Chapter 49: Chapter 49

TAKEN- forty eight

**

Stella knocks on Bella's door twice and she could hear a faint 'come in'. She moved inside the room and Bella looked at her surprisingly.

"You've not been in my room since I've been here. What changed Stella?" Bella questioned her.

"He wouldn't let me in the room"Stella weakly said as she took a sit on her mother in law's bed. She had finished crying and she just didn't know what to say to Marcus anymore. She didn't know if what hurt her was her getting cut it she was really hurt Marcus was hurt. But she didn't want to leave him. She had a lot of things to lose if she does.

Bella stared at her daughter in law and sighed. "Let me tell you a story."she said joining Stella on her side of the bed. "I was as pretty as you Stella, a woman of class, I still am. And I loved my husband a lot. What ruined our marriage was a simple mistake I caused. I had too much confidence in myself and I couldn't believe he would choose someone else over me. I ignored him most of his important days and took him for granted, just like what you're doing to Marcus-"

"I don't-"

"Shh. You take Marcus for granted and that is why you disrespected him with someone else. I did the same, but mine was a bit worse. My husband went out in search for a better lady whose ego wasn't as huge as mine and took her in as a wife. I was mad. Too mad about it and it caused our separation. Although I still blame him for what has happened, but inside my heart, I know I had done too much to provoke him. If you see Marcus in another woman's hand. How hurt would you be?"

Just the question sent Stella anger thrills. Marcus wouldn't dare! If she ever sniff him lurking around or vice versa, she would kill one of them. The only reason Rose and Stella had that one rule of seeing men outside is to make sure they were 'man' enough to show men they could do the same thing they do. She wouldn't watch Marcus chose another lady over her. Marcus could divorce her all he wants. But she would make sure she was always with him.

"I was hurt! I spent the rest of my days in love torment. I even stalked him. But I discovered he was happy with his new family and I had to lay low even if I hurt inside. I also knew if I had tried to interfere, I would destroy their happy home. And as a mother, after going through all this, I would never allow something like that to happen to my son again. Why don't you be like me and accept Marcus divorce. He's definitely going to be happy again. Without you"

Stella was shook by his mum's advice. She was here to make sure Bella have her back. But what she's hearing is definitely not going to help her get Marcus back. She needed someone important in Marcus life to trigger his change in decision.

"I know I've hurt Marcus. But it has really been a long time since this happened. The baby is not for him. I am very sure if that. Would he just allow this little mistake of mine stop his role of a father"

She hoped the words got to Bella as she said them calmly.

There was silence between the two women for a very long time.

"I would help you talk to him,but it is up to him to make a decision"Allen's mother finally said.

**

"This is his fitness class. I've been here before"Stella said to Bella, her eyes widened at where they followed Marcus to. Bella had promised to help her and Stella had insisted they followed him behind before he comes back home with a final decision. She was shocked this was where Marcus was sobering up after that much drama at home. She knew Jenifer his fitness instructor. She had seen her twice, at this place and at Clark's burial. Where they this close. Was this where Marcus has always been all those times he wasn't home? She was confused. How long was he going to be there.

"Why don't you stay in the car and let me figure out what he's doing there?"Marcus's mum said to Stella. "If we both come outside,hide somewhere. He might be upset you came along. I'll tell him I drove here"

Stella didn't like the idea of Bella going in alone, she also wanted to find out whatever Marcus was doing inside with Jennifer. Was Jenifer that consoling. She didn't like that the shoulder he was supposed to cry on was a lady's. But she had to play cool and let her mother in law work the magic.

~

Bella didn't find anyone at the open space of the fitness class, guess there was no lecture today. She couldn't figure out what room Marcus entered. But after a faint conversation coming from an office. Bella trialed the voice and stood at the door as she could arrange and get a hold of the conversation her husband was making with a feminine voice inside.

"If you don't make a decision faster you'll continue hurting yourself Marcus"Jenifer held his hands softly. She wouldn't deny how happy she was finding out that Stella was really cheating. Although not with Allen like she heard, but with someone else who also claimed to own the pregnancy. She was delighted all this was getting somewhere. She had every hope of getting Marcus all to herself. All she needed was to convince him on how wrong Stella is and make her the new female figure in the house.

She holds his chin and make him look into her eyes. "If Stella does all this to you, I'm here to calm you down" Kissing him round his face and finally on his lips, Marcus grabs her butt closer as he deepen the kiss. He was already starting to pull off her clothes when his mum entered

"You forgot to lock the door"she said.

Guilty! Caught red handed! Marcus could not help but just continue staring at his mum. He already made a fool of himself. After all that drama today, he was also secretly here with another woman. He didn't know how he would explain to his mum. He had clearly told Jenifer to stay out of this when she tried explaining and asked her to stay in her office as he spoke to his mum outside.

"I followed you immediately you left the house, wanted to see where you were heading to, so I could talk to you and calm you down, but I am as well disappointed with what I saw Marcus. You and Stella. You are no different from each other. When did this all start?"

"It's not what you think mother"he replied her

"I'm sure it's not what I think. It's probably worse. I can't keep up with all this drama Marcus. I'm getting too old to be this involved. I had your back only because of what I've gone through. But you are here doing the same thing your father did!"

"I'm here to convince you to forgive Stella, but you should not be able to forgive yourself for these. Why make a scene if you were downright doing the same thing?"

"I do not want to be involved in this anymore son. I have overstayed my welcome too. I would leave tomorrow and you don't have a choice but to sort yourself out. It's either you both come clean to each other and get separated or you keep this from her and forgive her wrong doings. I'll try my best not to leak out before i leave. Sort out your marriage issues yourself" she said and without waiting for response, she walked out on him.

Marcus bit his lip in regret. He didn't even understand all that was going on any longer. He was also a cheat as his wife was. Why was he so angry at her when she would equally be as angry as he is when she finds out about him. And forgiving her. He could do that eventually, he could let go of the fact that Spencer was an option compared to him. But accepting someone else's baby. He wasn't sure he would do that. He wasn't ready to spend on a property that someone else has the right to claim in future, he also didn't want something he would get so attached too and it would be uneasy to pull off. He wouldn't sure he would accept any other pregnancy aside his, whether Stella finds out about him and Jennifer or not.

But he had caused enough drama for himself already. He even made his own mother want to leave his house. His decision making was that terrible.