Chapter 9 Rejected

Mrs Sandra, Felix's wife was smiling as they walked in. It has been long since she last saw Valeria but never never paid attention to the Benjamin Moore's family. Not even now or ever. Valeria knew the kind of people the couple were too well.

Mr Felix freeze when his eyes met Valeria's but covered it up with laughter.

"Hello to you all." Doctor Ashley and Valeria greeted.

"Hi!" Mrs Sandra answered with a welcoming smile and offered them chairs to sit.

"It's been a while, Valeriaa. How is studies?" Mrs Sandra asked, in a polite tune.

"Fine ma." She muttered, her eyes staring at the ground.

"What a pleasant visit… For what reason do we owe this special guests?" Felix asked. Pretending to know nothing.

"Well... I came on the behalf of Valeria… She's like a daughter to me. The thing is… She's pregnant for you Mr Felix and despite the fact that you raped her, you're denying to be responsible for it. I Wa_"

"I understand…you don't need to explain." Mrs Sandra tittered. It followed by an awkward laughter that the CEO gave and his daughter joined as well. Valeria and doctor Azeezah only stared confusedly. They couldn't figure out what was making the Wilson family laugh so hard. They suddenly stopped and Mrs Sandra wore a stern look.

"So you couldn't make up a better lie other than this!"

"Hmm… It's not like that ma.." Valeria trued to explain but his wife squished her up.

"Imagine? At your age, you're not even ashamed to come into my house and say this to my face! Do you know what it means to make a family? Do you have idea what it is to own all of this… Let me tell you something. If there's one thing I know for sure, it's going to be that my husband can never cheat on me. I trust him so much and know, that anywhere and anytime that my husband can never do such thin_"

Doctor Ashley wanted to talk but Mrs Sandra stopped her.

"Look here little liar! I've been happily married with my darling husband for more than twenty years now and trust me, I know him better than the marks on my palm.

"What am I even saying? It's a waste of time explaining this to you. You'll definitely not understand, you've not even completed your first year in college!"

"I swear with God Almighty. He drugged me and rap_" Valeria tried to explain but his wife angrily cut into her words.

"Just shut up and let me speak!" She demanded.

It was as if she was answered the way Valeria wanted to explain herself but Felix kept quiet, wearing a surprised face as if he was totally innocent.

"I thought you came here for something better. I let you in today out of pity! Kassali!!"

"Yes ma'am!" The gatekeeper rushed to where they were.

"Take these two out of here and never let them in, ever again!"

"Calm down dearie, you're being _" Felix tried to play responsible.

"Don't worry, I got this husby." She cut in her husband's cover-up speech.

"Now I see… You're just like your mum. There was a time when she wanted to ruin my marriage. If not for God that took her away. Now you as well wants to come into the picture? Let me tell you, you don't fit anywhere, in here! I've worked so hard for years to build a family, this strong. It took a lot of tears and sweat to be here today… Something you never have never will. Valeria or whatever you're called. Go and meet the stupid boyfriend that impregnated you! This isn't an orphanage or where you can just dump your bastard child. Now, leave and never come back!!"

Doctor Ashely felt bittered by her words and wondered what kind of mother she actually was.

"With due respect madam, you're just like your husband and you deserve him.We aren't here to take anything from you, or destroy yiur family or argue with you either.… No! Valeria came here just to get settled. Your husband here has molested her in every way. And I know you have every reason to throw up the sponge but you need t_"

"Don't persuade me Mrs, We don't know each other, do we? Neither are we family! So why do you think we owe this girl in anyway? She's just a prostitute and you're supporting her! Please, just take your leave, we already have enough to worry about in our family… We don't need more!"

Doctor Ashley didn't even think twice before grabbing Valeria's arm.

"Let's go."

Valeria felt like stabbing Mr Felix just that minute. She so much hated the wicked crooked smile he was wearing but she held her anger in with the respect she had for her mother's friend.

Valeria knew one thing for sure… Doctor Ashley would do whatever it takes to get her justice. The doctor as well wanted to inform him about the case but she knew talking to them would be as useless as talking to dead bodies.

Doctor Ashley and Valeria walked out of the compound, each step filling Valeria's eyes with passion of hate and revenge.

Kassali, the gatekeeper waved them goodbye with his sympathetic look and locked the gate beside him, going back into his room.

Mrs Sandra felt angered by what just happened but her husband held her hands together into his.

"I'm so sorry dear, it's all my fault. I caused this long ago by helping Benjamin Moore into my business. Now, I have to suffer by carrying his responsibilities on my head, for the rest of my life." He faked an act by sniffling his dry nose.

"Awwwwn... My husband. Let's just forget about those ingrates. I told you not to get involved with their family but you see the results? I hope you learn, dearie." His wife stopped him not to blame himself unnecessarily.

"How stupid can Valeria be? I'm sure she's like that because she lacks good parenthood and proper home training. She's just a chip off the old block that finds way to repeat the past. Now, I've listened appitite in this…" Sandra throw her apple on the plate out of frustration.

"Take me inside." She told her husband as he held her hand and helped her into the house in a very romantic way. Freda, their daughter who has been watching all the drama picked the plate of leftovers and entered as well.

Meanwhile, doctor Ashley and Valeria drove away. Valeria was already in tears. Her heart was burning so was her hopes of everything getting back on him. She wasn't interested in becoming in second wife, what she wanted a better life.

'If only he could accept the baby, then she might not be bothered by baring a bastard child. As it is... Baring a child out of wedlock feel like a curse.' She thought.

"Don't worry Valeria, wipe away your tears. I'm here with you, I'll never leave you no matter what." The doctor promised as she drive behind wheels.

"But what about the case? Isn't there any hope of winning in court? Are we still going to fight against him?" Valeria brought up.

"Mr. August said there's no evidence left." Doctor Ashley muttered and left out a deep sigh.

"In cases like this, we leave it to God to take charge. I would take care if your baby, Valeria. And sponsor your education. I'm sure the 'Judge of All' would do justice. You must not relent, Valeria. You must be strong through it all." Ashley muttered with encouragement laced in her voice.

Then she paused a bit as she drove though the empty road.

"I remember… That man did horrible things to your mother. She didn't heed my advice and had to dance to his tune only because she wanted to protect her family. It was just like today when I adviced your mum then to stay away from that evil man but she said he was a good person. I told her then, that Felix is just a leopard. No matter what happens, his character would never change. Now, you fell into that same hole because you were too scared to confide in me. Well, what would I say? What happened has happened, it's all past. I want you to start a new beginning. I know there's a reason for everything and there's also a reason for this as well. I can't say if it would be good or bad but it'll depends on you, Valeria. You need to be strong for your sister. I know things are happening so fast but don't worry. I believe God is in control." Doctor Ashley took a sharp swerve to another street. And then continued her conversation with Valeria who was assimilating her talk. Word for word.

" You really need to go back to school and face your studies. Don't let anything or anyone pull you down. It's gonna be tougher from now on, Valeria. I'll send you stuff as much as possible and visit you from time to time if possible." She said as her grey eyes focused on the road. She took a final turn into her compound and they got back home.

"Okay ma. Thanks a lot for everything." Valeria muttered as she came down from the car.

Scar welcomed them back home and Valeria went to lock herself in the room. She couldn't sleep throughout that night… She thought about forgetting everything. What she wants now is to live a new life, nothing would hold her down. Not even this pregnancy. All she wanted was to live a simple life just like every girl her age but now, reverse is the case. Everything looks complicated.

'I would care for my baby to be a better person than both of his parents...' She promised herself.

The next morning, Humaira went back to school with another twenty thousand dollars as pocket money. Her aim was to become successful by whatever means possible.

***

Eventually, like always, numbness came. It worked its way up through her limbs, a sweet coolness working its way through her burning body. It started in her toes and feet, the furthest and therefore already dullest part of her. Its icy fingers began to massage their way up her ankles and calves next, pausing at her knees to work through the weakness there.

Valeria poured an amount of lukewarm water from the old, rusty bucket in front of her. Shivering a bit, due to the early morning harmattan that took over the place like a dangerous king. She rubbed her traditionally made soap and sponge on her naked body.

It was just 7:00 a.m, another day for the usual morning lecture. It's just the second week since she came back from Biloxi. Valeria had already accepted her fate and move on with what destiny left her with. Luckily, Doctor Murphy promised to give her free treatment (Antenatal care).

Like the icy harmattan, the rumor about Valeria being pregnant had faded. It's wasn't news anymore, everyone already knew and perhaps, Forgotten.

Valeria wasn't concerned about the chilly feeling the weather sent to her body that morning. All in her mind was, getting into the lecture room before the clock struck eight. She had studied all night for it. Valeria rushed out of the bathroom while others were still asleep. She put on a simple black, fitted dress and wrapped her head with a white veil... One of which Doctor Ashley gifted her.

She wasn't like other girls that would spend hours on makeup and dressing. Valeria wished to live a luxurious life before, but the pregnancy turned her life into a new dimension.

An eighteen year old girl with a perfectly matured body, glowing with womanhood, beauty and intelligence. Valeria got to class just in time. Kora was already seated while the lecturer was about to enter when Valeria got in.

It was Professor Braxton Tyler, a.k.a Professor Abracadabra. Another lecturer that takes no shit. Only hardworking student fears him while the lazy ones sees him as no big deal. They prefer failing his course than going through hell and still get an 'F' at the end of the day.

One thing is that Professor Tyler is actually very brilliant and well experienced. In fact, He's one of the few lecturers in Mississippi University said that he graduated with a first-class and was employed based on his excellent results. But, he finds it so hard to transmit that knowledge into his students. Maybe he wasn't born to be an educationalist in the first place.

He's highly paid always looking well dressed in his black suit. Most student complaints about him because he doesn't goes straight to the point. I mean… He's a no syllabus lecturer. He just says whatever is at mind even if it's no relevant to their line of study or concentration. That is why students call him 'THE ABRACADABRA'. Thus is because he will just came in and do the abracadabra and in the end, he would leave you more confused than you ever was.

He locked the door himself and walked to the front of the class.

"Tear a sheet of paper!" He started with both hands crossed at his back.

"Write your name and matriculation number, your date of birth. And.… The last but not the least, the reason you came to A.B.U to study law.

Yes! You all submit in 30 seconds…. 29, 28, 27, 26…"

It was a class of about 700 students. Most students seated at the back couldn't even get the question. Some where confused while others were still whispering… 'What is question number 1?'

One thing was sure, he would never repeat the questions even if Jesus comes back from heaven.

Luckily for Valeria and Kora, our usual front seaters, they submitted there sheets in front of him while others at the back were still struggling to get to the front. It caused a lot of silent commotion, fat students running like elementary school kids. Well, that is what it looks like to be in A.B.U.

"3…2…1…Over!" He sent the other students away. And If not seated immediately, he'll subtract 10 marks each from their upcoming exams. They quickly rushed to their seats at once.

Well, all his students knows 'The Abracadabra's Rule' so abide or not bothering attending his class at all.

"Silence!" He ordered and the class was as silent as graveyard.

"Most of you don't know why you came to school. Your parents sent you away, far away from home just to ease themselves from having hypertension and so you should learn to one day become an advocate or a bartender, but no! You either end up getting pregnant or getting wasted! Spending your school fees on drugs and weed! I just pity you… Especially those monkeys hanging outside!"

The whole class turned to glace at the windows and doors, to see the latest comers.

Of course, its a minus for them. Minus 10! Well, I'm not here to waste my time on those vagabonds.

"In our next class, we shall be looking into INHERITANCE. You guys should research and study the topic, inheritance." Then he looked at Fred, a skinny looking guy from Alabama.

"Fredrick Daniel!" He called the course rep representative, who rushed towards him like someone from the army.

"Take this after me." He ordered and walked out of the class.

Meanwhile, Doctor Ashley was preparing to leave for Paris with Scar the next day. She had already parked all their baggage and were taking dinner when something unexpected happened.

Paaaw!

It was a gunshot from outside...