CHAPTER 72

Ruth felt so bitter. 

Maybe if she found the real murderer, then she would definetly kill him or her by herself. 

Martin could feel the bitterness in Ruth's heart for he had known Ruth for sometime. He could not dare do anything to change her mind for he could have lost her forever.

" I almost forgot that I have to spend the night with Faith. Let me go and check on my one and only beautiful sister" said Martin but before Martin could leave, Ruth held his arm. 

" Where is Akeshia? I didn't see her at the hospital. I didn't see her at the closer gates too.  Could it be.....?" Said Ruth but Martin interrupted. 

" What Ruth? Do you mean to say that my mother Akeshia might have been the one who shot your mother? You are truly unbelievable to have such kind of thought in you" said Martin as he left. 

Ruth did not feel anything wrong with what she had said. 

According to her, she was right to have such thoughts in mind. She was right to think the fact that Akeshia might have tried to kill her mother. 

Akeshia had a reason to. Ruth was going to take Faith to jail and it was a hundred percent that the verdict would have appeared as guilty as charged. It was possible that Akeshia could jit have wanted it to happen that's why she shot Naomi to divert all attention towards her. 

Ruth went close to her mother and slept beside her. That's how she spent her all night. 

The next morning, Naomi woke up before Ruth. She felt as if Ruth had not slept the whole night since she just wanted to look after her. She squeezed towards the wall even though it hurt and tried to move Ruth towards her but she was unsuccessful. Ruth suddenly woke up. 

" What are you doing mother? You really need to rest. Should I inform Papa about this?" Asked Ruth. 

" No! I do not want your Papa to worry about us. The news about your accident almost made him to collapse. I do not want that. I think it's time to tell you the truth. I never wanted you to marry Martin. Martin offered a good amount of money to your father in order to marry you as his pet. Your greedy father agreed to everything. I am sorry I couldn't do anything then" said Naomi crying. 

" No mama. You shouldn't blame yourself on anything. I know Papa is gre....." Said Ruth but Naomi suddenly interrupted. 

" That's why you should not tell him about this. He would use my sickness to gain more wealth from Martin. Your father is now the wealthiest man in our hometown. Just because of you" said Naomi. 

Ruth widened her eyes in disbelief. 

How could this be? 

How could her father be so wealthy?

Did he trade her for wealth?

Ruth felt a sudden pain in her heart. 

How could she be married at sixteen?

She felt betrayed by her own blood. They said blood was thicker than water but according to her in this matter, water was thicker than blood. 

No kind of father would do such kind of father to his own child unless, the child was not his. 

" Is George Bora my Dad?" Ruth found herself asking this question after long hours if thinking. 

" Why? Of course George Bora is your biological Dad. He is the one that brought you into this world. George Bora is your blood" said Naomi with lots if emphasis. 

" Please forgive me mother for having this kind of thought. I am just confused. I wonder why I feel like I hate him with all my heart"

" That's how I felt it the first time but no matter what I could do he was still my husband. I just don't like using his money . That's why I looked scholarships to educate my children include you" said Naomi smiling. 

Ruth smiled too. She did not want to make Naomi worry more. 

Naomi's medicines and breakfast was bought. They were glad that breakfast was brought for two. 

" Thank you Nurse" said Ruth as the woman nodded her head in a weird manner and left .

Before they could take their breakfast, Magdalene suddenly entered but this time she was accompanied by Akeshia. Akeshia went straight towards Naomi and held her arm who resisted. 

" Am good Naomi. I will be back home soon" those were the only words that Naomi uttered.

Magdalene went and tried to hold her arm but Naomi resisted too. 

" Mama!  I don't want you to sympathize with me. I want you to promise me that you will make who ever did this to me pay. They must pay for this. We shall not allow them to rest after what they have done to us" said Naomi . 

Magdalene looked at Naomi and nodded her head in agreement. Naomi tried to wake up in order to hug Magdalene but Magdalene insisted she should continue resting and not strain on anything. 

" I will find whoever did this and make them pay" said Magdalene. 

Those words uttered from her mouth made Naomi to smile. She was glad that Magdalene would do that for her. 

Ruth still had those unanswered questions in her mind. She kept wondering where Naomi was when the incident had happened. She was right since she did not see Naomi anywhere near them in the incident. 

" Where were you when all of this incident happened Akeshia? Tell me where you were. Were you at the mansion or were you the one who shot my mother?" Said Ruth angrily. 

" Shot your mother? Do you think I am that cruel?" Asked Akeshia. 

" Yes! Because you love your family and now that you are back you want your family still to be complete. You could habe done this in order to divert all the attention from Faith into my mother. Is that right Lady Akeshia?" Asked Ruth makmtaining eye contact with Lady Akeshia. 

" I will not tolerate this. I will not tolerate the fact that I am being accused if thigs which I have not done. I am leaving" said Akeshia who left. 

Ruth still had her doubts on Akeshia. Despite everything, Akeshia was still tensed when she heard uttered her words. This made Ruth to suspect her even more but the matter seemed to anger Magdalene. 

" You don't just point out all your blame on people Ruth. A lot of people had a motive to do this. Even Tere still had a motive to do this. Do you remember that you took over her position in her own matrimonial room? She was sent to the beggars corner because of you. She had a motive too" said Magdalene who seemed certain and clear by her statement. 

" You are right right grandma. Everybody had a motive and even you had a motive. Is Akeshia your biological daughter? " Said Ruth as Magdalene widened her eyes in disbelief. " I think she is because back at mansion I overheard your conversation sometime back. I think you and Akeshia have hidden agenda too. Even you had a motive to shoot my mom" Ruth emhasized on it more than before. 

Magdalene and Naomi widened their eyes in disbelief. 

How could Ruth say something like that?

Was she going crazy or what? 

Maybe she had no idea of the person who had done this to Naomi and was left with no choice than to point out fingers at people , even those that she had no idea about. 

" I need to go and rest in the waiting room. Call me once something new comes out . I can't believe that you are capable of doubting your own grandma" Said Magdalene who let the room. 

From the look on her face, Magdalene seemed dissapointed. She would never do such a thing to her own biological daughter. She could not really blame Ruth since Ruth was right. She had known Lady Akeshia first as a maiden then it seconded that Lady Akeshia became her mother-in-law.  

" You need to apologize to mama. I know you are at a confused state now, but you shouldn't have said such horrid things to her. You should have hurt her feelings. I know my mother and I do not think that she is capable of hurting me" said Naomi who seemed dissapointed by the issue too. 

Ruth was silent. It was as if she was meditating on everything she had just said and everything that had just happened to her. She sat beside her mother and started checking through her wounds ensuring they were healing. 

She still did not have the guts to go ahead and apologize to Magdalene. This was the boring thing that she had thought of. 

" Get well soon mother, we have a lot of dreams to fulfill. You have to watch me go back to school and study. You have to watch me become a teacher. I don't want to feel like I am loosing you again" said Ruth in a pellucid voice.

Ruth did this in order to divert the subject matter. She did not really want to apologize to Magdalene since according to her  Magdalene might had done it. 

MARRIAGE AT SIXTEEN.