The desperate daughter-in-law

We won

The sound of her short heels could be heard as she walked into the house slowly. From the stairs, she could see Diana stepping down slowly with her small dark face wearing a smirk.

She heaved a sigh as she proceeded to the stairs with Diana’s eyes still fixed on her. She stopped for a moment and they both stood facing each other.

“What are you staring at? Hmm? Are you afraid of something?” She asked seriously as she looked at Diana who scoffed and waved back her hair stylishly.

“Scared of what? You?” Diana asked with a smirk and gave her an intimidating look.

Melisa chuckled while Diana took a step closer to her.

“Melisa, I have nothing to be afraid of. I’m always miles ahead of you, and you should be the one to be afraid. You know why? Because soon, you and that dull-witted husband of yours, would lose everything you’ve ever dreamed to have,” she said sinisterly as she looked into her face.

Melisa gave a slow mocking laughter and shook her head in disbelief.

“The game just started Diana, and you know, the end is what really counts,” she said with a smile and Diana scoffed.

“Wow, I knew all along. It was your plan, you and that doltish fellow you call your husband. I knew it was both your plans to lay hands on what Belongs to Daren. But trust me when I say this,” Melisa said as she brought her face closer to hers.

“You failed, Diana, you failed,” she said mockingly and turned to walk away from her.

She continued laughing as she walked up the stairs and Diana couldn’t take her eyes off her for a moment. She sighed heavily and tucked her short hair behind her ears.

“Lisa is up to something no good. I need to speak to Dotun,” she said anxiously and walked away immediately.

Melisa heaved a sigh and dropped her bag on the bed. She smiled as she saw Daren whose eyes were fixed on her body. He was seated on the bed with his phone in his right hand.

“Babe, this pregnancy is making you glow,” he complimented as he stood up from the bed.

“I bumped into Diana downstairs,” she related as she sat on the bed.

He frowned and shifted closer to her.

“Did she try to hurt you again?” He asked at once.

She shook her head and licked her dry lips.

“It was her plan all along. I guess they talked Grandmother into making the new rule,” she said.

“There’s nothing impossible for those two depraved beings. You need to be careful around them. That’s why you’re staying in this room till it’s time to fly you out,” he said.

“I gave her words for words,” she said with a smile and his eyes opened wide.

“Love, you shouldn’t let her suspect the pregnancy!” He cried.

“Oh, she’s not going to suspect anything. Before she does, I will be out of here,” she said and stood up right.

He heaved a sigh and nodded.

*

“What are you blabbing? What is it you are suspecting?” Dotun asked impatiently as he looked at Diana's anxious face which was turned away from him.

“I’m having a feeling that she’s up to something. Melisa is up to something,” she said and took a sip from her glass.

“And why do you feel that way?” He asked angrily.

“I saw the confidence on her face when we engaged in a word tussle earlier today. She was confident of something,” she revealed.

He heaved a sigh and dropped his hand from his suit pocket.

“So, what are we to do?” He asked impatiently.

She kept silent and licked her lips as she turned to face him.

“We will do nothing,” she said calmly and he pulled a long face.

“Meaning?” He roared.

“They say the patient ones are the most successful ones. So, we will sit, fold our arms, relax and see what they’re up to,” she said in a slow calm tone.

He heaved a sigh and gulped.

“Okay,” he muttered and a mischievous smile curved on her lips.

TWO MONTHS LATER

He hurried into the room and he could see her lying tiredly on the bed. She turned slowly as she felt his presence in the room and she saw him smiling while dropping his briefcase beside the bed.

“My love,” he called as he sat on the bed.

She yawned tiredly and he held her arms and helped her sit up.

“Love, you’re home so early,” she said and he smiled and rubbed his hand on her tummy.

“When is your baby bump appearing? I’m running out of patience,” he said and she smiled wryly.

“Force it out,” she said and they both laughed.

He pecked her chubby cheek and sighed as he took off his suit jacket.

“Is everything set for tomorrow?” She asked and he nodded while struggling with his Jacket.

“Everything is set. I’m just nervous about tonight,” he said and she smiled wryly.

“About breaking the news to everyone?” She asked and he nodded again.

“You know, it took a lot of effort to keep this away from the family these past months. Mom and grandmother were actually on my neck. They wanted to see you dining with the family,” he said and she chuckled.

“I will have dinner with the family today, right?” She asked and he nodded.

“We will break the news during dinner,” he said and she nodded with a smile.

In the spacious dining room, they all sat around the long dining table which was covered with delicious delicacies, wine and fruits. All eyes were focused on the couple as they walked hand in hand towards the table.

“Oh,the rabbit decided to leave its hole today,” Selina said with a chuckle as she fixed her gaze on Melisa who was walking beside her husband, dressed in a long white maxi dress and a white scarf tied around her head.

She walked over to the old lady who was seated beside Elsa Boseman. She knelt in front of them and they both patted her shoulders.

“And why did you decide to show your face today?” Elsa asked with a serious look on her face.

“Nothing, mother,” she muttered with a smile.

Elsa rolled her eyeballs and looked away from Melisa. She looked at her mother whose face was filled with excitement and she wondered what the old lady was excited about.

After greeting the women, Melisa walked over to Charles, her father in-law and she greeted him with all humility.

“Are you adding more weight? Or am I the only one noticing?” Charles asked as he saw her walking to her seat.

“Yes father, you’re not the only one noticing,” Daren said and they all laughed aside from Dotun and Diana whose eyes were deeply fixed on Melisa.

“Um, before we proceed with the meal, I want everyone to know that Melisa and I have something to say after dinner,” Daren announced as he looked at their faces.

“Wow, I hope it’s what I’m wanting to hear,” Selina said with a warm smile as she looked at Melisa who was smiling sheepishly.

“Sure, grandma,” Daren replied.

After eating, he sat up right and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“Daren, I thought you had something to say to the family?” Elsa asked as she looked at his face.

“Yes, mother. Um,” he muttered and looked at Melisa who gave him a nod.

She looked away from his face as he began his speech and her eyes fell on Diana who was staring at her clumsily. She smirked and she could see the anxious look that appeared on Diana's face.

“Um, I’m sorry for keeping this a secret for sometime now, but it’s due to certain private reasons. The truth is that Melisa has been hiding in her room all this while, because she's expecting a baby,” he spilled and silence fell into the room.

Selina’s eyes bulged with her mouth agape. She opened her arms wide as she looked at Melisa whose face was beaming with a smile.

“Come over here and give big mama a hug!” She cried and without wasting time, Melisa rushed over to give her a hug.

There was applause from Charles and his wife Elsa whose faces were beaming with smiles.

“Oh, Daren. Congratulations! I’m so happy for you,” Charles said with emotions as he hugged his son tightly.

Daren smiled as he hugged his father and he could see his mom smiling at him from behind.

She winked at him and his smile broadened.

“Oh, this is good news. I’m so glad you took the challenge seriously,” Elsa commended as Melisa walked over to her. She hugged her tightly after which, she broke free from the hug.

“I’m so elated, I don’t know how much more I can react to this news,” Selina said with emotions as she looked at their faces.

“I’m glad Dotun and Diana came up with the challenge of the new rule,” she added as she looked at the couple whose faces had become hardened.

Silence fell in and all eyes were turned to them. Daren scoffed as he looked at his brother and he shook his head in disbelief.

“Was it Dotun’s plan all along?” Charles whispered to Elsa and she nodded with a smile.

His brows gathered and he shot Dotun an angry look immediately.

“I’m really happy it yielded results, '' Selina continued. “Hey, won’t you congratulate your brother?” She said to them and a forceful smile appeared on their faces immediately.

“Um..congrat..congratulations..,brother,” Dotun managed to speak as he looked at Daren whose face wore a smirk.

“Yes..um..congratulations,' ' Diana added and Melisa nodded with a mischievous smile on her face.

Her gaze lowered to the floor immediately and she couldn’t believe she had been defeated at her own game.

“And why did it take so long before you revealed it to the family? Were you scared of something?” Elsa asked as she looked at Daren.

“No..no mother. The pregnancy came as a surprise and we just wanted to be sure about it before breaking the news to everyone,” he replied.

“Oh, come on, that doesn’t matter. What matters now is that she is pregnant!” Selina said with excitement and they both laughed.

“I guess the night is getting old, and we would both love to retire to our room,” Daren said as he stood up right.

“Oh, yes. Make sure she sleeps well tonight,” Selina said and he smiled as he helped her up.

*

“Love, we won,” Daren said excitedly as they walked along the passage.

“Yes, did you see the look on their faces?” She asked and they both giggled.

“And right now, I believe they would be thinking of a plan B,” he said.

“Before they hatch that plan of theirs, we would have given them the shock of their lives,” she said with full confidence and he nodded with a smile.