STOLEN PARADISE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The next morning, Funmi woke up at her usual time to pray; 5am. Some habits die hard. She got down on her knees and prayed. She asked God to forgive her for marrying outside His Will.

"Father, you didn't stop this from happening, not that I blame you. Father, are you mad at me? Well, I do know I will be getting my just punishment in this fake marriage. I don't love him and he doesn't love me either. He's an unbeliever and I do not want to have any of his demons!" She stopped and sighed.

"Please protect me Lord." She cried her eyes out like a child denied of her request to mum and dad and drifted off to sleep. She woke up at 6:30 and took her bath to prepare for church. She got downstairs and headed to the sitting room. The house was in good order just as she saw it the previous night, not that she expected some tornado to have come overnight and wipe things off.

She located the kitchen and began to prepare breakfast of omelet and toasted bread with tea. Her mind was too tired to cook anything out of the ordinary. She set the table and smiled to herself.

"That should do it," She sighed again and reprimanded herself. "Funmilola Olanrewaju, why are you bothering yourself so much with cooking?" She left the dining room and went back to the kitchen to clean up. She was about to finish when Antonio walked in.

Fear gripped her heart as she saw the irritated look on his face.

"Did he taste the breakfast I made? Does he hate the food? Would he hit me again?" her mind was working fast trying to figure out what to expect.

He read her facial expressions like an open book. He was dressed in white pants, shoes and a white long sleeved shirt and grey waist coat. He looked completely charming as ever.

"I'm sorry I hit you last time. It was not my intention nor is it normal for me to become violent. I'm not a bad person Funmi, we were friends once for goodness' sake. I was just pushed against the wall, that's all."

Funmi was surprised as she didn't see the apology coming at all but she smiled.

"One more thing Funmi," He said with a blank face. His politeness show had ended just before it even began. Funmi felt her chest constrict in anxiety.

"Please don't ever cook for me. Don't touch anything that has to do with me. Don't clean the house because Ms. Tale will. She comes in on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Feel free to use the kitchen since you are a chef. I'm off to work." With that, he turned around to leave.

"You are not coming with me to church for thanksgiving?" She asked with all the courage she could muster. He smiled and replied,

"What you do and where you go is none of my business. You are a grown woman, make your own decisions." He walked closer to her, she moved back and he stopped.

"I'm not a monster." He said with a smirk, patted her on the left shoulder and left her standing there to think about what just happened.

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Shame and anger confined Funmi to the big house. Antonio didn't touch the breakfast and she was glad. She sat down and happily ate it. She went back to her room and tried to read her Bible but she couldn't. She felt a sense of injustice rising in her bones. As if it wasn't bad enough that she didn't want to marry him, she tried to be civil for the sake of the friendship they once had but he insulted her and bombarded her with rules. Her house was currently on lockdown but she planned to put it up for rent or just leave it there and visit every weekend to be alone and sort herself out for as long as it takes to recover from the shock of her life; marrying Antonio.

She kept herself busy re-arranging the room and later went to the kitchen to grab something to eat. She found some instant jungle oats and prepared some for herself and sat down to find ay Christian program to watch. The reality of her new life hit her like angry waves. She was married but living single. She decided there and then that if things were going to continue as they are, then she will be happy living a single life because nothing has changed except having a new house, new neighbours and a house mate.

"I am going to love this arrangement!" She said hysterically and stopped as she stopped at a station showing some Christian songs and began to dance happily all alone.

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Antonio worked from morning till evening at his cottage that was about an hour drive from Lagos. He replayed the breakfast scene in his mind over and over again. He laughed at the shocked and terrified look on his wife's face. He had prepared himself for his date with Sharon and was filled with great anticipation. He sprayed his expensive cologne, checked himself out in the mirror of his bathroom and brushed his short hair to prepare to meet Sharon. He refrained himself from being overly polite to Funmi because he doesn't want a feeble things as conscience to confuse him. By the time he continues to give her silent treatment, she will leave on her own volition.

Funmi on the other hand spent the day dancing, cooking, eating and reading novels. It was now nineteen minutes to midnight and Antonio was not back yet. She was in her green silk pajamas and fluffy slippers, ready to go to bed. She looked at the clock on the wall in her room and shrugged. Why should she bother herself about him? When he comes back from work or wherever his spirit led him to, he will get in with his own keys. She yawned and got under the covers and slept off.

While she slept, her husband was in another woman's arms. They were happy to be spending the night together but sad that it would be short lived.

"My plan is to frustrate her with silent treatments and that way she would have no claim of being treated in any unfair way."

They were seated on a lounge in the beautiful cottage enjoying chilled wine.

"I feel sorry for her you know."

"Why Sharon? She feels nothing for me." Antonio was surprised.

"She is a Christian and is probably feeling obliged to carry out marital duties such as cooking, cleaning and so on." Sharon explained herself.

"This is one of the reasons I love you so much; you are so selfless." He said and kissed her. As they broke apart, he looked at his watch.

"I better get going. My mother could call the house at any time to check on us. You know how she is." Sharon managed a smile.

"What is wrong?" He asked I concern.

"Nothing much, just glad you came Antonio. I had a good time."

Antonio held her hands in his ad said, "I will find a way for us to be together if it is the last thing I do."