Chapter Four

"Welcome!" Clara said with a lovely smile on her face as Bridget and Udiel entered their lovely home.

The house was a five-bedroom duplex built by Clara's husband who was a big-time lawyer Mr. Chris.

Mr. Chris was Samuel's close friend. They were both legal practitioners but Samuel worked in a bank as the head of the legal department.

Chris and Clara had a son called Frederick. He was about the same age as Udiel and he and Udiel had formed a very strong friendship bond.

"How are you doing?" Clara asked Bridget.

"I'm fine and how is Christopher?" Bridget replied.

"He's fine", Clara said.

"He went for a court session and he'll be back soon".

"Can I offer you anything?"

"Water will be nice", Bridget said.

Clara then looked at Udiel. "How are you Udiel?"

"You don't look so happy", she commented.

"I'm fine ma'am, thanks for asking", Udiel replied.

When Clara returned with the glasses of water for both Udiel and his mum, she sat down and stared at both of them looking thoughtful.

Then Bridget sat up and said, "Clara, I am not really happy with you and your husband!"

Clara expected this but she was waiting for Bridget to bring up the matter. "Why do you say so?" Clara asked with a worried look on her face.

"Last night, Udiel came knocking at your gate when his father drove him out of the house".

"And Fred came out of the balcony to answer but all Fred could say was, my mum and dad said you should go and come back tomorrow! Who does that?"

"A young boy comes to your gate asking you for help at that time of the night and you turn him down? I am really disappointed", Bridget lamented.

"It wasn't like you did not know the person knocking", Bridget said.

Clara bowed her head as she felt sorry for her actions.

Then she took a deep breath, and looked at Bridget, and said, "I'm very sorry Bridget but these are dangerous times".

"We did not know whether it was all a ploy or you guys were under duress".

"Chris has been working on very delicate matters involving top government officials and we have been warned by the forces to be very careful, that was why we told him to come back tomorrow".

"We just could not take any chances".

"I can't believe you are giving such an excuse", Bridget said to Clara.

"I understand that the safety of your family is paramount but I won't hold it against you but I do not think that excuse is good enough", Bridget said.

"I am sorry, we are really sorry", Clara said.

"Where is Fred?" Bridget asked.

"He is upstairs and he's scared of coming down because of what happened last night".

"Oh!" Bridget said.

"It's okay, he can come down or better still, Udiel go and meet your friend, I will love to talk to Clara".

Udiel then walked up the stairs to meet Fred, his friend.

"Okay, now that we are alone", Bridget said.

"I would love to talk to you about something, Clara".

"Okay my dear, I am all ears", Clara replied.

"We have been family friends for over fifteen years now, right?" Bridget asked Clara.

"Yes, we have", Clara replied.

"And you are one of the closest, if not the closest family to mine", Bridget asked.

"Yes, that's true", Clara replied.

"So you know my family really well and you know the ups and downs I had to face as a mother and a wife?" Clara nodded in agreement.

"Samuel has struck again!" Bridget said.

"I know that!" Clara replied.

"From everything that happens from Last night till this very moment, I knew that it would surely have everything to do with Samuel".

"Yes, it does". Bridget went on to narrate the ordeal about Sam and his son and all that had transpired the previous night.

"I have come to let you know that I will be leaving!"

"What do you mean by leaving?" Clara asked in shock.

"I mean I am tired of everything and I want to be free". "I want to go back home".

"There's nothing here for me so I need to go back home, where I can rest".

"At least there I will be surrounded by my family and protected", Bridget said with a sorrowful look on her face.

"Oh, my dear!" Clara said as she got up from her chair and sat beside Bridget holding her arms.

"I understand you perfectly fine but what's going to happen to the house and the belongings", Clara asked.

"When it expires in three months, and I know Samuel will be waiting for that period, so we can come and beg him to return".

"I will not beg him again!"

"I will never debase myself the way I have for Samuel".

"And so before the rent expires, I will leave".

"I have come to inform Chris about my plans".

Just as they were speaking, Chris walked in. He was startled to see Bridget as he was well aware of the event that transpired the previous night and has received a call from Samuel detailing his own version of the story of the event of the previous night.

"Good afternoon, Bridget, how are you doing?" Chris asked.

"I'm fine, " Bridget replied.

"Please can you wait, let me go in and freshen up, I already know", Chris said.

"Oh, do you? I don't think you do", Bridget replied sarcastically.

They both let out a burst of short laughter. And Chris went in to freshen up and when he returned, Bridget related her side of the story. And also informed Chris about her intention to move out.

Chris was very disappointed and sad. "Why does Sam keep doing this?!" "Why does he keep scattering his family?"

"Udiel is about to get admission into the university".

"Why is Sam behaving like this at this very moment", he said with a worried look on his face.

"I will talk to him".

"Allow me to speak sense into his head", Chris said.

"There's no need", Bridget said.

"How many times have you tried?"

"How many times have you helped out when he neglected me and his son?"

"How many times have you been there for us?"

"You have done your best", Chris.

"Now, let us handle our family issues ourselves".

"We cannot keep bothering you", Bridget said.

Chris was very very sad to hear all this. "If Sam doesn't watch his ways, he will not be able to train his child completely. And it will turn against him in future", Chris stated.

"Don't worry, I support your movement".

"Your health and mental sanity are paramount".

"I am not going to inform Sam about your movement".

"If he chooses to neglect his family, then let him lose his family!' Chris said.

"Thank you for understanding", Bridget said.

"We will be on our way now, she said as she got up".

"Udiel!" She called out to him.

"Yes mum", he replied as he and Fred came down, chuckling from whatever discussion they were having.

"It's time to go", she said to him.

"Okay mum", he replied.

"Take care Bridget and please keep in touch", Chris said as Bridget left the house.

"This story hit me hard bro", Jay Jay said as Udiel relates his ordeal to his friends.

"So you're really leaving?" Andrew asked with a glooming look on his face.

"Yes, I am! I have no option".

"I have to follow my mother", Udiel replied.

"Why are y'all so sad?", Aiso asked.

"At least, we will have more ladies to ourselves and the ladies in this town will rest!".

"Guy, you too like woman!" he said in pidgin English.

"Now they will rest in your hands but I pity those young girls in the state you are going to".

"They don't know what's coming".

"They will have no idea of what hit them".

Udiel was born into a wealthy family and mysterious circumstances.

Firstly, his mother labored for three days before she gave birth to him through a cesarean section. His grandmother acted funny and was displeased that he was born.

Even though Udiel was born into a rich family and was the only child of both parents, he never really enjoyed family love because his father preferred to spend money on women than to take care of his family.

His father was too abusive to his mother. Something Udiel grew up watching.

When Udiel was seventeen years old, his grandmother died and it was there that it was discovered that his father had a child with the housemaid whom the mother had sent out of the house previously upon finding out that she was having an affair with the father.

When the father was confronted about this, he proceeded to abuse the mother one more time and since Udiel was an adult, he stood up against his father. This caused the father to get angry and leave the family for a very long time.

This was a usual act by the father and the mother would always beg for him to come back. But this time, she decided to let him go and she and Udiel moved to another city. This coincided with his entry into the university.

Udiel had a hard time in school due to a lack of finances and illnesses which caused him to drop out in his final year. Even though Udiel hated his father for his womanizing part, Udiel found himself repeating the same mistakes his father said he loved women.

Also, Udiel began to indulge in several vile acts that were against his good upbringing.

Everyone deserted Udiel, coupled with the fact that he was a very talented child who grew into a man. His lack of complete education and lack of financial backing caused him to lose the love of his life and friends and family who abandoned him.

Throughout the story, Udiel makes repeated sacrifices for people around him and Trina, the love of his life.

But when he needs them most, they end up deserting him and leaving him for dead. And that is when he met Priscilla.

Priscilla took him in and cared for him and nurtured him until he fulfilled his dreams of becoming a top musician in the country.

He returns to school and comes out with a certificate, only for his ex-girlfriend to return, along with all the people who abandoned in life, wanting to claim a right to his riches.

Priscilla's life is then put in danger and Udiel fights to save her life. He eventually won the fight and he lived happily ever after.