STOLEN PARADISE

CHAPTER THIRTY - TWO

The couple rode home in silence, each lost in their thoughts about Sharon's drama. Funmi was happy because now she could see that truly Antonio loves her alone. The latter on the other hand was a mental mess because he could not muster up the courage to ask his wife how much she saw and heard as well as her feelings on the matter.

Immediately they got home, the telephone as if waiting for them to show up began to ring. Antonio picked up the receiver to answer while Funmi sat down on one of the sofas, in a confused state of mind. She was happy but a little birdie whispered words of doubt in her heart. What if Antonio was only pretending not to be taken in by Sharon's pleas to get back together? What if he knew she was standing there and listening and as a result put on his best acting skills to work?

Emeka was disappointed they left early but he released them after sensing the slight tension in the air and spotted Sharon sipping a glass of wine in a corner.

Meanwhile, Funmi watched her husband with concern as his facial expressions changed from anger to worry then fear. As he dropped the receiver, Funmi stood up and asked in a suspicious tone,

"Who was that?"

"Nobody." He replied crisply.

He walked towards her and sat her down. He held her hands as he sat opposite her,

"I'm sorry about what happened this evening but I want you to know that it is you I love now and Sharon and I are over."

Say that you don't love her Antonio. Why can't you just say, "I don't love her anymore?"

Funmi stood up slowly to face him.

"I honestly don't know what to believe anymore." She said softly and turned around to leave but suddenly stopped as she felt pain in her left ankle. She bent down and rubbed it.

"Are you okay? Does it still hurt?" He asked with concern.

She slapped his hand away and limped up the stairs to their bedroom.

Antonio sighed deeply and just as he stood up, the telephone began to ring again.

"You think you are a smart lawyer? Think again because I will deal with you Toni so much that you will regret our paths ever crossed." The line went dead.

"Someone is threatening me?" He said to himself as he walked to the kitchen to get a glass of juice. He opened the fridge and took out a box of Mango Juice and poured some inside a glass cup. He downed it and put the box back before heading to their bedroom to plead with Funmi.

***

Funmi was seated on their bed, still in the dress she wore to the party. Antonio walked towards her and said,

"I'm sorry Funmi. It's just that I feel bad for Sharon. I broke her heart and left her in the cold but I assure you that nothing is going on between both of us. Please believe me."

"Antonio, I believe you but I'm only human. A lot of questions were running through my mind."

"I assure you Funmi, it was not an act and I sincerely didn't expect her to be there."

"I'm scared something bad might happen to us." He sat next to her and asked why.

"I had a nightmare this morning. You were trying to protect me from a masked man and you got shot and fell down a very tall building, bleeding profusely. Antonio, is something going on? What about your law firm? Is something going on?" Deep worry lined her forehead.

"I'm alright dear, let's pray about it."

Funmi stood up in frustration. "I can't pray without an open and clear heart Antonio! I cannot pretend I didn't see what happened tonight. Are you still in love with her? I know it's not easy to just let go of many years of true love and move on."

"What are you trying to say Funmi?" He asked, confused.

Funmi took his left hand in hers and turned his wedding band around on his finger.

"I want you to talk to Sharon and reassure her that what happened was not your fault or hers; that you never intended to hurt her or abandon her. I just want you to encourage her to open her heart to happiness and move on."

Antonio tittered. "You don't want to do that Funmi! I know Sharon."

"She can move on if you release her and I think she is still clinging to you because you have not released her properly. If you do, she will be free to move on and pursue her own happiness."

Antonio sighed and finally smiled, "You are always thinking of others even when you have nothing to gain. Come now, let's pray."

Funmisuddenly hugged him tightly as if to dear life. She has given her entire heart to him; if she were to lose him, she might never recover from the loss.