STOLEN PARADISE

CHAPTER THIRTY - THREE

The next morning began on a bright note with a warm weather with just a little cloudy shadow above it. Funmi woke up alone and soon realized her husband must have for somewhere other than the office as it was a Saturday. She said her prayers and began to prepare for the day. But she felt a little apprehensive because it was not like Antonio to keep her in the dark about his where about. She shrugged her worries off.

She had planned to do Christmas and their First Year Anniversary shopping by herself but she decided she would wait for him so they could go together. She smiled joyfully at the thought of raiding the shops with him for the season. She put on Group 1 Crew's album: Fearless and began to sing along to "He said." She applied a generous amount of Strawberry Jam on three slices of bread and poured water into a glass. She was about to carry them to the dining table to eat when she heard the doorbell. She covered them with a dish cloth and walked to the door.

"Who is it?" She asked politely as she got closer to the door.

"Brother. Jonathan," Came the reply.

"Oh God," Funmi muttered under her breath and opened the door.

"I'm not pleased to see you but you may come in."

"Thank you." He replied ad walked in.

"What can I offer you?" She tried to be polite and hospitable.

"Nothing but a seat would do."

"Have your seat then."

He sat down and didn't even look around or try to make small jokes. He looked firm as usual in his three piece grey suit and Grey dress shoes.

"Let's get down to why I came all the way to see you."

Funmi remained silent.

"I came to tell you that your house is on fire." Funmi rolled her eyes and sat down.

"Brother. Jonathan, I thought we passed this bridge! I am very happy in my marriage, thank you very much."

He snickered and looked at her with his dark eyes. Funmi was not intimidated nor amused.

"Are you aware that your husband is about to abandon you? You are here claiming a happy marriage when very soon, you will be living in this big house all alone." He said angrily.

"I see that you have nothing to do than stalk innocent civilians around Lagos." Funmi said with a smirk.

"Funmi, this guy is cheating on you! He even bought tickets for him and his girlfriend! But I see that you haven't opened the envelope I gave you yet. That explains your crazy confidence in him."

"Brother. Jonathan, what are you talking about?"

"I found out by chance when I went to visit a friend at Antonio's Firm. He told me your husband passed the UK Bar exam and has been transferred to a sister Firm in Bristol. But guess who will be going with him; Sharon."

Funmi smiled and replied, "You got things wrong. Antonio didn't get any transfer and he is no longer engaged to Sharon."

Jonathan stood up. "I came here to tell you all this, not because I'm vindictive but because I sincerely respect you. Do you even know where he is right now? Where could he have gone to so early on a weekend? He has been seeing Sharon for a month; planning with her and doing more planning. I thought the little incidence at Emeka's party would remove the veil from your eyes and cure you of your love blindness. But I know that you love this guy so it is either you fight for him or lose him forever. Have a nice day." He walked to the door to leave but then turned around.

"Happy Anniversary in advance Mrs. Babalola." He said it with so much sadness that Funmi nearly had a shock. There was no way he liked her romantically.

She tried to process all he said but failed. There was no truth in anything he said; no truth at all.

***

About ten minutes later, she received a call from Sister. Ada.

"How are you my sister?"

"Funmi, please listen to me carefully. No matter what happens, hold tight to Antonio okay."

"Antonio? What are you saying? What is going on?"

"Brother. Jonathan is coming to make trouble, please don't listen to any nonsense that would come out of his mouth."

Funmi became apprehensive and hastily said "thank you" before cutting the call.

What was going on anyway? Why do outsiders know more about Antonio than I do? Antonio loves me doesn't he? Is my marriage in danger and I was unaware, lost in a land of fantasy?

She quickly left the thoughts behind and rushed to their bedroom. She rushed to her wardrobe and took out the unopened envelope Jonathan gave her the previous night. As she opened it, she found photos of Antonio and Sharon on dates together and she could see they were taken not long ago.

Was that not the shirt she bought him just three weeks back?

The photos fell out of her shaky hands. They were accompanied with a typed note,

"Sharon has been transferred to the UK branch of her company as the new Head of Department of Marketing. It was all a façade Funmi; he makes you happy and you will not suspect anything. Happy viewing."

She gathered the photos and started looking at them one by one as well as the dates printed on them.

It could be wrong dates; someone is trying to break up my marriage.

She looked at the first date; August 30. It had a series of pictures of Sharon and Antonio kissing and hugging each other getting inside a cottage. She was not moved; this was before he left Sharon. She sighed in relief and looked at the other dates.

The other photos were taken in September and the last in October. The truth finally dawned on her. He was still seeing Sharon after all this time. She threw the pictures away in anger and broke into tears.

It was all a show and she was the foolish audience. Flashbacks of the previous night swept through her mind.

"Antonio loves me!" She declared into the silent room. Her eyes fell on a photo of Sharon and Antonio in swimming costumes at Sharon's house.

"No! No! This must be some computer manipulation." She said in denial.

She got to the floor and picked up all the pictures, placed them in one of her handbags and rushed out of the house. She got inside her car, on a quest to find the truth and the only person who can do that was none other than Sharon Otunba.