Chapter 34

Ernest Bestman paced about in his office deep in thought. His wife and son were seated across him with uncertainty.

Jason sat beside his mother feeling uncomfortable and anxious.

He was scared of his father's reaction towards his current situation.

Yesterday's events had him running on his heels with alacrity for solutions. He couldn't stomach the intensity of what Charlotte had thrown at him the previous day prompting his early rise.

As he took a longing glance at his breathtaking innocent wife spread on the rumpled sheets drawing in alluring shallow breaths, the sound a strong sedative, an antidote for his persistent insomnia which had haunted him since the incident that brought them together.

He would have loved for nothing more than to lay by her side till whenever the sun was down. Jason shook his head in dismay at his hopeless romantic thoughts.

Carefully and unwillingly he slipped off the bed and out of the room, freshly prepared to pay a visit to his parents anywhere they would have him.

The thought of Sophia getting a whiff of what was happening was disturbing, he needed to settle the issue quickly and quietly.

So that explained why he sat before his formidable father and watched him contemplate in anger. Jason crossed his fingers hoping his parents wouldn't apportion blames and just get straight to the point but he was wrong.

"You'll have to explain to me and your mother how you could be so careless with things like this!" Ernest raged in frustration.

"I've had a rough week with the ongoing state elections and campaign, now this!" He deadpanned.

"How long do I keep cleaning your mess boy? Tell me how long? I don't possibly understand how you children of nowadays who are so indulged in licentious acts can still forget to use protection!!!."

Olivia stood from her position. "Ernest..." She drew closer to him calmly rubbing at his back for ease.

"It's enough dear, I think he understands how poorly his actions were. You need to sit and let's think of a solution, I guess that's why our son is here in the first place" she cajoled.

Ernest gulped air as his tense shoulders relaxed before he settled back down.

"Son, Don't you use protection while... You know?" Olivia gestured at nothing especially, receiving a weird look from Jason.

"Mum, who doesn't use condoms and other protection? I don't just know how it happened. My guts tell me Charlotte's lying" he assured, more to himself.

Olivia shook her head in dismay. "Petty opportunists!" She scoffed.

She continued. "We shouldn't allow it this is too much drama for our son who can barely  cater for himself."

Ernest shook his head in defiance while Jason shot daggers her way which she smugly deflected.

"No doubt she might be in the right but we're not taking our chances Ernest" she states matter of fact.

Ernest flared. "Not while I am still alive! She has to give birth to that baby then we would carry out a test."

Ernest had a very volatile temper, which always made conversations between him and everyone difficult, no wonder he survived the arduous and ruckus activities of politics which were feared by all. Ernest Bestman was fearless and ambitious he had connections everywhere and comrades who would do anything for him.

He was able to juggle his political lobbying with his legal companies without much trouble.

Jason to date still wondered how his mother lived and loved him that way.

"I don't think that's a good idea, how do I keep my wife in the dark as promised?" He lamented bitterly.

Ernest glanced over at his wife and her him sending each other intense unspoken words. The awkward silence was becoming awkward as he adjusted repeatedly on his seat.

"What? Have I said something wrong mum?... Dad?..."  His gaze falling on each of them asynchronously.

Olivia cleared her throat first and spoke. "No, nothing's wrong dear we just want the best for you_" Jason interrupted her quickly.

"Exactly mum! Letting her put to bed will only worsen the matter. Mum... Dad, I barely managed to be on good terms with Sophia, and this news if heard, would rip every hard work I put in apart. I don't think it's the best decision."

"Jason..." Ernest called authoritatively.

"Your mother and I would never take decisions that would mar you nor your wife" he accentuated possibly stressing on the word 'wife' but Jason was too disturbed to notice.

"I'll have it handled on one condition!..." His father began. Jason felt the ripples run down his spine as he swallowed hard and listened for what would become his fate.

***

Song: Camilla Cabello

(somethings gotta give)

Loving you I thought I couldn't get no higher

Your November rain could set the night on fire

Night on fire

But we could only burn so long

Counterfeit emotions only run skin deep

Know you lying when you lying next to me

Next to me

How did we get so far gone

I should know by now

You should know by now

We should know by now

(Chorus)

Somethings gotta give

Somethings gotta break

All I do is give

All you do is take

Somethings gotta change

But I know that it won't

No reason to stay

...Is a good reason to go oh oh...

"You sounded distressed on the phone and I had to be here as soon as I can. What's the matter?" Stanley drew closer on the armchair he sat facing Sophia who was leaned on the headboard.

She still wore her nighties from the previous night, Stan noticed. Her curly hair was in tangles all over her oblong face, her aloof expression indicating she had no intentions of freshening up anytime soon.

But what mattered most to him was the disturbing look on her face. The last time he saw Sophia at the hospital she was much better, now she looked different and unhappy and that was the last condition he wanted her in before he left for the states.

He'd contemplated on telling her about his close departure once he visited because finally he was able to use his father's connections and worked his way through finishing his house job.

Stanley couldn't bear his environment any longer with Maureen as a constant irk. The fact that Sophia had no further need of his friendship nor assistance clearly from the way Jason took over vivaciously after the home accident instigated the nostalgia.

He decided furtively to give the disgruntled couple space to build something at the expense of his happiness. Nothing could explain the emotions that swept him when he realized whose name was on the caller ID, once more he felt important and invaluable which he'd never felt with his father nor anyone else, even his younger sister at a point needed him less and found a new home with her husband.

Stanley was always left to feel lonely, so not needed and he adjusted so well to it until Sophia came along.

His ever-searching eyes landed on her pitiable face and the words he wanted to spill stuck, her present situation advised him otherwise.

Knowing Sophia to be a bubbly optimistic woman was a shame to her present situation. Stanley prayed to tell it wasn't Jason behind it.

"Soph?..." He called once more pressing for answers. He shook her lightly on the arm, she twisted and glared at him with quivering lips.

Stanley stood quickly from his position moving closer to her on the mattress. "Talk to me... is it him again?" He questioned referring to Jason as him.

Quietly and slowly Sophia pulled out brown mahogany under the duvet and handed it to Stanley who automatically snatched and tore it open in haste wondering what was in it.

His searching eyes roamed the headings of the pieces of paper seeking to decipher what its intent was until he saw the articulated medical imprints indicating the presence of a fetus about two weeks gone.

Stanley stilled... "Was Sophia pregnant? Was this why she looked so livid with fear?... The thought of having a baby in her disabled condition" words stuck in his throat, it burned like a hot coal.

He looked around to find his balance as he unceremoniously hit the armchair and released a choked-up air. His heart racing with vigor, uncontrollably.

But maturity was needed now and not sulking. He would gather all his guts and face the true reality that Sophia was someone else, not his.

Stanley managed a smile once he looked up and saw the look of desperation on Sophia's face.

"It's good news Sophia, I mean I know a lot of women in your situation who go miles just to take in, it's wonderful" he managed to choke out rueing ever thinking she wasn't what he needed.

She stared bizarrely at him, ruminating on his outlandish reply and of all times... until she understood he had mixed it all up.

"I'm not pregnant Stan, could you read the patient's name closely!" She replied impassively blinking away tears, promising to be strong for this.

"It's not you?!..." He yelled flaring up but tuned down as he saw how uncomfortable Sophia became.

"Is it his?... Tell me Soph is Jason that_ that tramp responsible?!!! Oh... woah why do I even ask. Even a fool can understand that Charlotte had always been his lover even after being married to you ha!" Stanley paraded the room in a rotatory motion contemplating on his next strong action.

Of all things that happened to Sophia, Stanley had never felt such pain and drive to revenge like this. For a long time, he had this disturbing feeling at the back of his mind that Jason wasn't good enough for Sophia but he chose to give him the benefits.

Jason was always an incompetent spoilt rich brat who knew nothing about taking responsibilities and always had his parents wipe his mess with their ever effervescence Naira notes.

He had wanted to psyche Sophia out of continuing an already failed marriage while she was on bed rest but thought otherwise but now the situation presented itself he would see it through that it all ended and that Sophia would stop hurting over again.

"How did you find this" holding up the large envelope.

Sophia chuckled hysterically to his uttermost surprise. At that point, Stan saw, what he had dreaded since he saved Sophia's life at the hospital.

He saw her calloused soul now in shambles, the hurt evident in her feigned laughter and lost-poised shoulders.

In his thoughts, Sophia continued her charade. "You know the funniest part was that I almost gave myself up for him last night but felt this strange restraint I couldn't explain" she smiled biting her dry lips, unconsciously pulling at her curls.

"Then the parcel was addressed here..." She paused her facial expression suggesting a rethink but sighed in resignation.

"I wondered why he would rush off so early in the morning before the cock crew, it wasn't like him as I have recently observed" she nodded affirming her own words, hurt.

Stan felt her depressed mood enveloping the whole room with him in it. She had lost color in the few hours he arrived. His temper simmered but he had to stay sober for her sake.

"Stan?" She whispered her distant gaze shifted towards him. "Take me away from here or else you want to hear the saddest news!" every truth about her reflecting in those desolate eyes, he felt his heart constrict.

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