THE EX WIFE'S RECKONING

Chapter 14

Giddy shocks left her body stunned like 50,000 Ampere of current forced its way through her narrow veins. Her eyes shone in disbelief at the ridiculous request. What now?

Thoughts bombarded her sanity, disrupting her attention from the devil who was now standing erect in front of him with his white shirt sleeves folded to elbow level.

The thought of losing her mother’s mansion, perhaps, her only shelter, the dread of not having a source of income to take care of her needs and her baby’s. If the mall demolition is called off. I could get back on track and live my life.

My life? The guilt of killing Ethan’s baby will let me live my life? Will Damian not stalk me everywhere making me his prisoner? Nothing is free from Damian, there’s always a high expectation bar awaiting you to hang yourself to please him.

The heat of the frustration forced her to blurt these last thoughts out loud, shouting...

“Have you no human sympathy that I may die in the abortion process? Have you in hay forgotten the gravity of crime it is to abort a child in Manhattan?”

“You speak like an ignorant child. Oh. Ooh... I understand you haven't fully recovered consciousness after your memory loss spree. Let me help with that; it's a pleasure anyway.” He let out a scornful look with a deemed smile and continued.

“I run this City. We should talk about 9 years ago when you ran into a police officer with your 2010 Mercedes. He died on the spot, right?” He paused and asked rhetorically, then continued.

“C’mon, pancake. You're great with memories, don’t look at me that way, first-class degree holder.”

He took a few elegant steps with each step following the next, stopping at 10 metres away to ensure his eyes met Naomi’s. This is the reason I hated him as much as I loved him, he manipulates and commands aura in his eyes.

What do I do with all this dripping guilt? I feel like I owe him my life. Actually, I would have rotted in jail by now.

“I can see you're processing things quickly. Interesting, your recovery is quicker than we programmed.”

who are the “we?” I want to know, Damian. But she was too numb with guilt trips to think out loud.

“I have these last words for you before I leave.” He walked to the door frame and paused, pulled in his breath, causing his shoulder to lift a bit and blurted, “I run this city. You have 48 hours to take my offer.

Whatever comes as a piece of my gift to you if you decline, take it in good faith. Because you deserve it all.” Exits the room banging the door behind.

Naomi felt helpless in bed. Everything sucked. Nothing made sense. She gathered the courage to go in search of her mother to explain how Damian had access to her in such a privacy-intruding manner.

“Mom!!!!” “Mom!!” She came screaming from the stairs heading to the balcony where her mom was fond of spending quality time with family members when things were rosy. Her heartbeat ran like it was on the loose.

“Hey big girl, you met Damian, yeah. I can see that exuberance flying across your face, love birds. Come give me the gist, darling.”

A stab of betrayal cut across her lower abdomen. My head feels empty of words. Like what?

“And what’s that look on your face? I want to believe you did not turn down that offer? Did you?”

“You won’t understand the gravity of the debts we've been in since your father died. Damian’s father stepped in since you two were dating in college. Who do you think footed your hospital bills?

Let me talk some senses into your thick skull, darling. This house was used as collateral to take a loan of $100,000 to save your life after you carelessly threw it on the rail.

Your mall, our only source of livelihood can be extricated from demolition if you make the right choice. Can’t you see that I am running homeless, child?”

“Mom…” Naomi called, with a shaky wimp that later broke into uncontrollable tears.

“Pack it up, girl. I have sacrificed everything. Yet you bring me more troubles. I am about to go homeless.

I mean, homeless and in debt. Does that sound great? You know so well that this family is indebted to Damian for everything he has done for us.

C’mon b*tch, I advised you to wait till Damian showed up before thinking about marriage. You're just as stubborn as your late father.” She breathed fire in her words, as she made for her inhaler to calm her four years old Asthma.

“Mo… mo…m..” whimpers obstructed her words as tears kept running their course through her cheeks. “Do you realize I could die in the abortion room?”

“Wait, what? Damian asked for an abortion? That's great news. There's hope for you and us.”

At one point her hopes rose and died in a matter of seconds. Her bones shivered while taking in the unbelievable she had just heard. Silence came uninvited, sat in and took a long stare at the duo.

I wish my dad never died. He had more empathy than this woman seated here. A thought of her dad flaunting a thought of words his father was fond of;

“I go wayward for what I want. The sun may deny me of shade. The moon will, at night. But I must endure till the moon comes calling.”

Those words kept ringing within, and courage emanated from nowhere, reeling up her guts.

The determination to have her child crying in her palm grew stellar. My father never asked for an abortion. I won’t kill a child. I will go wayward for what I want.

“What are you up to, child?” She questions raising her voice in suspicion of a similar facial expression her father possessed when about making a wrong decision.

“Am I talking to a log of wood?” “Answer me, b*tch.”