Chapter 47

——————Kaduna State, Nigeria

————————11:00pm, Gwamna Road.

I got along more with his Father than any of his family members. They were quite a model family, rich, beautiful and happy. MashaAllah.

Khalifa's Father, Muhammad Kassim Danesi, was from Edo state, Nigeria. He was from, and I quote "Etsako West" part of the state. He also told me how popular his family was. They were a royal family. He also told us the story behind him and Mama Arafah's marriage. It was chaotic.

I had to think Khalifa lied when he told me that his father was strict and reserved. He seemed free and very okay with me. I liked that fact, he was funny, like Khalifa.

Khalifa sat by me, holding my hand in his throughout the night.

Najmah was playing with Aneesah, Ruqayyah and Mama Arafah.

Mama Arafah loved the fabric I got for her. It made me happy.

The night went by quickly and I bonded so well with the Danesi's. A very jovial family.

It was eventually time for us to leave and I and Najmah said our goodbyes and Khalifa drove us to our house.

I was tired.

" you gave me a nice surprise back there" Khalifa started as he drove us. " well, it had to happen, it's what's best for the three of us and I'm very sure it's for the best, Allah knows best" I said as I intertwined our hands. " He knows best indeed, thank you so much"

" Thank you so much too Khalifa"

" we have to process your divorce with Khalid as soon as possible so we can go ahead with the preparations for our wedding" Khalifa said and I sighed a little. It had to happen. I had no future with Khalid anymore. I needed to accept fate and move on.

" Yes, I'll talk to Abbah about it tomorrow Insha’Allah" I answered with a smile. " Thank you very much Faryah"

" Stop thanking me, it's what's right" I answered with a wide smile and I looked at him as he continued driving. " I love you so much Khalifa" I said as I stared at him. I was more than sure that I made the right decision.

"I love you so so much more my love" he answered and smiled charmingly at him. He had extremely cute dimples.

" you got along with my dad more than I thought you would"

" Yea, I thought you said he was strict and apparently reserved"

" He is, you softened him up"

" I'm glad I did"

" you got along with all your in-laws pretty well"

" yes, I'm glad that we're on good terms, Alhamdulillah" I said and smiled at him. " So what kind of wedding do you want?" I never really thought about it. " Something nice, nothing extravagant" I answered with a smile. " we can do that, don't worry, the wedding's going to be based on all what you want, no one's going to force you to add any thing okay?"

" Okay Khalifa" I said as he smiled and showed his dimples. I tried dipping my finger into it and it fit. A deep and cute dimple. " I love you so much" he said and kissed my hand. " I love you so much too" I answered with a wide smile and trusting my heart.

I was willing to risk everything I had for him, ever single thing. I loved him so much. With all my heart.

And I was sure.

Allah was with me.

Khalifa dropped us at home and I showered Najmah and put her in her cradle to sleep. I wasn't feeling that sleepy yet. It was already 12am. I took a shower, got into my pyjamas and took my laptop to check up a little on work. We were doing fine. Very fine.

—————Los Angeles, California.

————————Two days later, 3:00pm( Olyster Textiles)

" Good afternoon sir, something came in for you not long ago" My Secretary said as she walked into my office. " what's that?" I asked as I still faced my head down, focusing on the export rate of our fabrics. " I don't know but it was from a law firm" She answered and I rose my head up. I definitely hadn't gotten into any trouble.

I knew that.

"Thank you" I said as I collected a black leather file from her. " You can go now" I said as I heard her heels click slowly and my door closed.

I closed the other files I was looking at and kept them aside, I needed to see what this was.

DIVORCE PETITION

I read silently and the words sent daggers to my heart and I almost ran out of breath.

She filed a divorce case.

Faryah did.

Why would she?.

Why was this happening to me.

I coughed loudly as I got up from my seat and walked to the water dispenser in my office and poured a cup of cold water. It made me feel a little better.

After everything that had happened to me, this was the last thing I needed.

I lost my twins with Pamela. I lost my children.

My family and I became distant, I had no time to see or visit them.

And it pained me.

I even didn't see my niece when she was born.

I haven't even gotten the opportunity to see my niece physically.

They named her Kimberly.

All I did was work my life out.

And now Faryah wanted to divorce me. It was the only source of happiness I was holding onto.

She wanted to be legally away from me but I wasn't going let that happen. I had made a lot of stupid, reckless and irresponsible mistakes in my life and I wasn't going to let letting Faryah go be a part of my foolish mistakes.

It was high time I apologized and talked to her. We needed to sort things out. I needed her in my life again. Desperately.

I took my phone and dialled her number. She wasn't using this one anymore.

I looked back at the divorce petition, I wasn't going to sign it. Even if I was held at gun point.

I found her new phone number on the file and I quickly dialled it as I paced around my office. I couldn't let her go.

I really couldn't.

She didn't answer.

I called again.

No answer.

I tried again. " Assalamu Alaykum" Oh goodness. I missed her innocent voice. Her voice almost brought tears to my eyes.

Again.

" Hello?" I wasn't speaking. " Faryah" I said bluntly and felt her freeze from the other side of the phone. She was shaken by my voice. "I'm not signing what you sent me" I added and she still wasn't talking. " We need to talk" she still wasn't responding but at least I could hear her breathe.

" There's nothing for us to talk about, just sign the divorce papers"

" I am not losing you Faryah"

" Then what do you want from me?" She screamed. " I want to talk to you"

" I don't want to talk to you, just sign the petition for Allah's sake and let me live my life in peace" she snapped and hung up.

Oh no she didn't.

She was getting on my nerves.

I called again but of course she wasn't going to answer.

I needed to see her to talk to her again seriously. I was tired of acting like a fool.

"I'm leaving for today" I said to my secretary as I hurriedly walked out of my office. I didn't wait to get a response from her. I really needed to calm my head down and think about what I wanted for myself right now.

I drove my car out of the parking area with full speed and headed to my condo in Santa Monica.

If only I had listened to and forgiven her for what happened about a year ago. I missed my wife so much, and I needed her back in my life. I needed to sort my life straight. I was tired of being a suck up. I had to admit to my mistakes.

I drove faster as I felt my eyes water up. I cleaned my eyes slowly as I heard a loud scream that came from the road. I stepped on my brakes almost instantly as I saw a female figure fall down in front of my car. Oh no.

Luckily the road was pretty deserted and pretty much quiet. This wasn't going to be on the television hopefully.

I couldn't believe I ran someone over. Why was all this happening to me.

I instantly got down from my car to see who I hit.

I slowly walked to the front and I found a girl in black and a blue scarf, with a camera close to her right hand and a brown bag around her shoulder.

I knelt down to check her pulse and see if she was still breathing.

She was.

Luckily.

I gently carried her into my car, she wasn't bleeding or anything. So there was no need to carry her to the hospital. I was just going to take her to my condo and see what happens from there.

I laid her down at the back of my car and continued driving.

I wonder what she was doing here all alone, I mean she could've gotten raped or kidnapped by someone else or mobbed.

Like why are girls acting so care free these days.

"Ahhhh, Kidnapper" I heard the lady scream from behind me as she hit my seat making me almost lose control of my steering. " Shit, what the hell is wrong with you" I hissed as I matched my brakes instantly and looked at her.

Her small and cute dark eyes were full of fright and anger.

" You're a kidnapper" she screamed as she tried opening the car door. " or a rapist, oh no, Subhanallah, what did you do to me" she screamed again as she tried opening the door again. I watched as she used her hands to touch her chest and her lower region and sighed. I was amazed. " you're a thief then" She snapped and she looked through her things.

"Why the hell am I in your car!?" She screamed and mistakenly hit her head on the car window from screaming.

I had to laugh.

I didn't know why I was enjoying this but I was enjoying it.

" you're laughing at me, open the damn door" she snapped and I instantly unlocked the car. "Bye" I answered as she tried opening the door and it opened this time.

" jerk" She hissed as she took her things and got down from the car. I shook my head and continued driving, slowly. She definitely needed my help.

This was a road that was too lonely for a lady.

I continued driving slowly until I saw her pouting and stomping her feet on the sandy ground. I had to go back, I wasn't that heartless.

" you need a ride?" I asked as I stopped beside her. " No" alright. I almost drove away but I stopped when I saw her on my windscreen. This woman was crazy.

" Do you want to spoil my car?, get the hell off, what is wrong with you"

" you ran me over" Huh?

" I didn't run you over, what the hell, you fainted before I even stopped my car"

" liar, I'm going to use these bruises to sue you for reckless driving and disobedience of the law" What was she saying. Her funny English accent made it hard to know how old she was.

" you jumped on my windscreen"

" So what" she said and pouted as she stood to look at me.

" Ugh, I just need a ride back to town" she said as she walked to the front passenger seat. " I didn't say you could get a ride back to town" I said as I walked back to my drivers seat. " I never asked, you're obliged to, you almost ran me over and you were supposed to take me back to town for a check up, do you know if I broke a bone in my brain, or do you know if I lost a kidney?" What the hell!.

" How can you possibly lose a kidney from fainting?" I snapped. " exactly no one knows if I can and that is why you should drive me back to town for a check up" What the hell was wrong with this woman.

She was right about taking her back for a check up. And I was sure she had many loose nuts in her brain.

I started my engine and turned around, driving back to the city.

" what were you doing in this place in the first place" I asked as I continued driving.

" I don't talk to strangers please keep quiet"

"I am no stranger"

" but you're not a friend, and if you're not a friend you're a stranger" oh my goodness.

" But I own the car your dumb ass is sitting in and going to town"

" yes, that means you're my driver and how can I consider my driver as friend?" Okay I was speechless.

I needed to know the kind of dumb brain she had.

I sighed as I continued driving in silence.

" You know something, I know a very cheap hospital you can take me to, it's cool, just turn left and keep on going ahead" she said as we stopped at the red light. We were finally in the city. " you want me to take you to your house, sorry, I know a very good hospital that can check if you lost your kidney or not" I answered without looking at her. I could feel her sending death glares my way.

" you know we would have just gone to the police station if only I wasn't nice"

" well if only I wasn't nice you would still be in the streets of Santa Monica" I said and she kept shut.

" Listen lady, I'm going to drop you off at the hospital and you can check if your kidneys are fine" I said as I took a right turn and continued driving to mother's hospital. Lily’s.

————Lily's Specialist Hospital.

" Get down" I snapped as I stopped in front of the hospital. " Ugh, asshole" she said as she got down from the car. " Adios" I said as I drove off.

I sighed as I continued driving and laughed off the incident that happened a while ago. How can a pretty girl like that be such a talkative, Judgemental and insensible.

I needed to confide in someone about what Faryah sent to me. It deeply broke my heart that I was going to lose the only connection I had with her.

My phone was already connected to my car so I dialled Sophia up.

" So you finally remembered you have a sister and a niece" She said immediately she answered the phone. " I'm sorry Sophia, I've just been really busy lately"

" lately, you've been killing yourself with work right from when Grandpa and you know who left you" She answered and I felt a sting in my heart. " I need to talk to you about that" I said slowly as I adjusted my tie.

" what?"

" You're home?"

" Yeah I am"

" you mind if I come over?"

" come over without some baby presents and I'll kill you" she said and I smiled a little. She was never going to change.

" and come over without some snacks for the mother and I'll bury you alive" she said and hung up on me.

She was always going to be there for me when I needed her the most.

Always.

————————Valentine Residence

————————————5:00Pm.

"Aww, she's so beautiful, she looks like you, honestly" I said as I carried my niece in my hands. " Yeah, she does, Thanks for the pie, I'm going to enjoy this" Sophia Said as we sat in her living room. " Where's Ethan?"

" He's taking a shower" she answered and I looked at her. She had added a lot of weight. " Go to the gym Sophia"

" Sure, I'll go, you don't need to tell me, I have to get my model body back, my baby needs it, look at her lips, so small and pretty" Sophia said as she sat beside me. " she's definitely going to love the teddy bear, when she starts sitting and crawling, I can't wait till she finally says mummy"

"Or daddy" I heard Ethan's voice very close to us. " Hey man, I rarely see you in the office" He said as we shook hands. " I don't even see you at all dude" he replied as he sat beside his wife after giving her a peck.

"Work"

" it's not healthy, when last have you seen your mother, you just neglected your family because of work, who're you working for?"

" for my family"

" and you're not there for us" Sophia said. " Khalid you weren't present on my baby's shower, you weren't even present when I gave birth to her, is that how Neill would've wanted things to be?, and grandpa?" Sophia said and I sighed a little.

She was right.

I neglected my family big time.

I wasn't Khalid anymore. " For all I know, the man I've been seeing at the office isn't my friend or brother, he's a monster. Khalid you never drank alcohol, and people see you at bars now?" Ethan added. " You really need to think about your life and clear your mind, the root of all what's happening to you is your unresolved issue with Faryah, find her and talk to her" Sophia said and I looked at them.

" Your ego and pride and foolishness has made you a blind man Khalid, you need to see things for what they are, you basically can't live without Faryah, you know that" She added again.

" It's hard to trust her again, why aren't you guys seeing that"

" Because we know that she isn't capable of doing what she was accused of" Sophia said.

" You never trusted her in the first place" Ethan said. " You never fully trusted her" he added and I kept silent. They were more than right, I was blinded.

"She filed a divorce case" I whispered slowly and watched their reactions. Their silence was creeping me out.

" So, what do you want now?" Sophia asked. " I don't want to lose her at all, I regret what I did to her before and I just hope it isn't too late for me to get her back into my life, I've never stopped loving her so much, like she has my heart. No one else does, I can't lose her" I said as I felt a tear roll down my cheek. " Then don't sign it" Ethan said.

"I called her, she wants me to sign it, I don't know why she wants me to, maybe she found someone else"

" She found someone else Khalid" Sophia said and I looked at her with all my attention.

" What're you saying?"

" She's getting married to Khalifa" I felt my heart break into many tiny pieces. Never to be amended. I really can't believe she moved on.

She moved on.

Without me.