The Moment I Met You (Chapter 455)

 By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

After returning from the board meeting, Michael had only sat down inside his office when he saw the viral scandal online. He immediately gave Robert a phone call.                                                                           

‘Boss, don’t worry, Chioma didn’t go to work as you instructed so she doesn’t know what’s going on right now. Chioma had always been a strong woman I know that things like this would never affect her…most of them are saying that your being together with Chioma was all planned out by Louisa. She had to use her past to help her daughter get to you. some are happy for this kind of coincidence in love story, some are still hoping that you accept Jessica’s love no matter what she had done and some are blaming Chioma for causing the whole problem.'                                                                                                          

Michael  wanted to tell Robert to contact all mainstream media and ask them to watch what they write and if anyone wrote nonsense he would acquire and take over their company. But the thought of Chioma suffering from her menstrual cramps made him say instead, ‘Before heading back to the office, I will like you to buy ginger tea with brown sugar and have it delivered to Chioma’s house.'                                                                                                          

‘Okay, Sir,’ Robert said and hung up. Instead of heading back to the office after meeting a client, he headed for Galaxy Coffee Shop for the ginger tea and brown sugar. He didn’t bother to know the reason why Michael wanted these delivered to Chioma, but he knew that it helped women suffering from menstrual cramps.                                               

Following Michael’s order, Robert bought many bags of the tea and brown sugar and drove straight to Chioma’s. Reaching her house, he knocked on the door several times, but no one answered the door so as he was about to turned away, the door opened and he saw Chisom standing at the door.                                                                                

‘Come on in,’ Chisom said and returned to the living room to continue the game she was playing.                                                                    

  Robert walked inside with the bags of tea and said, ‘Is Chioma not around?’                                                                                                   

‘Chioma? She’s taking her bath,’ Chisom replied as she continued playing her game.                                                                              

‘Oh,’ Robert smiled and placed the bags on the centre table. ‘My boss asked me to deliver these to her. Give them to her when she’s done.’                                                              

‘Okay,’ replied Chisom who was still focused in her game. But then, as Robert was about to turn around and leave, Chisom was killed by the game. Pouting, she tossed her phone on the sofa. Then, she lifted her head to look at Robert’s retreating back. ‘Thank you,’ she said. It seemed she only came back to her senses just now.                                

Robert nodded and headed out.                                                                       

Chioma came out of the bathroom some minutes later, dressed in a white home dress as she dried her hair with a white towel. Her gaze fell on the bags of tea, and she asked, ‘Who brought these?’                         

‘No other but Michael. He had Robert deliver them here,’ Chisom chuckled as she reached for the bags to see what was in them. ‘Ginger tea and brown sugar.’ Chisom looked up at Chioma and suddenly she blurted out, ‘Maybe he found out about your period yesterday…maybe that was why he insisted that you go to the lounge and rest. Michael’s such a good man… He truly loves you Chioma.’                            

The corners of Chioma’s lips carried a slight smile. She didn’t need to say anything to him before he knew what was wrong with her. He knew what she was about to say, knew what was wrong with her even before she said it. He was indeed loving and caring.                                       

Chioma suddenly received a phone call from Audrey. After seeing that it was Audrey calling, Chioma didn’t hesitate to pick up the phone.                                        

‘Are you at Star Restaurant?’ Audrey asked. She knew if Chioma was in the restaurant she might not be chanced to pick the call because of the people that had surrounded the place.                                                      

Audrey knew that Chioma was still weak from yesterday’s beating, so she assumed Chioma was at home.                                                              

‘Michael asked me to stay home today since I am not feeling well. My boss gave me his permission,’ Chioma replied calmly without trying to hide anything.                                                                                      

‘How are you feeling now?’                                                                             

‘I’m fine.’                                                                                                     

‘Okay, I just called to check up on you. Take good care of yourself.’                                            

After hanging up the phone, Chioma looked at Chisom who was had arrived the living room with already made cup of ginger tea and placed it on the table for her, ‘Did anything happen at the restaurant?’ Chioma could feel something was wrong from the tone of Audrey’s voice.                                 

 ‘No, just that some crazy people are just waiting for you to show up,’ 

Chisom waved a hand. ‘They will be tired and leave.’                         

Chioma picked up the tea and took a sip. ‘Even if I went to the restaurant I would sneak away. I am not stupid to want to walk into their attacks even though I knew they were waiting for me. That doesn’t mean I am hiding from them.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s difficult to please haters so the best thing to do is to ignore them.’                          

Chisom laughed. ‘The will leave once they become tired.’                 

Outside Star Restaurant, the people waited for hours without any sign of Chioma. Finally, they guess that she might have sneaked away. As a result of this, they concluded that Louisa was the schemer that led Chioma to Michael.

The Moment I Met You (Chapter 454)

 By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu                  

The following day, the news spread like wildfire. The explosive news was extremely overbearing for Emmanuel. Even the local newspapers which he controlled, had never received such a cold reception from people. Emmanuel’s position as the governor of Imo State couldn’t save him from all his crimes. This was because Michael sent his crime to all the people that had attended the party. Before, the Njemanze family could have helped him clear his name. However, this time, it was Michael himself that exposed his crimes and no one would dare challenge that because those crimes had been committed by Emmanuel.                                                                                                            

The entire nation was against Emmanuel’s behaviour. Even those that previously collaborated with him, those that ate and dined with him, his friends who are rich CEOs of big companies, when confronted by the media about this issue refused to utter any word. Not that they didn’t want to help Emmanuel, but they knew that no matter what they said no one would listen to them. They believed in Michael Njemanze and they knew that he wasn’t the type to lie against others.

            

  Of course, regarding this Edward did not know how to begin helping Emmanuel. He was actually helpless.                                                    

At the time the news was released to the public, Nathan contacted Emmanuel. Although he despised Emmanuel because he was only supporting Jessica for Michael while he was thrown to the mud by him, Nathan still felt that he should help him and that was because he was still in love with Jessica.                                                                                    

Nathan stood by the window of his bedroom and after a deep thought; he picked up his phone from the centre table and rang Emmanuel. ‘I know we hate each other but I will still try my best to persuade either Michael or my father to help you,’ he said when Emmanuel answered the call.                                                                                 

   ‘No matter what you do, it would never be able to save my reputation. Michael had already destroyed it and am about to be impeached. I know we hate each other but I don’t blame you for this.’          

 

At this same moment, the media went to Star Restaurant to do a live entertainment news broadcast just at the entrance of the restaurant.

  ‘I have read a story about mother and daughter falling in love with the same family…this is my first time to see such thing happen. The mother had to give up because she was not qualified for the Njemanze family but her daughter Chioma seems to be winning as Michael Njemanze told the world that he would only love her. Patricia Njemanze, yesterday revealed that she made a promise to Louisa of which must be kept and that was letting her son marry Chioma, thereby discarding Jessica who had committed so many crimes…Right now a huge number of fans have gathered here today, not because they hate Chioma, but because they were curious or rather shocked to know that the slummy girl’s mother shared a past with the Njemanze family.’                         

  ‘We can see live at the scene, plenty of banners and signs, everyone here is trying to know how Chioma met Michael. They wanted to know if Chioma used her mother’s past to get close to Michael. We are waiting for Chioma to come out and share her story with us. On behalf of the reporters present, I pray Michael and Chioma’s love story doesn’t end as Edward and Louisa’s story. Well if it didn’t end, Michael and Chioma would have been siblings instead of lovers.’                                   

  After seeing the news, Audrey reached for the remote and turned off the TV. She then turned to Isabelle who was walking down the stairs, dressed in an emerald home clothe.                                                        

   ‘Mum, the love story of Michael has surpassed that of Romeo and Juliet. You’ll be part of the story as well. I think it was fate that led Chioma to Michael.’ She was eating with relish a 10 dollars bucket of KFC chicken.                                                                                                        

Isabelle nodded but never uttered a word.                                     

‘Mum…I didn’t know that Aunt Patricia would side Chioma after she found Aunt Louisa. Was Chioma’s mother really that good?’              

‘Yes, Louisa was a good woman. She was never after Edward’s money…she had saved Patricia and I from a car accident. Her daughter deserves to be with Michael,’ Isabelle replied calmly.                     

  ‘Felix is the one hurting from this but I know that just like father he will find someone as good as you,’ Audrey smiled.                                                   

Meanwhile, Patricia was standing at the balcony of their mansion pruning flowers when Rebecca called her.                                      

  ‘I have already arranged for the best lawyers to help with your case. I am assuming that at this time they are warming up to help your family but then Rebecca, you know that your husband can never win neither will you. So, I am asking you to do a public apology. It might be able to save you but it can’t help your ruined reputation.’                            

‘What about my daughter?’ Rebecca’s voice sounded calm and distant. ‘Are you still going to let that slummy girl into your house?’               

‘Yes, Rebecca. My son loves her I don’t want to keep fighting her. I’m sorry Rebecca but you know these lawyers only agreed to help you because of my parents even though they are afraid to go against my son…I sincerely wish your family well but I will never jeopadise my son’s happiness anymore.’                                                                                                          

‘Patricia, will you just throw my daughter off because of that slummy girl?’                                                                                                                         Patricia remained silent as she continued what she was doing. The phone was already on loudspeaker so she heard Rebecca loud and clear.                                                                                                        

‘Patricia, did you know that I have looked through the abuse online and I am very upset that your son was the reason for it. My eyes are swollen from crying…’

            

  ‘You deserve it,’ Patricia replied, putting down the scissors in her hand and retrieved the phone which she had placed on the table.                        

‘How could you say that to me? You know that with what your son has done my family’s name will be ruined forever. Please tell your son to stop what he had started.’

‘I can only help you with the best legal team from Jumbo oil and gas, nothing more.’                                                                                    

‘I don’t need any lawyer my husband is not a child to be seeking for lawyers because he has so many of them. I only want you to tell Michael to stop the mess he has started.’                                                               

‘Your daughter crossed the line, Rebecca. Even if she hates Chioma so much, she could have waited for the party to be over before hiring people to beat her up. I know that I hated that girl until when I heard that she was Louisa’s daughter but I would never pay anyone to hurt her. I had tolerated Jessica so much because I sincerely loved her, but I think that from now on my son’s happiness should come first…’                          

 ‘How could you change so suddenly like weather?’                             

‘Because my son’s happiness is involved. We are both mothers and we will always want our children to be happy.’ Patricia didn’t want to go on with the topic so she hung up and reached for the scissors to continue with what she was doing.

 

The Moment I Met You (Chapter 453)

 By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

‘Since she’s here for money, there is no way she wouldn’t put up a good act. This is the same reason I hate Chioma!’ Jessica’s eyes were burning with rancor, they flashed crazily as she said, ‘No worries, I will never stop until I set Michael free from their witchcraft.’

             ‘If I truly need money then I would have forced myself to marry rich. I would have killed Patricia to marry Edward. Do you know why? Edward was my first love and both Isabelle and Patricia were my best friends. We just met by accident but we ended up being good friends. Nicholas is also my best friend.’                                                                                         

Hearing what Louisa said, the air in the room instantly froze. All of them that didn’t know about Louisa and the past she had shared with the Njemanzes attended to their own thoughts.                                         

Some in the crowd came up with the thought that just like in some movies; Edward might rekindle his love with his ex-lover. It was not that they wished for such to happen. It was just that most times love stories like that happen both in reality and movies.                                       

‘The Njemanze family is a huge household, and they all highly value their reputation. Even for a man like uncle Edward, he won’t be able to jeopardise his reputation for a slummy woman…The same will happen to your daughter… but I still know that you just made up this story to know the Njemanze family.’                                                                                        

After hearing Jessica’s words, Louisa’s lips curved upwards in mockery.‘Jessica, whether I lost in the game of love, is not up to you to determine the fate of my daughter. My daughter and Michael look good together standing next to each other. You might just be very beautiful but you’ll never stand a chance…’                                                          

  ‘I am as beautiful as diamond that’s why Michael will love me no matter what.’ Jessica’s words were loud and clear with a sense of pride and ridicule.                                                                                                 

‘Yes, you’re beautiful like a diamond glittering in the dark; however, my daughter is like a sun, blocking you out completely. Thus, under the brilliant radiance of the sun, the diamond had lost its original luster…my daughter is the winner and that is obvious. Someone else loves you, but instead you chose to ruin your life. For what reason could you do that, for love? You should know that love doesn’t work that way young woman.’ After speaking, Louisa went to Chioma who was feeling tired. ‘Chioma, let’s go. I’m sorry to have talked too much instead of bringing you home straight away.’                                       

  ‘It’s okay, mum. I’m glad that you finally met your old friends,’ Chioma said calmly as she struggled to stand.                                                       

Michael quickly went to support her.  He couldn’t stand to see his woman in pain.                                                                                       

‘Is okay, she’ll be fine,’ Louisa looked at Michael and said.                           

As Louisa turned to leave, Patricia said, ‘Louisa, I am sorry you met us like this. Honestly, we are sorry.’                                                               

Jessica turned to Patricia and said quickly, ‘Aunt Louisa, you don’t have to say sorry to her. You know her and she doesn’t know you.’                                                                                                                    

‘Jessica, I don’t disagree to you spouting nonsense but when it comes to Louisa I will not tolerate it,’ Patricia said sternly. Everyone in the room, Michael included, was caught by surprise.                                          

Jessica appeared to be smiling, but she looked at Patricia with a surprised expression. Patricia had always supported everything that she did, but now, she seemed to be siding Louisa. Jessica stared at Patricia, then replied softly, ‘I’m not sure I understand what Aunt Patricia means by that.’                                                                                     

  ‘You don’t understand?’Patricia questioned with a jeer. ‘Don’t think I will always support your foolish behaviour. I have only tolerated you because I felt that you’re good enough for my son. Yes, I hate Chioma very much but now that I know that Louisa is her mother, I don’t think I will accept you as my daughter anymore. Before Michael was born, I had already made a promise to Louisa that if my son falls in love with her daughter or her son falls in love with my daughter, I will never stand in their way. Yes, I hated Chioma because she was a slummy girl, but not anymore. I know that she isn’t after my son’s money but I have always refused to believe it because I just wanted you for my son and that was because I didn’t know that Chioma was Louisa’s daughter. Let me get one thing straight, Michael and Chioma are free to get married anytime they want.’                                                                  

Louisa turned to look at Patricia. ‘The only reason I came here was to help my daughter get home. There is no hidden motive.’                

   Louisa wanted Patricia not to think that she hated her for treating her daughter badly.                                                                                  

   Patricia responded with a smile, ‘I was prepared to face all the critics the moment I saw you enter this room. I know that everyone would think that I am a bad person, but as my friend, I know that you know me too well.’                                                                                                

  ‘Patricia, I’m glad that I met you again after so many years. I didn’t want it to be like this…I’m sorry. Isabelle, I’m glad to see you too. Edward, I thank destiny for not letting us marry and creating an opportunity for our children to be happy. Nicholas, I’m sorry that your son fell in the same position as you years ago…but I’m glad you still married Isabelle because she was the best for you. I know that Felix your son will be happy just as you.’ After speaking, Louisa turned around and left with Chioma, Andrew and Chisom.                                       

Edward looked at the retreating back. A glow lit up in his eyes and his face turned into a smile. He had wished to have married Louisa but somehow, he still thanked destiny for preparing a bigger gift for them, and that was the gift of their children falling in love with each other.                                                                                                                             

When Louisa and her children were out of sight, Michael turned to the security officers and ordered, ‘Detain Jessica and wait for the police to arrive!’                                                                                                  

‘Yes, Sir!’ the bodyguards went at Jessica.                                                     

Michael coldly stared at Emmanuel. ‘By tomorrow, you’ll have your own piece of cake…even you.’ He turned to Rebecca.                       

‘Let me go! You don’t have right to touch me. I am still friends with the Njemanze family!’ Jessica struggled in her grip. Her cries seemed to awaken the anger in Rebecca and she started to slew insults at Michael.                                                                                                       

They harder Jessica struggled, the rougher the guards got. Sharon wanted to help her but she was helpless. If Jessica had listened to her warnings then she wouldn’t have been in this mess. She brought this shame unto herself.                                                                                                    

Jessica’s perfect hair had fallen out of place and her eyes red with tears. ‘Aunt Patricia, I know that you don’t want me to be your daughter in-law but please beg Michael to forgive me, I promise not to go after Chioma again,’ she pleaded.                                                                            

Patricia wanted to speak to Michael but Edward stopped her. ‘Let her be for now. We’ll find a better way to resolve this,’ Edward spoke in a low voice.                                                                                                                 

Jessica turned to Nathan who was standing beside Erica, ‘I know that you hate me right now Nathan, but please help me. You can marry Erica if you want but please…’                                                             

‘Jess…’ Nathan wanted to speak but didn’t know what to say.                 

‘Nathan, please tell your father to help Me.’ She held Nathan’s hands, looking up at him and begged, her eyes brimming with tears. ‘Nathan, I’m sorry to have betrayed your love but honestly when I saw you with Erica I began to realise that I have feelings for you. You’re a good man and don’t deserve a scheming woman like me, but please…I beg you to help me.’                                                                             

Nathan nodded but didn’t say a word because he didn’t actually know the right word to comfort her with.                                                            

  Jessica looked at Michael, but Michael was completely unaffected by her pity look. In fact, his eyes glowed with disgust. He stared down at her and said coldly, ‘Blame no one but you for such a horrible ending. I had wanted to punish you for long but Sharon kept pleading for me to have mercy on you. she told me that if I throw you in gaol that Nathan will be the most affected because he was still in love with you and so I listened to her and never did anything to you even though you had so many crimes to put you in gaol …’                                               

‘If I am the problem here, why still punish my parents?’                     

‘Because they committed crimes that were punishable in the law,’Obinna answered in lieu of Michael. ‘Jessica, you did not only hurt my son, you also hurt Chioma Chima who did nothing to you.’                                     

‘Take her away!’Michael commanded and Jessica was dragged away.

 

The Moment I Met You (Chapter 452)

 By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

Meanwhile, Chisom was in a room taking care of Chioma who was receiving treatment from the medical director of City Hospital who was sent over to give Chioma a thorough examination. Just then her phone began to ring. She looked at her screen and saw that it was Louisa calling. Before picking up the call, she gently tucked Chioma in her quilt. 

‘Aunt Louisa we are still at the party,’ Chisom said in a low voice as she headed to a corner.                                                                                    

‘Is already late, Chisom.’                                                                             

‘Well, you see, Jessica hired some men to beat Chioma. I don’t know why Jessica really hates Chioma…’                                                         

‘Where is my daughter now?’Louisa was afraid that something serious must have happened to Chioma.                                         

Chisom glanced over at Chioma who was lying peacefully on the bed but was unable to sleep. ‘She’s here with me.’                              

‘Wait for me, I am coming there right now.’                                        

Before Chisom could stop her, Louisa had already hung up. Chisom took a deep breath and left the room, and then she returned back to the scene to see Jessica still yelling at Michael.                                                        

  A murderous aura was radiating off Michael. He wanted to beat Jessica to death but he was still able to control himself.                                         

‘Michael what was wrong with what I did? Tell me? I only wanted you to love me back.’                                                                     

‘Jessica, you had a group of men beat up my woman. I know that you actually know the consequences of that?’                                              

  ‘You insured the body parts of your slummy girl,’ Jessica scoffed. ‘What a complete waste of money, Michael. I thought you have brains, but no, you only have puff-puff into that handsome head of yours.’                                                                                         

 ‘Michael, stop this nonsense now all I will call the police,’ Emmanuel couldn’t stand the humiliation anymore so he yelled at Michael.                                                                                                              

‘When the police get here, you will never go scot-free,’ Rebecca added.      

  ‘Any police officer that steps in here to arrest Michael or Chioma will be fired for life,’ President Obinna said with authority.                       

This shocked Emmanuel and Rebecca. The president would rather side with the slummy girl than with them.                                                         

‘Mr President, you can’t be tricked by this slummy girl. My Jessica was simply in love with Michael. What’s wrong with fighting for her love?’                                     

 ‘Michael, I’ll really do anything to love you.’                                   

‘My daughter is right,’ Rebecca supported Jessica.                               

A flash of smugness crossed Michael’s eyes. ‘Yes, Jessica did nothing and both you and your husband are involved in corruption and criminal bribery…Your husband has done worst than Lucifer, which is why he should be punished.’                                                                                  

‘You’re threatening my family,’ Emmanuel said furiously. ‘I will make sure to pursue this.’                                                                                         

  ‘Then what about I show the proof right now?’ Michael extended his hand and Robert handed him a notebook and Emmanuel’s hand began to tremble as the notebook was turned on.  Michael’s fingers typed on the keyboard with ease and in a few minutes, almost everyone’s phone sounded with Whatsapp message notification.                 

‘You all can look at the messages, they are the proof, and Edward had wanted to see for a long time now. By tomorrow, I wish to see him impeached and arrested.’                                                                                

Jessica was shocked that she quickly took her phone, and was surprised to see their Whatsapp bombarded with pictures. Before now Robert had collected all the Whatsapp contact of everyone here and created a group with their number, and this made it easier for the messages to be sent quickly.                                                                                    

Edward was really surprised with the first picture that he clicked on. In that picture, Emmanuel was seen in a secret meeting with a CEO who supposedly ran an illegal company. The man was pushing a suitcase of cash towards Emmanuel.

 Not only that, there was also a picture of Emmanuel with a woman in bed, plus other pictures and messages that were enough to send Emmanuel to prison. He had embezzled the state’s money, and wasn’t able to fulfill most of the promises he made during election.           

‘Emmanuel, who is this woman you cheated on me with?’ Rebecca asked Emmanuel with tears in her eyes.                                                   

‘Honey, I will explain later,’ Emmanuel said in a low voice.                       

‘Who are any of you to hurt my daughter?’ Just then Louisa walked inside the hall and yelled. Two security officers were trying to stop her but Louisa still found her way inside. ‘How much do you people want for my daughter to be allowed to be in peace. We might really be poor but at least I know how to make all of you cry.’                     

  ‘That’s mum,’ Andrew mumbled when she heard Louisa’s voice. Everyone turned to the sound of the voice.                                                           

 Louisa approached them without fear, ‘Please, Jessica how much do you really hate my daughter? My daughter has done nothing wrong to any of you. Yet, you hate her as though she committed a crime. Yes, my daughter is a slummy girl, but what right do any of you have to crucify her? Was it her fault that Michael chose to love, huh? Was it wrong to fall in love with someone? What is wrong with you rich people? You want to control people. You want to always push them to a corner and make them unable to breathe.’    

Meanwhile, Michael returned to see Chioma who now sat down on the bed hugging her knees as she buried her face in her lap and remained silent in that posture.                                                                            

When Michael entered the room, his heart ached from seeing how helpless she looked. He knew that she might be regretting coming to this event today. Sitting lightly on the edge of the bed, Michael reached out and smoothed her hair gently and said, ‘I’m sorry that you have encountered so many dangers because of me. I’m really sorry.’                                                                                                                                     

Chioma was silent, but Michael’s tender words made her eyes well up with tears.                                                                                        

‘Those men will never go free, I promise,’ Michael consoled as he continued caressing her long hair.                                                          

  Michael’s words were soothing, but Chioma could not handle the fact that she was beating for the reason of being in love with her dreams. Tears flowed from her eyes at the thought. she wondered if it was wrong to love someone.                                                                                

‘I promise to make Jessica pay for her crimes,’ Michael said and after a pause he added, ‘Even if the whole world is against us, I will never stop loving you. I’ll do whatever you want for their punishment, please don’t cry.’

She really wanted to stop crying, but tears couldn’t stop flowing. Michael had said everything he could possibly think to make her happy, yet she kept on crying. Still not knowing what to say to stop her from crying, he gently lifted her head up from her knees, and gently wiped her tears.                                                                                                                   

Michael didn’t know what to say to console her but he knew that just a simple tight embrace was better than any words could say. Chioma buried her head into Michael’s chest, still crying softly. ‘I don’t want to break up with you,’ she mumbled.                                                         

  ‘We won’t,’ Michael assured her with a smile. ‘Your mother’s here so I should bring you to the ballroom before she gets worried.’              

Chioma nodded and Michael helped her up and he carried her to the ballroom to see Jessica yelling.

 ‘How much money do you need?’ Jessica yelled at Louisa.                  

‘I don’t need your money,’ Louisa turned to Jessica and said.              

  ‘Oh, you don’t need money but you use your daughter to get the money,’ Jessica scoffed.                                                                                   

  ‘Jessica, watch your attitude,’ Chisom pointed at Jessica as she yelled. ‘Even though your family owns the world which is about to collapse anyway, you are still no match to Aunt Louisa. Plus, you don’t know her too well so don’t you ever judge her. She’s going to be Michael’s mother-in-law soon, so what right do you have to speak loudly to her?’                                                                                                              

Louisa was silent for a moment before asking, ‘Is Edward, Patricia, Isabelle and Nicholas here? My daughter told me that it might be true that I have met them before.’

 ‘Yes, they are here…why?’ Sharon asked. ‘Aunt, please we can resolve everything another day.’ Sharon thought that Louisa wanted to fight them. But no, she only wanted to answer her curiosity.                         

They watched curiously as Louisa strode towards them. Edward was dressed in a dark blue Versace suit. Because of his attractive charisma and noble presence, even though he was in the midst of so many people, there was still no way he would be ignored because he still emanated an aura that was difficult to resist. Nicholas still possessed such aura, Louisa thought as she saw them clearly. Patricia and Isabelle were still looking graceful and beautiful.                                               

They were both stunned to see Louisa. She was the same Louisa that they had wanted to see. She was here now, but was furious because her daughter had been treated badly. Patricia wanted to embrace her but was afraid that Louisa would push her away.                     

Louisa stared at the four of them and she was temporarily lost in thought. This was the first time she had met the four of them after so many years. When Edward left her to marry Patricia, she felt hurt and her heart would ache with longing every time she remembered his birthday and the moments they had spent together. But then, she didn’t know that despite being surrounded by luxury of life, Edward was missing her too as well as Nicholas, Patricia and Isabelle. They had always missed her and had tried so many times to find her.                                                                                                                                     

At this moment, Louisa wished she could pull back time to relive those years she had missed. However, she was thankful, thankful at least her daughter was the one to enjoy the relationship she had lost. She was glad that Michael’s father was the Edward that she knew, his mother was the Patricia that she knew, and both Nicholas and Isabelle were also the same friends that she had years ago. But the question was, with the way Patricia had treated Chioma, would she still accept her daughter now that she had found out that she was Louisa, her friend of old?