Chapter 48: Chapter 48

Why didn't you explain all of these to me before now?", Mrs. Ade eyed her husband.

"I thought you knew", Mr. Ade responded softly.

"I never knew", Mrs. Ade said again, with guilt.

She had gone back into the room immediately after bidding Salamat goodbye. She decided to go prepare for work instead of going back to bed.

She came out of the bathroom to see her husband awake and looking into space.

Guilt washed through her and she struck up a conversation with him. He explained the whole incident to her and she felt more guilt.

"I knew the pregnancy wasn't mine right from the onset. She wanted me to marry her. It was enough evidence that she wanted to push the pregnancy on me. I even asked her for DNA but she refused. The next thing I heard was that she was married to Ladi", he added.

"Yetunde is a bitch", she uttered with dislike.

Mr. Ade shook his head. "Ibukun, your jealousy is going overboard. It's all in the past."

"No wonder she hated Wumi with passion. Her daughter took after her", she completed.

"Why would you say that?" He questioned.

"Her daughter had an affair with Mr. Obi", Mrs. Ade blurted out.

"The doctor? In Abeokuta?" Mr. Ade asked.

"Yes. Salamat and I went to Adejoke's supermarket at Arokoje road that was close to Masara hotel. My car was parked at the parking lot which was far from the supermarket. So when we got back to the car, I remember I forgot a bag so I asked Salamat to go get it while I wait in the car."

"Wumi came back looking lost. I asked her what the matter was but she wouldn't tell me, not until we got home."

"She saw Habibah and Mr. Obi coming out of the hotel together. Habibah saw Salamat too and she followed her into the supermarket to threaten her. Your daughter was really shaken and scared of the threat", she finished.

"What?"

"Yes."

"How come you never told me this?" Mr. Ade demanded.

"Actually, I wanted to deal with her on my own", she confessed.

"How?" He requested.

"Never mind."

"So Habibah was the one who framed Salamat up?"

"I think so. But what baffled me the most was the man I saw her with a night before we departed from Abeokuta", Mrs. Ade continued.

"Who?"

"I saw her with another man."

"What? Are you serious?" He couldn't believe it.

"Yes, and you won't believe who the person is."

"Who is it?" He asked in curiosity.

"Brother Jamiu", she replied.

Mr. Ade laughed. "Maybe he was preaching to her against being wayward. He is always on the lookout for people's shortcomings without paying close attention to his."

"I doubt if that was it" Mrs. Ade asserted.

"What do you mean?"

"The two of them were in a compromising position. I believe there is something going on between them."

"Women!" Mr. Ade exclaimed and laughed. "What an assumption?"

"Ade, I know what I am saying. It looks like they were having an affair. I saw them hugging."

"Even though I don't like Brother Jaimu for his extremism, I won't allow you to talk bad of him. This is something you are not sure of. Let's just change the topic."

"Men!" Mrs. Ade exclaimed. "You can't deny the fact that you men are cheats."

"Ibukun, you have started. Watch your words", he warned.

"Ade, you know I will always say the truth. My husband can be different from the rest of them but that is the bitter truth."

"Ibukun?"

"Ade, let me tell say my mind", she said, stubbornly as she rubbed zulijay's body butter on her body.

"When will you stop being like this?"

"Is it a crime to say the truth?"

"People don't want to be told the truth, they will hate you for being truthful."

"I don't care. What matters most is my husband's love."

Mr. Ade chuckled. "I am truly blessed to have you."

"Come here", he stood close to her dressing mirror where she was sitted and opened his arms.

She stood up, smiled shyly and went into his arms. "Ade, it's almost 8:30, I need to go and get dressed for work."

"A minute romance won't hurt or would it?"

"Don't you know you are now an old man? Old men don't do romance", she teased him.

He laughed again and she smiled as she snuggled into his arms. "You make me feel like a sweet sixteen. Sometimes, I can't help but miss our youthful age."

"What do you miss about it?"

"The way you adore me like I am the only treasure....."

"Ibukun, don't I show you care anymore? What are you saying?" He frowned.

She giggled, seeing his troubled face. "You have two women in your life now. It's not easy sharing your love between us. I'm sure you love your daughter now more than you love me."

She smiled inwardly as she waited for a reply.

He smiled and shook his head.

"Don't tell me you are jealous of your daughter", he teased her with a peck on the lips.

"My husband is for me and me alone", she returned the peck and rubbed his cheek.

His dimples were showcasing as he smiled at her. Despite the years, he was still as handsome as ever and his smile was still enchanting.

Their love was one of a kind and she had always wanted and wished for her daughter to find true love someday in a good soul like her father. She had never regretted getting married to him. He had loved her with everything and had tamed her to his taste. She was an outspoken and stubborn lady who could stand up to any man.

In the first few years of their marriage, she was finding it hard to be submissive but with her husband's perseverance, she couldn't help but learn to be submissive to him because she knew he deserved it and more.

He was a good man with a good heart.

"You want no rival at all?" Her husband's question jerked her out of her thought.

"Yeah. Your daughter should go and meet her husband."

"Have you given her out for marriage?"

"I have already. You are the one delaying the whole process. Saleem truly loves her. He is your replica. You two have a lot in common and I know my daughter will never regret marrying him because I never regretted marrying you."

"I have my reasons", he told her.

"They are destined for each other. I see no reason why there should be any more delay."

"You want her to go and marry so you can have me to yourself?" He questioned with amusement.

"Ade, I am not that desperate", she grinned. "I can have you anytime I want, your daughter is not an obstacle."

"Even in her presence?"

She was about to ask him what he meant when she gasped as the reality of what he meant dawned on her.

"Ade, you have a dirty mind. That is not what I mean."

He smirked. "What then do you mean?"

"I mean....", she was interrupted by the ringing of her phone.

"Oh My God! You have succeeded in making me late. I'm sure that is my boss", she said as she disengaged from the hug and went to pick up her phone from the side wardrobe.

Her husband went back to sit on the bed.

"Strange number", she muttered to herself as she picked the call and put the phone to her ears.

"Hello", a strange voice said. "Am I speaking with Mrs. Ademola, Salamat's mother?"

"Yes, you are. How can I help you?"

"I am sergeant Ibrahim and your daughter, Salamat is in our custody. Your attention is needed."

"What?", she exclaimed as the call got disconnected.

Her husband jerked his head up. "What is it?"

"Salamat is in the police station", she told him, with wide eyes and mouth agape.

"Police station? What happened?"

"I have no idea", she replied, breathing heavily like someone who just did a marathon race.

Her husband moved closer. "Calm down, Ibukun."

"Sit", he instructed.

"Which of the police station?" He inquired.

"I forgot to ask."

He grabbed the phone from her and search for the last number on her call history. Then he dialed the number and put the phone to his right ear.

"Hello, good morning. This is Mr. Ademola. Can you be kind enough to give us the address of the police station?" Mr. Ade requested when the call was picked.

"Good morning, it is Samaru Kataf Police Station", the person from the other side answered.

"Thank you", Mr. Ade said and disconnected the call.

He turned to his wife and said to her. "Get dressed and let's go."