Falling For Innocence - Episode 25

 

Paul's pov:

"Sarah is really my daughter. Amelia was telling the truth." i keep

saying to myself. We are currently on our way to margaret's house.

Just yesterday night, I got an email from my friend who is a lab

scientist confirming that Sarah is really my daughter. On our

engagement night Margaret had noticed the strain between Sarah and I.

She asked me about it and i finally told her everything . About how i

fell in love with amelia and how her uncle came to look for her and

told me she was a prostitute. Margaret didn't see that as an excuse to

hate my own daughter and I told her Sarah wasn't my daughter. 'how

sure are you? have you confirmed it?' those were the questions she

asked me. I couldn't get those questions out of my head so that night,

i took some hair off sarah's brush. I thought the only thing the test

would do is prove to Margaret that Sarah wasn't my daughter but last

night, while i was going through some work emails, i stumbled upon the

DNA result on my inbox. I have totally forgotten about it. I remember

getting the biggest shock of my life when i saw 99.99% match

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/falling-for-innocence

. I have

been treating my own daughter like garbage for two decades. I need to

make things right so I immediately booked a flight for today. Margaret

wanted to come too so we both got tickets to warri last night. I

didn't sleep a wink last night. I just binged on coffee all through

the night while memories of how i treated my own daughter tormented

me. I almost drove myself by car last night but Margaret stopped me. I

was not fit to drive last night neither am i fit to drive this

afternoon hence Margaret is behind the wheel of the car we rented as

soon as we alighted the plane.

"Can't you go any faster Margaret" i nag from the passenger seat.

"Calm down Paul. We would be there in a few minutes" she grab my

nervous hand to console me.

My eyes are bloodshot with lack of sleep and unshed tears. I thought

amelia ran away and left her bastard child with me and i have used

that anger on Sarah since that night amelia disappeared on me. Am the

world's most pathetic dad. I close my eyes in agony as memories of

that night bombard me.

"Paul can you hear me" margaret shake me and i blink my eyes open.

"We are here. Come on. Lets go get your daughter" she says and i hug

her tight. She is my light. Ever since i met her, i have been able to

love again. Something i thought was impossible after amelia left.

"I love you Margaret" i whisper into her ears and she pull away to smile at me.

"I know you do. Now, stop being a pansy and get out of the car. Your

daughter awaits" she tell me and i smile wanely. I alight the car then

take a deep steadying breathe before i take Margaret's hand and walk

to the door. I place my hand on the door handle to open it when i hear

my name. I turn back and nearly pass out from shock.

************************

Amelia:

"I couldn't just sit in Paris while my daughter is in that house

micheal" I say exasperated. I just got out of an exhausting flight from

Paris but the Only thing on my mind is seeing my daughter. As soon as

micheal told me about Sarah living in that house, i couldn't sit

still. I have to get my baby girl out of that place. I believe that

adage 'like father like son' enough to not take any chances. My

daughter can't be living with the son of that bastard. They could be

in cohort. I had hopped on the next flight to lagos then another to

warri.

"Amelia we have to have a plan" micheal says and i sigh

"when i get her out, we can plan as long as you want." I tell him and

end the call. How can he not understand my need for my daughter?

Twenty three years. That's how long i have been longing for my baby

girl but i stayed away so that luscious wouldn't know about her

because i know that even though i escaped his clutches long ago, he

still thinks he owns me. He has been extorting money from me ever

since he knew about my marriage to senator Joshua who i married for

money and survival and luscious kept blackmailing me.

Read " Beautiful Mask " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. To keep the

senator ignorant of my past, i gave luscious enough money to keep him

quiet. When the senator died eight years ago, i became free to use his

money against luscious. I established foundations all over the country

to rid the streets of vulnerable girls who could be trafficked.

Even with all those money and power, i still stayed away from my

daughter to keep her out of luscious' sight and also because i ashamed

to show myself to her after all these years but right now, her safety

surpasses every other reason.

It's been decades but i still know my way to that house. Several

times, i felt like setting it on fire with his family inside just to

get back at luscious but have stopped myself. I am not as callous as

he is. I tell the taxi to drop me off some blocks away so i can make

sure its safe to show up now. I slip my shade on and walk toward the

house. I see a familiar figure standing in front of the house and when

i walk closer, my suspicion is confirmed. It really is Paul.

"Paul?" i call out and when he turns to me, his face goes pale. He

probably thinks am a ghost. I take my glasses off and walk up to him.

"Are you okay, Paul" the lady beside him ask and i turn to see luscious' wife.

What the heck!