The Thornes

Chapter 8

Josephina smiled, asked him again to take his seat, and this time round, Mathéo quietly did so without any hesitation whatsoever. Once again, she asked Rakia if she was being abused by her husband but Rakia would still defend Mathéo, still denying the fact that she was being abused. Josephina then showed her the footage of Mathéo beating her mercilessly, which kept Rakia quiet; haven realized she could not keep defending her husband. Mathéo, seemingly very angry, asked Josephina to stay out of his family affair but Josephina reminded him of how she has now become a part of the family. She then gave Mathéo two options; either to treat her wife with respect until the divorce papers finalized or he treats her roughly and gets a court summon in three days and after a long moment in silence, he promised to treat his wife well.

Josephina further asked Rakia if she was going ahead to press charges. Mathéo quickly interrupted and questioned why pressing the charges was still necessary. Josephina replied, telling Mathéo that it was his wife's turn to decide what was to be done at that moment. You wouldn't very much expect what happened next, after seeing Rakia defend so much her husband. She looked at Mathéo angrily, turned to Josephina and gave her a go ahead with the court summon. She as well turned to everyone, with tears in her eyes, asking that his husband be charged for murder. Rakia recalled an instance where Mathéo beat her nearly to death. During that time, she was 6 months pregnant. She lost her baby due to the multiple abuse received from her husband. As if that was the end of her misfortune; since the baby had died in her for some time, the doctor advised that they get rid of her uterus because of complications due to the surgery. Despite all that, she had for long decided to stay with Mathéo and not complain for the sake of her other children.

Tearing up bitterly, Rakia knelt before Josephina in penance, and asked that she herself also be summoned before court for she had equally done evil. She turned to Mathéo and told him that for the past two years he had been taking only vitamins instead of his prescribed medications for his heart condition. She made him aware that she personally took the decision to bear with all the violence while slowly getting rid of him. She was at least going to get enough money after his death to take care of their children. Rakia now passionately told her husband that, she is certain his heart condition has worsened and nearly reached critical stages which therefore requires urgent medical attention. These words came as a huge shock to everyone, but particularly, Mathéo, who would not believe that his submissive and obedient wife could go to such lengths for revenge. Rakia then accused Mathéo of being responsible for her barrenness after her two children. This was why she couldn't see herself getting a divorce. She was very scared of starting afresh with someone else, because even if she did, she was not going to bear any children.

At this juncture, Mathéo had grown very furious and the build-up rage led him to pounce on his wife, strangling her. While doing this, with Josephina trying her possible best to stop him, Mathéo eventually suffered a heart attack. Josephina, instantly called Anthony, who quickly called an ambulance service. In the space of some few minutes, the ambulance arrived. Mathéo was attended to and quickly rushed to the hospital. Anthony left with his brother while Rakia and Josephina stayed back. Rakia didn't feel nor show any remorse and guilt for what had happened to her husband. Instead, she called her mum to come take her kids and stay with them. However, Josephina assured her that she was going to defend her and make sure she gets a reduced court sentence.

At the hospital, the doctor made Anthony aware that his brother's condition had worsened and that he needed a heart transplant as soon as possible, three days maximum. Anthony called his dad and siblings and soon, they had all arrived at the hospital. Wyll was upset but very nervous about his son's condition. He promised the doctor to bring in a donor the following day. Just as they were speaking, a nurse rushed in and reported to the doctor that Mathéo was suddenly experiencing another heart attack. When the doctor returned to the family, he informed them that Mathéo had tragically passed away. Wyll, Anthony and Elora were shaken and broken. Elora sat down wailing uncontrollably. Anthony suddenly stormed off to the house to confront Josephina. He blamed Josephina for his brother's death. If she hadn't called for that meeting, none of this would have happened.