CHAPTER 70: WARNINGS FROM DIFFERENT SIDES.
Erica went shopping with her assistant. It was the best time of her life for the day. She was so proud of her achievement and wouldn’t want to stop at nothing to make herself happy. She bought a lot of things for herself and a few ladies who saw got extremely jealous of her ‘fortune’. She was, after all, getting engaged to a rich son’s family. This could add to her qualifications for being huge in the industry.
As her assistant helped pack her things into her car, Erica saw Evelyn inside a car that drove past them but unfortunately, Evie was not privileged to see her.
Erica would have loved to taunt her and put her in her place but doing it this way was okay. Shooting her shot without a view of her enemy. Evelyn must surely be scared of her now.
She got into her car and let her assistant drive while she relaxed. She was finally getting what exactly that she deserved, it was luck this time around because last time wasn’t that good because of the disappointment that she caused.
Erica would have preferred her relationship with Raphael to have been like the past when he loved her sincerely and was willing to do anything for her but this one was also better, since she knew the keys to his heart, she would start using that for her advantage to win him over but first, Evelyn and that silly son of hers had to leave.
*_*_*_*_*_*
Evelyn cleared her throat as she sat in front of the young lady. She was wearing sunglasses and her aura was pretty frightening but after taking off the glasses, she looked tamed. Evelyn had received a text earlier from her that they should meet up as she had something important to tell her. She said her name was Josephine, Raphael’s sister.
“Hi.” Evelyn greeted.
“Hi, Evelyn. I am Josephine and I am glad to finally meet you in person instead of social media. How is my Nephew doing?” Josephine asked her.
“He is fine, thank you. Nice to meet you too. Josephine, I would like to ask if you have been seeing Raphael lately on your side. I tried calling his number but he isn’t picking up or he is rather blocking me out and I am worried for him.” Evelyn asked.
“Oh yes, he is fine. I see him everyday since he comes to the mansion to speak with father about the engagement with Erica.”
Evelyn’s heart was pierced deeper when she heard this but she had to stop herself from losing faith.
“I called you here because I would like to talk with you. Can you please stay away from my brother?” Josephine pleaded.
Evelyn furrowed her eyebrows, her body trembled involuntarily when she was faced with this option.
“But.. but why?”
“Can’t you see that you two are not meant for each other? Why do you want to keep pressuring yourselves to the point of hurting each other?”
“I am in love with him.” Evelyn declared.
“Unfortunately, your love is not enough to withstand the trials of time, Evelyn. It is not. Your reputation and his reputation is being ruined. Raphael can’t do anything to stop this situation, he is only lying to you, I promise. He isn’t answering your calls or even coming to visit you anymore because he is scared and disappointed.
For your sake and Tom’s sake, he has to marry Erica whether you like it or not and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
He isn’t stable. He isn’t a Mafia boss, all his life, he has been trying to make father happy and proud of him through his blood, sweat and tears yet it yielded nothing for him.
Now, let’s break it down for you. You are at the receiving end. If you can’t do this for yourself, at least do it for your son’s sake.”
“Why is it that when it comes to you people threatening me, my son is always the spot? I thought you were in support of us.”
“I am in support of you that’s why I am telling you to stay away from Raphael. Your son is your weakness and your strength in different circumstances, this you already know. My dad wants to take full rights and responsibilities over Tom as his grandfather if you are not aware.”
“What?” Evelyn was stunned.
“Yeah, all he has to do is to try and trick Tom with the idea of him wanting to be with Raphael. No doubt that your son misses his dad and wants to spend some time with him, this is the perfect catch to do that. Raphael can never tell you this because he is a doll in my father’s hands. You are only going to be the loser. I actually don’t like interrupting or involving myself in family issues because it’s stressful but yours…I just couldn’t hide this from you.
I don’t want you to lose. If you can leave right away then do so, you have been okay without Raphael for three years, I believe. Give him some breathing space to work things out. If he is really yours and if he loves you, he will still come back to you. This is a trial of your love.”
Tears streamed down Evelyn’s eyes. She sniffed and tried wiping them away but they poured more. She was just starting to enjoy her relationship with Raphael, why did this have to happen? She shook her head.
“I can’t…I just…I can’t leave him alone.” She whispered amidst her tears.
“If you are ready to wait to see the dirty linen of the rich and how they play games with your feelings, get ready to lose what you love the most. I will take my leave now.” Josephine bowed a bit and stood up, she looked at Evelyn with sympathy before leaving.
Evelyn finally left the meeting place and decided to walk home. Despite walking past many people, her sight was blurry because her mind was filled with sadness. Everything was for her son’s sake after all. What was the essence of staying if her son wasn’t getting the happiness she wished for him to have?
That was one thing she could never trade with anyone but what about the beautiful life she had built with her friend and her son? Was this how she would keep running away from the problem? But she had no solution. They were going to take Tom away and Josephine said that there was nothing Raphael could do.
She got to her shop and stood in front of it. More tears rolled out of her eyes before turning her back against it.
The shop was open but she couldn’t step a foot in. She went back home and started packing up. Tom was the most confused as to why they were leaving.
“Mom, where are we going? Mommy, why are you packing our things? Mommy, what about daddy and godmother? Are they coming along? Mommy, I had no friends to play with today…” He kept on ranting and this was making matters worse.
“Tom, just calm down and stop asking me questions. I will explain to you when the time comes, okay? Just obey mummy and be a good boy.”
“Mummy, what is wrong? Why are you crying? Your face looks swollen. What is wrong? Are you sick?”
“TOM! I said you should shut up!” Evelyn raised her voice at him and Tom flinched before his face scrunched up, making him burst into tears. Evelyn became emotionally drained. This was her first time venting her anger on Tom, probably because she had nothing to make her go mad.
She pulled the crying Tom into her arms and kissed his forehead as she tried to stop him from crying.
“I am sorry, Tom. Momma is just a bit frustrated and unhappy at the moment. I am sorry that I shouted at you but I just can’t explain things to you right now because I have no idea what to do. I need you to understand that everything I do is for your sake, right now, you are in danger and I don’t want you to be taken away from me. Please, support mummy and listen to her, okay?”
Tom nodded and Evelyn wiped away his tears. She took off his clothes, leaving only his underwear before carrying him to the bed. She pat him and sang a lullaby so he could sleep and when she was done, she stood up and tried calling Raphael’s number again.
His number was unreachable. Evelyn was torn in between going and not going, if she had no child then she would have probably waited to face the whole thing but this had to do with Tom, she had no backup against the rich family so this was the only option she had left.
She sat down and tore a piece of paper where she started writing a few words. As she wrote, her heart was filled with pain but she knew that she had to do it.