STOLEN PARADISE

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Hassan's words weighed heavily on Funmi's spirit and to make matters worse, she was getting confused. She wondered what exactly she wished would happen with Antonio. The only man she ever loved chose money over her and a Christian brother for that matter. Could she allow her heart to open to a man who treats her like garbage; a man she holds little respect for and give her heart a chance? But what about poor Sharon? They loved each other but now she is joined to Antonio before God. So what does that mean?

"Funmi, stop acting so dumb! You know the answer to that!" she reprimanded herself curtly.

Opening her heart and becoming "the wife" translates to disrespecting Sharon's love for Antonio. It meant she would be responsible for another woman's unhappiness. This didn't sit well with her but she knew too that divorce was not an option. So what should be done now? She made a promise she must keep but Sharon and Antonio's love for each other...which is greater?

"Lord help me!" she prayed out loud. "This man doesn't even care about me and wants nothing to do with me! Lord, I should have missed the wedding and surely Mr. Babalola wouldn't have died, right?"

She dropped the thought of going to work in such a messed up mind and decided she would visit her mother.

Funmi's mother was very happy to see her only daughter and after settling down over a glass of chilled Coca-Cola, Mummy dearest asked again about married life.

"I can't hold unto this by myself...Mum will have to deal with the truth," she told herself hurriedly.

So she narrated the events of the past four months to him which shocked the mother and thus making her feel guilty.

"I understand your pain," she said after a short moment of silence.

But Funmi was fed up and was now seeing the situation in a different light. Maybe if his parents become aware of his lifestyle, they could intervene. But was she not enjoying her single married life?

"I sure would have if not for his arrogance. Heck! I could have allowed him to continue his relationship with Sharon while I wait for my own wonderful spouse...under his roof." All these thoughts clouded her mind but she finally said,

"Mum, speak to Mrs. Babalola. Maybe she could talk to her son to be more civil to me."

Her mother became upset and hotly replied, "You can't do that! She will get hurt."

Funmi could not believe her ears. "What are you saying Mother?"

Her mother sighed and said, "If Collins hears about this, his health could suddenly deteriorate and you know Bimbo cannot do without him." Funmi shook her head angrily.

"So you know what it is like to be with the man you love but I can't have that luxury? Why have you decided to take away my joy and peace of mind? You took away my destiny! My life! Please tell her about Antonio, maybe he would listen to her."

"But that would be pretense love he would have for you and not sincerity Funmi!"

Funmi was shocked by her mother's lack of empathy and in turn spoke her mind.

"You are living debt free and "saving" my life by marrying me off to someone who despises me." She fought back the tears fighting to flow down her face.

Mrs. Olanrewaju stood up and walked around the lounge as if to clear her head.

"Antonio doesn't hate you, he is just hurt."

Funmi laughed bitterly and blurted out, "he is hurting because of me! You are not the one experiencing the nerve wrecking tension in that marriage! How could you, our parents destroy our happiness like this? Please talk to your friend."

Her insistence infuriated her mother,

"I will do no such thing! She is my best friend and I cannot hurt her or Collins."

"And I am your daughter!" she retorted fiercely and added in a shaky but determined voice.

"He is a lawyer and the divorce or annulment would go through quickly but I won't do it because I made a promise to God. You need to rethink where your priorities and loyalty lie. I am leaving."

"Don't you dare walk out on me Funmi! You must carry your cross and maybe in time he would forget Sharon and love you." Her mother's words sounded so absurd and cruel to her ears.

'I cannot believe that you can say such words to me. I cannot believe that you are capable of plunging me into a miserable marriage and life and not feel bad about it. Thank you Mum." She picked up her handbag and walked briskly to the door.

"Please don't visit me anymore Mum. Remember that I have to carry my cross. I will bear it Mum...the shame, the pain and the rejection. I will bear it all, without you."

She walked out of the mansion, got inside her car and switched the ignition on, stubbornly ignoring her mother's pleas to wait to talk things out.

"If it is my destiny to face such a terrible marital life, I must endure it. Lord, help me."

*****************

Funmi was preparing dinner when he husband came back from work. She was cooking roasted chicken, fried rice and green salad, with her inhaler right inside her pocket if anything goes wrong. Her heart began to beat a little faster in anxiety as she heard the front door open and then close. She quickly began to set the table for them to eat. Antonio walked in and boy, he was not in a good mood.

"Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you?" he was obviously upset about something but Funmi ignored his crazy questions and said,

"You are welcome back Antonio. You must be famished. I am just about to finish setting the table. Go and freshen up, everything would be ready by the time you are done." She walked into the kitchen, got some cutleries and went back to the dining room.

"Hassan and your parents came earlier to visit. I'm sure they told you about it." She informed him and was about to go back to check their dinner when Antonio grabbed her arm forcefully.

"I did not ask you to be my wife or mother. I can cook my own meals and please stay away from my friends!"

Funmi looked at him, perplexed and speechless.

"You are so stupid that you can't even adhere to simple rules around here."

"Antonio, I don't understand you. We were friends once. Let us try and make this marriage work. I don't want to fight please. I made a promise to God on our wedding day and I don't intend breaking it. You are my husband and I your wife."

This only infuriated Antonio even more.

"I will not accept this! I don't know what got into you since morning but you better cast it out! Read my lips Funmi, I will never be a husband to you."

Funmi reached out to touch him but he slapped her hand away.

"I am filing for divorce soon." Antonio said with a confident smile.

Funmi wasn't shocked and so she replied, "I will not sign anything because I don't care what you do to get rid of me."

Antonio pointed his right index finger at her menacingly, "Stay away from me, otherwise..." Funmi laughed bitterly and softly said,

"Or else what Antonio? Get over yourself. I am your wife so wake up and get used to it. You are being selfish and conceited. Have you for once thought about what this is doing to me too?"

She walked to the kitchen and came back with a bowl of green salad.

"I am warning you Funmi."

"Antonio, try and be a husband to me. We are married for life so it is high time you start to retrain your mind about everything especially your escapades with Sharon."

The mention of Sharon's name made him lose it and he slapped her twice across the face.

"You can never and will never replace Sharon," with that said, he left her standing alone in the dining room whimpering in pain.