THE PERFECT WIFE

Chapter Eight

Ebere had the worst birthday ever in the history of birthdays. The birthday she had expected to be the best turned out to be the worst. Ebuka and Chigozie were really disappointed especially Chigozie who had always esteemed Nonso as the perfect husband for their beloved sister.

It has been a week after the whole incidence took place but Ebere hadn't fully recovered from the shock. Not once had she expected that her husband could do something like that to her. She moved in together with Amaka to Ebuka's house because Ebuka was really angry when he learnt of Nonso's infidelity. He was so annoyed that he had punched Nonso so hard and if not held, would have beaten the hell out of him.

He had asked Ebere not to see Nonso again and to make sure his orders were followed, he brought her to his house. Ndubisi had given the orders to have Ebere leave the house with immediate effect. He had never really liked Nonso from the beginning and after hearing all that Ebuka told him, he asked for the marriage between Ebere and Nonso to be annulled.

"That's the problem with poor people. You polish them up a bit and they are out of control." Ndubisi said. He told Ebuka he would be coming into the country as soon as he could to make sure the marriage is annulled. Ebuka had also informed Chigozie who happened to be lawyer to get the annulment documents ready. Chigozie was not in support of the whole annulment thing. He still believed that the marriage can still work out again as he really loved Nonso for their sister even if he was greatly disappointed to hear what he had done to her.

Nonso had tried apologizing for what he did but Ebuka wouldn't allow him to see Ebere. He knew Ebere had a soft heart towards Nonso and may easily forgive Nonso but as for him, he wanted the marriage called off. He had never planned for his sister to have a polygamous family because the four of them grew up under the shade of a father and a mother.

Nonso was really angry at Sandra and felt like pouncing on her. He however restrained himself from doing so seeing that she was pregnant and didn't want what happened to Ebere happen to her too.

"You just destroyed my life." He said to her with so much fury in his eyes.

"Why didn't you wait for me?” I was going to tell her about us but you went ahead and now you have ruined everything." Nonso said in angry breaths.

"What were you thinking? Imagine it was you. How would you have felt?" He asked still breathing angrily.

"I am sorry honey. I was jealous and was feeling left out. That was why I did what I did." Sandra said.

"Feeling left out? How?"

"You stopped picking my calls and replying my messages. I was missing you so I had to do what I did."

"What's all these? I was busy trying to win Ebere's love so she could accept the fact that she now has a mate. I was doing all that so I wouldn't have to hide my relationship with you anymore but what did you do? You ruined everything!" Nonso screamed.

"I'm sorry honey. If only you had at least replied my messages and told me of your plans. How do you expect me to feel when I learnt you took a one weak leave from work only to be in the arms of Ebere? I felt jealous because I love you so much."

"Sandra, you know I'm in a difficult situation. You should have just waited for me to do things my own way. Now with what you have done, you've made the whole thing more complicated."

"I'm so sorry babe. I didn't mean to." Sandra said expressing how deeply sorry she was.

Nonso knew it was useless trying to quarrel with her. He wanted his wife and daughter back and he was ready to do anything to get them back. He knew he had to hurry up with whatsoever his plans were in getting Ebere back before it's too late.

Ebuka seized the house he bought for Ebere as a wedding gift and that was where Nonso's trouble started from. The documents were in possession of Ebere and since she was no longer staying in the house, Ebuka made sure Nonso left the house too. Ebuka was really angry because they knew how much they had done for Nonso that put him in the position where he was at that moment. Himself and Ndubisi also pulled out their stocks from CUBRAN BEVERAGES leaving the company in total bankruptcy. Ebuka also convinced other potential investors who had come to invest in Cubran beverages through his connection, to pull out their stocks too. In an interval of one month, Cubran beverages was left with nothing but the petty stocks from the struggling business men which were not enough to save the business.

Nonso had to move in with Sandra permanently after the house was taken away from him. His life turned around in a split second. He began having issues at work as production reduced drastically and workers started resigning.

Two months after the whole incidence and he was yet to get Ebere to forgive him, Nonso knew it was becoming really serious. He knew how much Ebere loved him and seeing that there was no way to reach her as Ebuka made sure of that, Nonso became really worried. He knew Ebuka had something to do with it. Nonso had always known Ebuka to be hot tempered and he knew that for as long as Ebere remained with him nothing good will come out of the whole situation. He decided to try other means to get to Ebere.

Ebuka made sure Ebere doesn't leave the house and it also affected Amaka because she no longer went to school. Ebuka was afraid Nonso might get her and that would give him a chance to talk to their sister.

Ndibusi was beginning to think of changing his plans. He wanted Ebere and Amaka to come to meet him abroad instead. He wanted his sister to completely forget about that i***t called Nonso.

"That man doesn't deserve someone like you." He said over the phone.

"You don't have to cry because honestly speaking, you're better off without him than him without you. Pull yourself together and see life from it's bright side." He advised too.

Ebere was finding it difficult to get over the whole stuff and her heart was still bitter towards Nonso. She wasn't ready to forgive him and she didn't want to see him either. She felt like her world had crumbled because she really loved Nonso and felt sorry for their daughter Amaka because she was affected by the whole thing.

Nonso didn't tell his mother and sister what was going on because he knew he was greatly at fault. He tried getting his wife to forgive him but it wasn't working. It would have been better if he didn't marry Sandra in the first place. If only he had known, he would have avoided Sandra at all cost. No matter what, Nonso loved his wife Ebere and was ready to do anything it'll take to get her back even if it meant kneeling in the street begging for her forgiveness.

With company folding up after Ndibusi and Ebuka pulled out out their stocks alongside with most of the potential investors and his marriage with Ebere gradually heading towards it's termination, Nonso was thrown into a state of total confusion as he didn't know how to handle both situations. One side was his marriage that was falling apart and on the other part was his company that was folding up. He knew Ebere had nothing to do with it as the only thing sustaining the company was her own shares which she was yet to pull yet. Sandra's plan had backfired because instead of Nonso to have time for her as she had envisaged, he was busy looking for means to save his marriage with Ebere and his company that was almost going bankrupt.

"Man how could you do that to Ebere?" Felix queried.

"That woman was there for you when you had nothing and this is how you decide to pay her back." He added.

"I don't know what came over me. I still love my wife and I will do anything to get her back." He said.

"What about Sandra and her baby?” What do you plan to do with them?" Felix asked.

"I don't know, but for now Ebere is my greatest concern." He said.

"I'll get Ebere to forgive me and come back to me no matter what it'll cost me." He said with full assurance.

Nonso fought tooth and nail to get Ebere back but it was as if fate was against him. He really wanted her to forgive him even if it means he would have to beg on his knees for it.

Ebere still couldn’t believe that Nonso could do something like that to her. She wanted to wake up from the dream she believed she was having even it wasn’t a dream. Ebuka tried consoling her but depression was eating her real deep. Ebuka became scared because he knew Ebere like the palm of his hand. He had to call Ndubisi to let him know the situation that was on ground.

“There will be a change of plans. I will send you money to prepare a visa for both herself and Amaka. They should leave the country as soon as possible. I don’t want that man to come back and ruin her life.”

“When will that be?” Ebuka asked.

“At most by next week Saturday everything should have been put in place to enable them fly down here as soon as possible.” Ndubisi said.

“Alright, I will get that done.” Ebuka replied.

Ebere remained in that state of depression and wouldn’t eat. She had no idea that Ebuka had seized the house that was gifted to her and Nonso on the day of their wedding and that CUBRAN BEVERAGES was going bankrupt. In her depression, she stayed in solitude, stopped reading newspapers and stopped watching the news. She had no idea that Nonso had tried several times to get to her and apologize but Ebuka never allowed him. She came to believe that Nonso never really loved her and was already living a happy life with Sandra.

“Do you want to kill yourself because of Nonso? That man doesn’t deserve your tears. Think about your daughter. If you die now, what will happen to your daughter?” You want Amaka to become motherless all because of Nonso? If I were you I will be strong for the sake of my daughter. Amaka needs you more.” Ebuka said.

“It hurts. I never expected this? I loved Nonso and I never expected him to do this to me. What did I do wrong? Was I not a good wife? Did I not play my role as a wife? I gave him all that a woman could give to her husband. I never deprived him of any of the rights he had over me as my husband. I gave him my all and this is how he pays me back.” Ebere said with tears in her eyes.

“Look sis, you are the best wife one could ever have. You didn’t do anything wrong. I know how well you stood by him when he had nothing. You showed him love and it pained me to see him do this to you.” Ebuka said.

“What do I do now?" Ebere asked.

"I think it's time to get back your life. It's time to forget about Nonso and move on with your own life. Two months have gone by and it's enough time for you to heal and get back your life. I have spoken with Ndubisi and he had asked me to get your visas ready. You and Amaka will be flying to UK next week. So I implore you to be of good cheer. A good life awaits you in the UK and I trust brother Ndubisi to take very good care of you. So please I am begging you sis, don’t be starving yourself because of Nonso. Your daughter needs you more. So wipe your tears and get something to eat.” Ebuka said.

“Where is Amaka? Has she eaten?” Ebere asked as she wiped her tears.

“She is asleep already and yes she ate before going to bed.”

“Hope she is not aware of what is going on between me and her father?”

“No, she doesn’t but she has been asking when she will be going back home and why Nonso wasn’t coming around.”

“So what did you tell her?” Ebere asked.

“I told her that Nonso was busy with work and you two have to stay with me for the time being. But you should know that I can’t keep telling her that. You know how inquisitive Amaka can be so you have to make a decision now.” Ebuka said.

“What decision?” Ebere asked.

“To leave the country as soon as possible. That way, you will be able to get your life back together and can help Amaka forget about asking so much questions about Nonso.” Ebuka said.

Ebere agreed to Ebuka’s suggestion and seeing that as the only way she could overcome her depression and forget about Nonso, she decided that herself and Amaka would leave the country. She stood up, and hugged Ebuka.

"Thank you so much for all you've done. I really appreciate."

"Anything for you." Ebuka replied.

"Now, get something to eat." He added.

Ebere detached from the embrace and went into the kitchen to get something to eat.

“You won’t be able to hurt me ever again Nonso.” She said to herself.