Few days, after Emilia was discharge from the hospital Victor went to check on his daughter who was sleeping peacefully when he was sure she was fine, he took his car key and only told Joelle he was going out and that she was to take care of his daughter.

1pm, when Nelson came to check on Emilia he asked Joelle to dress Emilia and her self up so he would take them out.

Joelle quickly went to her room and change into a simple gown.
After that she dressed Emilia who was already jumping happily as though she couldn't wait for them to get going to the place her uncle wanted to take them to.

Joelle was happy because she needed something to distract her.
She couldn't helping thinking about Jessica. She has been speaking with her friends and know she wasn't happy.
Knowing that Jessica was not happy was breaking her heart but the was nothing she could do to help her.

Jessica's family story changed after she got married to the king.
At first that didn't mean anything to Jessica because she wasn't happy where she was.
But the last time Joelle had spoke to her she sounded as if she was beginning to like her husband.
Joelle was praying and hoping it happens that way. All she wanted, was her friend to be happy.

Nelson drove them to an eatry where they bought they things they needed Joelle picked for Emilia her favorite chocolate and Ice-cream her father always got for her.
When they were finish with the buying, they went to a cool and isolated place where Nelson sprayed a little rug and they all sat...

Nelson and Joelle ate the food they had ordered chatting and laughing, but Emilia did most of the entertaining. she sang chorus that couldn't be understood, dance and clapped with few teeth.
Joelle had Nelson could not help but laugh like five years old children and Emilia kept entertaining her audience.

Two hours later, Nelson drove Joelle and Emilia back. When they got to the house, Victor's car was parked outside which meant Victor was already home.

Joelle came down from the car holding Emilia and began to knock as Nelson was still trying to get some thing fixed in the car.

Victor opened the door and stood looking at his daughter who was in haste to get to him.
"Good afternoon"
Joelle greeted him smiling, But victor response was as if he was been force to respond but that did'nt bother her she was'nt going to allow him ruin the happiness that was flowing within her at the moment.

Victor took Emilia from Joelle and went inside, Joelle followed him without saying another word to him then Nelson joined them.
Joelle proceeded to her room then she heard Nelson talking to Victor and victor responding coldly to him.
When Joelle came back to the living ing room,
Victor was in the dinner table doing what only he knew with his paper while Emilia was sitting with his uncle who was playing video game.

Joelle went to Nelson and Emilia to take part in their game.
Nelson and Joelle began to play turns and were competing with Emilia clapping happily for them.
she was also playing her with her millions toys her father had gotten for her.

Victor sat staring at space as he could not no longer concentrate in what he was doing, he could not stop the anger that was rising within him.
he didn't know why he was getting angry his brother and Joelle were only having fun and his Daughter was enjoying herself why all this was getting him angry, he couldn't tell.
He didn't want to admit to himself that he was jealous but deep within himself he knew he was, he wish he could be happy as they were.
He had once tasted happiness, love and joy but now he couldn't find any of them anymore.
All this gifts were all taking away from him when he had lost his purpose of leaving, when he lost his wife his beautiful and wonderful Maya.
When he could not stand any of what was happening any more he stood up and left to his room.

***
It was late in the evening, When victor final came out from his dark room, he had checked on Emilia and discovered she was sound asleep but there was a shallow noise from the sitting room which meant Joelle was still awake.
He was so hungry and needed a drink he walk to the sitting and found Joelle happily watching cartoon "coco"
"she don't have a problem" he thought "if she do she won't be watching this"

Without saying a word, victor walked straight to the refrigerator he was about getting a drink when he had voice behind

"Can I get you something to eat"? Joelle spoke behind him.
He turned and saw her standing few distance away from him. looking small and young and very beautiful.
"No"
he said faster than he wanted to.
He was about to walk away when she spoke again
"But you haven't eating for the whole day, you can't continue to live on your drink, you're getting more terrible as the days pass bye" she said calmly with concern
"Are you okay?"
Victor slowly turn and look at her.
"who gave you the right to question me?" he asked given her a hard look.
You can keep that face only when you are with my brother because it will only work on him not on me.
And the earlier you learn to mind and focus on your business the better it will be for you because if you don't mind your business in my house, I would be force to throw you back to the street where you are supposed belong"

Victor could see the tears gathering in her confused eyes rapidly and she was trying forcefully to bit them back but it was impossible so she ran away from him to her room.
Victor felt as though a knife had be forced into his heart he knew he shouldn't have spoken to her in that manner but he couldn't help himself.
He sat on the chair fighting the urge to go to her and apologize with the whole of his strength and might.
This was the best way, he thought it was better to make her scared of him with that he would be able to save himself and also save her too from him.
He tried to drink his bear but he couldn't he had lost his appetite the terrible hunger he had been feeling earlier vanish without him even knowing.

When he couldn't stand it anymore,
he stood up kept his unfinished drink back into the refrigerator and walk up to her door and knock when there was no response, he spoke calmly asking her to open the door for him still the was no response then,
He opened the door and entered he switched the light on and found Joelle sitting at the edge of the bed crying slowly with her face buried in are hands.

He slowly move toward her not sure of what to say , he knew he had hurt her badly not just today, but that he had been hurting her and he needed to apologize to her all this wasn't her fault but his.
He moved closer to her and squat in front of her then he left her face up.

"Look Joelle I am so sorry"
" I know my words hurt you,
I want you to know that I don't mean to hurt your feelings, It hurt me to see you this sad believe me" he murmured sincerely as he placed his arm around her shoulder.
Joelle pulse accelerated, as victor slid his hand to her shoulder looking at her intensively.

Joelle couldn't help but stare blankly at him the feeling she had been hiding and trying to suppress, over took her in full force.
How can this be, what was wrong with her this was her sister's husband for goodness sake she thought, but she couldn't help herself?

Victor looked at her as if he was searching for something, then he sat and pulled her close to his chest when he could resist doing that anymore.
His caresses was different from normal act of comforting and his breathing in its highest pitch.

Joelle bit her lower lip and tried to decide what to do because she already know what endpoint of this reaction was going to be.
But she was too weak to do anything to stop it. she didn't even want to do anything to stop whatever was about to happen.

With the look in his eyes she could tell he wanted to kiss her but he was fighting within himself and with the whole of her being, she wanted him to kiss her.
She was still lost in her thought when she finally felt victor's lips on hers and at that point she felt as though the whole world became still.
"I've wanted to do this from the moment I first laid my eyes on you, you make me break my rules" he murmured.
Joelle quaked and groaned, arching against his palm as if she'd been desperate to have him kissed her, "I love you"
She said silently and immediately prayed he don't hear her.
She didn't know when her hands clawed at his shirt forgetting her respect.
she groaned with pure pleasure and then she felt him pull away and the look in his eyes change, telling her this was a huge mistake and at that point Joelle felt so embarrass wishing she could evaporate.
She kept her face facing the floor hoping it would reduce her embarrassment.

"You should never wish to love me young lady" he said hardly
He cleared his throat and shallowed slowly before speaking again.
"Joelle"
he said her name harshly as though he was scolding her
"That wasn't smart, you should learn to have some self worth and respect" he said between his teeth. He exhaled deeply and began to walk away leaving her alone. She looked confused the more.

"But you wanted to kiss me didn't you? " She asked slowly making it sound more like a statement not a question. she wasn't even sure he heard her as tears began to gather in her eyes and eventually stared coming down rapidly.
Joelle held her dump hands together still standing, when victor got to the door,
He looked at her she was crying he felt like going back to her but no, that would be a bad choice
Heaven help him, but crying made her prettier and innocent, he thought and moved himself away.

Joelle woke up the next day, Her eyes still blood shot from crying the previous night.
She bathed Emilia got her dress and feed her breakfast her path and victors crossed several times but non say a word.
she had gotten use to him now she was'nt scared of him anymore.
He was a stubborn man and wanted her to be scared of him but she was done with been afraid of him.
And she has proposed in her heart that she was never going to leave his house she was only going to leave when it was time for her to go back to school.
Emilia needed her, she was not going to allow this innocent little angle stay alone with her angry father directly or indirect it was going to affect her tender mind.

She knew he love Emilia but whether he wanted it or not he was going to influence his daughter negativly and she didn't want that to happen.
She knew she would have to leave when it is time to go to school and she also doubt if Victor was ever going to let her come to his home again after she has left.
But she was determine to make use of the little time she had to care for Emilia and make her feel loved just as her sister would have.
Joelle did the entire necessary things that was required, cooks and kept his on the dinning table but never said anything to him.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all kept on the dinner but he ate none, Joelle kept doing that non stop.

Four days after, Joelle woke up with a smile on her face. Happily she went to check on Emilia.
She didn't know why she was happy. She felt better than she had ever felt in a long time.
She took Emilia who was also smiling and placed a long and tender kiss on her soft cheek.
She was still smiling when she turn and saw Victor standing with his normal and usual expression as though he had fought with a ghost in his dream.
He was not smiling at all just as she had expected.

He looked so upset more than how he usual used to be and immediately that ruined her seemingly pleasant mood she tried not take notice of it but she couldn't
He cleared his throat to get her full attention before he spoke.

"I need a favor from you"; Victor's enunciated his words slowly as if he was talking to a child; even going as far as using his hands to make gestures.
"What favor is that "?
She asked carefully, the curiosity getting to her.
She was curious and also afraid.
Was he going to asked her to leave his house or what? She asked herself in her mind.
What could it be, she was sure with the looks in his face that the favor would not be something in her favor.
He finally exhaled slowly before saying the unexpected he had prepared in his mind

"I don't want you to get too attach to Emilia and also make her get attach to you pretending and making her look at you as her mother.
a nanny would be coming to take care of her.
So you will do me a favor and not be staying in her path you don't need to be doing anything for her anymore, she don't need you anymore
So from now on till the few days you have to stay in this house elapse you will do me this favor as I do you the favor of allowing you here"

Joelle froze at that spot and her lips became dry instantly.
She wasn't sure of what to say,
She was practically having a mental panic attack she could do nothing but just stare at him with blank expression.

She had thought nothing would be able to remotely compare to the emotional turmoil she had gone through when she had lost her mother and then her dad and her home.
But this very situation was proving her wrong. She was already going mental.
Her emotions were all over the place. shock, anger, pain took over her that her brain couldn't even comprehend what was happening to her anymore.

Joelle anger grew as she glared at him yet either he took no notice or he just chooses to ignore her which made her feel like a fool.
How could he had forgotten so quickly how she love this baby, she was force to believe that men's memory were short sighted

"I was thinking you are a human, but I was totally wrong" she said without even knowing when the words had left her mouth.
"I am certainly not going to obey this useless law" she said clenching her tooth in anger"
"We are talking about my daughter young lady,
And remember you are staying in my house, don't mistake that kiss for something because it was nothing but only a mistake, there nothing I can do with you.
And let me warn you if you ever dare talk back at me again, I promise you,
I will throw you out to were you belong and you know what that means"
Victor said and walked out and then Emilia began to cry looking at Joelle as if she knew exactly what had happened between her father and Anuty.

Victor couldn't tell why Joelle had a great influence on him, why should he feel bad when she was sad?
She wasn't his wife, she wasn't his Maya and could never be despite the strong resemblance, she could never be Maya the earlier he gets that into his tick scull the better for him. Victor thought as he entered his room and began to walk around restlessly.
This was indeed an odd thing about love. When someone you love cries, your heart melts.
He didn't want his heart to melt, he wanted to look at her as she cried and asked her why she was wasting her tears.
He didn't want to feel anything but rage but that was not working for him

Joelle move Emilia closer to her as she wiped the tears that had escaped from her eyes
Victor had hurt her pride in a terrible way but there was nothing she could do this was his house and also his baby and she was under his mercy she also needed help from him.
She just wished she could do something terrible to him but that was impossible,
She felt terrible she knew it was wrong and that she was acting wicked to her late sister, but that kiss had mean a lot to her but meant nothing to victor.

How could she be in love with her late sister husband?
she felt dirty and wicked she should have left that very moment she was told Maya was dead.
But she couldn't have done that.
What a fool she is and also a terrible betrayal,
She had betrayed her sister who had took it upon herself to look for her when she had needed her most, she thought trying to make Emilia stop crying.

The next day, Joelle was in the kitchen when she heard Emilia crying and shouting. She had placed her on her bed to sleep earlier and victor was in his study close to where Emilia was sleeping.
She quickly left what she was doing to get to Emilia but she hesitated on her way and return to the kitchen.
Victor was close to his daughter and he had also asked her to stay away from his daughter so this would be a great start he should carry her since the nanny was yet to arrive.
Joelle continue with what she was doing even though her attention was no longer there.
The magnitude of Emilia's crying and shouting increased Joelle was tempted to go and take her from her father, but she forcefully waved that temptation back.
She could hear victor's voice from the kitchen trying to comfort Emilia but his effort seems to be in vain.

Few seconds, Joelle notice Emilia shouting and crying was no longer coming from a distance as far as her room again but the shouting was very close to her she could tell the baby was tired of crying as her voice was already becoming deemed.

She turned and found victor standing at the door to the kitchen still trying to calm Emilia without a saying a word he stood and was looking at Joelle with the look of

"you mustn't be teld what to do right"?

Joelle in the other hand, did not move or shake, she just stood motionlessly and was looking at victor and also Emilia who was looking at her and crying, expecting her to get her from her daddy.
at that point, Joelle could tell Emilia was disappointed at her because her hands which were stretched was taking back and the crying increasing this time with her face buried in her father's shoulder. Yet Joelle didn't move a hitch nor shake
When victor could no longer take it, he looked at Joelle intensively and wanted to say a word that totally refused to come out
he brought down his face feeling like a fool.

He appeared to be frustrated for a moment then look up at Joelle with pleading eyes

"Help..."

"I think she needs you to carry her, she wants to be with you"
he said swallowing hard and terribly as though he was swallowing bile.
Hoping she collect the baby that instant and spare him all the, stress of hurting his pride.

When Joelle didn't move to take the baby from him, his look changed to desperate, he knew at that instant that she meant to punish him,

"Please"
he added, But She did not move nor shake.
She stood at the spot she had been since he had come to the kitchen with Emilia crying.
The only different was that she was no longer doing what she was doing when he had arrived apart from that she did nothing more.

Victor had run out of patient but there was nothing he could do, he couldn't toast his daughter or fling her for that reason he stood and allow Joelle watch them as though she was watching a movie.

"Please Joelle her temperature is going to raise if she continue crying this way, please"
He said moving more closer to her and Emilia hands already torching her shoulders as she was trying to get to her.

Victor, had told her to stay away from Emilia, and that was what she wanted to do and yet it was the same victor who was begging her to comfort his daughter.
Immediately Joelle stretch her hand to take Emilia,
Emilia stretched to her as though she was leaving in a haste to come out from burning sulfur and at that point when Joelle took Emilia in her arms Victor inhaled deeply and then exhaled as though a load was been taking off from his shoulder.
Emilia on the other hand, stopped crying the instance she was in Joelle arms...

"Thanks" Victor said still looking at Joelle before he left.
That was actually the first time she heard Victor saying those words
"thank you"
Since she had come to his home and that alone was enough to make her whole day.

Victor was a very proud man she knew what it had take him to say "please" and she also knew if he had had his way he would sent her parking from his house for making him feel helpless because he needed her to help him with Emilia.

Victor went back to his room not knowing what to do or say he wanted to get angry but he couldn't find himself doing that
He knew he was the cause of Joelle's behavior,
He had asked her to stay away from his daughter and he was thesame person who shamelessly go to her for help with his daughter.
He felt ashamed that he couldn't take care of his own daughter, he felt bad that his daughter could not find peace and comfort in his arms, in her own father, but a stranger.
He knew that Joelle was her aunty but even with that, she was still a stranger as far as he was concern.
He had made the mistake of allowing another person take his position in the life of his daughtervs heart and now he was done with given that chance.
He was going to change every single thing that had gone wrong between him and his daughter
She needed to trust no one but him, he was the only one who would never leave he broken.
Joelle was a pretty and young lady who was going to leave her anytime she felt like leaving and if it wasn't because of money, he was sure she would have left.

When victor went back to the living room, he saw Emilia playing with her toys he stood and was looking at her without saying a word or smiling
She didn't know anyone was standing close to her as all her attention was centre on her toys.
When she finally looked up and saw her daddy standing and watching her play, happily she began to laugh
"DA, DA"
she called out joyfully and happily
Victor didn't know when a tear escaped from his eyes he quickly wiped the tears and smiled at his daughter in a way he had never smiled at any one in his entire life and then he walked toward her picked her up and held her tight.
Holding her so close that way at that moment felt as though some part of him were been loosened up... all he see was Maya but all he could think about was Joelle.

Sorry for any grammatical errors.
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Love you all...