Chapter 28–Inevitable
Mary's (Ella) POV:
It has been three weeks since I fainted. Things have been going smoothly and hopefully, I might be going home soon. Through these weeks, Jade has been monitoring my health like a mother hen watching her chicks. He calls every time I am supposed to take my medications. Recently, I see flashes of what I think to be my past and I haven't really seen any clear image. In my dreams, I constantly hear the name "Ella". I was on my way downstairs when I saw an opened door to a room I have never stepped my leg into since I came into this house. One which I noticed is always locked. Curiosity they say kills the cat but that didn't stop me from walking towards the room. Honestly, I was starting to think it was a bad idea all along but then I just wanted to see what was in the room.
I stroll into the room quietly and shut the door. There are so many pictures dangling from a rope. Jade never said anything about being into photography or art. I move closer to have a better view of the content of the pictures and on getting there, I see so many pictures of Jade and I. At first I am confused then I noticed that none of those pictures seems to be recent. My heart starts palpitating fasters than normal and the more I stare at other pictures of us the more I feel like my head has become too heavy for my neck. I see another picture of us holding Kendrick in our arms with so much joy written all over our faces. In another picture is me with my hands over my baby bump. The picture has a small print under so I look closely and see the Maldives. Memories of Jade and I start to flash through my head. Little by little, pieces of my past start to surface. The more I look at another picture, the more flashbacks I get. I was married to Jade.
Flashbacks from our wedding day confirmed it. He lied to me all along. Could it be that he wanted me gone?
What could I have done so bad that he wanted me to go without our child? I try my best to go down memory lane to recap what caused my accident. Tears continuously run down my cheeks with no hopes of it stopping anytime soon. Everything came back this time around. It was so clear. I was so desperate for a new lifestyle, a change of environment at the cost of Jade's happiness. But trust karma to come back and slap you right on the cheek. These feelings I had for him all these times I thought I was Mary was as a result of the love I had for him before I lost my memory. I can't believe I had to go this far just to live a better life. Even though feeding from scraps wasn't a thing of joy, there would have been better ways to put food on the table without causing pain to another person. I see why he threw me out. To think that someone he loved, had hurt him once. It is so obvious why he took our son from me. I signed a contract with his mother to produce an heir. This was all my doing.
Everything that happened to me was as a result of my greed. My desperate quest for a better life. It must have been a miracle that I didn't die due to the impact of the hit. God wanted to give me a chance to right my wrongs. I stroll out of the room with so much shame escorting me out. I spend the rest of the day with my baby waiting for Jade to get back. Iya Risi will be so disappointed at my desperation for money. I had to make my own money the right way. It will be so heartbreaking to leave my baby if he decides that he was going to follow through with the contract.
A soft knock on the door brings me to the conclusion that this is the time to face whatever comes at me. I slowly put Kendrick down on the bed and go to check who was at the door. I open the door to see the love of my life Jade and my heart starts to beat so far at the fear of what was to come after the revelation.
"Hi, sorry to disturb you. I tried to get home as early as possible but there was too much work that needed to be sorted out urgently. I hope I didn't wake you up. Your eyes are all puffy and you look exhausted. Would you like me to prepare a bath for you?" He said.
"Why in the world would you want to prepare a bath for me? You could just ring any of the staffs and I can prepare a bath for myself. I didn't fall off the roof you know. I just want you to know how much I love you. I see how you go to the extreme for me and how you are willing to do more. I can't believe I did this to myself."
"You love me as a friend or what? Any news about your family? Why are you saying all these Mary? Did you fall? Wait, what is going on?"
"Oh please call me Ella. I miss being called that. I miss what we had. We were inseparable. It saddens me to live with the constant regrets that I destroyed what we could have had going for a long time due to greed. I miss us. I miss the lovely time we had together. I miss your lovemaking. How you show me off at all those glamorous dinners and event. The warmth I get when you put those large arms around me or those moments you savour my body and pepper me with kisses making me feel like a treasure. Those times I was carrying our child, you wouldn't let me go to the bathroom without one of the help watching me closely. All those uncomfortable nights when I couldn't get the right possession to sleep, you would stay awake and keep my company till I fell asleep. Babe, I love you. That contract I signed was when I didn't know you. I wasn't supposed to fall in love with you but somehow I did and I don't have any regrets that I did. I can't imagine my life without you." I just couldn't bottle up my emotions anymore as tears start to run down my cheek.
"You remember. This has to be the happiest day of my life. Babe that's all in the past. The contracts have been torn and I forgave you a long time ago. At some points in our life, we are left with little or no choices to do some things. While you were in a coma, I tried to imagine this world without you and I just couldn't. The very first time I met you, you ignited these long-dead feelings I thought I would never feel again. I love you so much I am not willing to live a day without you by my side when I wake up. You and Kendrick are like fuel and matchsticks to my wood. You know that world tour I promised you, it is time we get started."
"Stop trying to make excuses for me. I could have easily said no. I'm happy I met you. I just wish I could change how we started. I am ready to go anywhere with you and Kendrick. I would like to apologise for the fight I caused between you and your mother. I hope it's all settled. I would also like to return the money I was paid back. I also want you to know the real me. Where I grew up and where I lived."