STOLEN PARADISE

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Night fell and there was no sign of Funmi. Antonio called her phone over and over, called the orphanages and her catering company but no one saw her there. He felt defeated and finally decided to see his parents.

When his parents saw him, they were happy to see him, until he sat them down and narrated what disaster had befallen him.

"Please help me find her. I love her very much."

"I'm going to arrest that harlot!" Mr. Babalola shouted, greatly incensed by the news.

"So, you don't know where she is? Have you called Kemi or her parents?" Mrs. Babalola asked.

"How do you expect him to tell them that he cheated on their daughter and now she has gone missing?" Mr. Babalola replied curtly. The room became quiet and everyone got lost in thought.

Their countenance softened as they saw that he was in great pain but his mother suddenly began to shout at the top of her voice, shocking both men out of their trance.

"You placed this on yourself! You have been cheating on her your entire marriage! She loved you so much that she would come here and tell me how wonderful you are and how much she loves you. You have successfully deceived us all."

"By the way, when did you get transferred to the UK?" His Father asked tightly.

"Last week. I was going to tell you tomorrow, as a surprise." He replied weakly with his head bowed.

"Tomorrow that will never come! Thank God we cancelled the plan at the church. You were only supposed to give a testimony so there won't be much negative impact if she doesn't show up." She sighed and added, "What am I even saying? Will you give the testimony alone? Why did you treat Funmi like this?"

His father remained shocked and rooted to his seat as the nightmare continue to linger. His worst fear was what they were to tell the Olanrewaju family. How were they to explain that their daughter left her matrimonial home because she caught her husband cheating? A husband arranged by the fathers.

****

Antonio decided to go back home, just in case Funmi comes back for something she might have forgotten. By the time he got home, he found his wife's car parked in front of the house. As he packed his car, rushed out and ran inside. He found her picking her handbag and about to walk out of their living room. She looked terribly grief-stricken and defeated.

"I left something," She began to say as fresh tears ran down her face. "Why Antonio? Why didn't you just tell me you wanted to leave?"

"I was a victim of a terrible conspiracy too. Our parents caused all this," was his lame reply.

"Are you saying I'm a mistake? You told me I have your heart Antonio. Was last night some drama you were acting out?"

"No it wasn't Funmi. I love you and I mean it. I just lost control when I went to see Sharon like you advised..." His voice trailed off.

"So it is my fault now? It's my fault she seduced you, that is what you are saying, isn't it?"

"I promised you Funmi, since October when we finally became a family at heart, I only visited her once in a while to check how she was doing and it was only today we ever slept together."

Funmi laughed bitterly.

"Some goodbye gift Antonio! But you kissed, hugged and...just get out of my way!"

Antonio blocked her path and defiantly said, "You are not going anywhere. You are my wife and as the head of this family, I command you to stay."

Funmi dropped her handbag on the sofa, with arms folded, lashed out,

"All this was your plan! Your plan! You knew the only ground for divorce that I would follow through was adultery. All of this was a set-up so that I could divorce you in peace." The validity of what she said shocked her to the core of her soul.

"But then, you were going to leave for the UK with Sharon anyway."

Antonio felt defeated and troubled. Things were falling apart and there was nothing he could grasp to make them stay afloat in this storm. He took her hands in his and explained that he dropped his plans to leave her when he fell in love with her. It was just coincidental that Sharon got transferred to her company's Bristol branch at the same time with his transfer.

"I was going to surprise you tomorrow about it."

Funmi released herself from his hands as if soiled by filth.

"Move to the UK you say, so you could continue with your affair. You deceived me into believing that you loved me and that I meant something to you. You could have told me to stop fooling myself and our families too." Funmi was a mess. Her heart was torn to shreds and thrown into a mighty wave of confusion and pain.

Antonio got down on his knees and began to plead all over again.

"You are a chronic liar Antonio. Some guy gave me information on where you were and I saw those damning pictures inside your briefcase. So if we put the creepy phone calls you have been receiving together with all this drama and the photographs, voila! Blackmail!"

There and then, Antonio filled her in about Clement Johnson.

"An ex-convict you say?" Funmi was surprised.

Just then, the door opened and Johnson came in holding a gun in his left hand.

"Mrs. Babalola, we finally meet. I was the one who called you earlier about this thing here you call a husband." He pointed to Antonio and turned to him.

"Remember how I told you nearly eight years ago, that I will come back for you? How dare you put me in prison! Clearly you don't love your wife, so now, I will show her real love." He grabbed Funmi and pulled her close to himself. She screamed in fear and disgust.

"Pretty enough. She will do. Where is the way to your bedroom?"

"Please let us go. What can we give you?" Funmi pleaded.

"Toni, or isn't that what Sharon baby calls you? Lead the way to your bedroom or I swear, I will shoot your wife dead." His had a mischievous look on his face as he tightened his grip on Funmi's arm. Antonio knew he meant every word and led the way to their bedroom, praying that God rescues them both. He knew there might be a way to make things right with Funmi, but if Clement rapes her, surely, it will be the end of their marriage.