
“Felix!. Oh thank Goodness you are alive.” Beatrice jubilated embracing him on his sick bed.
Few moments later, they both started a conversation with Belinda sitting beside his bed.
“I’m sorry for putting you in this condition. I’m truly sorry.” Beatrice sobbed.
“You and I know that it wasn’t your doing. You don’t owe me any apology Beatrice. How long do you intend to keep following your mother blindly?. How long do you intend to keep covering her evil deeds?.” Felix asked.
“Felix, I honestly do not like the things my mother made me do. I don’t like the way she handles issues too. But there is nothing I can do to stop her. And besides, she is still my mother. And I’m happy for the attention she’s giving me now. Compared to when I was growing up. Then, she treated me like I was adopted.” Beatrice lamented.
“No Beatrice. You have to stop her. Seeing what she did to me, she has gotten worse and more dangerous. You never can tell who her next victim might be. The earlier we stopped her, the better for all of us. Felix said
“You are right though but how do I resolve this issue? I have done things that I’m not even proud of all to satisfy my mother’s greed. Do you think Belinda and Benjamin would be able to forgive me?. I tried sticking with my mom till the end. But after she hurt you and dumped your body, I then realized that, there is no end to her desires and greed. The more I tried to do her biddings, the more her hunger and desire for power, fame, acceptance and recognition increases. How do I make things right now?.” Beatrice lamented.
“Don’t worry. I will help you come out of this mess unscratched. All you have to do is, go to Benjamin’s house this evening and show your support to Belinda. By giving Benjamin’s parents, reasons why they should let Belinda marry their son.” Felix said.
“I’m nervous. Won’t dey doubt me?.” Beatrice asked.
“Not when I have evidences to back up your claims.” Felix said
“You do?.” Beatrice asked totally amazed.
“Yes sis. So all you have to do is tell them the whole truth about Belinda’s personality. Remember. No more deceptions. Let’s turn a new leave today by confessing our bad deeds. I believe the truth is all we need to get healed and freed from all this.” Felix said.
“Alright. I will do it. I’m ready to do it. As long as it is the only means to stop my mother from getting worse.” Beatrice agreed.
And that was why Beatrice had earlier said all what she said before the two families.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“Mr. and Mrs. Gideon. I would like to say a few words to you about Belinda here. She’s not just any random girl. She’s hardworking, she’s smart, she’s intelligent and she’s a sweet soul. The first time we met Belinda, was in the first term of our first year in senior high school. She came to school that day with her best friend Beatrice.” He started.
“She and Beatrice were friends?.” They entire family marvelled.
“I know you all might be Wondering how come they are no longer friends now if they were really friends before. Well, that question would be answered by the people involved. Although I think I have a little idea on why it turned out to be so. But first of all, let me proceed with my speech. So on the very day these two girls entered our class, I made Belinda to fall. And guess whose body she fell on. Of all people in the class, she fell on Benjamin’s body. If only I and Beatrice understood the hand writing on the wall that day, we wouldn’t have tried to interfere with destiny. After that incident, the two of them became enemies. Even though they sat on thesame seat, they were practically behaving like a cat and a dog. As time went on, these two became close after studying and preparing for our interschool competition as partners. But something happened. After we went through some tests, the school vice principal appointed Belinda and Benjamin to represent the senior year students in the interschool competition. But when it was the day for the competition, Belinda who came to school very healthy, slumped and fainted. And she was quickly rushed to the hospital because of the sleeping pills Beatrice had added to her drink. Then, Beatrice here was asked to replace Belinda.” Felix said.
“What?.” They all chorused in astonishment and disbelief.
Madam Grace was so uncomfortable we’re she sat wondering,
“What exactly are these children up to?.” She wondered with her heart beat racing fast.
“Yes he is right. Before the day of the competition, I went home after we were done with the test that was used to chose two students that would represent us in the school competition. When I returned home, my mom wasn’t happy with the fact that I wasn’t selected to represent the school in the interschool competition. She was angry as to why would I let Belinda win instead? And why was I not friends with Benjamin?….” Beatrice opened up with her voice shaking.
“Unbelievable. Are this evil?.” The entire family started pointing at Grace who hid her face in shame.
“My mom….has never appreciated any of my efforts. She would always compare me with others and end up making me compete with them. Back then, she told me that, going to the interschool competition instead of Beatrice, was the only way to get my dad’s acceptance and attention. I visited Belinda that night and asked her mother if truly, mothers were always right. And she told me that no reasonable mother would want to put her child in danger of any kind. I thought my own mother was reasonable too. So I got sleeping pills after making research about it online. I poured the sleeping pills into Belinda’s drink. Few minutes after she drank the drink, she collapsed and was rushed to the hospital where she almost lost her life. With her out of the picture, I went to the interschool competition with Benjamin and we returned with second position. When I got home that day, I was expecting my mother to ask me did I end up going to the interschool competition instead of Belinda. But she didn’t. Rather, she said she was proud of how I removed Belinda from the picture. And that was how it started. We finally got the acceptance, attention and recognition we’ve always wanted by coming into the Johnson’s family. But that didn’t stop my mother from being greedy. She instructed me to cut ties with Belinda and all my poor friends in school. And I did as she instructed but deep down, I missed my friends. But each time I tell her about how much I missed my friends, she would tell me that they are my competitors and not my friends. She literarily poisoned my heart against them most especially Belinda. When she finally discovered that Benjamin was from the Gideon’s family, she instructed me to get closer to him by all means. And if possible, I should make Belinda and Benjamin hate each other. And that was when I initiated Felix into the plan. During Mr. Gideon’s birthday party seven years ago, I approached Benjamin and used emotional lies on him. He led me to the balcony while Felix waited for Belinda’s arrival. And when she came, he led her to the balcony as we had planned. When I saw her coming, I embraced Benjamin and even kissed him to pass a message to her. That was the end of the relationship they had. My mother was so proud of me. The next thing she did, was instruct me to make sure I stop Belinda from writing the school’s scholarship examinations. And we paid three hefty men who visited Belinda’s house on the day of the examination. They successfully prevented her from writing the exams. And that was how she didn’t get to travel out with us.” She narrated with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Belinda and Benjamin could not believe their ears. Belinda was heartbroken as she opened her mouth wide in shock and disbelief with tears in her eyes. Everyone felt pity for Belinda and for Beatrice who was only trying to get on her mother’s good side.
“We finally travelled out of the country and it was one instructions to the other on how to seduce Benjamin here. But none of it worked cause Benjamin sees me as his younger sister. When we finally returned after seven years, I found out that Belinda and Benjamin had met again. So, I told my mother who then suggested marriage to my father. And that was how the date stuff came about. But on that day, Belinda had found out about the real incidence that occurred during Mr. Gideon’s birthday party seven years ago. So she claimed Benjamin and they both went on their date. But these got my mom angry that she suggested we permanently, get rid of Belinda. That was when Felix came to tell us about today’s meeting. That same evening, my mom gave me a drug to use on Benjamin so as to claim that he raped me. She believes that, that will leave him with no choice than to marry me. I guess Felix overheard our discussion so he came in and confronted her. And out of anger, she hit his head so hard with a stool that Felix fell and lost consciousness. But instead of taking him to the hospital, my mom took his body out of the house and dumped him on a deserted area. That was when I knew that there is no turning back to the oath my mom has chosen. I had to go back there in the morning and rush Felix to our family dictor’s house. And that was where he got treated. And here is today. Still breathing.” Beatrice said with uncontrollable tears rolling down her cheeks.
“How dare you harm my son because of your endless greed?.” Mrs. Johnson raged slapping Beatrice mother.
The entire place turned into a wrestling ground as the two women fought against Beatrice’s mother for ever thinking of harming their sons.
Just then, Belinda’s mother entered the place fully ready for war.
“Where are those women that said they won’t let us rest because we are poor?.” She raged from the door .
They all stopped to see who was talking.
“Mom?.” Belinda voiced out in shock.
“What is she doing here?.” Benjamin asked Belinda.
“I don’t know.” She replied still surprised at her mom’s arrival.
“Don’t worry child, I’ve come to deal with these rich people once and for all. The highest they can do is lock me up for two to three days.” She said folding her sleeve for a fist fight.
“No mom. You don’t have to do this.” Belinda said trying to calm her down but she wasn’t ready to listen to anyone as she rushed with full force towards Benjamin and Felix’s mothers. Grabbing all of them on their hair, she pushed them to the floor.
The men had to quickly intervene but holding her up.
After a while, the whole atmosphere became calm and the women’s hair looking tartared all thanks to Belinda’s mother.
It was after the whole scenario, that she realized what was actually going on. Cause she thought that they were actually bullying her daughter. She then apologised to all of them except Beatrice’s mother.
Felix them played the voice record to the hearing of everyone and then they discovered how greedy and dangerously ambitious Beatrice’s mother was.
Mr. Johnson apologized to Mr. Gideon for all the antrocities committed against him and his son by his side chick. He immediately called on the police and they dragged Grace away.
He turned to Belinda and said,
“I’m sorry on behalf of my family members. And I hope you will one day be able to forgive us. Cause we’ve caused you so much harm.” Mr. Johnson said.
Belinda fought back tears as she nodded in affirmation.
“Poor child. We didn’t know you passed through all these and yet we judged you by your background. I’m truly sorry for coming in between you and my son. I promise I will be a good mother inlaw to you when you both get married.” Benjamin’s mother said holding Belinda’s hand.
“What? does that mean that, you’ve given us the go ahead?.” Benjamin asked with excitement written all over his face.
“Yes son. I agree with her. We believe Belinda here would make a good wife. So you have our blessings.” Mr. Gideon said.
“No way!.” Belinda’s mom said pulling Belinda’s hand from Benjamin’s mother grip.
“Mom?. What are you doing?.” Belinda asked.
“Shut up!. You can’t get married into such a family. Not when I’m still alive. I forbid you from marrying their son. And this is final.” Belinda’s mother said with a serious tone.
She quickly dragged Belinda out of their sight leaving everyone in total confussion.
