CHAPTER FORTY-ONE.
“Interesting.” Adele murmured to herself as she stepped out of the elevator with her eyes focused on her watch. The time read eight pm and she was just returning from work.
There was so much work at the office and they all had to work overtime. The good thing was that the next day was Saturday, weekend and she did not have to go to work. All she wanted to do at that moment was go into her apartment and sleep from that time till the next morning because she was very exhausted.
As she approached her door, she took out her key from her bag and swiped it on the lock for the door to open up. She stepped into the house and the first thing she did was take off her shoes and put on the fluffy slippers she always put in her little corridor before heading to the living room.
When she stepped in, she froze on her tracks when she saw Jamal comfortably seated on one of her sofas in the living room. His tux jacket was resting on another sofa and he was watching a football match.
“Jamal!” She called in shock and when Jamal turned and saw her, he picked up the TV remote and turned down the volume of the Tv.
“You are home late.” He remarked, giving her a serious look.
“How the hell did you get into my house?” Adele asked Alarmed. That was a man she was trying very hard to avoid, but it seemed like he had access to everything that seemed private to her. He had access to everything she thought would keep her away from him.
“I… I have a spare key.”
“Fuck you Jamal!” She screamed at the top of her voice as she angrily threw her bag to the ground. She didn’t even bother asking how he got her spare key because she knew he was capable of getting anything he wanted.
She was totally fed up and had to put an end to his ridiculous sense of entitlement over her life and decisions.
“There’s no need for you to be so furious…”
“There’s no need for me to be too furious? What the hell do you mean by that? Jamal, I left you because I need to be away from you to heal, I need to be away from you if I ever want to get over my lost baby and barrenness! But here you are ruining everything for me by not showing up every now and then! Why have you decided to make my life so miserable? What exactly did I do to deserve all this?” Adele yelled at the top of her voice with tears flying out of her eyes.
She was sweating profusely and there were veins poking all over her neck as she screamed.
Anger, pain, regret, hatred and many other negative emotions overwhelmed her and she didn’t even know how to feel.
All she wanted was for Jamal to leave her house that instant.
“Adele, I don’t want to be away from you. Yes, I know I’ve caused you so much pain and I’m sorry, all I’m asking is for one last chance to make things right! Please.”
“One last chance? Jamal things can never be the same, not after everything that has happened, not after I have lost my ability to conceive a child all because of you!” She spat out bitterly and Jamal was taken aback.
He had no idea she knew about her barrenness.
He had pleaded with the doctor not to tell her about it, but it seems he went ahead and told her.
“You… The… you know about that?” He asked in total shock and Adele nodded at him, her face completely drenched in tears and her eyes as red as blood.
“Yes, I know about it. The doctor told me you instructed him not to tell me about it. How dare you try to keep such a thing from me? What kind of sick bastard are you?”
“Adele, I didn’t intend to keep it forever. I just didn’t want you to know right now because of all what you are going through. I was going to tell you once the dust had settled.”
“And what difference would it make?” She asked calmly, shaking her head and giving him a murderous glare. “Tell me Jamal, what difference would it make? I’m already barren, I will never be able to conceive and carry a child all because of you.”
“That’s not what the doctor said. He said…”
“I don’t give a fuck about your correction! Just get the hell out of my house, now!” She yelled again, still in tears and Jamal got confused.
It seemed like as the days went by, her anger only got worse. Her hatred for him was becoming real.
“You don’t want to leave?” She asked with creased brows and Jamal did not say a word. She disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a knife.
Jamal got alarmed.
“Adele, what are you doing with a knife?” He was frightened as he tried to go close to her, but Adele held the knife to her neck.
“If you dare take another step, I’m gonna slit my throat. I’m not bluffing Jamal, I’m going kill myself and end my suffering!” She threatened and Jamal immediately stopped on his tracks as tears rolled down his cheeks.
He could see in Adele’s eyes that she was dead serious. She looked like she was really going to slit her throat if he took an inch forward.
“Baby.” He panicked. “Please drop the knife. you are going to hurt yourself.”
“That is the plan. Since you don’t want to leave me the hell alone, I should take my life and end all this suffering. This is too much to take!”
“Baby…”
“I give you till the count of three to get out of my house and never return. If you don’t, I will kill myself. One!” She started the countdown, but Jamal did not bulge.
“Two!” She continued and pressed the knife on her throat, making a tiny cut on it. Blood oozed out of the wounded spot but she did not flinch. She kept looking at him deep in the eye.
That was when Jamal realised that she was indeed going to kill herself if he did not leave.
He quickly picked up his tux jacket and turned to look at her.
“Adele you…”
“Jamal don’t let me get to three!” She warned and Jamal quickly walked out of the living room, panting like someone who just returned from a marathon race.
As he closed the door, he leaned on it and breathed hard.
Adele needed more time away from him than he had imagined and he was going to give her that time.
However, signing divorce papers was still not an option for him.