Chapter 34

Chapter 34: A Visit To Springchad

On returning home, Marissa placed a call across to Leon again, but he still didn’t take her call. So, she decided to give him some time to cool off.

Later that evening, Marissa was relaxing with Ivory in the lounge when she received a message, accompanied by some pictures, and videos.

Marissa’s eyes dilated in horror as she read the messages and went through the pictures and videos sent to her. In the message, her private investigator gave a rundown of all of Chloe’s demeaning caper.

“Mum! What’s the problem this time?!” Ivory questioned with raised brows. She walked over to her mum and peered down her shoulders to see what got her mum hypnotized.

“I knew it!” Ivory spoke triumphantly like she had been expecting something sinister to happen to Chloe. “That girl can never be trusted.”

“Ivory! I need a moment alone.” Marissa spoke in a barely audible voice due to her shocked state.

“Okay mum,” Ivory smiled slyly and left. She quickly placed a call to Ariella and informed her of all she had just seen.

.....

....

Chloe batted her blurry eyes the next morning, as she tried to access her environment. She squinted due to the bright daylight streaming from the windows.

Her throat felt dried and the roof of her mouth was swollen and painful. Her head throbbed and she felt nauseated. The muscles of the stomach contracted and she winced in pain. She tried to sit up, but couldn’t lift a muscle due to fatigue and weakness. She lifted her hand to massage her hurting temple before realizing someone’s hand was resting on her naked body.

Chloe tried hard to make sense of what was happening around her when her eyes finally adjusted to the stuffy, and smelly room. The room reeked of cheap alcohol and tobacco; which clung tenaciously to the roof, furniture, and clothes.

With all her strength, she turned to the other side to look at her sleeping partner. What she saw made her repulsive and infuriated. She tried to scream but fear clogged her throat.

Her sleeping buddy was a heinous, spiteful, hard-featured bald man. He was so ugly with an ominous potbelly. Watching his disgusting naked body was like looking directly at the sun at high intensity.

Chloe tried to pull herself free from the man’s hold but he intensified his grip on her and pulled her closer to himself.

“I can see you are awake baby...” he slurred. “You were such a sex goddess last night, twerking and grinding on me until I passed out.” He licked his cracked darkened lips causing Chloe horrified eyes to almost pop from watching him.

“Come on baby, give daddy some love. One more round for the road.” He smiled, revealing his tobacco-stained, dirty brown, crocodile-shaped teeth.

Chloe couldn’t stand one more word from his pungent mouth. Thanks to her adrenaline spike, she broke herself free from his hold and dashed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. When she looked into the mirror, she flinched at her reflection.

“This can’t be right! This can’t be me! I am in someone else’s body...” She cried in denial, as her heart pounded and chest tightened with fear.

“Baby! Hurry up over there! I need to use the toilet!” Her scary lover barked in a hoarse and ill-tempered manner.

Chloe was unsure of how to react. So, she quickly washed her sore face and cover her naked bruised body with a towel.

She came out of the bathroom ready for a fistfight but her partner simply dashed into the bathroom and shut the door. This gave her ample time to quickly dress up in her shabby clothes.

She looked around for her phone, which was obviously gone. Even her purse had been emptied all thanks to the low life she had spent the night with. After pickpocketing some little change from her partner, she picked up her remaining belongings and dashed out of the room.

Thankfully, there was a pay phone close to the cheap motel where they had lodged. She dialed and spoke to her overly anxious mother. Mrs. Robinson quickly drove down to her location and took her back to the mansion in shame.

...

Some few days back, before Ella left Amzone city, she removed her engagement ring and kept it in her jewelry box. Although she was tempted to take it along, she later decided it was too risky. She had no plans of breaking the news to her mum yet. She only confided in her sister who advised her not to disclose the information.

After two days of a wonderful and memorable time with her sister and her sister’s family, Ariella arrived in her hometown of Springchad. At the arrivals section of the airport, she sighted her mother from afar.

Her mother “Maggie Porter” was a beauty to behold. She was in her early forties and could easily be mistaken for her late twenties due to her slender figure.

Maggie was fashionably dressed in a white gown, a denim jacket, and black stylish Western boots. The beautiful sky blue accessories that adorned her neck and ears complimented her textured ginger red hair with curly ends and bangs.

When Maggie saw her daughter, she ran forward and they hugged each other affectionately for a while.

“My baby! Oh!.. I miss you so much...” Maggie cried as she held Ella tightly in her arms.

“I miss you more mum,” Ella cried equally in her mum’s warm embrace.

“Mum,” Ella pulled free from her mum’s arms, “you look so amazing! I love your outfit! Ella’s eyes sparkled in excitement.

“Oh, this!” Maggie gestured at her dress teasingly, “I just threw them on. But thanks for the compliment. After all, I am the mother of a legendary fashion designer. So... I have to live up to expectation,” she winked at Ella.

“Oh, mum! You’re so funny,” Ella chuckled as they walked out of the airport hand in hand and boarded a taxi cab.

All this while, Ella’s bodyguards kept a low profile as they accompanied her in all her travels. She had earlier dismissed them before embarking on her journey. So, she had no idea that they tagged along.

Leon had instructed them to follow her everywhere and keep in touch with him. At her sister’s place, they lodged in a nearby hotel and performed their jobs adequately according to Leon’s instructions. At the end of every day, they would send a detailed report back to Leon. Currently, they tagged along at a safe distance as they followed Ella’s taxi cab.

Ella was fascinated by everything around her. A lot of development had taken over Springchad, and she barely recognized her hometown. She stuck her face out of the moving vehicle and breathed in the warm and peaceful air of the countryside.

Compared to the fast pace life in the city; overcrowded with people, vehicles, and lots of gigantic buildings- the countryside was the total opposite. The countryside was peaceful, calm, and tranquil. It had a picturesque setting with greenery, farmlands, hills, and forests.

“I feel so good to be home again,” she smiled genuinely at her mother.

“I am more excited to have you around,” Maggie’s smile was infectious. “You should learn to visit home more often. It helps relax your strenuous lifestyle.”

Ella breathed in a gush of cool air. “I’ll try,” she smiled and lay her head gently on her mother’s shoulder. When they finally arrived, Ella strolled casually to the front door with Maggie behind her. She opened the door...

“Surprise!”

Ella was startled at the crowded smiling faces of friends and extended family members when she entered her mother’s living room.

Amongst her friends and families who came around to welcome her were; Aunty Edna, Aunty Joan, Uncle Moses, Abigail, Susan, and Richard...

Ella looked questioningly at her mum but before she could say anything, Abigail and Susan jumped on her; giving her a squishing hug.

“Ella, you look amazing!” Abigail cooed

“Ella, you abandoned us!” Susan accused.

“How is your fashion designing coming along?”

“Do you now own your brand?”

“When are you going to get married?”

“How are you sure she even has a boyfriend?”

Ella’s ears were flooded with different provoking questions. She stared in her mum’s direction but Maggie avoided her gaze, as she took Ella’s things into her room.

Ella was unsure of how to react or respond to the many questions thrown at her. She tried harder to avoid the questioning gaze of her uncle and aunties. So she allowed her two best childhood friends; Abigail and Susan, to lead her out of the room.

All this while, Richard stood hidden in a corner of the house admiring his lost but found true love. When he came into town some few days back; after a just-concluded championship league football match- Maggie informed him of Ella’s arrival over the weekend.

In the past, Richard had tried dating other girls. But, aside from fulfilling his sexual desires, he had no feelings for his numerous girlfriends. His love for Ariella always showed itself strong. No girl had been able to replace her.

When he found out that his Ariella was still single, he gave up the dating games. He had high hopes of rekindling his love story with Ariella and making her his wife. This time, he was ready to accept her career choice and even support her, as long as they were a couple. He amended his broken relationship with his future mother-in-law and communicated with her regularly.

When Richard got wind of Ariella’s arrival, he put together a surprise welcoming party with the help of Maggie. He also got in contact with Ariella’s best childhood friends to assist in the preparation.

Abigail was more than happy to help out in the preparation but Susan proved more difficult; due to her deep desires for Richard.

Abigail and Susan led Ella to the shaded lawn in front of her house. They all sat down on the carpet grass floor and chatted freely. Maggie brought them food and snacks which they ate happily.

Ella was taking a bite of a crusted cake when she suddenly froze at an image before her.

“Hello sweetheart, you look amazingly beautiful as ever.” Richard bent down and kissed her gently on the cheek.

Ella’s heartbeat quickened, he was the last person she had expected to see. She looked to her left and then towards her right for her friends to save her. But, they had suddenly vanished into thin air.

“Richard!” She said in an incoherent voice.