“REDEEMED HEARTS”
Episode 9
“Who are you, and what are you doing in my house acting all familiar?” Ikechukwu demanded, his tone laced with irritation.
“I am Gbenga Akinkugbe,” Pastor Gbenga replied calmly.
“So, what do you want?” Ikechukwu pressed, clearly impatient.
“Doesn’t that name ring a bell?” Gbenga inquired, his expression unwavering.
“No, and I don’t have time for games. If you people don’t have anything to say, please leave my house,” Ikechukwu insisted, growing increasingly annoyed.
“Adenike Akinkugbe, Atlas Group of Companies,” Gbenga stated.
Ikechukwu paused when he heard the name but quickly regained his composure. “Am I supposed to know who that is?”
“You were the Operations Manager at Atlas Group of Companies back in Lagos several years ago,” Gbenga continued.
“My wife, Adenike, was one of your secretaries,” he added.
Ikechukwu tried to dismiss the conversation, saying, “I had so many secretaries; I can’t remember everyone who worked for me then.”
Gbenga, however, wasn’t finished. “Of course, you can’t remember since you made a habit of sleeping with them and laying them off after having your way with them, regardless of whether they were single or married.”
Ikechukwu, feeling embarrassed and cornered, attempted to walk away, but his wife’s voice stopped him in his tracks.
“Ikechukwu Ejiofor, don’t you even think about running away,” she admonished him firmly.
He turned to her, exasperated. “Honey, are you listening to this nonsense?”
“He knows you by name,” she pointed out.
“A lot of people know my name,” Ikechukwu retorted, trying to downplay the situation.
“He knows you worked with Atlas Group of Companies back then,” Mrs Ejiofor reiterated.
“That information is on the internet; anybody can have access to that,” Ikechukwu argued.
Mrs Ejiofor, however, wasn’t easily deterred. “He also mentioned Adenike. I remember Adenike quite well; she was the nicest of your secretaries. And you and I know that you had a problem of keeping it in your pants.”
had
Ikechukwu’s embarrassment grew, and he reluctantly acquiesced.
“Please, sit down. I would like to know what happened between my husband and Adenike.” With that, everyone settled down to hear what Pastor Gbenga had to say.
any way
Gbenga turned to his daughter and began with an apology, making it clear that the story he was about to share didn’t in any way absolve him of guilt for leaving his family.
“Tife, the reason your brother became handicapped was that your mother attempted to terminate her pregnancy when she was carrying him.”
“What are you saying, Dad? Why on earth would she do such a thing?”
“Because the pregnancy wasn’t mine,” Gbenga continued, his voice heavy with regret. “On one of the occasions when your brother was at the hospital receiving treatment, I discovered from a blood test that he wasn’t my biological son. I confronted your mother, and that’s when she confessed that her boss, Mr. Ejiofor, had coerced her into a relationship. He used his position as her boss to exploit her, threatening to terminate her employment if she didn’t comply, even though he knew she was married. I was unemployed at that time, and in her desperation to secure her job, she yielded to him. When I learned the truth about your mother’s betrayal, I was not only emotionally shattered but also financially drained from caring for another man’s child. I was filled with disappointment, anger, and despair, and that’s why I left. But the biggest mistake I made was leaving you behind, and for that, I’m deeply sorry.” Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke.
All eyes were fixed on Ikechukwu, and Arinze was left utterly stunned, unable to find words to express his shock.
“Ikechukwu,” his wife addressed him sternly, her tone laced with anger. “I warned you that the day someone claiming to be your child showed up here, that’s when you’d see another side of me. You’re wicked, taking advantage of these young women repeatedly, and each time, you’ve lied and denied any wrongdoing. But now, the truth is out in the open.” She hissed in contempt. “Why are you silent? Go ahead, deny it! Why are you so quiet?”
Tife sat there in tears, her heart heavy with the revelations unfolding before her.
Arinze finally found his voice. “Dad, you judged Tife and called her names, but you’re worse than her. You were a predator, preying on innocent women and destroying their lives and their families. Do you have any idea of what you’ve done? Your inability to control yourself and your urges was the catalyst for Tife’s wretched life, and you are the root cause of her problems.”
He continued with a tone of indignation, “After her father left, her mother struggled to provide for her and her sick brother. The burden became too much for her to bear alone. She suffered a heart attack and died. Then, her aunt took them in she was molested by her brother’s nurse and her uncle, her aunt threw them out when she discovered her husband had been molesting Tife. Despite knowing what was happening, she continued to shield her husband. She had no place to turn, and her ailing brother relied on her for support. Her only means of survival was to engage with men to secure financial help.
Life
Arinze’s voice was laced with pain, “do you even understand what it did to her when after so many years and so many sacrifices her brother died?” He challenged his father. Arinze’s words held the weight of his anger and frustration. “Dad, you are responsible for the suffering Tife endured. You are the cause of her hardships. So, before you pass judgment on her, take a long, hard look in the mirror and consider the havoc your actions have wreaked on innocent lives. You lectured me about family reputation. Sir, you are the one who is undeserving. Tife did what she had to do to stay alive. What’s your excuse, Dad?”
As Arinze’s voice faded, a heavy silence descended upon the room. Then, Mrs. Ejiofor broke the silence, her words laden with sorrow. “How dreadful for a young girl to endure such hardships all alone. I apologize, Tife, for passing judgment on you. Many times, we perch on our moral high ground and judge others, yet we are no better than they are. And as for you, Ikechukwu, you are a wicked man. You expect your family to uphold the family name while you engage in despicable acts. Only God knows how many lives you have ruined. This is where everything ends, you will hear from my lawyers.” With that, she stood up and walked away.
“Mom,” Arinze called out.
“Mrs. Ejiofor,” Rev. Dolapo interjected, “Families should stick together during challenging times. We must be willing to forgive. You just said it yourself, sometimes we judge others, but we are not without sin.”
defence
Mrs. Ejiofor paused on the staircase and spoke one last time. “I suppose they’re right when they say, ‘Every day is for the thief, and one day is for the owner.’ Look at you now, Ikechukwu. I guess this is your day of reckoning.” With those words, she walked away, leaving Ikechukwu in profound shame, with nothing to say in his defence.
Thanks for reading,
to be continued.
Jumie Naths
