At the court
1756 Words
Evan stepped into the car and shut the door behind him. He could see Daren sitting close to the window, dressed in a casual white T-shirt and black pants with his hand cupped around his chin. He seemed to be deeply engrossed in thought and his eyes didn't raise for a second.
"Daren," he called in a rather high tone.
He jolted out of his thoughts and turned to look at him.
"Um..sorry. I was just..lost," he stammered in a calm tone.
Evan sighed and leaned his back on the car seat.
"How..how did it go?" He asked as he looked at his face with all seriousness.
"She's appearing in court a few days from now," he replied.
He kept silent and looked out of the window.
"So, what are your plans?" Evan asked.
"My mother and grandmother want me to divorce Lisa and marry as soon as possible," he revealed.
"What?! That's ridiculous," Evan said with a scoff.
He kept silent and didn't reply.
"And what are you going to do about it?" He asked.
"I don't know. I can't remarry," he sighed.
A wry smile appeared on Evan's face as he heard those words.
"You are not ready to move on from Lisa, are you?" He asked but Daren didn't reply.
"She wants to see you. I guess there is something we don't know about this whole thing. I think we need to hear her own side of the story. You both didn't get a chance to talk," he said.
"Evan, I can't do that! I gave Lisa so many rooms to speak up in the past but she didn't! Right now, I can't even be seen around her. My family doesn't want me to be dragged into any of her affairs," he said in a high tone.
"Daren, keep calm. All I'm asking is just a visit. She is mad at the moment. She is mad because you didn't show up at all. She feels like you betrayed her despite everything you've both been through together," he explained.
"She betrayed me first!" He slammed as his eyes turned red.
"Yes, she did. Are you forgetting the fact that she made me take responsibility for someone else's child? I'm not even mad about the fact that I gave my all to raise May. I'm mad because Lisa hid the truth from me," he cried emotionally.
"If she had told you the truth earlier, what would you have done about it?" Evan asked.
He kept silent and looked away from his face without a reply.
"You and your family would never have had it easy with her. That's the fact. Lisa was scared. She was deeply scared and I guess she was so desperate to make you happy," he said.
"And who says I wasn't happy? She was the one who made herself unhappy all those times.
I was happy and I guess I lost that happiness after May's arrival. Yes, I was happier when we were without a child. Lisa changed totally after the arrival of May," he explained.
"You shouldn't forget about family pressures and the fact that you were going to lose your inheritance if she hadn't given you a child. She had to go out of the normal. She had to give you a child at all cost," he emphasized.
"And then she slept with that bastard. She opened her legs for a guy I'm far better than. She got pregnant for him and made me take responsibility for it.
Evan, if you were in my shoes we wouldn't be having this discussion," he said angrily.
"I'm sorry, man. I'm deeply sorry things had to end this way between you and Melisa. You both were the most perfect couple I've ever seen.
Your love for each other is an inspiration to Toyosi and I. It really saddens me to see it end this way," he said with emotions.
He wiped the tears that trickled down his cheek and sniffed.
"How..how is May faring?" He managed to ask.
"She is still with her grandfather. She keeps crying day and night and I think she misses her parents so much. Toyo and I are planning to take her in before Lisa's case gets settled," he replied.
His heart became heavy as he heard those words.
"Then it means I will stop coming over to your place," he said sadly.
"Why?" Evan asked with his brows raised.
"I can't stand her. I can't stand May's presence around me. It will make me break down again. She..she is just a sweet little soul who doesn't deserve everything she is going through right now.
Everything should have stayed hidden. The truth shouldn't have been revealed and then, my family and I would have stayed happy," he cried.
"It's enough, dude. You will be fine," Evan consoled as he placed his hand on his shoulder.
**
The trial lasted for three hours and without credible evidence presented against Melisa Bronze, the case was adjourned for a further hearing. As she was taken out of the courtroom, her face beamed with a smile as she caught sight of Evan, Toyosi and her father who was carrying May.
"Daughter, be strong. Everything is going in our favor," her father said with a smile.
"Yes, girl. I believe you will be out of that damn cell, soon," Toyosi assured.
"Stay safe, we will check on you later," Evan said after her as the policemen moved her past the press who were gathered around them.
"Mama..mama!" May's voice was heard as she was taken away.
She broke into tears as she turned to see her father and Toyo trying to contain May who was struggling to break free from her grandfather's grips.
As the police vehicle moved away, she could hear May's loud cries and she wept profusely.
"Mama will be home soon, okay? Come, let's go home and play with James and Jacob," Toyo said with a smile as she cuddled the crying May in her arms.
"Her things are here with me in the car. Please come over and take them," Mr Bronze urged Toyosi.
She looked at Evan.
"Go with him, um..I will meet you in the house later. I want to check up on someone," he said and she nodded.
Walking to the roadside, he could see the black car parked a few distances away from the court gate.
As he stepped into the car, he could see Daren sitting close to the window. He was dressed smartly in black suit and tie and his face turned slowly towards him as he sat beside him in the car.
"What's up? Where have you been?" Evan asked.
"I went to the office earlier today but I couldn't concentrate," he said with a sigh.
A wry smile appeared on his face and he nodded.
"You still care about her. That's the reason you are here," he said.
He didn't reply and he heaved a sigh and leaned his back on the seat.
"I..I just wanted to know how it went," he demanded.
"There was no credible evidence against her. The only problem we are having is the fact that she was having issues with Rita before the murder case. And also, the message she claimed Rita sent to her phone couldn't be found on Rita's phone," he revealed.
"Someone is setting my wife…" he tried to speak and then the words became stuck as he realized he had just called her his wife.
Evan burst into laughter and Daren's face pulled into a frown.
"It's not funny," he said, feigning anger.
"It is, though," Evan said with a chuckle and he kept silent and looked away.
"Yes, you are right. Someone is setting Lisa up. And the bastard who got her pregnant is our prime target. He is nowhere to be found.
Autopsy is still being run on the deceased to know the cause and pattern of death. And also fetch for fingerprints to see if they match with Lisa's," he related.
Daren nodded slowly with his jaws tightened.
"You really think you can do without Lisa?" Evan asked with a smile.
He shot him a death stare and looked away from him.
"Okay, sorry, man. Let's go grab a drink," he said with a smile.
**
It was evening when he stepped into the house. He stopped for a moment as he caught sight of his mother standing in the living room, dressed simply in a black short dress with puffed sleeves.
"Where have you been?" Her commanding tone sounded as she turned slowly to face him.
"I..I..um.." He stammered.
"You told me you were heading to the office. You convinced your grandmother and I that you are fully back up on your feet and that you will resume work at the office today. But what did you do? Uh?!" She slammed as she moved her slender figure towards him.
"I..I was at the office today," he replied with his gaze on the floor.
"Stop giving me that crap!" She yelled in his face and he remained silent as he felt her hot breath on his face.
"What's this?" She asked as she unlocked her phone and a picture of his car parked close to the court appeared on the phone.
He cringed and swallowed hard as he looked up at her face.
"You were at the court today, Daren. You were spotted at the court, doing what?!" She flared.
"Going to defend your adulterous wife?!" She yelled.
"Mother..mother, mother! It's enough!" He barked as he panted heavily in her face.
"Really? Come on, do your worst Daren, speak trash in my face because of that slut you call a wife!" She yelled.
He began to pant and looked from side to side as he became confused about what to do. Without a word, he walked away from her.
"If you don't do the needful in three days time, prepare to lose your role in the company," she threatened after him.
He didn't stop for a moment and he continued walking hastily up the stairs. He stopped as he saw Dotun and Diana staring at him with smirk on their faces. He walked away immediately and proceeded to his room.
"I told you, be patient and watch the ball roll back to our court," Diana said with a smile as she sipped from her wine.
"This is where we come in," Dotun said menacingly and she nodded as they both made a toast and drank their wine spontaneously.
- Writer
