STOLEN PARADISE

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

After taking her mother to the guest room, Funmi changed into her plain cream pajamas of long sleeved top and pant. She picked her outfit for the Sunday service the next day along with a handbag, Bible, make-up kit and bathroom kit and went back to Antonio's bedroom. She locked the door behind them and placed her stuffs on the brown couch. Antonio got up abruptly.

"You can't dump your stuffs there!" He snarled at her.

"Tomorrow is Sunday Antonio, you must come with me to church." She changed the subject. Antonio smiled and replied with a wicked smile on his face.

"I'm doing nothing of the sort!" He replied sharply.

Funmi was not bothered at all, all she wanted to do at that moment was to get to bed and sleep. She was there was enough space for them on the bed. She was about to get under the plain grey duvet when Antonio stopped her with an outstretched arm.

"Oh no you don't! You may sleep on the couch."

Funmi glared hard at him and sighed in defeat. Anger overwhelmed her almost immediately.

"I have a house of my own with a very comfortable bed. If not for this stupid marriage, I wouldn't be in this miserable house!"

"Oh yeah? You are crazy Funmi! Your Mum is our audience so you better keep up with your perfect act," he countered.

"I am your wife Antonio either you like it or not," she blurted out. "The couch looks so uncomfortable too."

"Really? Well here is the breaking news! I do not care what happens to you and I cannot wait to get rid of you," he was wickedly cool about making her squirm.

"Why can't I sleep on the bed? I'm a light sleeper and won't disturb your peaceful sleep," she said with her arms folded across her chest as if preparing to give him a showdown.

Antonio stood up and walked around the bed to her side. "This bed belongs to Sharon and I. This house is mine and hers too. Everything I have belongs to Sharon. We are one!"

Funmi slapped him hard across the face once, then a second time.

"I will not be made a fool by you or your girlfriend. I am only trying to make the best out of a crazy situation," she shouted.

Antonio grabbed her shoulders tightly and said through clenched teeth, "you are nothing to me now and you will never be anything to me! I love Sharon now and I will continue to love her all my days. I will rejoice on that day when you leave my life and maybe I could follow you to church and thank the Lord for my freedom."

Angry tears ran down her face as he released her suddenly making her fall to the ground. He left her and rushed to the bathroom.

Slowly Funmi got up on her feet in shame and walked to the couch. She packed her stuffs and placed them neatly on the rugged floor, got on the couch, stretched herself on it and cried herself to sleep.

About fifteen minutes later, Antonio came out of the bathroom and took light steps towards his wife. He heard her as she cried bitterly to sleep and he felt terrible for all the cold and demeaning words he uttered. He walked away and sat on his bed and then got up again. He walked over to one of the fitted wardrobes and brought out a dark green duvet with brown embroideries. He had bought it the next day after she mentioned that her favourite colours were green and brown. He covered her with it and got ready to sleep.

He was guilt-ridden by how much hate for their parents he was projecting to the woman he married. It was a well known fact in his family that his father always fancied Funmi to be his daughter in law. The old man loved her and could just not comprehend how such a well mannered and intelligent young lady could be allowed to go to another family and not his.

"You got what you wanted Dad," he whispered into the dark night and forced himself to sleep with Sharon on his mind.