Title: Bound by Blood, Broken by Pride
*Chapter 28: "Full Circle"
After my visit to the mansion, I came back home with plenty of things - Marita had loaded me with gifts. Since they no longer had my number, I gave it to them before leaving. She said she would love to call me later to speak to Charles, to hear his voice, and to stay in touch.
When I got back home, it was already late. The shop was locked, and Charles was inside, waiting. The moment he saw me carrying so many things, his eyes widened. "Where did you go to?" he asked, puzzled. "I've been waiting for you."
I flared up immediately. "Don't you ever ask me that kind of question again!" I shouted at him. I didn't tell him I had gone to see his parents. I simply dropped the bags in front of him.
He was still lying down when I barked, "Stand up and unpack these things!" He obeyed without question, rising and beginning to unpack everything I returned with.
The next day, I went to see my friend Blessing. Since Charles came to stay with me, she had travelled, so she hadn't seen him yet. I told her everything - how Charles had changed, how he confessed to being responsible for my pregnancy. Her jaw dropped.
"You mean *Charles*? As in *that* Charles?" she asked in disbelief.
"Yes," I said. "He's the one."
I also told her about my visit to the mansion, how Sir Frederick and Marita welcomed me, how happy they were to see me, and how they wanted me to come back and stay. Blessing was excited.
"Wow! If you go to that mansion, ehn, I'll be enjoying through you," she said with a grin.
We both laughed.
Later, Sir Frederick was seen at Charles' former workplace. He was in the office, talking to the staff, reviewing documents and checking reports. He addressed them calmly, saying, "Very soon, my son will return to this office. I want everything to be in order before then."
in the shop, Charles and I worked together. He was the one selling, while I sat down at the back, helping with change and handing things over to him when the rush came. The shop was unusually busy, and I kept thinking to myself: *Is this the same Charles? The arrogant, proud Charles?*
Now, here he was, running around, calling customers "ma" and "sir," giving them change with a smile. I couldn't believe it.
After we closed the shop and returned home, I didn't let up. I sent him around like a little boy, commanding him left and right. He obeyed everything quietly. When I asked him to go and cook, he did so without a word.
Then my phone rang.
It was Marita.She said, "Please, come to the house tomorrow. I want to visit your place too, but by tomorrow, I'm taking both of you back home."
She told me not to tell Charles. "Let it be a surprise," she added warmly.
I could hear Sir Frederick's voice in the background, also speaking and laughing.
"Alright," I replied. "We'll be ready."
when I ended the call with Marita, Charles looked at me curiously and asked, "Who was that on the phone?"
I turned sharply to him. "Don't ever ask me that kind of question again!" I snapped.
I asked if he had finished cooking, and he nodded. "Yes."
"Good," I said. "Come and massage my back. I'm feeling pain in my waist."
He looked at me and asked softly, "Have you been going to the hospital lately?"
I turned to him, rolling my eyes. "Even if I've been going, do you have any money to give me?"
He immediately said, "Sorry," and came over to massage my back.
As he started, it felt like he didn't know what he was doing. I knocked him lightly on the head.
"Do it well, abeg!" I scolded. "Do you want me to hand you over to those people you stole from?"
He didn't say a word. He just continued massaging.
At a point, he pressed a spot that hurt so badly.
"Ah!" I shouted, then slapped his hand. "Are you mad? Massage me well, o!"
Still, he remained quiet and continued, obedient like a servant
He didn't even look me in the eyes. He just continued massaging gently, like someone whose entire future depended on it - which it actually did. I relaxed a bit and let him continue, but deep down, I was still boiling. How could he do what he did to me and now be here, acting like a humble boy?
"Press small that left side," I said, shifting slightly. "That place dey pain me."
"Yes, okay," he whispered and obeyed immediately.
For a moment, the room was quiet. Only the sound of his fingers kneading my back and my quiet breathing filled the air.
Then I said, "Charles, is this not funny? Me and you under the same roof. You, massaging me. If someone had told me this last year, I would have laughed."
He chuckled faintly, still not meeting my eyes. "Life changes fast."
I turned and looked at him properly. He looked worn out. Not the fine, proud Charles I knew. His hair was rough, his shirt a little too big for his thin frame.
"You know," I said slowly, "you're lucky I didn't throw you out when you came here."
"I know," he replied. "Every day, I think about it."
"Good. Because if you ever try any nonsense again, Charles, you see that gutter behind the compound? That's where you'll sleep."
He gave a sad smile and nodded.
"Go and bring water," I said. "Warm water. I want to soak my legs."
"Yes," he said quietly and stood up to go.
As he walked out, I stared after him. This was Charles. The same Charles that made me feel worthless back in that mansion. Now, he was the one answering me. But why did a part of me still pity him?
I sighed.
Maybe life wasn't done with both of us yet.
***
(Do you want Chapter 29