BLURB

Chapter1: Driven Out Of The Mansion

"Scars (wounds, delays, scandals, false accusations, adversities, past failures) etc. are the price one must pay for undiluted victory."

"Suffering is the door to triumph. It is the valley that leads to the open highway of celebration and nothing worthy of mention has ever been accomplished on planet Earth without the unsavory aroma of suffering."

Quotes by Dr. Chris Kwakpovwe.

There was a slight rainfall just before sunset. As darkness swallowed up the sky above the city of Oaks in the country of Brakada, the storm gradually grew violently causing winds rattling on long windows of the Ayundi mansion with powerful lightning splitting the sky like missiles from an enemy's camp.

The atmospheric situation inside the mansion was as if it was more severe than the winds outside.

Standing in the middle of the luxurious living room in the mansion was Benice Ayundi, a seventeen-year-old trembling with fright.

Pacing up and down the marble floor like a trained assassin dog ready to pounce on a stranger was Benices mother.

Standing near the fireplace with high and noisy breathing was the father. His eyes red in anger and squeezed face.

At the center of the living room was an expensive table made of glass. A small piece of white paper was laid on it.

That was the pregnancy test written — POSITIVE—and it was an eight-month-old fetus.

Clutching the hem of the skirt of her school uniform, with shaking fingers stood Benice without looking straight or standing in front of her parents as she usually did.

Kneeling beside the mother, she whispered, “Mama… please…”

The mother, Mrs. Ayundi, turned around sharply with a thunderous voice screaming

“Do not call me your mother again!”

Her voice echoed through the large living room.

“How dare you bring this shame into this house?” Mrs. Ayundi interjected.

“Your dad and I have been attending other relatives' and friends'marriage parties of their daughters and sons; only for you to bring disgrace and shame to the family with eight months' pregnancy.”

“Mhhhhh no wonder the hide and seek for some months now,” she continued.

Benice's tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I didn't know how it came about, and I didn't plan it…” she sobbed.

“You didn't plan it?” her father thundered.

Beating up his chest, Mr. Ayundi slammed his bare hand on the table.

“You are seventeen! A child! And you are pregnant.”

“You have to take responsibility for your actions.”

The word seemed to explode in the air.

“Pregnant.” shouted Mr. Ayundi.

A wise man said,

“When anger rises, think of the consequences."

Mark Twain penned, " Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured."

this dark place.The family driver and servants standing quietly at the far end of the veranda peeped through the glass windows.

Benice felt as though the entire world had turned against her.

"Who is responsible?” asked Mr. Ayundi.

Sobbing, “It was Victor…” she reported with a weak voice.

Her father's face hardened instantly.

“Victor, your Mathematics Coach?”

“The boy who coached you on mathematics?” asked Mrs. Ayundi.

Shamefully with weak knees, falling on the ground, Benice nodded slowly.

“He said he loved me…”

Her mother let out a cynical but bitter laugh.

“Love indeed!”

“A focused future does not make a wise girl destroy her vision"

“Or love does not make a foolish girl like you become a mother” interrupted Mrs. Ayundi

Benice wiped her tears desperately.

“He promised he would marry me…"

Her father paced around the living room.

“Give me that phone!” commanded Mr. Ayundi.

He grabbed her phone, searched Victor's name and dialed a number immediately.

After a moment, a voice answered.

“Hello, who is on the line?”

“Put Victor on the line!”

There was a short pause.

Then another voice came on.

“Sir…”

“Is my daughter pregnant for you?” Mr. Ayundi asked coldly.

Quietness that caused a pin drop to be heard ensued. Silence for some minutes.

Then Victor spoke nervously.

" Sir… I think there must be some mixed up somewhere.”

Bernice's heart pumped with anxiety and shattered.

" What?” gasping for breath.

Victor continued quickly.

Nervously speaking, “I never touched Benice like that.”

More weakness of the body brought up Benice's knees as they couldn't carry her again and she fell on the ground.

“You're lying.” she cried.

Before she could finish, Victor already hung up.

Slowly lowering the phone, Mr. Ayundi filled with disgust in his eyes looking at his daughter.

“You have brought disgrace and shame to this family.”

Pointing toward the door, her mother commanded

" Out! Pack your things.”

Letting a loud cry, Benice froze.

“Have mercy! Mum… please! …”

“Out! I said pack your things!"

In a space of ten minutes, a school bag with a small travel bag was thrown at her.

Her school bag contained some books and inside the travel bag were a few dresses.

With nothing more to accompany two living beings.

Nothing like money.