^^ HOURS EARLIER ~ MARTHA’S HOME^^
“Mommy, who’s that man that keeps on coming to school just to see you?” Anna, Martha’s daughter ask suddenly.
“And who told you that he’s always coming to see me?” Martha ask in return.
“Ben did. He told me that his uncle is so crazy about you and he won’t stop talking about you” Anna said, making Martha flush a little.
“Tell Ben that he must have gotten it wrong. His uncle only comes to school because he is part of the parents committee and he’s also paying for your excursion trip” Martha said.
“That’s good then” Anna said suddenly.
“Why do you say it’s good?”
“I don’t want any other man looking at you apart from daddy. I want you and daddy back together” Anna said as Martha let out a sigh.
They’ve often talk about this before and even though she has made it clear to Anna that nothing will ever happen between her and her father, Anna keep insisting.
The ringing of the door saved her from giving a reply.
She went to open it only to see Clifford there.
“Good evening. Sorry for coming unannounce but I just want to know if Susie is back ” Clifford said.
“Susie hasn’t return and neither have I been able to get through to her” Martha said and at that moment, She got a call from an unknown number.
“Who’s speaking? Susie’s mom? Oh, aunt Jennifer ” Martha said on recognizing the voice.
“You mean Susie is with you?” Martha ask starring at Clifford who was whispering to her to give him the phone.
“Hello, this is Clifford Knight, your daughter husband, can you please let me know where she is?” Clifford demanded as soon as Martha gave him her phone.
*****
^^ PRESENT TIME~ HOPE ELDERLY HOME ^^
“Your hiding is over and let me tell you that if you disappear again, I won’t ever forgive you” he said before walking towards her to pull her into his arms.
Susie stood still in his arms, enjoying the feeling of being in his arms once again.
“Why did you leave like that? Do you know how worried I was?” He ask, pushing away slightly to stare at her.
“It was the only thing I could think of”
“You fool. Telling me the truth would have suffice, I thought you lied to me, I thought you betrayed me but it was Nina and my grandmother all along. Am sorry for treating you bad” he said, leaning in for a kiss but Susie pulled away.
“Apology accepted and am sorry for not telling you the truth myself” she said starring at him.
“You are Clifford Knight right?” Jennifer said suddenly, interrupting their conversation.
“When you told me on the phone who you were, I didn’t believe it at first but now I do. Apart from having hotels in this city, where else do you have your hotel or perhaps you can just tell me how many of it you have” Jennifer asked, not caring if she sound like a social climber.
“About fifteen of it. It was actually fourteen before but we just built another one here which makes it fifteen”
“Really? Then since you are married to my daughter. The hotel and everything else you have belongs to…”
“Stop it mom! There’s nothing of his that I want” Susie said.
“But you are his wife and…”
“We are getting a divorce, mom. So wh@ťěver thing you are thinking has to stop” Susie said before going into the hospital.
“Is what she said true?” Jennifer asked.
“Its not. We only have some misunderstanding” Clifford replied.
“Knowing my daughter. Let me tell you that she meant what she said, what are you going to do cause I doubt she will want to listen to you” Jennifer added.
“To be sincere, I also don’t know ” Clifford said, thinking of ways to get through to his wife.
“Do you need my help?” Jennifer ask, giving him a wink.
*****
^^ MORNING ~ KNIGHT HOTEL ^^
“Thank you Chen. With this info, I will be able to achieve my goal ” Tamara said to her chinese assistant.
“And whose picture are this?” Nina ask as she join them in the sitting room.
“Who do you think it is?” Tamara ask in return.
“I don’t know but she looks familiar. Like an old version of someone younger ” Nina said still starring at the pic.
“That’s right. She’s Susie mother” Tamara said.
“Really? Why do you have her picture with you?”
“Just for what I have in mind” Tamara replied.
“And what do you have in mind?” Nina ask feeling suspicious.
“You will know soon” Tamara said, smirking devilishly.
******
^^ HOPE ELDERLY HOME ^^
Susie made her way to the doctor’s office.
Her effort to get away from her mother yesterday made her lost her check up result.
And when she had told the nurse about getting a new one, she was told to see a doctor Marco since he had the results with him.
She got to his office and knock twice, she heard the gruff come in.
And when she walk in it was to see the guy from the elevator.
“So you are a doctor” she said enthusiastically.
“As you can see, I am” Marco said teasingly, watching the lovely smile on her face.
“I was told by the receptionist that you have my check up result. You don’t mind if I have them, I haven’t seen it’s content yet” She said.
“Here you go” Marco handed her the report watching her intently.
“I suggest you read it’s content now” Marco said when she made to leave.
Susie stared at him in puzzlement then decided to check the result.
“Is this what I think it is?” Susie ask, going through the report again.
“It is Susie, it is” Marco answered softly.
******
^^ LATER THAT DAY ^^
“Why can’t this friend of yours finish her job herself” Susie complain as the cab driver stop in front of a hall.
“That’s because she’s too old and since when did you become insensitive? I thought you always wanted to help people” Jennifer admonish.
“I do. I just don’t feel good today” Susie said remembering her meeting with Marco earlier.
“Trust me that when we get to where my friend is. You will definitely feel good,shall we”Jennifer said to her daughter and together they walk into the hall.
As soon as Susie walk in, she stop by the entrance, taking in the deco of the hall.
There were balloons and stickers which have a love shape all over the place and there’s a projector which illuminate a picture of her on the wall.
“Your husband did this for you” Jennifer said before moving away.
Susie was touch by everything she saw, it made her shed tears of joy.
She was wiping off her tears when he held her from behind.
“I love you and I promise not to hurt you” he said, turning her to him.
“I was a fool for being a jerk to you, give me a chance to make things right between us, I can’t live without you” he said, caressing her cheek.
“You will have to live without me, Clifford. I don’t love you and like I said last night, I want a divorce ” Susie said, pulling away from him.
“Can’t you see he’s trying to make it up to you! Why make it hard!”Jennifer who had been watching the whole scene yelled at her daughter.
“Stay out of this,mom!” Susie yell in return.
She walk around Clifford and began to leave the hall but when she made it to the door, he caught hold of her hand.
“I was a jerk and have already apologise but it seems like you want things the hard way” he said, lifting her over his arms.
“Now listen to me! You are my woman and my wife and there’s nothing in this world that will change that. I’d rather die than to give you up” He said and left the room with a screaming Susie over his arms.
“Way to go son in law. You are the best!” Jennifer yell after them…..
➳ TBC ➳💙🤍🧡