Chapter 33: Chapter 33

There was still no answer from Mr Muffin. It had been over six months since he had given me that card with his number on it.

Did he change his number already? But that couldn't be possible. After all, he had given me up to a year to reach out to him, or had he forgotten about me already? Perhaps he had found someone with a better selling story for him.

"Hello," I heard from the other end.

"Mr Muffin?"

"Yes, this is Mr Andrew Muffin. May I know who I'm speaking with?" He asked from the other end.

"It's... It's Cassandra," I replied, almost immediately.

I could mentally see him smirking as he spoke, "Your boyfriend already broke your heart? It's not even up to a year yet."

"He... didn't....break my heart," I said through clenched teeth.

"So why are you calling?" He asked.

The noise of the metal I had heard clashing against the door became louder.

"We're coming in soon and when we get in, you'll have yourself to blame," The same husky voice roared.

"What's going on there?" Mr Muffin asked from the other end.

"I need your help," I told him.

"With what?" He asked.

"Some hoodlums are trying to break into my house and take some important papers....."

"Where is your boyfriend?" He asked.

"He left, okay?" I yelled.

He laughed, "He got fed up of taking responsibility for you and your baby, not so?"

"That's not what happened, I don't have enough time," I said.

"Text me your house address," He said.

"On it!" I said and hung up.

I immediately texted him the house address, praying he'll come as soon as possible, lest I was used as bait for Amsey's return. I didn't want Amsey to be put in a tight position and forced to come home because of me cause I was sure if he had to choose between me and the documents, he'd choose me and I didn't want him to lose.

I heard the door of the living room open with a loud bang and Rita, with the baby in her arms, went to peep from the passage at the living room.

She immediately entered back into the bedroom and closed the door and bolted it from the inside.

She placed the baby in the cot and began to pace up and down.

"What? What is it?" I asked.

"The door's open, the bad man got in," She responded.

I panicked, "Oh God! Oh God!!"

"Why don't you call Pastor James? He'll be more than willing to help," Rita suggested.

I shook my head, "No way, no freaking way," I disagreed.

"Then what are we to do? Sooner or later, those thugs are going to open up this bedroom and when they find us, they'll kill us," She said, nervously.

"Hey, calm your nerves down. No one's going to kill us, okay?" I said, trying to be positive.

"They'll murder us then?"

I rolled my eyes, "I already said they won't kill us," I yelled.

"Yeah! That means they'll murder us!!" She yelled back.

"God!! Rita, kill and murder mean the same thing for crying out loud," I groaned.

"They do?" She asked as she arched her eyebrows.

"Yeah!"

"Forgive me. I'm just nervous and stressed out about this whole thing," She said and slumped onto the bed.

"Me too," I said, letting out a deep breath.

"Will we die?" She asked, sitting up.

"I don't know about you but my child and I won't die," I said, with a mischievous smile.

"You're insane," She joked.

"I know," I affirmed.

"Hey, I was only kidding," She said.

"Wait, I think I can hear something," I whispered and tiptoed to the bedroom window to eavesdrop on the conversation I was so sure I heard.

"We're inside the house and we'll get them soon but Amsterdam is gone," The husky voice said.

"We'll surely get him. He'll have no choice but to return once he discovers we're with his girlfriend, her friend and her baby," He said, a minute later.

After some seconds, he also added, "You will be surprised about what I just found out. The pastor is his girlfriend's father."

"Oh God, we must have left the letter in there!" I exclaimed.

"Wait, you mean Pastor James is actually your father?" Rita asked.

I looked and saw her standing behind me, "Didn't you read the letter?" I retorted.

"I thought he meant you should take him as your Father in the Lord, I didn't know he meant it literally," Rita fired back.

"Well, now, you know," I said, drumming my fingers on the window sill.

"But how?"

"I'll explain it all later but for now, we need to figure out a way to escape," I said.

"I thought you already called someone," Rita said.

"What if he doesn't show up? We need to have a plan B," I said to her.

"So what's the plan? We jump out the window or what? If that's what you're planning on doing, I'm not with you on that," She said.

I rolled my eyes furiously.

"What? Are you angry? It's your fault I'm in this situation, you know that? I should be the one who's angry," She said.

"You're obviously out of your mind. I don't remember asking you to come here."

"It wasn't you who asked me to, Amsey did."

"Amsey called you to come here?" I inquired.

"Exactly. He was like you needed help and you couldn't be all alone, he said you were hurt blah blah blah. Why else would I have come to your house on a Sunday morning? I had to lie to my aunt that I was attending service just so I could see a friend in need," She explained.

"Gosh! Amsey did all of that for me? He didn't want me to feel alone and because of my own foolishness, he'd be forced to return home," I said, tears welling up in my eyes.

"I can see you're about to cry and why is that? In fact, why do you always cry?" She asked.

"What's your problem with me crying?" I retorted, blinking hard so the tears didn't fall.

"It's annoying and really stupid, okay? I also want to cry as well but you don't see me always doing that. It makes you look weak and like an emotional idiot," She said.

"Did you just insult me?"

"I'm telling the truth. Okay, what was so sad that made you want to cry now?" She questioned.

I scoffed, without saying a word.

"Why are you keeping quiet? You don't even know why. Cassie, a lot of us are going through heartbreaking stuff but you don't see us crying. Sometimes, bear the pain and put on a smiling face. You get teary easily which makes you look WEAK!!" She blurted out.

"Are you done?" I asked after a moment had gone by.

"Yes," She replied.

We didn't say a word to each other after that. She was pretty much stressed out and that's why she was talking to me anyhow but I could understand. She didn't bargain for this when coming here today so I decided to bear with her.

My baby started crying, "Oh God! Now's not the time," I said, then went to pick him up.

I wrapped my arms around him, trying to console him and stop him from crying.

We heard a knock on the bedroom door.

Rita and I exchanged scared glances.

"Do you think it's your friend?" She whispered.

"Why are you whispering now when we've been listening to all your conversations?" The husky voice roared.

"Easy, Duster, be polite," Another voice which sounded calm and relaxed said.

"Duster? Is that even a person's name?" I whispered to Rita.

"It's a nickname apparently," Rita responded, also in a whisper.

"We can hear you," Duster said.

"We can hear you too," Rita said, louder.

"Open up the door," The one with the calm voice said.

"No!" I said, defiantly.

"You know we're capable of opening up the door, right?" Duster asked in a mock tone.

Rita went towards the door.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked.

"Opening up the door, of course. We both know they can always barge in if we don't open it up. It's better we cooperate for our own good, maybe they'll reduce our punishment," She said.

"I told you they'll make a wise choice," Duster said, enthusiasm laced in his voice.

I reasoned with Rita and gave her the nod then she unbolted and opened up the door.

Mr Folorunsho Holland Ibitoye, in all his glory, stepped into the bedroom with the huge man I had seen through the peephole who had turned out to be Duster.

"Aren't you the father to the people?" Rita said, overjoyed.

Mr Folorunsho smiled, "You must be Rita."

"Yes sir, I'm a huge fan..."

"He's not whom you think he is," I said, cutting Rita off.

My baby was still crying loudly.

Mr Folorunsho stared at me and walked up to me with slow calculated steps.

My heart beat became rapid, I was so scared but managed to put on a straight face.

He smiled and collected Cameron from me with force and held him close to his chest.

He touched his soft curly hair and patted his back. Soon, the boy fell asleep.

I couldn't help but question, "How... how did you do that?"

He gave a half-smile, "Contrary to what you were told, I'm a good father."

"You're lying," I said, not believing a word he said.

He walked to the cot and placed Cameron in his cot.

"He's having rashes, you should take him to a home with proper ventilation," Mr Folorunsho said.

"I'm fine here," I retorted.

He smirked, "It's not like you have a choice, you do not have a family."

"She does, Pastor James is her father," Rita chipped in.

I get she was trying to defend me but I didn't appreciate her efforts in the tiniest bit.

"Oh, is he? Cassandra, is Pastor James your father?" He asked.

"Of course not, I have no family," I said, shooting Rita a glare.

"I thought as much. At least, I never denied my son, he's the one who left home and stole my money," Mr Folorunsho said.

"Oh, please, you can't fool me. I'm aware of everything that happened," I said to him harshly.

He chuckled softly, "Cassandra, how can you make up your mind about me when you've only heard one side of the story?" He asked.

"Amsey would never lie to me, I trust him completely."

"And you think he loves you, don't you?" Mr Folorunsho asked.

"I don't think he loves me, I know he loves me," I responded.

He gave a hearty laughter, "I also told Amsey's mother I love her. Amsey is my son, he takes after me."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"He has deceived you," Mr Folorunsho responded.

I grinned, "The only person who's trying to deceive me here is you," I said.

"If he loved you so much, why then did he leave you all alone knowing fully well I'll be coming?" Mr Folorunsho asked.

"Cause he thought I'd go with Pastor James," I replied him, crossing my arms.

"Even though he knew you hate him?" He sneered.

I began to wonder. Why didn't Amsey even tell me before all these things happened that Pastor James was in fact my father? Why had he gone without a word? He knew I wouldn't accept Pastor James so why did he leave me like that??

I shrugged, "That doesn't change the fact that Amsey has an undying love for me," I responded.

"Sir, sir!" A short muscular guy with ripped jeans and no shirt on called as he came in.

"What is it?" Mr Folorunsho snapped, looking annoyed.

"We were finally able to reach your son," The short muscular guy said as he handed over a laptop to him.

"Couldn't you say I was busy? Which one of them by the way? Tennessee or Jordan?" He replied in a huff.

Rita burst out in laughter, "You have children bearing names of places? No wonder Amsey wanted to name his own son Cameroon."

I stifled a laugh, Rita sure knew how to lighten up the tensed atmosphere and I could swear I saw Duster grinning as well.

"It wasn't either of them, it was Amsterdam," The short guy replied.

Amsey? Thank God he was safe.

Before one could say Jack Robinson, Mr Folorunsho landed a smarting slap on the short guy's face.

"Pencil, how many times have I warned you to not call that nutcase my son?" Mr Folorunsho yelled.

Rita burst into another round of laughter and this time around, I joined her. I definitely couldn't help it. So his own name was Pencil? Goodness me!!

"Bind their hands," Mr Folorunsho ordered.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Party's over, it's time to play the real game," He said.

Two more muscular men came in and they beat us up badly that I began to wonder if I'd ever become my beautiful self again.

Didn't they have a heart? How could they beat up innocent ladies? We were battered and our hands were tied and we were forced to kneel.

Mr Folorunsho roughly woke up my baby and dropped him on the floor beside us where he wailed uncontrollably.

Tears fell from my eyes and rolled unto my cheeks and neck. I couldn't even hold my son and comfort him.

"Place him on a video call," Mr Folorunsho ordered.

Pencil nodded and pushed a few buttons on the laptop which was placed on the bed opposite us so it was facing us directly. Then I saw My Amsey dressed in a blue hoodie with a headphone placed around his neck and he was in an airport.

"Hey, Folorunsho," He called, beaming.

"Amsterdam," Mr Folorunsho said through gritted teeth.

"Amsey," I called, tears still rolling down my cheeks.

"Cassandra, you should have left with your father when there was still time," He said.

"He's not my father," I stated.

He shrugged, "Whatever you say. Folorunsho, you called me. Why?"

"Can't you see your girlfriend, her friend and your son here?" Mr Folorunsho asked.

Amsey gulped down a bottle of water, "You mean, Cassandra, her friend and her son, right?"

"What are you saying?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"Cassandra, I don't have an issue with you so mind your business, okay?" He said like he was disgusted or something.

"Amsey!" I yelled.

"Cassandra!!" He yelled back.

"Why do you keep calling me Cassandra?" I yelled, sobbing really hard.

"Because that's your freaking name," Amsey retorted.

He continued, "Now, Folorunsho, why in your wildest dreams do you think I give the slightest care about Cassandra, her friend and her son?"

Mr Folorunsho looked as shocked as Rita and I were, "Don't you love her? Even if you don't love her friend, I'm sure you love her and the boy."

Amsey laughed out loud, "I took Cassandra in out of pity, why in God's name do you think I had any feelings for her?"

Mr Folorunsho looked like he had lost the battle, "What do you mean? I'm sure you love your son even if you don't love his mother," He roared.

"I don't have a son," Amsey roared.

"What are you saying?" Mr Folorunsho asked, bewildered.

"Cassandra should have told you beforehand. Even she is unaware of who her child's father is," Amsey said, with a smirk.

"Amsey!" I screamed, tears rushing like a river.

"Am I lying?" He retorted.

"You promised....."

"Cassandra, before you, my mother was. I can't jeopardize my mother's wish because of you and your son. I'm going abroad, I won't say where. Goodbye!" He said.

"Amsey, you can't do this to me," I yelled but the screen turned black.

I felt more heartbroken than I had ever been. The tears kept on flowing in torrents and my heart ached like it had never done before.

For the second time, I felt really alone, used and heartbroken. I had thought I wasn't naive anymore but I had only been a big fool all along. But how could I have known? I had thought Amsey loved me and I had thought he was different.

Mr Folorunsho lunged at me and gave me a tight slap.

"Let her be!" Rita yelled, as she stood up, trying to protect me.

I wondered how she had been able to free herself from the rope used on her.

We suddenly heard the sound of sirens blaring all over the place.

"The police is here, we have to leave ASAP!" Duster yelled and they all left with Mr Folorunsho giving me a distasteful glance before finally exiting the environment.

I broke down in tears the more... Not because of the slap but because of Amsey's betrayal.

Rita ran to meet me and hugged me, patting my back and crying as well; even my baby was crying too.

"It'll be fine," She assured.

"I... I slept with him," I blurted out, the pain and anguish tearing me apart slowly.

She let me go of the embrace, "What are you saying?"

"Two nights ago, as I was nurturing Amsey's wounds, we got caught up in the moment and we had sex for the first time," I told Rita, still sobbing.

"What? I thought you guys have been having sex. Wait, is he saying the truth that he isn't Cameron's father?" Rita yelled.

I shook my head, "Yes."

"God, how's that possible?" Rita asked.

"It's a long story," I asked, hiccupping.

"Feeling heartbroken?" A voice said.

I looked up to see Mr Andrew Muffin standing in the doorway with folded arms.

"Who's he?" Rita asked.

"Someone who'll change her life," Mr Muffin said and winked at me.

"You're the one who called the cops?" I asked.

"Yes, those hoodlums are on the run now," I said.

"Thank you a lot," I responded, really grateful.

Rita ignored him and began to help me to untie the rope that binded my hands.

Mr Muffin walked into the room and picked up the baby who was still on the floor but had quieted down.

"I warned you he'd desert you," Mr Muffin said.

I stood up after Rita had finished untying the rope.

I walked up to Mr Muffin, "I should have listened to you," I said.

"He got what he wanted and now, he left you," Mr Muffin said.

"I never thought Amsey could do that," Rita said with an angry tone.

"Neither did I," I said, my blood boiling with anger.

"I wish there was a way you could pay him back," Rita said.

"I don't need to pay him back. I just need to be successful so no man will ever use me and trample on me like that," I said.

I stared at Mr Muffin and he flashed me a knowing smile.

I wiped my tears with the back of my palm and I vowed not to ever let a man make me feel weak again after that day.

I'd succeed and I'd be the one to make them feel less of themselves.

That, I promised myself.