Chapter 8

• ~LEONA~
• "Alright, if you say so. Let's go home so that I can treat your wound."
• "Home? I do not have a home, Raymond."
• "Stop spewing nonsense and let's go." He ordered.
• "No Ray. Mum sent me packing." I said silently.
• "What? How dare she?"
• "Let it be Raymond and don't worry about me. I'll be just fine."
• "Come, I'll take you somewhere else if you don't want to go back home."
• "Where's that?"
• "You'll live with me."
• Yeah, Raymond doesn't live with us. He always come to visit but doesn't sleep over but I still don't know where he has been staying.
• I nodded.
• Staying with him will be better than staying on the streets.
• He got on the bike and helped me climb it.
• He started the bike when I least expected it and caused me to jerk back and I almost got thrown off the bike but quickly held on to the hem of his jacket tightly.
• "Careful Leo, and please don't be scared. Just hold on to me tightly."
• I nodded and held him so tight.
• He chuckled and took off. I closed my eyes tightly as my long hair danced behind me due to the air that was blowing.
• Is not that bad being on a bike. It's actually nice but scary.
• I'm only enjoying how the wind was blowing freely on my face without anything restricting it.
• "We're here Leo. I'll go get your luggage. Wait here while I do so." He said when we got in front of our house.
• "Won't I fall?" I asked.
• "No. Just sit still."
• "I will because I trust you." I said and he got up.
• He came back sooner than I thought and placed the bag in front of him.
• We took off again and I started feeling drowsy but I was trying to keep my eyes open since I want to know where he was taking me to.
• After battling with my eyes for a while, I gave up and rested my head on his back.
• I woke up on a soft bed and a sweet aroma that has filled the whole place.
• How did I end up here? I was on a bike right?
• I got up and without thinking twice, I walked towards where the sweet scent was coming from.
• The room was small so I didn't find trouble locating the kitchen.
• I looked at my feet and realized that it was bandaged neatly.
• "I'm so hungry Ray. I can eat an elephant." I cleared my eyes with the back of my hand.
• I was expecting Raymond's soothing voice but I heard a hoarse voice instead.
• "Raymond is not around at the moment. Am his friend Jaden. We live here together."
• I nodded and started walking back to the bedroom.
• "I have everything set for your bath. Go have your bath. I'll be done by the time you're also done bathing."
• I looked around and saw my luggage. I picked a black leggings and a blue hoodie. I took a pant too then entered the bathroom.
• It has been a long day and entering the bathroom seems like the best thing I've ever done.
• I took off my clothes and went under the shower after wrapping my hair up. I have no intentions of washing it .
• Once the cold water hit my skin, it was as if all my problems vanished. It felt so cool and serene.
• As much as I was enjoying this cool breeze, my stomach was also growling so I had to hurry up so I could eat.
• I stepped out with a towel around my body and into the bedroom.
• I felt uneasy feeling as I was applying my pomade. It was as if someone was staring at me.
• I shook the feeling off and continued what I was doing but I could still feel someone staring.
• I looked back sharply and caught Jaden standing at the kitchen door with eyes locked on me.
• I gathered my clothes and walked back into the washroom and put my clothe on.
• I came out shyly and coughed to get his attention when he was still looking at me.
• "You said something?" He asked absent mindedly.
• "Food." I stated.
• "Am sorry." He walked into the kitchen and brought a tray. I stared at the delicious meal and gulped.
• He's acting so strange. I hope this food is not spiked or something.
• "It's safe, you can eat it."
• I looked up at him and nodded.
• "Where's my brother?"
• "Eat first and I'll tell you."
• I took the tray and went to sit on a double couch.
• I took the fork and dipped it inside the spicy chicken. I took a bite and savoured the taste. It was so tasty. I dropped the fork and used my hand.
• I ignored how he was looking at me and scooped the rice with my hand. I continued to stuff the rice in my mouth until I looked at him and choked.
• Why the heck did he have to look at me like that?
• I began to cough so badly. He rushed to the kitchen and brought some water.
• He brought it to my mouth and helped me take a sip while he rubbed my back.
• I felt okay after sometime but he continued to rub my back.
• I cleared my throat.
• But he didn't stop.
• "I'm fine now." I said finally.
• "Okay." He said but continue to move his hands slowly on my back.
• I stopped eating and stilled. His hand grabbed my breast suddenly.
• I winced in pain and got up. He pulled me closer and began fondling and holding me anyhow.
• I couldn't control myself anymore so I slapped him but it only worsened.
• He looked at me dangerously and angrily.
• I moved back but he rushed to me and grabbed me by the waist.
• I used my right hand and smeared the the spicy chicken's sauce that was left on my hand on his face.
• I used that opportunity to ran out of room.
• He still pursued me.
• It suddenly began to rain and I could barely see what was in front of me.
• Out of exhaustion, I threw up all the food I ate as I run.
• I continued to ran till I was out of breath. When I stopped and looked back, I couldn't see him.
• I scurried forward as I began to feel dizzy and sick. My foot also hurt like hell. I could see the bandage peeling off.
• I could barely keep my head up on the street. With how it was pouring, I couldn't see a thing on the road.
• A sudden blinding light from ahead hit my face but before the car could make it to me, I fell into a puddle that has gathered on the road.
• I felt so weak.
• °TASHA°
• "Tasha where's Leo? I haven't seen her since I came to the hospital."
• My husband, Cornelius, asked while on his hospital bed.
• It won't take long before he'll be discharged from the hospital. When he heard about Leona's sudden pregnancy he had a heart attack so I rushed him to the hospital.
• He's okay now and No, he's not crippled. That was something I made up just to make Leona feel guilty for what she did.
• If he had indeed, been crippled, then fuck! I would've left him.
• I'm glad Leona is out of our lives now for good. I never liked her since I got married to her dad but I just had to pretend.
• I hated her more when she was all Cornelius will talk about when we are together.
• I abhor her even further when my children were made to drop out from school just so she could attain higher education.
• I didn't agree at first but Leona was really a brainiac so I thought of considering.
• Only for her to crush our hopes by getting pregnant. How could she do that to us?
• It's good, sent her packing because I can't bare seeing her in the house and I might just end up killing her and the baby.
• "Where's Leo Tasha?" He repeated again jolting me from my thoughts.
• I made a sad face and sighed. "I'm sorry to say this but Leona left us."
• "What? How can she leave us like that? Besides, she has nowhere to go."
• "I also wondered about that Cornelius. I even tried to reason with her that she can't roam about with the pregnancy since it was her first trimester but she wouldn't listen."
• "About the pregnancy, is she really pregnant?"
• I sighed heavily. "Yes my dear. Leona is indeed pregnant. I wasn't convinced until she fainted right in front of me and when I called the doctor to run a check on her, he confirmed that she was pregnant." I explained.
• "Alright but that's not a reason for her to leave the house. What she did is not like my daughter. The Leona I know is not someone who runs from her problems, so why did she leave? I believe there's some other reason if not Leona won't leave so impromptu. She didn't even come to see me. I hope she's alright."
• Oh my! See this fool. He's still worried about that wretched daughter of his.
• "Why didn't you stop her Tasha?" She asked and got up.
• "I tried but Leona has really changed from the sweet innocent girl that she was. She slapped me from trying to stop her and pushed me. I still can't believe she did that."
• "She did all that?" He stared at me.
• I nodded.
• "Since when has she turn that bad and I never noticed?"
• I shrugged.
• "Get the discharge papers ready. I have to leave now." He got up completely.
• "What? You're not all that fine.."
• "Am fine Tasha. Please, go get them ready. Leona might be in danger and it's my responsibility as a father to protect her. The poor girl rarely get out of her room and now, how is she going to survive on the street all alone? I know she has disappointed me but that's not enough reason for me to ignore her. Besides, that baby is my first grandchild."
• At this point, I really feel like strangling him until he's breathless.
• I stormed out angrily and got the papers ready after that, we made to leave but stopped at the gate due to how the rain began to pour.
• It was a heavy rain and I don't think it will be over anytime soon.
• We got back inside his ward and I went to the window while he walked restlessly to and fro in the room.
• A Porsche car drove in the hospital and stopped in the garage.
• Someone was picked from the car but the rain was so heavy that I couldn't see the duo clearly.
• However, there was that hair almost touching the ground and I knew that no matter what, I couldn't mistake that person for anyone else.
• "LEONA"
• Who do you think was Leona's saviour? That is a puzzle to unravel.
• Why is it that almost all the stepmothers behave in a wicked manner?
• Watch out for next episode