Chapter 13

Olivia Bestman sat in an armchair facing her husband. Thinking about how the situation escalated so much.

"Your lawyer came by yesterday... And left with a conflicted look, it bothered me so much what the secret meeting was about..."

She paused for a while to gauge his reactions.

"Is it true?."

"Yes... Yes, whatever your guts told you is true."

"How could you do that to our son? You can't give away all our fortune to a cripple! Ernest this is our hard-earned wealth!" She cried.

"I mean there are other ways to get our son to turn a new leaf than giving up everything to some beggar. We can sit him down and talk to him, when was the last time you both had a father and son time? It's either you're on your long travels or he's trying to avoid your judgmental gazes."

Ernest stood in anger. he loved his son as much but his wife contributed so much to his irresponsibility and still did.

"So now you blame me for his wayward acts? Haven't we said enough even for a foolish man to understand? Have you forgotten those years when I took him on expensive experiences and bought him the best of things just to make sure he wasn't acting up out of negligence?!" He paused for a breather.

"A rat that refuses to heed to advice will eventually join the lizard in the rain and get drenched."

"He is still our son for God's sake! Our blood, we can send him off to somewhere to get his act together and pay the Moore's a huge sum of money for the troubles caused and her health. Not marry her? I won't be a party to this Ernest!" She yelled in anger.

"Am barely killing two birds with one stone dear, if he marries her he'll be part of the fortune but if he doesn't in the next five days, she'll get everything that I ever owned. you can give Jason yours."

"Oh don't be silly Ernest. What is yours is mine too? For my sake please..."

"Unless you'd want us to adopt a daughter?."

Olivia, livid with anger at those words. "Never in my lifetime. We have gone through this before and it's non-negotiable."

Olivia sat there for a while and thought of nothing in particular. She understood her husband's frustration and desperation but not to sign off everything they ever worked for.

"Please darling, talk to Jason, you need to let him in. He's not that young boy we used to order around then or sweet talk, he reasons like an adult and you'll only ruin his life and his chances of getting better in the future. Marrying him off to that girl isn't going to help him at all, he'll rebel."

"At least the young girl seems more mature and responsible than our son. Jason listens to no one, I've tried and won't waste my time on him any longer, I'll take from him what he desires most, he won't rebel" Ernest finished and sat back on his chair.

"Where is he though? He hasn't been home since..." Ernest asked earnestly.

"With his friend Sean probably."

"I know you think I spoilt him dearly, but I just didn't want him to know suffering nor pain. He's not the only one who has ever been born into riches as such_"

"And yet he is useless unlike the rest" he added bitterly and sighed.

"I need to attend a private meeting in Kano tomorrow I'll need my rest" Ernest bluntly spoke worsening the atmosphere.

"Of course, excuse me" she walked off dejected. On her way down the spiral stairs, she met one of her maids who announced the presence of an unexpected visitor.

Once she stepped into the well-furnished sitting room. Olivia halted on her track. never in her life did she ever imagine one of Jason's many conquests coming over to visit her. He always kept them away from home.

"Hi I'm Charlotte, it's nice to meet you formally ma. we've met at your husband's welcome home party remember?" She urged.

"I think so. Well, how can I help you Charlotte?" Olivia spoke rigidly having no strength for little talks

They both sat facing each other.

"Well... It's about your son Jason, these last few days he's been staying with me and..."

She was interrupted brusquely.

"What?!..." Olivia paled, if her husband heard of this it would be a deal-breaker for Jason. They both thought Jason was with his friend Sean.

"Yes with me, am his girlfriend. You see your son and I have known each other for a while now and unlike the many girls he dated in the past, he and I are_"

"Am sure you didn't come all the way here to tell me of your glorious conquest in bed with my son because that will be very... gross."

Olivia wasn't an intimidating woman, not by looks though but sometimes her pride and influence could put one-off, like Charlotte who recoiled at those harsh words.

"No!... No am only trying to say that I love your son so much and he loves me too. But he's been so disturbed about his situation of getting married to someone else that isn't me. We can barely stay a day without seeing each other not talking about marrying different people. He's not been himself since ma" Charlotte spoke tenderly, hoping her countenance alone was deceiving.

"I'm surprised, he's never mentioned anything about a girl to me not to talk of loving one. Or perhaps you just love the frivolities that come with associating with him?" Jason's mother boned with all seriousness.

"I love your son but who wouldn't like such frivolities too, am different from others because I truly care for him, isn't it better than marrying him off to a cripple?" She asked boldly.

Olivia sat still. That was like a blow to her remaining ego and all these lingered because of her husband's stubbornness.

"A...I appreciate your concern dear, but he isn't getting married to any cripple. I'll see to that myself."

Charlotte smiled at her, the woman always loved her reputation and so, she could do anything for the two.

****

"What?!!!!" Eyes bulged in shock.

"Yes, you heard me Jason your father will write you off his fortune if you don't, and is it worth it? you should ask yourself."

Jason couldn't believe his ears at all, his best friend. The sole reason he was the only one bearing this cross sat right there and advised him to marry a cripple.

"You.are.the.last.the person I expected to push me to marry that girl!!" He paced about Sean's condo in fury.

"I Know."

"You know?!... Do you know?! That's all you can say?! Has my dad put you up to this Sean? Because I know that man, he can get into people's head, he's already gotten my mother and that's why she keeps calling me to come home and talk to Dad."

"Now you Sean?... All my life I've been under his scrutiny like a dog to its master and he practically controlled my life. But you see this? I won't allow him to put me in such situations anymore I've had it with him and his foolish threats of writing me off of his fortune and I don't care, he should shove it up to his ass for all I care am not his puppet neither am I his_"

Sean interrupted him furiously, rubbing his temples.

"Can you just shut up and sit?!!!!!" Sean shouted suddenly, frightening Jason and even himself.

He continued.

"All you stand here to say is how people are against you and how they hate you blah blah blah. Have you ever thought if you were even the wrong one Jason?!! Just one day, pick one day in solitude and think of the life of that young girl who wanted nothing but to go to college and get a nice job to make her dead parents happy. Now her whole life and young dreams are crushed with both her legs, all because of us!!!!. You are lucky to have your parents with you till now, providing for you, cleaning up your mess, and even still give you their fortune upon your irresponsibility. Now you want to throw away your fortune because of your ingratitude and insensitive mind. Do you know what it means to have no legs?... Huh?!!!. I bet you don't. But lemme tell you something, Jason. If I were the one forced to marry her, I'd do it, not out of pity but gratitude to my parents because they still care to clean up my mess...I think it's time you grow up bro...."

He finished, both looking at each other in shock. Jason was because Sean had never raised his voice at him and always swallowed his shit and Sean because he'd always been the cool guy and allowed things to cool off and pass. They stood like that for a while Jason's head now bowed in regrets, maybe, or anger. Sean wasn't sure but he was sure his friend needed time alone to think especially after the long unprecedented speech.

"I'll let you be while I go cool off outside" he took his car keys and wife beater on his way out while Jason slumped on the mattress.

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