“Where is he?!” Evelyn barged into the Lontoc family house. “Where the hell did you keep him?!”
April relaxed on the sofa, having expected this visit. “Welcome to my house, Mother. Would you like some tea?”
“You witch! Who made you this way?! How could you… How could you kidnap your father?!”
April was unbothered. “If you have come to throw accusations, I suggest you use the door.” She took a sip of her tea. “I am in no mood for your theatrics. Matter of fact, I am still shaking in my boots, waiting for the twelve-hour mark so I can come to beg you.”
Evelyn couldn’t recognise the person in front of her. The smirk she wielded like a sword, the coldness that oozed from her poise and the cruel comical look in her eyes. She had underestimated this daughter of hers.
“Let him go. Leave him out of this.”
April corked her brow, “I still don’t understand what you are saying, Mother. Seat down and speak clearly.” She looked over her watch. “I don’t have much time.”
Evelyn took a deep breath that did nothing to calm her. If she was to get her husband returned to her side, she needed to play by her daughter’s books. For now, she needed to suck it up and do whatever it took to have him back.
When April watched her mother sit, a smile covered her face. “Good girl. Now tell me, what is the problem?” She spoke to her mother like a little child, soft and pruning.
“Anthonio.” Evelyn gritted. “He was taken by some men on his way home. He’s been kidnapped. I don’t want anything to happen to him.”
April nodded and a smile played on her lips. “Of course. Nothing would happen to my adopted father. As long as you play by the rules.” A scoff, “Besides, I can’t bear to lose my father-in-law as well as my adoptive father. Not a good look.”
Mrs Olivia stepped into the sitting room with a tray of tea in her hands. Evelyn looked at Ethan’s mother, who was now a shadow of herself and for the first time, she saw the devil in her daughter.
April smiled, enjoying the horror look on her mother’s face as she took in the frail and shaking Olivia Lontoc who served two cups of tea without meeting their eyes. Gone was the confident madame of the Lontoc household.
All that remained was a frail-looking depleted woman who had lost hope in life and resigned to the cruel fate of being the servant’s help in her own home.
“Tea?” April asked once again, eyes twinkling.
Evelyn swallowed, unable to speak. April took it as a yes.
“Serve my mother her tea, Olivia.” She said, “Try not to waste the content of my tea. I’d hate to add the bill to the existing debt you have incurred.”
Upon hearing April’s voice, Olivia’s hands shook more. Terror took over her features as she tried and failed to stop it from shaking terribly. The sight of her fear was a beautiful sight to behold. At least to April who watched in entertainment.
She hoped to achieve this and more in her mother’s life. It was only a matter of time now. Olivia made to leave but was stopped by April who raised her hand.
“Not so fast, servant. Sit.” She ordered in a firm tone and Olivia turned around, meeting her eyes for the first time. Her eyes were panic-riddled and stressed.
“Oh don’t look so afraid,” April said. “Makes me feel like the devil’s incarnate.” She faced her mother who remained stoic and worried for her husband’s well-being. “It’s been a while since you sat together, or even spoke to each other. I bet you have a lot to say. No?”
The women maintained silence, unable to speak as they all looked into the tea on the table. April held the laugh that threatened to break from her lips.
“Since you have nothing to say to each other, then you should both listen to me.” Her face turned serious. “I once shared with you all that I was pregnant for my husband Ethan.” She said, “But since we have all gotten to this point, I realise there is no need to keep this secret.”
April wielded a triumphal smile on her face as she said the words. “It was all a lie. I was never pregnant with him. Ethan can’t impregnate a woman.”
Olivia couldn’t believe her ears, she didn’t know when the words escaped her lips. “My son is perfectly able to impregnate a woman.” She muttered and April laughed.
“If that makes you sleep at night.” She continued her story. “I found out how ridiculously low his sperm count was when I tried all things to get pregnant for him and chase that wench out of his house, all to no avail.”
“I was able to run some tests on him and the results showed that your precious son is incapable of bearing children.” She clasped her hands. “I guess June wasn’t the problem after all.”
“It was then I decided I couldn’t be his bride – not for long.” She laughed, “He wasn’t man enough to have me but his background was not to be ignored. With the bonus of displacing my sister, you can see why I took this leap of faith.”
“I saw the pregnancy results. I took it myself.” Olivia said, unable to believe it. “How?”
“Good question. It’s unbelievable how ridiculously easy it is to fake these things when you have the right connection.” She shrugged, “That’s beside the point. Since we are here together, I might as well tell you how things will be moving forward.”
She turned to her mother. “Who knows the secrets you’ve leaked to Ethan on your little bitchy visit? With every second that passes, that failure of a man might be one step closer to using the bullets you’ve given him to ruin me, and we can’t have that.”
Olivia hiccuped. “Please, my son would do no such thing.” She turned to Evelyn. “Tell your daughter! You didn’t say anything to my son! Please!”
Evelyn looked shell-shocked as April continued with a deranged look on her face.
“So you see, I can’t be blamed for anything that happens to my husband.” She turned to Olivia, “If anything should happen to your son, you should hold my mother accountable.”
Olivia fell to her knees. “Please! Show him mercy! Just give me one visit with him and I will give him a stern warning against doing anything stupid! Please, give him another chance.”
A text beeped on her phone and she shrugged. “Too late.” She looked at her watch and said, “Oops, it’s time to put on the news.”
With a snap of her fingers, one of the maids rushed into the room and turned on the TV. The news headline that appeared on the screen gave Mrs Olivia a heart attack.
“No… No… Noooo!” Olivia screamed, shaking her head as she read the news on TV.
The body of Ethan Lontoc had been found in his prison cell. He committed suicide. Olivia fell to the floor, breathing harshly.
“Quick! Call nine one one! She needs help!” Evelyn rushed to the defeated woman’s side, trying her best to administer CPR all to no avail. April sipped her tea as she watched her mother-in-law breathe her last.