HEALING BONDS

THIRTY NINE

Pendo's mind spun with disbelief and shock, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and anger. She struggled to comprehend the gravity of Dr. Femi's words, feeling as though the ground beneath her had crumbled away, leaving her adrift in a sea of uncertainty.

"We need to go back home, Femi," Pendo insisted, her voice trembling with emotion. "I need to wake up Mara and get out of here."

But 6 Femi's response was firm and uncompromising. "We're not going anywhere in this storm, Pendo," he stated, his tone laced with authority. "I won't risk the safety of my family in this dangerous weather."

Pendo's eyes blazed with fury at his words, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Your family?" she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "I'm not your family, Femi. You can't just force me into this situation and expect me to go along with it."

Femi's expression remained impassive, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—a hint of defiance that only fueled Pendo's anger further. "we belong together now, Pendo," he stated, his voice cold and unyielding. "And you will stay here with me, whether you like it or not."

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, suffocating Pendo with a sense of powerlessness and despair. She felt trapped, cornered by circumstances , and the realization filled her with a sense of overwhelming dread.

But even as fear threatened to consume her, a spark of defiance ignited within Pendo's heart. She refused to be a pawn in Femi's twisted game, to be manipulated and controlled against her will. With a steely resolve, she met his gaze head-on, her voice ringing with determination.

"I won't stay here, Femi," she declared, her words a defiant challenge. "I'll find a way out of this, no matter what it takes. You can't force me to be something I'm not." Pendo's hand hovered over the door handle, her resolve unwavering as she prepared to make her escape from Femi's suffocating grasp. But just as her fingers grazed the cool metal, she felt a sudden tug on her arm, halting her in her tracks.

"Femi, let go," she demanded, her voice laced with frustration and defiance.

But instead of releasing her, Femi's grip tightened, his expression a mask of desperation and panic. "Pendo, please, don't go," he pleaded, his voice thick with emotion. "I need to tell you something."

Pendo turned to face him, her eyes flashing with irritation. "What could you possibly have to say that would change anything?" she snapped, her patience wearing thin.

Femi took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly as he struggled to find the right words. "I... I need you to know that... that I care about you, Pendo," he began, his voice raw with emotion. "More than you could ever imagine."

Pendo's brow furrowed in confusion, her anger momentarily forgotten as she tried to make sense of Femi's sudden confession. "What are you talking about, Femi?" she asked, her voice softening slightly despite herself.

Femi took a step closer, his gaze locking with hers in a desperate plea for understanding. "I love you, Pendo," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've loved you for so long, and I couldn't bear to see you with someone else."

Pendo's heart skipped a beat at his words, her mind whirling with a mixture of shock and disbelief. She had never expected Femi to harbor such deep feelings for her, especially not after everything that had transpired between them .

"But... but why did you arrange the traditional wedding without telling me?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion and hurt.

Femi's shoulders slumped, his gaze falling to the floor as he struggled to find the right words. "I thought... I thought you were going back to James," he admitted, his voice barely audible above the din of the storm outside. "I couldn't bear the thought of losing you to him, so I... I did something stupid."

Pendo's heart ached at the raw vulnerability in Femi's confession, her anger giving way to a pang of sympathy for the man standing before her. Despite everything, she couldn't deny the depth of his feelings, nor the sincerity in his voice.

"Femi, I... I don't know what to say," she murmured, her voice wavering with uncertainty.

Femi reached out tentatively, his hand brushing against hers in a silent plea for forgiveness. "Please, Pendo, give me a chance to make things right," he implored, his eyes searching hers for any sign of hope.

As the tension in the room began to dissipate, Femi sensed Pendo's gradually calming demeanor. With a cautious step forward, he closed the distance between them, his eyes pleading silently for understanding.

"Pendo," he murmured softly, his voice laced with a hint of desperation. "I think it's time we both get some rest. It's been a long day, and tomorrow will be here before we know it."

Despite the weight of uncertainty still lingering in the air, Pendo found herself reluctantly nodding in agreement. "You're right," she conceded, her voice tinged with weariness. "I could definitely use some sleep."

Femi's lips curved into a gentle smile, a flicker of relief crossing his features. "Good," he said, his tone lighter than before. "Let me show you to your room."

As they made their way through the quiet corridors of the house, Femi couldn't help but feel a pang of regret at the growing chasm between them. He longed to bridge the divide, to erase the distance that had sprung up between them in the wake of his impulsive actions.

With a self-deprecating chuckle, he attempted to lighten the mood. "Well, here we are," he quipped, gesturing towards the door of Pendo's designated bedroom. "Our first night as newlyweds, and we'll be sleeping in separate rooms. Quite the ironic twist, wouldn't you say?"

Pendo couldn't suppress a small smile at his attempt at humor, though annoyance still simmered beneath the surface. "Yes, quite ironic indeed," she replied dryly, her tone betraying her exasperation.

As Femi bid her goodnight and retreated to his own room, Pendo felt a sense of relief wash over her. Despite the unsettling turn of events, she found solace in the knowledge that she would have her own space to retreat to, free from the weight of Femi's expectations and the suffocating sense of obligation that seemed to hang in the air between them.

Alone in her room, Pendo allowed herself to exhale a sigh of relief, her thoughts swirling with a dizzying mix of emotions. Though the events of the day had left her feeling shaken and uncertain, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope flicker to life within her heart. Perhaps, she thought, there was still a chance to unravel the mysteries surrounding Femi and uncover the truth hidden beneath his carefully constructed facade. But for now, all she could do was close her eyes and surrender to the embrace of sleep, trusting that tomorrow would bring with it the clarity she so desperately sought.