Chapter 18

Maureen visited!....

Maureen stormed the house with her noisy nature and demanded the maids rush to the kitchen and prepare varieties for her. Claiming she was supposed to be treated as a very important guest because it was her daughter's home.

And so the maids did as she commanded. Luckily Sophia had no therapy sessions.

"Dear you look so well and younger, bet your husband is good with you" she tried to tease. Sophia barely smiled.

"Welcome, how is the house-hunting going for you?."

"It hasn't been easy dear, my friends and even my enemies now want to be helpful because they think I've got gold, and of course I have. it's not easy becoming in-laws with such a rich family." She bragged caressing her costly chain watch.

Sophia noticed, Maureen was becoming very extravagant and wasn't sure where the money was from.

"Sure."

"These girls you keep around are very incompetent. how long does it take to prepare a three-course meal? Mtchewww am starving" she complained restlessly.

"They're trying, the food isn't that easy to finish on time... So won't you ask after my therapy?."

"Oh, that. Well, I get feedback from Stan and so far you're doing great, look at you now? Very healthy and vibrant. But I don't want you to keep stressing yourself trying to walk. It might injure you just take it easy eh?" She advised.

"So you want me to keep sitting in this thing and be helpless?."

"No! I never said that I just mean you well dear besides you've got everything you'll ever need, trust me" Maureen smiled cheerfully.

After the meal, they talked more about nothing in particular only that Maureen loved talking about money and social status. which became a boring topic to Sophia. Then she complained of how cold Stan has been towards her for no good reason.

"Help me talk to Stan, am barely staying for a while and I'll be gone, but he gives me a cold shoulder I don't know how I've wronged him Sophia and we both need to be on good terms to live together. It hurts me that he's such a nice guy but still treats me with despise. I think he blames me for letting you get married in your condition."

"Maybe. But Stan doesn't keep malice, that I know of but I'll ask him for you. Maybe he just needs his silence."

"Mh, alright dear makes sure you do, am drained from the constant cold shoulder I want the best for us."

Sophia wasn't sure that the last part was true. Her stepmother seemed more in love with the title her marriage brought her instead of the other way around.

***

One particular night, Jason was on his usual routine of drinking. But it seemed the drink wasn't getting him close to slumber or peace.

The only thing lingering in his mind was the sight of Sophia's sleeping form he saw a few days ago. The image couldn't just leave his mind.

Awkwardly he felt peaceful at the sound of her shallow breaths while he watched her that night. His mind tempted him so much. "She is only rooms apart," he thought.

At a moment he despised himself for thinking about her. He was supposed to be minding his business and avoiding her at all cost. And the drink was supposed to be helpful. He shoved the drink to the table before him and flung off one of the throw pillows which was in his laps and stood to retire to his room.

Effortlessly he walked through to his room. he thought how difficult it would be for him to get any sleep since he wasn't even drunk. On his way, he stopped at her door and it was slightly open as usual. Maybe she kept it open for a reason or she was inviting him in, he thought and immediately eradicated that stupid thought off his mind.

This time he could make out the color of her nightie, a maroon-colored silky top obviously with its matching pants because he couldn't see the lower part which was covered up by the duvet.

Before he knew what he was doing, Jason ventured into the darkroom, his eyes pinned on her sleeping form his dully mind followed the rhythm of every breath she took.

He slowly sat on an armchair facing her and watched delicately in silence. Many nice thoughts swam through his head. he thought of how appealing and peaceful it would be to lay beside her and let her infect him with her magic of peaceful sleep.

He thought of how smooth and soft her skin would feel and her reaction to his touch. Would she recoil in her sleep or not?.

Then his eyes landed on her glorious jet-black curly hair. Sprayed all over the pillow. It looked so soft from there. He had nice hair too but he wanted to know how hers felt to the touch. She was a beauty to behold lying on her back and face to the ceiling. One could see every contours and line which made up her beautiful face.

The nightie she wore had little or no hand, which was almost falling off her shoulder blade while she slept off with no knowledge of what transpired at night.

He watched and learned every part of her face he could see from the dim light. he wouldn't dare turn on the bedside lamp for fear of waking her and embarrassing himself.

"My wife..." but as soon as the thought came it left before it would stick in his subconscious mind.

He thought how fate had brought the both of them together, why she was the one he hit on the road that night. The same person he saw lying lifeless on the cold ground in her pool of blood and cold blood he left her there running for his own life and safety. He felt repulsed at himself, how inhumane could he be? His father was right all along about how heartless he became.

But one can't eat his cake and have it he guessed.

While he was at it Sophia moved on the bed startling him. He froze. this was going to be the most awkward and embarrassing way of meeting one's wife for the first time after their wedding. He didn't know what to tell her of his weird behavior of watching her sleep.

But luckily for him she only turned and faced him, a=djusting to a better position. He exhaled in relief and quickly got himself out of the room to his, with alacrity.

In his room, he tried mimicking how dark her room was and lay on his back in thoughts. He recalled every inch of her in his memory now and he felt different emotions. Detest for finding peace in the wrongest of places and felt happy he found peace too.

The feelings were complicated and so twisted he couldn't understand it himself.

He just knew he's found solace in the worst of places and he needed to stir clear for she wouldn't find it funny if she woke to a stranger like him watching her while she slept.

During his rowdy thoughts, Jason slept off. And this time, without being drunk or taking sleeping pills or running to Charlotte for her mastery ways of driving him to a tire full sleep.

Early the next morning when Jason woke up, he recalled everything that happened the night before. And he felt pressure in his abdomen.

Regrets, he sighed and entered the Jacuzzi. It was comforting at least. He felt his troubles being washed off with the water.

After the long bath, he got dressed with his car key and wallet in check and making sure he checked his watch. It was 7:56 am and Sophia woke earlier than that.

So he was sure he wouldn't run into her on his way as that was their different time and routine.

Immediately he stepped out of his room and took three strides, he stopped on his track.

Sophia locked eyes with him immediately and she froze too.

"Damn!!" He thought. This was exactly what he was preventing. Such an awkward moment.

Goosebumps, he felt them.

They both stared at each other for a good while. And nobody was ready to talk. They were so caught up in the tense air that words were difficult to even remember.

He soon broke eye contact with her. Her intense gaze was stirring emotions in him that he couldn't handle or decipher. And a strong reminder of the previous night. When he looked up again she was already in her room.

Jason let out the heavy breath he was holding and rushed out immediately and into his baby...

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