The Truth
1518 Words
" Melisa Bronze is no longer a part of the Taiwo”s family. Therefore, the Taiwos will not in any way be dragged into her nefarious activities. Know this, and know peace," Selina Taiwo's voice emitted from the TV.
With his eyes fixed on the TV, he could see her standing alongside Elsa Boseman as they were both interviewed by the press who were gathered in front of the Jack&Rose wine company.
"And her husband, Daren Taiwo, what is the situation with him? He hasn't been seen nor has he made a speech concerning the incident," one of the press members asked.
"Daren is fine and healthy. He doesn't need to be dragged into this. Ladies and gentlemen, this will be all for now," Elsa's voice was heard and the men made way for her and her mother as they pushed past the crowd.
He sighed heavily and switched off the TV. How did Melisa bring him into this mess? He thought as he stood up.
The door opened and his father stepped into the room.
"Daren, what's going on?" Charles asked anxiously as he walked into the room.
He remained silent and turned with his back facing him.
"You knew about the arrest?" He asked again.
"Father, I'm not in the mood to speak," he muttered as he turned to face him.
"You and I know Melisa is innocent. She couldn't have murdered her friend!" Charles snapped.
"I don't wanna know if she is innocent or not. Keep Melisa's affairs out of my life," he snapped back.
Charles heaved a sigh as he looked away from his son.
"Son, I know how much you feel hurt about the scandal. But I want you to know that you should never turn your back on those you truly love. Especially at a time when they needed you most," he advised.
The words hit him hard and his brows gathered deeply as he stared at his father. He was about to speak when a knock came on the door.
"It's open," he voiced out grumpily.
The door opened and Dotun walked into the room.
"Mother and grandmother seek your presence, right now," he announced.
He gulped as he watched Dotun walk away. He looked at his father and without a word, he walked out after Dotun.
"How dare you? How dare you, Daren?" Elsa Boseman's provoking voice sounded in the living room as she watched her son walking down the stairs.
He remained silent as he stood before the two women whose furious eyes were tearing through him.
"How dare you hide such a thing from us? You were fully aware of Melisa's arrest and you thought it was wise to hide it from us?" Selina Taiwo asked from the couch where she was seated gracefully.
"Um, mother, Daren still needs time to put himself together..," Charles tried to speak.
"Enough! Enough of the defending, Charles. How long is he going to weep over that slut?!" Elsa slammed.
Silence fell in for a few seconds and Elsa heaved a sigh as she saw her husband whose face had grown cold. Without a word, she walked over to the couch to sit beside her mother.
"Now, Daren, I want you to know that, by no means should you interfere in Melisa's nefarious activity. Now that she's sleeping behind bars, you will divorce her silently and we will find you a more noble woman.
You need to pick up your life for the sake of the company. Your absence is making the company suffer. Therefore, you will divorce Melisa, and get married to a woman we will choose for you," Mrs Selina spoke with authority.
His brows raised as he heard those words. He turned to his father who was staring at the side of his face.
"It's too early for him to move on!" Charles sounded in a rather high tone.
"Really? Are you challenging my orders, Charles?" Mrs Selina asked with a smirk as she gazed at his furious face.
He opened his mouth to speak but the cold look Elsa shot him sent him into complete silence. Without a word, he walked away and Daren's eyes trailed after him.
"You've heard what your grandma had said. You will do as she says," Elsa said with a smile as she walked towards him and patted his shoulder.
He let out a sigh and walked away from her. As he walked towards the stairs, he could see Diana and Dotun standing on the balcony, watching with smiles on their faces. He sighed in frustration and walked up the stairs immediately.
"Don't you think the plan is going all wrong?" Dotun whispered to his wife who was smiling beside him.
"Really?" She asked as she turned to look at him.
"Yes. Right now, they're getting a wife for Daren and his life would return to normal," he said, anxiously.
She chuckled and patted his shoulder.
"I don't think you realize the bond Daren and Melisa both share. It's unbreakable," she whispered into his face.
He scoffed and shook his head in disbelief.
"You think Daren would want to run back to his adulterous wife? No, that's not gonna happen," he said with a scoff.
"Let's watch and see how everything unfolds," she said with a smirk.
**
As he walked into his room, he banged his fist on the wall angrily. He broke into tears with his head resting on the wall. He could hear footsteps in the room and he turned to see his father walking towards him.
"You mustn't let them force you against your wish. Your mother and grandmother never cared about you. They're only being selfish like always. Use your head and think deeply before making a decision," he advised and walked out of the room.
He slumped on the floor with his back resting on the wall. Hot tears flowed down his cheeks freely and he began to sob as he thought of how his life had taken a drastic turn.
He thought of the great decision he was about to make and it made his heart heavy. Was he really ready to spend his life without Melisa? He thought as the tears flowed from his cheeks freely.
*
The cell gate opened and she was brought out by the warder. She walked to the visitor's room where she could see Toyosi and Evan sitting on the armchairs before the table.
Her pale face broke into a smile and her body shook with emotions as she thought of the fact that they were the only people who had come visiting aside from her father.
"Lisa," Toyo cried as she caught sight of her pale face.
She was looking emaciated and unkempt with her black soft hair dangling all over her face.
"Toyo," Melisa cried wearily as a tear escaped her eye.
"Lisa, I've warned you to be nice to yourself. Look at you, looking so unkept and emaciated. Crying your eyes out nor going days without food cannot solve the problem at hand," Evan scolded.
"I..I understand," she sniffed and wiped off her tears.
"Lisa, you have to be strong," Toyo advised.
"I spoke with your father and he says you're appearing in court two days from now," Evan said and she nodded.
"The case will be in your favor. Trust me," Toyo assured.
She smiled and sniffed again.
"How is my daughter?" She asked.
"May is doing okay. But we are planning to take her away from your father. You know she can be a handful sometimes," Evan remarked and they all laughed.
"Yes, the old man doesn't need all that stress and besides, he is running around looking for how to get you out of here," Toyo added.
She smiled and her gaze lowered to the table.
"Thank you very much. I don't know what else to say, but thank you," she said with all sincerity and the couple nodded.
"How..how is Daren?" She inquired as her eyes narrowed to their faces.
"Um..he..he is fine," Evan muttered.
"He is avoiding me like a plague. I guess he doesn't want to be associated with anything related to me," she said with a wry smile.
"Lisa, you need to leave Daren aside and let's focus on how to get you out of here," Toyo advised.
"No, I can't leave him aside. He is the reason I am here today. And what did I get for all the pains he had caused me?" She asked with a chuckle.
"He abandoned me," she said with a smile as she sniffed.
"Lisa, you don't have to blame Daren for the situation," Evan cut in.
"No, I'm not. I am the one to take all the blame. Lisa is the barren woman, Lisa is the wife who cheated. Lisa is the wife who committed paternity fraud," she cried as she shook her head bitterly.
"Lisa, it's okay," Toyo consoled.
She sniffed and wiped off her tears.
"I will make it out of here and everyone will know the truth some day," she said confidently as she looked at their faces.
- Writer
