Chapter Ten

As soon as Melody got home ,she took off her heels and threw them under her bed lazily .

"Argh!"She said holding her waist in pain .

"My waist really hurts !"She said in agony .

"How did the day go ?"Rowan asked , walking up to her with a bowl of popcorns .

"Really ? Is that all you care about ,huh?!

My waist is hurting badly right now because I can't even afford a common pencil heel !

Just take a look at what I wore to work today ; it's old and tight !

My legs and my waist are hurting and I can't even afford a dollar to visit a massage spa !

I have to work tirelessly just so we could have something to eat and also cater for the expenses of our children while you sit here lazing around and chewing these fuckin' popcorns !

If you were working , then all these troubles wouldn't have befallen us!

You're so useless !"Melody lashed out furiously at Rowan who was dumbfounded at once .

"Calm down Melody ;just calm down ! I knew you'd come home and complain so I got this for you !"Rowan handed over a new pair of shoes to Melody which changed her mood completely.

"This fits better !"She said , throwing her old shoes in the dustbin .

"So how did your day go ?"Rowan asked again .

"It went well !

I was thinking of resigning from the firm but there is no need since I have a chance with Clinton now!

Liza and Clinton broke up and i don't know what transpired the separation but I don't care about that either !

All I care about now is focusing on how to trap Clinton and how you are focusing to trap Liza !

This is our chance and even if it takes me to marry Clinton and you to marry Liza then we will have to because we will gain a high profit !"Melody said .

"Big plan but Melody ,do you think this will work ?"Rowan asked with a questionable look .

"Wow !"Melody said curtly rising up to her feet in disdain .

"What sort of a stupid question is that ,Rowan ?!

Of course it'd work ! We started to blackmail people when we were fifteen so don't tell me that you have lost hope in me now !

Our baby is only fourteen weeks old and in a few days from now ,Clinton will take responsibility for this cute baby in my womb!

I know he wouldn't deny this pregnancy because he thinks he is the first man in my life !

He is from a reputable family and he will not do anything to ruin in that reputation !

And if my plan doesn't work ,it means you've ruined everything!

And ruining everything means you'd have to take full responsibility of our child which I know you can't!

The little money I received from Clinton the last time took care of the fees of our other two kids ,remember ?!

We're running out of cash !

If this plan fails ; we'd starve to death ! I swear it !"Melody angrily banged the bed .

"You're amazing Melody ! You're so amazing ..argh !

Stop behaving like you're the only one who does everything around here okay ?!

Yes ! If not for you then we'd have been dead ;I accept that !

But don't lash out on me every time that you're doing everything and I'm just lazing around because you and I know why I'm in this situation now !"Rowan angrily gave a comeback .

"Well ,sorry !

I didn't mean to lash out at you that way !

I owe you a lot; you saved my life and I'd never forget that !

But try to understand Rowan ,we need to secure a better future for our kids !

Everything is for them only ..!"Melody rubbed her hands around his waist and persuasively tried to convince him .

"Alright fine ! What's the next plan then ?"Rowan asked ,taking a seat .

"Right now poor Clinton doesn't know I have two children and the one in my womb which he's about to father is the third !

We need to make him believe that this child I'm carrying is his at all cost !

He should agree to father our baby !

That's the next plan !"Melody said ,taking a seat by his side .

"Okay ! I'd call a few people I still have good contact with and secure our plan !"Rowan affirmed with a smile .

"Thanks a lot ! This means the world to me !

You know ? We wouldn't have reached this far if we could afford a good life back then !

If we had a family to love and care for us then we wouldn't have become who we are today ; absolute criminals!

Back then Rowan ,we had nothing except our beauty so we had to use it to trap people in order to earn a living ! Blackmail was the only means by which we could survive !

I never wanted to be this bad but my fate was so cruel that I had no choice !"Melody recalled her past and broke into deep tears .

"Right now , after we trap Liza and Clinton ,I think we should quit this job and move far away from here !

The money we will get is enough to secure the future of our children !

Melody ,forgive me for what you are now!

If I had not impregnated you when you were fifteen ,I guess your parents wouldn't have disowned you and you wouldn't have had to live on the streets ! I got you involved in all this blackmail business !

I'm sorry Melody ! So sorry !"Rowan broke into tears too .

"Ha ! You seem to always forget that I ran away from home to earn money !Rowan ,I wanted to live a luxurious life and that's why I left home !

It's been ten years since I left home and I don't even know how my parents are doing !

When I chose to leave home ,they disowned me ! That was my fault not yours !

I now regret my actions but I can't go back now because I want to move on in life !

Ten years ago ,I went home when I got to know about my pregnancy but my father shut the door at me !

He didn't want me or my child and I had no choice but to suffer for my mistakes !

He was right when he said that "The one who plays the piper dances to its tunes!" He was so right !

Rowan ,you have taken care of me all these years ! You've been my guardian angel through thick and thin !

When I gave birth to Jessie and Ellie ,you were there to assume your responsibilities as a father !

We took care of our twins together with so much love !

You didn't abandon me !

I know we have blackmailed so many people and taken away their fortunes which is not a good thing but we had no choice then !

Today ,that little group we formed has become a bigger one !

We have people all over who are involved in our business and that's why after we deal with Clinton and Liza ,we back off for the young ones to continue !They bring us fifty percent of the share and they take fifty even after we leave !"Melody said ,wiping off her tears .

"You know ? I studied law not because I wanted to become an attorney but because I wanted to be the eye of our business !

That sacrifice of mine has come to use now !

A lady ran into Liza earlier at the office and she was dramatized because someone had blackmailed her husband and had robbed them of their entire fortune ! I asked our people and i was told Gee was involved in that act ! In the law , to use a person's sexual images against him is an abuse of right and also a criminal act !

The case has been referred to Liza and Clinton and they will do anything to get to the roots of the issue !

But I have the case handled already because no matter how deep they dig into the issue , they'd find nothing !

No one suspects me ,not even Clinton because they are looking for the whole criminal association !

They will really find it difficult tracing us and that's why after we deal with Clinton and Liza ,we will flee from this state ! If they find us out ,we will rot in jail !"Melody said .

"Melody ,if that 's the case ,I think we should quit this ideology about Clinton and Liza !

For ours and our children's sake ,we must go away now !"Rowan suggested .

"No Rowan ! I know Clinton will not marry me but he will offer me such an amount of money that will keep my mouth shut because he stills wants to fix things with Liza !

Initially ,I thought about marrying him but I won't !

It will be easy dealing with Clinton so just trust me Rowan !

You can back off with Liza but I got Clinton in my hands and I will deal with him !"Melody assured him .

.. ..

Later that night ,Hazel invited over the Carson's to have dinner at their home .

Once they got there ,Liza was surprised to see Clinton looking at her with a broad smile on her face like nothing had really occurred between them the night earlier .

He approached her quickly and sent her aside to talk things over with her but Liza walked out on him and moved straight to exchange pleasantries with his parents and Klara .

After the dinner ,Hazel asked her son to drop off Liza to her house so Liza didn't have any other choice but go with him .

Once they reached her house ,Clinton held her hand before she could get off the car .

"Liza ! I want to say that I'm sorry for what transpired between us yesterday .

I was not in my right senses and I didn't mean whatever I said !

Please forgive me Liza !

I love you and I don't want to lose you ! I will wait for you till you are ready !"Clinton said ,looking into her gaze with so much emotions .

"Thank you for dropping me home ! I will give you all that I have gathered about the case tomorrow!

Good night !"Liza stepped off the car curtly without giving an ear to Clinton's words .

Looking at this ,Clinton also stepped out of his car and decided to chase her but ran into Marcial instead .

"Son !"Marcial called out happily .

"Uncle !"Clinton also voiced out happily and they both began to exchange pleasantries !

"Oh mine ! It's sad we had to leave the dinner invitation earlier because of an urgent business call but thanks for bringing my baby home !"Corazon said ,hugging Clinton tightly .

"Anyways ,come in and taste the dessert I just prepared ; trust you'd love it !"Corazon said happily .

"Sure ! It'd be such a loss on me to miss out on your delicious cooking !"Clinton said agreeably .

"It's great that you decided to have this dessert dinner with us . Try to come often since you and Liza are now together !"Corazon said bluntly .

"Mummy ,actually ..!"

And just before Liza could speak ,Clinton interrupted .

"Actually ,I have been busy with work lately but I promise you that ,I will try and come often to have all your delicious meals !

Oh my God ! My mouth feels watery right now !

They're dying to taste your delicious and tantalizing dessert !"Clinton said giggling and Liza was just at her peak of blasting with anger .

"Awnn! That's so nice of you dear ! I feel flattered !

Let's go inside!"Corazon said and they both followed inside swiftly .

At the table ,Jean passed off a funny comment about both Liza and Clinton teasingly and before Clinton could speak ,he got choked by the food .

It was steak au poivre. It was a steak coated with crushed peppercorns ,fried and finished with a cream and brandy sauce .

Corazon suggested he tasted that meal before having a dessert .

"Careful!"Liza quickly handed him a glass of water.