Chapter 31

--------------Los Angeles, California.

----------------------Next Morning( Olyster Residence)

I woke up to find Faryah peacefully asleep in my arms. Last night was a night to remember. It was both our first time, we were both shy, yes, but it happened. I got up from the bed and wore my shorts and shirt. It was 6:20am, her classes started by 8:00am. She had to make her Salah, but she looked pretty deep in her sleep. I got up from her bed and walked out of her room to prepare breakfast for her. She must be weak. The maids and cleaners were already cleaning the house and Anna was already cooking breakfast. The others were asleep. I wanted to make a special breakfast for my wife. " Good morning Anna" I greeted as I walked into the kitchen to see what I could prepare for Faryah. " Good morning boy, slept well?" She asked and I sang a Yes as an answer to her. " Your night must've been great, what did you dream about?" She asked and I smiled. I couldn't remember a thing. " I can't remember Anna" I answered and took out some sausages to prepare for I and Faryah. " You're preparing breakfast for your wife I see, how nice" She said and smiled genuinely at me as she whisked her eggs. " Yes Anna" I answered as I took out a glass bowl from one of the shelves. " I've never seen you this happy and energetic" she said to me and I smiled. Even I didn't imagine I was going to ever be this happy. " Yeah, it's because of her" I answered as I began cooking.

I made her fried beef sausages and scrambled eggs, with a fruit bowl, fresh coconut bread, a glass of orange juice, tea and milk. I was going to eat later, watching her eat was going to satisfy me. It was already 6:50 am. I walked up the stairs to her room and found her still asleep. I placed the tray on her bedside table and tapped her gently awake. She looked so beautiful in her sleep, her hair was so soft and dark and long and it smelt so nice. She moved slowly on her bed before she finally opened her eyes and met with mine. " it's morning already" she yawned as she used her sheets to cover her chest and use her hands to comb through her hair. " Yes It's 7:00am" I answered as I placed the tray in front of her. " Oh my I have to pray" she said as her eyes widened. " Sure you do, but eat first" I said as I pushes the tray closer to her. " Awwn, breakfast in bed, oh my God, thank you" She squealed with a bright smile as she gave me a hug.

" It's good, have you had yours?" She asked as I watched her eat her sausages. " Nah, watching you eat is actually satisfying" I answered and watched her roll her eyes. " you better join me, I need to get ready for class, you should've woken me up" she answered as she drank her milk. " Well I didn't want to disturb you" I answered as she used her fork to pick up a sausage and nudged for me to open up and I gladly obeyed. " I missed Salah because of sleep, it was so peaceful, I haven't slept like that in years" She said as I chewed on the sausage and drank from her juice. " Really?" I asked and she nodded as she ate some bread. She was eating really fast.

We were finally done eating and we both had to set out for the day. " I'll take these downstairs, freshen up and I'll meet you downstairs, you don't want to be late" I said as I took the tray and walked out of her room. "oh breakfast in bed son" Mother called immediately I closed Faryah's door. " Good Morning mother" I greeted as I gave her a little peck. She was still in her pyjamas and they made her look like she was thirty, instead of mid forty. " Morning, I know you slept well, so I won't bother asking, I slept well too, when are you going to make breakfast for me while I'm in bed" she pouted as we walked down the stairs. " Mother that's Brandon's job" I said and giggled at her. " Well, you're still my son, I deserve breakfast in bed from you" She replied as we got down from the stairs and headed towards the kitchen. " Maybe some other day Mother" I said as I dropped the plates on the kitchen sink.

" I'm glad the both of you are finally happy being married" She started as she took an apple from the counter and inspected the food that was prepared. " I am glad I realised my true feelings before it was too late" I answered. " And Pamela?, How is she?, I don't see her around the hospital that much anymore" I really hoped nothing was wrong with her. " Should I check up on her?" I asked and she nodded. " Just see how she's doing" She added and I nodded. " You know I've never seen you smile brightly like that" She added as she moved closer to me. " I like what Faryah is doing to you" She added as she cupped my cheeks. " I love it too Mother, but I have to go get ready for work Mother, I'll check up on Pamela later on" I said as I kissed her forehead and walked away. " Bye Son" she called as I walked up the stairs.

I freshened up and got dressed in my casual work look. A grey blazer, a dark blue short sleeved shirt inside and brown jeans with black Nike sneakers. I took out a watch and used my cologne and was all set. I looked handsome as usual. It was already 7:40 when I left my room and walked down the stairs to find Faryah in the Kitchen with Brandon, GrandPa Julius and Mother. She was wearing a purple long sleeved high-low shirt that stopped right above her knee. It wasn't tight, she wore a light brown palazzo, with black wedges and she styled her lighter shade of purple veil perfectly and she looked extremely cute, no makeup, all natural. Her white school bag was hung on her right shoulder. She was very beautiful. She was holding a small coffee mug as she walked over to me. " Here's your coffee" She said with a big smile as she handed it to me. " Thank you" I answered as I took a sip of it and the perfect taste hit me. I gave her a thumbs up as I drank more and she smiled.

" Let's go, I'm getting late" She said as I finished my coffee and gave her the cup and she rushed to keep it on the dining table. " Bye Mama Zainab, Papa Brandon, GrandPa July" she bid as she walked back to me. Sophia wasn't present here. " Sophia's till asleep?" I asked as Faryah stood by me. " Yes, her classes don't start early today" Mother answered. " Okay then, we'll see you guys later" I bid as I and Faryah walked out of the mansion. Her wedges weren't making any noise, that was new. " Are you sure you can walk in those wedges?" I asked and she nodded. " Of course" she answered as we walked to the garage. " Fine then" I replied and she got into the car.

UCLA

" I'll call you when I'm done okay" Faryah said as she got down from the car. " Okay then" I answered as I got down to give her a good bye hug. " Alright, good bye okay, I love you" I said as I kissed her forehead. " I love you too, Bye, don't stress yourself too much okay" She said as I held her hand. " Sure, bye" I answered. " I can't leave without you letting go of my hand" She said and I blushed a little from my actions. We were calling a little attention from the passers by. I finally let go and we finally said our last goodbyes before she walked into her department.

I drove off to the office. I had to go see Pamela, the last time I saw her was after I broke up with her. No calls, no texts, Nothing. A part of me felt guilty but I had done it for both our happiness.

2:00pm

I finished from class early again, I wasn't focusing properly cause I was contemplating about going to see David Myles. I really wanted to know more about my family, my real parents. But Khalid didn't know about this. He didn't have to know about this. And I felt guilty for not telling him, but I had to, to avoid anymore conflict between him and his father.

I took a cab immediately I was done and gave them the address of the company I was going to. It wasn't a long drive, and the company was pretty large, big. I really hoped I was going to get lost here. " Thank you sir" I thanked as I got down the cab and stood at the front large company. I fixed my bag and took in a deep breath. I had to prepare myself for what was coming. I had to prepare for the worst.

1:00pm

" I'll be going somewhere before going to my meeting with the MVO building agency " I said to my secretary as I walked out of my office. I was going to see Pamela before heading with GrandPa Julius and Brandon to our meeting. " Okay sir, We'll meet you there" she answered as I got into the elevator.

I had to meet with the models to pick them appropriately before their measurements and profiles were sent for designing in Africa. I sent her a text before I drove out of the company and she replied almost instantly.

Khalid

• Hey!, where are you?

Ella

• I'm home.

She was supposed to be at the hospital. Something was really wrong. I really hoped I wasn't the cause of all this.

I was at her apartment in about 15 minutes. I knocked gently on her door and she opened almost instantly. She was looking as radiant as she used to. Her hair was all messed up and she was still in her pyjamas. Her eyes were all swollen, she looked pale. " Are you alright?" I asked as I walked in and found the whole room dark. " I am ill, I felt feverish this morning but I took care of it" She answered as she threw herself on the couch. There were lots of tissues around. It looked like she was crying. "You're a mess" I said as I sat down beside her. " It's only for today" she answered as she avoided my gaze. " How are you and your wife?" she asked and the thought of Faryah made me smile in the midst of all what I've seen in her apartment. Empty and dirty plates laid around everywhere. " From your smile, it looks like you two are happy, you're doing great" she said and gave me a small smile. " Yeah and you're not. Pamela you're still sulking, it's been a month already " I said as I faced her. " It's hard to move on, I'm trying to accept it and yeah, it is working, well it was working until I got a call from my mother" She began as she let her pretty blue eyes roam around her apartment. " She wants me to come home Khalid, after all those years, she wants me now, I don't know what to do Khalid, I miss them so much, everyday. I try hiding the fact from myself but I do, I miss them, I miss my brothers and sisters, my Father and Mother, but it's hard to forgive them after what they said and did to me Khalid, the pain is still fresh like it happened yesterday, I want to forgive them but I can't Khalid, It's hard to" she cried as the words escaped her lips. I never even imagined that this was what she was going through.

" I don't know if I should go back and leave everything here behind, my life here, I don't know. It's not like I have something here, It's so sad" She sulked as I pulled her into my chest. " It's okay Ella" I consoled as I patted her back. " It hurts so much" she cried more onto my shirt. " you know you won't run away from them forever, face them already" I added as I continued patting her back. " It is hard, don't you understand" She snapped as she got up from the couch and paced around as she used her fingers to brush through her rough hair.

" Khalid they disowned me, they said bad things about me, they hurt my feelings and now they want me to go back, it's crazy" she snapped again. I have never really seen this part of Pamela. She looked so vicious. " I am not going back, I don't want to ever see them again, and you aren't helping matters, just leave" She snapped again. I have never seen her this angry. " You're not supposed to be on your own Ella" I said as I got up from where I sat. " Khalid leave, thanks for coming, thanks for your concern but I really need some time alone, just go" She said and I sighed. There was nothing more I could do to help her out. Besides my meeting was in the next 20 minutes. " Don't do anything to hurt yourself okay" I said as I walked to the door. " Sure, thank you" she answered and smiled a little at me. Deep down I knew she didn't like herself this way, I knew the sweet Pamela was still around. I smiled at her before closing her door and leaving her apartment. I still had a lot to do.

2:00pm

MVO building agency.

I walked into the building with my shaky legs. Business men and women in their corporate dressing were all scattered around, they were all minding their business. The building was painted dark blue and white, with some glassy kind of colour. Everything here was glass, the windows and the ceiling, the floor. It was pretty creative and fancy. I carefully walked to the front desk and met with two receptionist. " Good day" I greeted with a nice smile as the two ladies looked at me. They were wearing a dark blue long sleeved button up shirt and white pencil skirts. " Yes, good day, how may I help you?" She answered with a big smile. " Well, I didn't really set an appointment but I was hoping if I could see Mr David Myles" I said nicely again. " Well let me see if I can help you" she said as she looked at her computer.

I looked towards the elevator and saw him coming out. This was my chance. " You know what, don't bother" I said to the receptionist as I quickly rushed to him. He was on a phone call as I stopped him. " Faryah?, what are you doing here?" this voice again. I had to pretend. " I was hoping to talk to you" I said as he put his phone in his pocket and stopped in front of me. " Faryah, I'm sorry, we can talk later not now, I have a meeting to attend to" he answered as he tried walking away from me. I held his arm. I was determined to get my answers today. " No, it's urgent, I need to talk to you right now" I snapped as I felt my eyes water up a little bit. He was getting angry. " What is it?, what do you want?" He snapped. I could see the same anger in his eyes like those I saw sixteen years ago.

" Don't you remember me, sixteen years ago, the innocent child you took away from her parents, the innocent child you abused and raped?" I snapped at the sight of his anger. " What the hell are you talking about?" he was raising his voice at me. I wasn't that innocent child he could take advantage of anymore. I wasn't just going to let him disrespect me and go scot free. " You know what I'm talking about, don't pretend. You took me away from my parents sixteen years ago" I was letting out all my anger now. I knew he remembered me. I knew it, he was trying to deny but I knew he was just pretending. He was lying and I hated deceit. It really brought out the bad side in me. I was willing to fight at all cost to get my answers.

" You must be insane, you're crazy, get out of here" he snapped again with his voice raised. " No, I am not getting out of here, No, not until you admit to what you did to me, you know I was willing to forgive and forget what you did to me, but No, I swear you're going to pay, I'm going to get justice for what you made me go through sixteen years ago, you took advantage of me you shameless piece of scum. I don't care if you're my husbands father anymore, you're lying to me and it hurts, all I wanted was for you to tell me why you took me away from my parents and who they truly are, but no, you're going to tell me everything and you're going to pay for what you did to me" I could feel the warm substance pour out of my eyes as I poured out all my anger on him. I couldn't keep all this inside me any longer. I felt at ease as I just let everything out. He was going to pay. I didn't care anymore. " Will you just shut up" he raged as I felt a sharp pain across my cheeks, making me stagger and fall to the ground.

" You bastard" Oh no!, what was he doing here. He wasn't supposed to be here. " How could you?" I heard Khalid rage again as I saw him throw a punch at his father. " Faryah dear are you alright?" Papa Brandon asked as he knelt down to help me get up. " I'm fine" I answered as he helped me get up.

" Khalid stop" I cried as I moved closer to him and managed to get him off him. He was bleeding profusely. " I know nothing about what she's saying son, I'm saying the truth" Why was he lying. The truth was eventually going to come out. Why was he delaying it. I knew he was hiding something from me. " You're lying, you know that you're lying, why don't you want to tell me the truth" I screamed as I tried attacking him but Khalid held me back. " Tell me the truth" I cried as I tried attacking him again but Khalid held me back. " Leave me alone" I cried as I tried letting go of his hold. I needed my answers. " Faryah calm down" I couldn't calm down. " Let's leave, come on" GrandPa Julius said as Khalid pulled me out. " My Allah is with me and I know you know the truth, even if I don't get justice now, I know I'm going to get it in the hereafter" I said again as he pulled me out of the lobby and outside the company.

"Faryah" Khalid called as he pulled into a warm hug and I cried my hurt out. Me not knowing the truth was killing me, I really wanted to know who my real parents were. There were lots of secrets I had to know and I was going to get to the bottom of all this.

Insha’Allah.