The desperate daughter-in-law

The party

A month later

Her beautiful face beamed with a smile as she stepped down from the jet with her husband beside her. They were both beautifully dressed in red native Buba attires and they could hear the crowd clamoring their names as they stepped down from the jet majestically.

Mrs. Selina could be seen walking behind them with the baby firmly in her hands as she waved at the crowd who were cheering at them.

It was a beautiful atmosphere at the Taiwo’s mansion as different kinds of exotic cars could be seen moving into the mansion. Men and women, elegantly dressed could also be seen moving to and fro at the entrance of the banquet hall which was beautifully decorated. There was a loud cheer from the people as the black Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of the banquet hall. Cameras and flashlights became the order of the day as they all stepped out of the car and proceeded to the banquet hall.

They were welcomed by the local music band as they stepped into the beautifully decorated hall. Melisa looked at her husband and smiled.

“Lisa!” She heard her name being screamed.

She awed as she saw Rita rushing out from the crowd that had gathered in front of them. She was beautifully dressed in a sky blue satin dress flowing down to her toes, with a middle split in front of the dress that exposed her smooth fair lap.

“So good to see you again,'' Melisa cried as they both hugged tightly.

“Where is my baby?” Rita asked, looking around.

“There,” Melisa pointed at Mrs Selina who was with the baby.

“Wow, you’re looking so stunning, babe. Postpartum surely looks good on you. Look at how you’re glowing,” she complimented with a smile.

“Thank you, babe,” Melisa smiled.

They looked at Daren who was crowded with a group of men who seemed to be his friends and business partners.

“He’s the happiest man on earth right now,” Rita said with a smile and she nodded.

“See, you made a good decision,” she whispered.

Melisa pulled a long face as she heard those words and she looked away immediately.

“Lisa, you and your husband, to your seats right now,” they heard Elsa Boseman’s voice.

“Mother,” Melisa called as she looked at Elsa Boseman who was stunningly dressed in a red long expensive beaded lace dress and black headtie.

“Come on, get Daren, you both need to sit,” Rita urged and Melisa acquiesced.

The couple stepped into the beautiful couple’s seat prepared for them and the baby was handed over to Melisa. Friends and family began to troop in to shower them with gifts and blessings.

Their faces broke into smiles as they saw Charles Boseman, dressed in a red Agbada native attire, dancing towards their seat in excitement. He rained money before the couple’s feets and everyone cheered.

“Oh, beautiful granddaughter, you’re so much welcomed,” he said as he held the baby up in his arms.

“Thank you, father,” Melisa said with a smile.

“I missed you so much my daughter. I can’t wait to start preparing special delicacies for you,” Charles said and they all laughed.

They were still speaking when Evan and his wife, Toyosi, walked in.

“Wow, here goes the latest mommy and daddy in the house,'' Evan hailed and they all laughed as he shook hands with Daren.

“Congratulations Melisa, I’m truly happy for you,” Toyosi, the dark slim, tall woman congratulated Melisa.

Melisa looked at Rita who was kneeling beside her, unwrapping gifts. Rita made a disgusting face and looked away.

“Thank you a lot,” Melisa said to Toyosi with a forced smile on her lips.

Toyosi nodded and smiled wryly as she looked at the baby.

“Wow, she’s beautiful,” She complimented as she tried to touch the baby.

“Hey, please hold on!” Rita cut in and she stopped.

Melisa heaved a sigh as she watched the women. She knew Rita had never liked Toyosi and so, there was going to be a drama.

“You don’t just appear from nowhere and touch a newborn baby,” Rita charged.

Toyosi kept silent and she moved backwards with her gaze lowering to the floor.

“Um, dear, is everything okay?” Evan asked his wife from where he stood.

Toyosi nodded and walked over to him.

“Um, Daren, we will be back,” Evan said to Daren as he took hold of his wife and they both walked out.

“Rita, I saw that. You weren’t supposed to refrain her from touching the baby. She’s no stranger,” Daren countered in a rather high tone.

“Please, I don’t want anything to happen to the baby, hence, we need to be careful,” Rita defended.

He kept silent and looked at Melisa who was silent.

“And you didn’t say a word?” He asked.

“What was I supposed to say?” She asked with a scoff.

He heaved a sigh and looked away from the ladies.

Melisa turned to Rita who was smiling beside her and she shook her head.

“What’s your problem with Toyo? I thought you’ve gotten over the fact that Evan chose her over you?” She asked.

“Melisa, focus on your party and leave that destitute housewife,” Rita mocked and Melisa laughed.

“ Hey, have you caught sight of Diana?” She asked.

“That witch?” Rita asked and they both laughed.

Diana stepped down the stairs slowly with her black polyester dress sweeping the floor as she walked.

With one hand holding her glass of wine, she looked at the crowd gathered in the hall, drinking and dancing with excitement. She sighed in frustration as she waved back her short black hair which was neatly bobbed.

“Rubbish, nuisance, utterly disgusting..” she cursed as she fixed her eyes on the couple who were beautifully seated on their seats.

“Babe,” she heard her husband call behind her.

She turned and saw him walking towards her, dressed handsomely in black agbada attire and cap. She sighed and looked away from him as she sipped her wine.

“I never knew it was going to be this elaborate,” she said angrily.

“Hmm,” he muttered as he stood beside her.

“When Dele was born, they never threw such a grand party to celebrate his birth. You see, they never cared about us. Daren is whom they’ve always cared about,” she lamented angrily.

Dotun kept silent with his eyes looking at the crowd. Just then, Charles walked towards them with Dele in his hands.

“Son, I will be needing your help,” he said to Dotun.

He nodded and pecked his wife’s cheek before walking away with his father.

She sighed in frustration as she sipped her wine again. She looked at the happy couple sitting a few distances away from her and she looked away in disgust.

“Let me stand and watch. Who knows what I can find tonight about Lisa’s mysterious birth,” she said with a smirk as she returned her gaze to the couple.

*

“Lisa, I want to use the restroom. I’m so tired,” Rita said as she stood up from the floor which was covered with lots of presents.

“Ok, babe, you’ve done a lot,” Melisa said as she cuddled the baby who was about to cry.

She was feeling tired already and she wished the party could be over soon so she could catch some rest. She looked at Daren who was smiling as he watched the local band performing on stage.

“Love, I’m tired,” she complained.

“Oh, I’m..,” he was trying to speak when a voice interrupted him.

“Hello,” the voice came and they both turned.

Melisa's heart stopped beating for a moment as she saw the handsome, well-built guy standing in front of them. Her mouth dropped open as her eyes stared at his face in utter dismay.

“Hello,” he said again with his face wearing a smirk and his eyes relaxing on her face.

Daren turned to look at his wife who seemed stunned at the presence of the young handsome man standing in front of them.

“Hello, who are you?” He asked as he turned to look at the man who had a weird aura surrounding him.

“Your wife knows me better, right? Lisa?” He asked with a smirk as his gaze fixed on Melisa.

“Um..yeah..um..yeah,” she muttered as she regained her senses.

Daren kept mute as he stared at her in surprise.

“Congratulations, Mr Daren Taiwo, I’m really happy for you both. Though I wasn’t informed about the arrival of our sweet little girl,” he continued with a smile as he fixed his gaze on the baby.

“Oh,” Daren muttered.

“I’m Jerry. Jerry Okonkwo,” he introduced as he stretched his hand for a handshake.

“Nice meeting you,” Daren said as they both shook hands.

Her heart began to race as she watched the men shake hands with each other. What was he doing here? Oh, I’m finished, she cried within herself.

“Lisa, why didn’t you inform me about the baby?” He asked as he turned to face her.

She began to shift uncomfortably on her seat and she took a slow glance at Daren who was staring at her.

“Oh, um..I..I never thought..um..you know..I..I actually traveled,” she stammered.

“Oh, yeah, I was told you traveled. Well, I’m glad you’ve returned. So, how’s my little angel faring?” He asked as he bent his head to look at the baby who was now sleeping peacefully in her arms.

She gulped and looked at Daren nervously. She could see the curious look on his face and she knew she had to do her best to maintain a non suspicious composure.

“Wow, look at her, looking so fair, just like her father,” he blurted out with a chuckle and her brows raised.

“Oh, sorry, I mean, her mother. She looks just like you, Lisa,” he scoffed as he saw the looks on the couple's faces.

She nodded with a forced smile on her face.

“Um, I will take my leave now. I’m still around though,” he smiled..

She nodded and he smirked and walked away. She heaved a sigh as he walked away and she looked at Daren who was by now distracted by some of the guests who had walked over to him.

She looked around nervously and she could still see Jerry sitting at a table, staring in her direction with a smirk on his face while sipping his drink.

“Oh, God, I’m dead,” she muttered to herself.

She needed to find Rita right now, she thought.

“Love, please, I need to use the restroom. I’m so pressed,” she said as she handed the baby over to Daren.

“Um, Okay,” he said with a smile as he took the baby from her hands.

She heaved a sigh and walked away immediately.

Beside the stairs where she stood, Diana watched Melisa walking away from her seat and her eyes trailed her to the stairs. She had witnessed her reactions when the young man appeared in front of her and she knew something was fishy.

She had also seen the young man staring in Melisa's direction from where he sat and she knew there was a connection between Lisa and that young man whom she doesn’t even recognize.

“Lisa, it’s game time,” she said as she smacked her lips and hurried towards the stairs immediately.