9 CHAPTER 9

The love between Ariana and Ryan grew stronger day by day as Ryan spoiled her with love and gave her every reasons to be happy. Time for him to introduce her to his family also drew near.

He happily took her to his family's home while Seth was left with one of her friends. They immediately liked her and accepted. Everyone was happy.

Meanwhile, Chris was really frustrated with life. They kept having quarrels in his house and Anita dropped the bombshell about her pregnancy not belonging to Chris.

He was shocked and thought that she was just making up stories as some women would do but she sounded so serious.

She even narrated everything to him. She was a married woman who left her husband in search of money from wealthy men. She left her home with the pregnancy of her husband and used it to hook up Chris with it.

He was drunk on the first night they met but he never remembered anything. She took advantage of his unconsciousness and lied that he was responsible for her pregnancy.

This left him shocked and angry. He hated and regretted everything and ever meeting her. He cursed the day he started drinking and keeping out late and also the day that he met her.

He wanted killing her but she already ran out of the house. To his surprise, she had made away with everything he had. All his money, cars, documents, etc was signed in her name.

It was too late when he discovered it and there was no way to see her. She had suck him up and left a hole in his pocket.

His family didn't even accept him back. He was left all alone. They told him unless he apologized to his first wife and bring her back with their son, he shouldn't show his face in their house.

He had to hide his pride and go in search of her. Luck was on his side as he got to know about her whereabouts from a friend. Unknown to him, that his new friend was the cousin of Ryan.

He took him to their home and accommodated him there as his family allowed him to stay with them until he found a place for himself.

To the shock everyone, Ryan and Ariana came visiting again as his parents asked them to.

Unfortunately for them, Chris was home. On sighting him, she was already scared and felt uneasy. Ryan noticed this and asked her what was wrong but she remained silent.

As his parents welcomed her and introduced her to them as their daughter in law to be, Chris became shocked.

He started shouting at her and insulting her, telling her that was the reason why she left him, because she was seeing another man.

Ryan got angry at how he addressed her and how he spoke rudely to her. She was already crying. Everyone was confused and asked them what was going on.

Chris then told them that she's his wife and she had a son for him. Ryan then asked her if he was the Chris and she nodded with tears in her eyes.

She had told him everything about her first marriage with him and how she met his family. He underrated her in the presence of everyone.

He told them how she ran away from her own home, married him and left him. He didn't mention that he was the one who divorced her because he wanted her back.

Ryan's mother questioned Ariana if it was true that she had a child. Ryan tried his best to save the situation but it was to no avail. Ariana was insulted and humiliated.

She left the house in shame and as Ryan tried to stop her, she didn't listen or stop. She made for home immediately and locked the door. She didn't even think of going to fetch her son.

Ryan followed her but as he was about reaching her house, he met Ashana, her friend. He narrated everything that happened to her and she adviced him not to see her in the condition she's in at that moment.

He should give her some space. He accepted and went back home, feeling dejected. She cried that day and refused to pick his calls. He couldn't sleep that night.

Because of her condition, she asked Ashana to let Seth sleep over at her place. Ashana had to lie to the poor boy and convinced him that all was well.

Chris then left the house as he found a place to live in. He was asked to leave because his presence brought trouble whenever Ryan was home.

Chris then went to Ariana's place and begged her to accept him back. He told her that he missed them so much and wanted them back.

She didn't listen to him, she decided to punish him and closed her door at him, threatening him never to come back.

Just as he was leaving, Seth saw him and ran to him. He missed him so much and hugged him tightly.

Ryan, who just arrived at her place saw this and they were all shocked. Did Seth actually still loved his real dad? Seth still considered him his father but not his mother's husband anymore.

Chris then asked Seth to beg his mother to forgive him and they should accept him back if he still considered him his dad. He told him that it was the decision of his mother not him.

Amidst all these crisis, Ryan still went far into preparation for his wedding with Ariana. He found her family but didn't tell her yet. He had already apologized to them and made them to forgive her.

He bought an expensive house in the city for them, gave her sister a job and found something doing for their mum. He did all these without Ariana's knowledge.

He also narrated all the ordeal that Ariana went through to them and told them of his plans. They decided to help him into marrying her.

Everything was planned and after trying all his best to convince his parents, his father saw his point and accepted that the wedding should take place. Whether he was getting married to a divorcee' or a single mum, it didn't matter.

Their wedding still took place. Chris tried everything to ruin it but his plans backfired. They finally got married and lived together as husband, wife and son.

Her family were also reunited with her. It was a blissful wedding. She thanked Ryan so much and didn't know when she started crying.

He knew this would happen that's why he introduced them a day before their wedding. Chris fell ill and was diagnosed with chronic lung cancer. He took drugs, smoke and drank excessively.

On the hospital bed, Seth held his hand and said to him, "you are and still remain my father because you gave birth to me.

Ryan is my daddy because he gave me all the love, care and attention I ever needed as a child...when you say father and dad, they are two different things. Get well father".

After hearing this, everyone was in tears especially Chris who was crying like a baby. He begged everyone to forgive him which they all did. Not long after, he passed away.

His death was a terrible one but he died peacefully. His burial was sponsored and arranged by Ariana and Ryan.

His parents were also informed. He was given a befitting burial. Meanwhile, Anita had an accident when she travelled and died too.

All his money and everything were retrieved and given to Ariana and Seth but they left them for his family.

They lived a happy life afterwards and Ariana, after nine months gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Seth now had siblings and it was a happy ending for them all.