185 I Hope You Are Happy
“Ella, take a deep breath and calm down.”
Ella mumbled to herself due to all her skyrocketing nerves.
“Ma’am, are you alright, do you want me to reverse the car and leave this place?” The cab driver inquired politely. free(w)ebnovel(.)com
Due to the tension brewing outside his car and the heavy breathing and uneasiness of the pretty young lady seated behind, the cab driver knew that things were about to get ugly. Hence, he came up with a suitable solution to help out.
“I can take you back to the airport or a very good hotel here on the island.”
“Umm... Thanks... You can... No... I’ll be fine.” Ella responded indecisively. Even though she tried the breathing in and out exercise, her heart was still pounding erratically and she feared that it was about to leap out of her chest.
The cab driver turned around to face Ella and tried pleading with her as he feared that she was in deep trouble. He could see that she was sweating even when the car air conditioner was on. Also, he could see the terror well written in her twitching eyes.
“You are like a daughter to me, ma’am, I don’t want those people to hurt you. Please, let me...”
The cab driver had not finished his statement when Ella quickly opened the passenger door and stepped out.
.....
Ella was amazed at her reflexive power. One minute, she was contemplating the concerned driver’s suggestions and the next minute, she was out of the car, facing an enraged tigress.
“There is no turning back now. It is either I face Marissa’s terror now or later. The highest she can do is call me names or ask me to get lost.”
Ella swallowed her anxiety and took careful steps towards Marissa, who has suddenly stopped on her track and was glaring at her in astonishment and disgust.
“Good day, mum!” Ella said in a slightly trembling tone as she finally approached Marissa.
Marissa on the other hand was taken by surprise as she hadn’t expected Ella to be this bold and calm. Neither had she expected Ella to dare come down to Islafub.
“Wait a minute,” Marissa squinted her eyes and thoroughly examined Ella. “Who do you think you are to come here? And what gave you the temerity to address me as your mother?”
Marissa misty eyes reddened as she glowered at Ella. She was just a few inches away from Ella and Leon was acting as a barricade between both women.
“Mum, please, calm down!” Leon held his mother back from clawing at Ella’s face.
Although Leon and Ivory kept pleading with Marissa to calm down, their voices faded into the background as Marissa’s high-pitched voice spewed fire and brimstone.
“Are you suddenly blind that you can no longer recognize your mother? Oh, I see, you have come here to finally pull my family apart and take my son for yourself, forever.”
“No, I’m so sorry for all the hurt I have caused you.”
Ella wiped the tears flowing down her cheeks with trembling hands. She went down on her knees and pleaded for Marissa to forgive her.
At the moment, Ella yearned for a shoulder to cry on but she knew that if Leon left his grieving mother for a second to attend to her, all hell will be let loose.
“So you’re faking those crocodile tears so that my son can see me as a bad mother and come over to console you, right? Why don’t you just kill me right now so that you can finally have my son all to yourself you wicked girl.”
“Mum, stop it!” Leon said in a slightly raised tone as he helplessly watched Ella crying. “No one is taking me away from you. I love you so much. I’m here for you always and forever.”
“If you love me so much like you calm, then send her away and put me out of my misery. Don’t leave me like you dad.” Marissa wrapped her weak trembling hands around Leon and cried heavily.
When Ivory and Yvonne joined Leon in consoling their mother, Leon begged Ella to rise and go seat back into the car, through wordless communication.
Ella nodded her head in reply and slowly stood up to her feet. Marissa’s brokenness and rejection made her cry harder. But when she turned around to leave. A unique voice stopped her in her track.
“Ella, stop right there!”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned in the direction of the voice.
Nana Esther gently came out of her house and walked quietly toward Marissa and her children. Her scrunched face and disappointed looked conveyed only one massage: she was very angry.
“Marissa, what gave you the right to turn away a guest I specifically requested for? Are my words no longer valid in my own house? Is this how I treated you when my son first brought you to my house as his wife? I am highly disappointed in you.”
“B...b...but Nana, she almost ruined my family.” Marissa sniffed and sobbed harder.
“No, point of correction...” Nana Esther glared at Marissa when she finally approached her, “...you almost ruined your family due to your meddling in your son’s affairs.”
“Nana, that’s not fair! I only meant well for my son!” Marissa cried louder.
“Oh no!”
Ella’s body trembled even more. Although she appreciated the fact that Nana Esther just stood up for her, she was greatly worried about the possible consequences of Nana’s actions.
“Oh God, why is all this happening to me? Why do I have to be the reason for so much argument and pain? Marissa is going to hate me even more, now.” Ella lamented within.
As if confirming her thoughts, Marissa turned in her direction with eyes all swollen, red, and filled with tears.
“I hope you’re happy!”
Ella shook her head and cupped her quivering lips with her hands.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Leon, take your mum and sisters inside the house. I will take care of my Ella.” Nana Esther instructed sharply. She walked quickly toward Ella and pulled her into her arms.
“There! There!! Your Nana is here for you!”
Nana Esther slowly stroked Ella’s back and led her into the house, after giving instructions for the taxi cabs to leave after dropping off the luggage in their booth trunk.
When Ella and Nana Esther were finally inside a well-decorated room designed specifically for Leon and Ella, she threw her arm around Nana Esther’s neck and hugged her tightly
“I miss you so much, Miatisa,” Ella whispered into her ears. Thanks so much for loving me and coming to my rescue.”
“You are welcome, pumpkin.” Nana Esther smiled. She gently wriggle her body and slowly pulled out from Ella’s tight embrace.
“Ignore all Marissa told you. Don’t you worry, she would come back apologizing to you sooner than later?” Nana Esther stroked Ella’s cheeks fondly. freewebnov(e)l
“Now be a good girl and go use the bathroom. Ease yourself and take a cool shower. I’ll be waiting for you right here so that we can talk at length.”
“Okay, Miatisa,” Ella beamed amidst tears and left to do as she had been instructed.
—
Back in the sitting room, Leon sat beside his crying mother, who had her hands wrapped around him and had no intention of releasing him any time sooner.
When Leon asked after his father from the house nurse, he was told that his father was fast asleep. Hence, he decided to keep his mother company until his father woke up.
“Leon,” Marissa called softly to him. “Your Nana and I were fine and even best of pals until Ella showed up. I think your Nana is mad at me because of her.”
“No, she is not mad at you,” Leon said convincingly.
“That is not true, Leon,” Yvonne interjected slyly. “I have never seen Nana so mad ever since I knew her. Didn’t you notice that she didn’t even acknowledge our presence due to your wife?”
“Yvonne, really! Now?” Leon flashed her an angry stare.
“Yvonne, please, mum is already hurting. Don’t worsen things more than the way they already are.”
Marissa raised her head from Leon’s chest but did not let go of him.
“Why does it feel like Yvonne is the only person that has my back in this family? You all should stop antagonizing her. She’s your elder sister and your second mother. She means well for this family and me.”
“Thanks, mum!” Yvonne smiled.
She stood up from where she was sitting earlier and sat beside her mother. Then she gently placed her head on her mother’s shoulders like an innocent and cute child.
“Come on mum, you know that we all have your back. All I wish and pray for is that you accommodate my wife during our short stay here. Remember, she is here at Nana’s request.”
“I’ll try but I’m not making any promises,” Marissa said dryly. “But, make sure to tell her to keep away from my family. I don’t want to see her around the house. She can stay up in her room for all I care. When you guys return to the city you can continue with your frolicking.
“Hmm...” Leon massaged his head in frustration.
Ivory shook her head in disappointment and stood up.
“I need to use the convenience mum, please may I be excused?”
“Sure, Ivory. I know you’re eager to leave me and be with your new bestie.” Marissa hissed and placed her head back on Leon’s chest.
“Mum!”
New novel chapters are published on fr(e)ewebnov(e)l.com