Chapter 103 I am rich!
MYSTIC SHADOWS FORTRESS
Alice dropped down from the car with Linda and made their way towards the hospital. Linda had a big black shades on trying to keep herself away from familiar eyes. Deep within her, Alice hoped she is doing Jovy a favor by letting the strange woman know about her location. Calming her palpitating heart down as they got into the hospital premises, she texted Arlo in a hurry to know if he has arrived.
Arlo was already with Jovy, handing her a cup of freshly made hot ginger tea to help her belly warm up faster. The moment Alice had called to inform him of her coming. Arlo had left everything he was doing and returned to the hospital. He had slept by her side all through the night but he needed to grab fresh clothes for Jovy.
“Are you nervous?” He asked Jovy.
Jovy looked up at him. “I don’t know how I am suppose to feel. But one thing is sure…my thoughts are jumbled at the moment.”
The door opened letting in Alice and Linda. Recognition dawned on Jovy’s face when Linda took off her glasses. She had seen the woman with her father. Since she was never allowed anywhere near her father’s company, Jovy knew next to nothing about it.
“Hello everyone.” Linda mumbled. “It’s nice to finally place a face to the name, Jovy.”
Jovy stared at both of her friends who had already stand guard on both side of her. “I really don’t know you but you said you are from my father.”
Linda sighed. She had been contemplating for months after Tommy’s death to ignore finding Jovy and go far away with her kids. But her conscience just couldn’t take it and to respect Tommy’s last wish, she had began a frantic hunt for the girl. Luckily, Linda had gotten a whiff of the high school she attended and choose to start from there.
“I really don’t have much to say. I just needed to drop off this file to you which Tommy had begged me fervently for to find you for it.” Linda said, handing the big brown envelope she produced from her bag to Jovy.
Uncertainty lingered on Jovy’s face thinking whether or not to open it. Finally building up her courage, she opened it up to find some papers with the company’s name and hers too. “What is all this for?” She asked Linda.
“In a bid to compensate you for all that he had made you go through, he had your shares retained from the sales of the company which implies that you get to be paid from every profit made. I think he had an account opened on your behalf with some money in it and every of the paper has your name on it. The envelope should have all of that too.” Linda responded.
Jovy checked through the rest of the papers to affirm Linda’s words. She glanced up at her friends, still not believing what was in front of her. Tears laced her eyes with her emotions jumbled. “Please tell me this is a dream.”
“Hell no, it isn’t.” Alice clapped in excitement and she pinched Jovy.
“Alice!” Jovy whined at the effect of the pinch, bursting out into a fit of laughter at the same time.
Linda cleared her throat. “If you have anything to ask, there is a contact for you to reach out to there. I have finally delivered the dead one’s message so I will take my leave now.”
“Thank you so much for this, Linda. This means a whole lot.” Jovy said.
“I know.” She smiled back in response. “Bye.”
Alice and Arlo accompanied her out of the room and while they were out, Jovy checked the envelope again and a mini envelope dropped out on her lap. Picking it up, she opened it gently and pulled out a folded letter. Her eyes widened in utmost shock as they read through the content of the letter.
It wrote. “Dear Jovy, I know I am the least person you would want to hear from. The amount of pain I caused you can’t be explained. I feel ashamed of myself for treating you so poorly. I didn’t realize how awful I acted, until I birthed my own kids and realized how bad I would have felt if anyone hurts them. I took out the hurt I felt from your mother’s betrayal on you. I discovered when you were four that I was not your father and I have no idea who he really is. That isn’t an excuse to have acted like a monster but all the same, I am really sorry. I know this won’t make up for the years of pains you have had to endure. Still, I hope it will enable you to escape from the present hellhole I dragged you into and start a new life. Forgive me for the pains I have caused you. Have a good life ahead. Tommy.”
Jovy gasped out loud as tears trailed down her eyes and she was unable to control it. Her hands shook heavily as she tried to hold on to the letter. Her shoulders shook vigorously at the effect of the intensity of her tears and Jovy hiccuped at the effect as she tried to steady her breath.
Alice walked in with Arlo behind her the both of them laughing at a joke. But their mouths went agape seeing Jovy soaked in tears.
“What happened?” Alice asked as she rushed towards her. Slowly she began to massage her shoulders.
Arlo’s eyes caught a glimpse of the letter that had dropped to the ground. He stood still and read through the content. Snatching the paper from him, Alice eyes scaled through each lines and she blurted out. “This is unbelievable! That bastard!” She turned her attention back to her friend. “Forget it, Jovy…It’s not like anything can be done now.”
“Alice is right, Jovy. It’s of no use crying over spilled milk. You should be thankful he isn’t your father after all.” Arlo added.
Jovy blinked hard. All her life she had been saddled with the thought that her father doesn’t love her only to discover after his death that, they are not blood related. It hurts and feels relieving at the same time. She tried to wrap her head around the realization that her father is a complete stranger to her and her mother had been cheating. Jovy couldn’t decipher her feelings.
“How are you feeling?” Arlo asked.
Jovy leaned further into the bed and inhaled deeply. “I don’t know, Arlo. One thing is sure though, no amount of compensation can pay for all of the emotional damage they all caused me.”
“That is exactly what I was talking about!” Alice bellowed.
Arlo rolled his eyes. “Don’t you ever get tired? Relax baby. Relax.”
“Mind your business.” She shunned him. “So what do you plan to do now, Jovy?”
Jovy gulped. “Nothing. I’ll just hold on to the document till the right time.”
Alice huffed. “And here I am thinking you would plan your escape right this minute.”
“Stop being dramatic. Look on the brighter side of life, Alice. I am rich!” Jovy yelled. Her sudden outburst surprised her friends.
Arlo laughed out loud. “I can’t believe you had that in you.”
“Money does that to people.” Alice sneered.
Stretching both of her arms with tears in eyes, Jovy motioned for the both of them to come to her and she embraced them. “I love you both so much.”
“Awwnnnn…. I love you too.” Alice replied.
Jovy sighed into the embrace. She feels better despite the pool of distress she is in.