Chapter 121

       Jojo and Jasmine danced with ice cream in their hands as they stepped out of the car, it's a good thing Antonio decided to get them this just to forget their mother, they were genuinely happy for the first time since she left. He smiled, it wasn't easy convincing his sweet wife to leave too, these three cannot separate from each other. They are his all, his everything.

         "We're back." Their screams were heard by Edmund and he quickly stepped out of the mansion to welcome them in. These girls were his master's children, so friendly like their stepmom, and cultured like her too he loved every minute he's spent with them. "Welcome, sir." Edmund bowed, "Edmund!" Jojo and jasmine ran to hug him. They were quickly distracted by the sudden white car that just got in. A Bella-like figure got out of the car, only that she doesn't have the familiar simple nature in her and she was not pregnant.

        Her green sad eyes met Antonio's black ones, eyes that held more than a thousand sorrows and didn't know how to deal with it. Lilo felt lost, she could feel her heart beating so fast as she stared at him. The man she loves, she's given up everything for the sake of this man and is ready to give up more. She was at home and didn't know how she got there, but she knew she had to see him. Maybe he doesn't know who Bella is...

        "Mummy." Jojo ran to hug her so did jasmine, confusing her for someone else. "That's not your mummy, Edmund take them back into the mansion, Seeing the person who just stepped in, Edmund took the girls into the mansion. Both girls were quite sad and confused that they turned their heads back to stare at the woman who looks like their mummy

       "What are you doing here Lilo?" "I'm so sorry Antonio." "You have no place here, leave." He said quietly heading for the mansion.

        "We are married Antonio, you can't push me away I'm sorry for leaving without a word. I'm ready to make amends now please" She tried to control her emotions, never in her life had she felt this way towards anyone before, she's never been this desperate for a man's love before. "We're not married Lilo, I'm married to Bella, not you. Leave you don't belong here." He stepped back into the mansion.

         "She's not up to your standard Antonio, she's a paid whore that's meant to replace me, how could you choose her over me!!!" Lilo screamed hitting her car with her hands. This was the only way she knew to express her anger and frustration, she fell to her knees as her fingers passed through her hair.

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       "Bella, is that you?" Bertha called staring at her girl in awe, they all thought she was dead and even conducted a burial for her. "Mother." Bella rushed in to hug her, it's been so long since she saw them, her family, and she missed them all so much. "It's so unlike you to miss work." "I'm a bit sick that's all." She said placing her hands on Bella's cheek ignoring the baby bump.

       Bertha was sure there was an explanation for the baby bump and was ready to listen to her daughter even if she had no idea what her husband's reaction would be. She raised her head to look at the girl who escorted her daughter, "Ah mama, this is Tina, Tina meet my mother." She introduced them with a smile.

        "Hello, ma." Tina bowed slightly out of respect, "Welcome to our home my dear, I should get you something to drink or eat from your trip." "No mother, we'd do that ourselves, you said you weren't sound, you should rest." Bertha smiled.

       "What happened to you, we all just woke up that day and found out you were missing. We've done your funeral cause we thought you were dead." Bertha said cupping her daughter's face in her hands.

           "I'm so sorry mother, I should have told you about my whereabouts but it was urgent at the time." "Was it urgent cause you wanted to get pregnant for a rich man?" Paul interrupted from behind, stepping in from the front door. "Father." "Don't father me, Bella, you've brought nothing but shame upon us all. You've broken our customs and families code, you're a disgrace to us." "Paul, she's our daughter."

        "No, your daughter, you found her by the roadside not me." He said furiously. "What are you saying? Don't say things out of anger." Bertha cautioned. "Do you know how many sleepless nights we've spent cause of her, we became a laughing stock to everyone in the community cause of her. What for? We've don't so much for a girl who's not our blood."

        They were too engrossed in their arguments that they didn't see the girls' reaction to their words. She took two steps backward trying to process what she just heard. This is impossible, how can they not be her parents??

       "Does it matter, it doesn't change that fact that she's our daughter, and we mustn't treat her differently from the rest?"

       "What are you two talking about? What do you mean I'm not your daughter's father? How was I found by the roadside?" She raised her voice a bit in disbelief staring at both people. Bertha let out a heavy sigh as she stared at her daughter. They've kept this to themselves for years now, waiting for the right moment to tell her. She could understand Paul was angry and frustrated that's why he let everything out. 

         "Bella is not..." "I need you to answer me, I'm I your child or not?" "Why? So you can walk out on it cause you're now rich, what an ungrateful child." Paul said beneath his voice. "Please sit child I'll tell you everything, please," Bertha said tenderly like she always does and Bella couldn't hold her tears back anymore.

         "Listen to her Bella, please." Tina patted her back, she had no words for this. This was the most shocking news she's ever heard, she never even dreamt of hearing something like this. She could only imagine how Bella feels about this shocking revelation.