Chapter 138 - I Don't Understand

"Sir..., " she stammered, too guilty of being caught in the act. She could hear the loud thuds of her heartbeats, thumping a mile per minute. What would Mr. Dioko think of her? She felt silly for asking herself this question, she knew the answer very well. His coming daughter-in-law just couldn't be trusted!

Bracing herself for the scolding she was anticipating, she froze when she heard him chuckled, instead.

"Darling, from now on, please call me, 'dad'." Allie got lost for words for a while, too lost in her conflicting emotion. Aside from wondering why she wasn't scolded, it was too awkward to call him 'dad'. She was not worthy after all.

"I'm sorry...dad," she fidgetted as she glanced at Ajie, his face wincing at the discomfort of addressing Mr. Dioko as her official father-in-law. Mr. Dioko seemed to understand her unspoken words when he surprised her by his reply.

"As for that, listen to your heart, dear. I understand."

She just couldn't believe her ears! Was this attitude a part of the great change in his heart ever since she was imprisoned or was this just a trick? Yet, deep within her, she knew that Mr. Dioko's kindness was pure and innate.

"I'm ashamed..."

The voice of Mr.Dioko then cut her mid-sentence. "Don't be, darling. Even Hayri understands."

-----

Few hours later, Ajie came back to pick her up and brought her home. She no longer asserted, her effort would only be futile. To her further dismay, they found Mr. Dioko in the living room, talking to her parents. After greeting all of them with a hug, Mr. Dioko drew her attention.

"Dear, I suggest you move over to a bigger house. The baby is on the way and soon you need a bigger space."

Allie nodded. In her haste to purchase a house for her family, she only bought a small, ready-for-occupancy townhouse.

"You may choose the one Hayri built for you or you may build a new house in a property I will be handing over to you. I'm already old so I have to start dividing my properties to both of you."

"Both of us?"

"Yes, both of you."

"Am I hearing it right? Shouldn't you let me sign a prenuptial agreement instead that I would not be entitled to your properties?"

Mr. Dioko chuckled out loud as he looked at her puzzled expression, moving his gaze from her to her parents.

"I guess there would be no more wedding between you and Hayri. But it would not affect my plan to divide my properties to both of you." He winked at Ajie and a broad grin spread into his face.

Allie stared at him and wondered if he was in his right mind. He did not look drunk either.

"Dad, I don't understand..."

"When the right time comes, you will. And about the marriage, it is because Hayri believes that you should rebuild your home, now that the second child is on the way."

A mist gathered in the corner of her eyes. Their kindness was already too much and unrealistic. Though in her heart it would always be Ajie, she just couldn't back out on her words. Ajie should suffer the consequence of his decision, though she was the one who was most affected, especially her children.

She ran upstairs when hot tears escaped from her eyes. Once her door was locked, she turned on her laptop and initiated a video call with Hayri. What must have been a kind of luck on her side, Hayri picked it up. He had been avoiding his calls for so long already. She was already brushing her tears away when Hayri's face appeared on the screen. Her heart was wrapped with pity towards him. He didn't deserve to be hurt this way.

"Hayri, is it true that you are canceling our marriage?"

A smile broke out in his face but his eyes spoke of the pain he felt inside.  "I'm sorry dear. I told you about it already. I can't hurt the children who need their daddy. Just as I can't live without dad in my life."

This hurt Allie further. Her tears raced into her face like a deluge and she could no longer tell if it was a sense of relief that she's now free or it was just her sense of guilt and pity towards him.

"You still both love each other and Jane is out of the way."

"The irony is that I didn't know about it. You could not imagine how I feel when the whole family barge in to visit the baby..." Somehow, she got amused as the scene revisited her thoughts and she found herself smiling in between her sniffs.

Hayri laughed as well. Watching him that way, her heart lightened up and she felt like a thorn was plucked out from inside.

"Hayri, thank you for your thoughtfulness. How do I deserve your kindness?"

"You deserve more than what you have received."

"I'm worried about you," her voice began to crack.

"Zheena, you taught me how to live and forgive..."

___

Mr. Dioko was about to leave when she came back to the living room. He handed her an envelope which looked like a certificate of the property he was talking about a while ago.

"I suggest that you design your own house. I won't take no for an answer. It's an insult, " he said, a smile was on his face as he walked towards her, stretching out his arms to hug her.

She threw herself at him, allowing her to express her sense of gratitude. She couldn't explain why but a sense of warmth and security engulfed her whole being.

She and Ajie walked him to his car where his bodyguards were waiting. A sense of worry crept up in her heart. Would he always stay like this? Surrounded by troops of armed men? When would he be completely free?

"Adrian, take care of your family. Don't let them go away from you ever again," he admonished him as his hand gripped on the car door's handle.

Ajie glanced up to Allie with a pleading look before he replied. "I promise, sir."

"Call me, 'dad' from now on."

Ajie gathered his brows as he gazed at him with a questioning look. Mr.Dioko must have understood because he replied, "You will soon get your answer."

Allie and Ajie stole bothered glances at each other but said nothing as they waved goodbye to Mr.Dioko.