Behind the Mask✔

Chapter 31

I was sure my gaze was intense and I gave Joseph what I hoped was the nastiest of glares

"Jasmine?" Joseph called out my name and I wanted to scream at him and ask him never to call my name again. The anger I felt towards dad was very intense. How could he do this? Send me to the same school as his prodigal son. No matter how much he wanted to punish me, who does that?  Didn't he think it would be easier for us to find out?

"You know him?" Mum asked me and Miss Michelle smiled flipping her expensive wig

"Yes she does. They go to the same school. It's nice seeing you again Mabel. "

I already hated this woman, it was obvious that her plan was to hurt mum thoroughly.  I gave dad a look of disappointment and anger and he seemed shocked at first then he softened but honestly, I was fuming.

So Joseph was dad's son? So my dad and Joseph's dad was actually one man. The same man who lectured me about the importance of perfection each time I missed a mark, the same man  who threatened to disown me, the same man who never saw any good in what I did was the same man
that Joseph always bragged about.  He was the same man that bought expensive gifts for Joseph.

I could hardly believe this. It was just too much to take in.

"How smart of you Michael, to send your children from different women to the same school " mum said sarcastically and Miss Michelle laughed taking a seat beside dad and her children following her steps

"It was my idea Mabel. Pardon my manners. Good morning everyone, Mummy, Daddy J, my sisters " She cast a look at mum before continuing "and my co wife and step-daughter "

Grandma and my aunties waved at her, unable to say anything and Daddy J simply nodded but mum flared up

"I am not your co wife and my daughter is in no way related to you so watch it"

The entire purpose of this gathering seemed to have been forgotten because all anyone could do was watch the argument between mum and Miss Michelle

"Calm down Mabel, I'm only being polite to my family. I see pregnancy has done a number on you "

"Now look here " mum spat "I'm not here to listen to your insults. Don't cross your boundary or else.."

"Oh please Mabel, you and I know you can do nothing. Do you know who my father is? "

We all were slightly amused by mum's small laugh and reply
"I know who your father is. Chief Chijioke Peters, one of Nigeria's biggest business moguls. But then, the question is who are you? "

That seemed to hit Miss Michelle hard as she narrowed her eyes but said nothing. Even Joseph  and his brothers  shifted uncomfortably in their seats

"Please, let's not do this " Daddy J pleaded "we're here for peace "

"I understand that Daddy J, but you have to tell that to Mabel who's being  so dramatic " Miss Michelle said and mum frowned deeply

"You're quite confident for a baby mama who's meeting the family of her baby daddy.  That means you're still as shameless as ever "

Miss Michelle was silent for some time and just as she was about to speak,  grandma spoke

"Biko, it's okay. We're not here to start quarrels but to solve them" she turned to mum "Mabel, we found out about Micheal's  second wife and children and of course we were shocked but you see, she has done this family proud and we have accepted Michelle as one of us.  My son's actions towards you and Jasmine are indeed justifiable because he didn't know Jasmine was his daughter but instead of you to forgive your husband, you left him. You have a chance to come back now because we have accepted Michelle and there's nothing that can be done about it. She has three boys in just how many years that she knew my son but you stayed for seven years before this pregnancy. That only shows she is more fertile than you are . So you either accept her as your co wife or leave our family.  "

She didn't just say all that, right?

"Mama, when did we reach this agreement?" Daddy J asked, a bewildered expression on his face

"Brother, that's an agreement we reached long time ago" Aunty Ebere said and Aunty Chika added
"Exactly!  She was never a good wife to Michael, always complaining and shouting. How can I be afraid to move freely in my brother's house simply because he has a wife named Mabel?"

Mum didn't cry or shout rather she smiled shocking me.

"Look, Michael this is your household. What do you have to say?" Daddy J asked dad whose head was bent low, his eyes unable to make contact with anyone else's

"He doesn't need to say anything " mum said and opened her bag, then she threw a brown envelope in dad's direction

"I'm sure you know the content of the envelope"

Miss Michelle smiled "I'm sure he does "

"Thank God " Aunty Chika said

"Good riddance "Aunty Ebere replied and mum shook her head before replying

"To bad rubbish, which is you all " Mum said and stood to leave and I went behind her. As soon as we got into the car, she exhaled and I looked out the car window as we drove out.

I looked at Daddy J's house until it was out of sight and I couldn't stop the tears from streaming down my cheeks.

That chapter of my life seemed closed. Dad didn't defend us in there, he didn't apologise, he didn't come after us. It was obvious he didn't want us and he didn't care.

***
I was chatting with with Bimpe who was busy disturbing me about my birthday the next day and how she was going to come over to my new place and we could paint Lagos red when grandma rushed into my room

"Your mum is in labour "

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Hmm,  Mabel and Michelle

Our babies are coming, who's excited? 💃💃😊🎊🎊

Don't forget to vote ,comment and share 😉