Decided to upload this chapter before Enampa and Nophisat kill me😂😂

Enjoy🥂🥂

TOBI

"Thank you, Jared."

"You're welcome, boss."

The cool Florida breeze blows me as I retire to my apartment for the day. My therapist told me I'm making progress and can finally return to the country if I want to.

It's been two months since she called for our barely 24 hours engagement. I honestly thought she was not serious about it. I just thought it was a prank. But when a day grew into two days and in turn a week, dread started creeping in. I called her number but she did not pick.

I can't believe I was that desperate! She simply made a fool out of me. Sometimes I wonder if the whole thing was a game to her. After all, she never said she loved me back. With the countless times I uttered those three words to her, never for once did she reciprocate.

The breakup really shook me, considering the fact that I had just made us public that same day. So, imagine the blogs 1 month after. The break up leaked, I don't know how, but it did.

Mom really helped through those days. I had to relocate to her place because I was a mess. She even tried to get an audience with Farida who of course, politely declined.

Mom was furious because I could not even function properly. She blamed me, at a point, for proposing publicly. She said things like that are better done privately, should things not go as expected. She even says I should be a little thankful that she did not humiliate me publicly.

After moping around for two straight weeks, drinking and making a fool of myself, mom woke me up one morning to pack my bags.

Apparently, she had gone behind me to book a flight to the US. Seeing as I was a citizen, I really did not need to apply for a Visa.

So, that day, I cleaned up myself, had a haircut and shaved for the first time in two weeks, had my bath, while thinking about my life when I saw my reflection in the mirror.

So, when dad had died and the whole family wanted to make mom's life hell, I was also going through a phase then. I had to grow up quick. There was so much pressure on me, even though I was outside the country. So, I started seeing Ms. May Hart, my therapist.

Occassionally, I did talk to her, even when I came back to Nigeria. She understood my struggles and always helped. Ms. May pulled me out of a hole I wasn't even aware I was sinking into. So, every Christmas, I never fail to send her a package through my most loyal bodyguard, friend and driver, Jared.

Mom took over the helm of affairs forcefully. According to her, it's her company and she does not care what the BOD think! She's not allowing someone else take my place.

I know it's just her way of letting me know that I am always welcome to work there when I return.

After punching in the security code to my condo, I get in and finally take off my coat, turning on the heater since it's winter here.

The warmth that resurfaces helps kill the cold effect that engulfed me when I had taken off the coat.

I'm tired and hungry but I need to have my bath first. Jared's wife, Gretta had something packed for me today. She does that sometimes because she genuinely loves me like a younger sibling.

Oh, I forgot to add that Jared is actually older than I am. However, my relationship with him is a genuine one.

When I am finally done freshening up and changing into some comfortable clothes, I heat up the food and start to eat.

Now this time when there's nothing much occupying my thoughts and days is what I dread the most because my thoughts always drift to her.

My therapist says I am better and can return when I want to but honestly, I'd rather not. That whole country reminds me of her! There's no way I'd go back without relapsing.

I loved her. And if I am being honest with myself, I still do! It's sickening what sort of hold she has on me. I just want it all to end but it is refusing to stop. The feelings are refusing to die and there's nothing as frustrating as that.

Why did I even kiss her in the first place? Why did I pursue my feelings for her? I made the moves. I did the chasing. She never did any of those. Not responding to my love proclamations should have been a sign but I was stupid. Very stupid to let it slide.

Avoiding Nigeria is for the best. I have done a good job not trying to contact her since I came here, and it's been two months. I deserve a tap in the back for that. I know I'll be fine. I just need to push myself.

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FARIDA

Finding out I was pregnant with Tobi's child was a shocker to me. When the doctor gave me the news, I knew without a doubt that it was the Vienna period that it had happened.

Now done with the first trimester, and in the second, I am still not showing that much. I could still comfortably wear my maxi gowns with no one noticing anything. Asides my close friends and my Doctor, I had chosen to keep it away from people, for personal reasons.

Any baby shopping I did was done discreetly. I was usually in disguise. The selfish part of me did not want it to go public because if it did, I am certain Tobi would hear about it.

After he tried communicating with me for two weeks, he finally stopped and never for once after that time did my phone's screen ever carry his name as a caller.

I am ashamed of the mistake I made with that man. Is it too late to admit how I am in love with him? I know he has moved on. 4 months is a long time to still be hung up over someone who broke your heart.

Tobi deserved better. Not a damaged person like me. I always mess things up! I always do. Bukky and Tee say I beat myself up too much. They always try to cheer me up. They've been with me every step of this pregnancy. Like right now, I'm shopping with Bukky.

Rolling the cart in front of me, I force a smile, trying to cheer myself up. It is well.

"Farida?" A voice I never thought I'd hear again calls.

"Is that?" Bukky states as we turn.

"John." I force a smile, looking at him. A little boy, not older than 5 is in his arms and a little girl holding his other hand.

"How are you?" He asks. From the corner of my eyes, I see Bukky glaring at him.

"She is fine." She responds.

"This is my wife, Ginika." He introduces us to a very beautiful woman.

"The Farida, I see." Disdain flashes in her eyes as she gives me a once over.

"Nice to meet you." She adds. I know she is not pleased to.

"And you too. We're leaving." Bukky drags me off the scene and I let out a frustrated sigh.

"Don't even dwell on that nonsense man." My biggest red flag in a relationship. John, the man that left me at the alter. Ths one who finally cemented the wickedness Tabitha had done to me before I made yhe final decision to move to Lagos. John was a Yoruba demon! Swift and charming. Until the day he left me at the alter.

The marriage was a closed one, since my only family were Bukky and Tee. Till today, he didn't tell me why he did what he did. He just got a little child to deliver a eumpled sheet of paper with the words 'I'm sorry' on it.

Seeing John happy and even with a family made me realise how very foolish I had been, dwelling on his rejection and that of that nonsense Gombe man.

I made up my mind to fix what I had broken and when we got to the car and loaded what we had purchased, I finally voiced out my thoughts to Bukky.

"Go girl, it's about time." She cheered. I left the car with her and ordered for a ride to his house. The gateman said he's not around. I tried dialing his number but it was not going through.

I am left with no choice but to go to Madam Yeni's place. Nervously, I type in her address on the app.

All through the ride, I kept fiddling with my nails. I am nervous and scared too.

"We have arrived, ma'am." I didn't even notice we had driven the distance already.

"Thank you." I say to him and sigh when my eyes come in contact with the gate. Taking in a deep breath, I alight the vehicle. It's a card trip so I don't have to bother myself.

"Good afternoon, Austin." I greet the gateman.

"Ah. Aunty Farida. Welcome. Madam dey inside." He is all smiles as he ushers me into the compound. If only the man knows the can of worms in my stomach right now.

I hesistate before finally knocking, my purpose of coming here being my motivation. Grace opens the door for me. Her smile drops for a mini second before she expertly masks it.

"Welcome, Aunty Farida." She greets.

"Thank you. Is Madam in?" Even though I know she is, it's the only thought I could voice out.

"Yes, ma. I'll let her know you're around."

"Thank you." Giving her a tight-lipped smile, I turn away from her, looking through the sitting room that has not change at all.

"I hear you are looking for me. What havoc have you come to cause again?" Madam Yeni's anger is justified.

"If it is Tobi you are looking for, he is not here." My heart drops as she says this.

"Now, get out of my house!" I have never been on the receiving end of her no-nonsense tone but today, I am.

"Ma, I..." She cuts me off with a clap of her hands.

"I don't want to hear anything!"

"Ma, please." I employ the only technique I could think of at this moment. I wince a little when my knees touch the floor but for Tobi and the sake of the good relationship I had always had with this family, pride was out of the question. She still seemed unfazed as her hands are akimbo.

"You are the one punishing yourself. When you are ready, you'll stand up and leave." She hisses, taking her exit when I blurt out.

"I'm pregnant." My utterance results in a halt in her steps.

"Why should I believe you?" I quickly fish out my phone and search for the soft copy of my scan. Standing up, I almost lose stamina as I hasten my steps to her.

Glaring at me, she snatches the phone from my hand before looking at the screen.

"I'm sorry, ma. I was foolish, nervous and scared." She looks heavenwards before letting out a deep breath.

"Sit." She instructs.

"Grace...bring some fresh juice for her." She calls out.

"How far along are you?" She asks.

"4 months now."

"I can't say I have forgiven you because I still picture my son and the mess you created of him." I am not proud of what I did.

"However, for the sake of this baby, I will tell you where he is. If Tobi forgives you, then I will. If not, an arrangement will be made for child support." I don't want child support. My broken heart internally screams, but I just nod to her.

"Thank you, ma." I don't even have the courage to look her in the eyes. Grace serves the juice and leaves us.

"He's in Florida. I'll have the neccessary documentation done and also ask for the PJ to be set if you want to see him." She says while eyeing me.

"Okay, ma. Thank you."

"Send me a copy of your passport data page when you get home." She adds.

That night, I packed light, changed some Naira into Dollars and could barely sleep.

By the dawn of day, I was already awake and by 4pm, I started my trip to meet Tobi.

Hopefully, it turns out well.

AN:
The book is soon coming to an end. 1 or 2 chapters more and it's done.

I'm emoshonal raii now.