STOLEN PARADISE

CHAPTER FOURTY

From the day the attack was broadcasted till present, Sharon has been trying without success to get through to Antonio. His line has been switched off for days and when she could not take it anymore, she decided to go to the hospital and wait for the parents to come. She could not rely on the News Reports and wanted to get first-hand information on his welfare. She felt bad for Funmi but knew deep down that, it could have been her, if she had married him.

She watched as Chief. & Mrs. Babalola steeped into the parking lot and bid the Olanrewaju goodbye. The parking lot was full of vehicles but mostly empty of their owners. She approached the older couple carefully, with her heart doing a sprint inside. She was terrified and nervous. She had prepared her mind for any insults or any forms of abuse they might inflict on her but she does not care. All she needed was to see Antonio and see for herself that he lives and is recovering well.

Mrs. Babalola spotted her as she drew near their sleek 2018 Red Toyota Camry.

"Chief! What is this girl doing here?" She whispered.

Sharon greeted them and before she could say a word, tears were falling down her face.

"Ehn ehn! What are you crying for? You have gotten what you wanted now." Mrs. Babalola added harshly.

"I am sorry Chief. I am sorry Ma. I really love Antonio and I just want to know if he is alright." She replied between sobs.

Mrs. Babalola closed the passenger's door with a loud bang.

"Say that again so I can hear you properly. You want to see who? Antonio? My precious son, whose wife is fighting for her life? You are joking! What did I say? You are a Joker!"

"Young lady, Antonio is well, you may take your leave." Chief. Babalola said crisply.

"Please let me see him one last time before I leave for the UK." Sharon pleaded and went on her knees."

"Alakoba ni e she o mo (Do you know, you are a troublemaker)? Do you want this to go on social media? You are a disgrace."

"Ma, I love Antonio. We have been together for long and he was just about to propose when you arranged his marriage. Put me in the position of one of your children Ma. Imagine the shock and the pain I have been enduring. Please, I will leave his life, just let me see him again."

Mrs. Babalola felt pity for Sharon but he is no longer available, plus, her son was at fault. He should have announced his girlfriend to the world when he had the opportunity, instead of waiting for a convenient time to make a show of a surprise engagement of one of the most eligible bachelor in Nigeria. See where it has landed them all.

"Sharon, get inside the car." She finally responded.

Chief looked at his wife for clarification but got none. He decided to just go with the flow.

Sharon sat at the backseat, thanking them profusely.

****

Mrs. Babalola directed her husband to take them to a restaurant so they could talk to her and finish everything once and for all. Upon arrival, they got a seat and ordered some refreshments.

Sharon breathed a sigh of relief as she sat down. The high class restaurant they brought her was an ostentatious and private type, with dim lights even though it was day time.

After urging her to take a sip of the wine in her cup, Mrs. Babalola got down to the matter on ground.

"Child, we feel your discomfort but we did what we did for Antonio's future. You too have a bright future ahead of you but now, our Antonio is no longer available and will not be divorcing Funmi. I think it is time you let him go."

Sharon shed silent tears as she listened to the words of wisdom from the older woman.

"Funmi laid down her life for Antonio during the attack and for that we are grateful. We thank God that she made it alive but the Doctors have said she might not be able to walk again. As it is, we know that Antonio cannot abandon the woman who loves him so much, so much that she took the blow that was meant for him."

"What my wife is trying to say is that you should move on with your life and as it is, you have been granted a new beginning in the UK. Passionate love is undeniably real, but reality is even more real."

Sharon knew the conclusion of the matter; they will not allow her to see him. Fresh tears ran down her face as she thought about how they parted in anger and pain. Thankfully, she is not parting with him in death.

"Please tell him I came to check on him. Please tell him that I will be leaving." She said softly as she sobbed. She was aware they might not even tell him about the visit, but she tried her best to get to him.

"I wish Funmi a speedy recovery. Goodbye Chief and Madam."

"Goodbye Sharon. Goodbye."

As Sharon walked into the hot afternoon sun, her heart seem to tear into fresh pieces as she realized that a good portion of her life had been wasted loving someone that she did not know would end up with someone else. If only things were different. All the anger she felt towards him left when she heard about the attack and could not stop praying for his recovery and Funmi's too. It was all over. Her battle for love has ended, and unfortunately, she was the casualty of it.

*****

Shalom lovely readers. I owe you a lot regarding this book that seems to be taking forever to be updated. So much has been happening but I hop to be updating daily until further notice. Thank you for your patience. God bless you.