Bleeding Petals - Episode 13

Choi! See me see wahala o! @Olly nelly, abeg don’t come and beat me blue black and green o..this is the episode but you can say bye bye to your salad and chicken,,lmao…make I hear say I go bring am….lol

@Harmony Ugochi Odazie, this episode is for you! Tripple kisses!

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I met Henry sleeping on the settee in the living room, I had used my own key to get in so I didn’t have to wake him. He looked exhausted and there were two empty bottles of Vodka on the table. The house smelt like someone had poured alcohol everywhere.

I placed my bag quietly on the table and began to observe him. Maybe I never loved this man after all, maybe I had actually been too hasty in jumping into a relationship with him but I had actually loved him…at some point or maybe so I thought.

The blanket covering him had dropped to the floor and there were some pictures littered all around the cushion in which he was sleeping.

I could see Benita’s face in one of them and others were Henrys pictures with Felix;s while they were still serving.

I sighed, I had no interest in stressing myself any further, he had lied and it was too late for any redemption.

My phone vibrated, it was a message from Kate. She told me not to make any drastic decision yet…I ignored her, it was my life and she had actually tried for me but she could mind her business now.

Just then, Henry stirred and his eyes opened slowly but on sighting me, he became wide awake and stood up immediately.

“My love where have you been? I have searched everywhere for you!”

I said nothing but was just looking at him

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/bleeding-petals

. How could I have married such a monster? How was I so deceived and blinded by stupid emotions!

“I am here now…Henry.” I replied, emotionlessly.

Perhaps, he could feel the hatred that was radiating from me towards him, because he immediately went on his knees.

“Baby, I meant it when I said I love you …I can never trade you for anything…I got so scared I kept secret from you. I did it because I didn’t want to lose you!”

I smiled. “That is a lame excuse Henry. I do not need your apologies anymore, I know the truth. I went to Kano to find out things by myself and I know what you did!” This time, my voice was quavering. “How could you do that Henry? You did this to me…to us! You thought all the nice things you were doing would actually entice me and distract me from suspecting you? How stupid do you think I am? ”

He clasped both hands together as he knelt.

“Baby…I know.. I am sorry. I did this to protect us so you won’t think I am a monster…”

‘But you are Henry! You are a monster! I should never have agreed to marry you! I should have waited and forgiven Felix!”

AT this he frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“Yes Henry. You are not the only one keeping a secret. Gosh! This is so messed up!” I began to recount what had happened between Felix and I before I met him but I left out what happened last night.

I could see the hurt and disappointment building inside of him but I could care less. We had both deceived each other. It was better we go our different ways.

“You and Felix were in love before we met? Neither of your cared to tell me?” He said slowly and weakly.

“You have no right to be angry right now Henry. You did me a favor by keeping such a secret from me so I could be with the right person. You are a somwthing elseHenry! How could you keep quiet? How were you able to live?”

“Keep quiet!” He shouted at me, now standing up. “You and Felix? Baby, I would never have loved you lesser if you had told me. It would not change the way I feel about you. I love you so much.”

“Well, you lost me ever since you started hiding the truth from me. I was raped because of youHenry! Did you actually belive I would never find out! You didn’t even  think that oneday you will also have a daughter? Do you know the problem the family faces now because of you!”

He was more sober now as he bit his lips in deep regret, he was also sweating but my phone rang and I ignored. It must be Felix and I had no intention of picking.

“So, what do you want to do now?” He finally asked. “Can you forgive me so I can also forgive you? I belive our love is strong and we can overcome this trial.”

I scoffed. ‘Never Henry! Not on your life! I slept with Felix last night so that we will never have the chance to come back together!”

At first, he stared at me without blinking….then he looked away as if he was trying to analyse what I just said.

“You slept with Felix?”

“Yes Henry. You raped a girl and I slept with your friend, You killed that poor girl and you rendered the family powerless!”

He looked lost and attempted to sit down. Then he held his head in his two hands as he looked down.

“I didn’t kill anyone…” He was muttering to himself and my phone rang again but I still ignored.

“You killed the girl after you gave her the drugs henry. Stop lying!”

He looked up and sat akimbo, still looking confused.

“I am going inside to pack my stuff Henry! We are so done! I will never be with you , you this cold murderer!”

“Listen to me!” He started, standing up. “I never killed anyone! I do not know what you are talking about or what lies you were fed but I killed no one!”

“So how did Benita die? Who raped her? Were you not the so called corper H?”

“She..she wanted me to sleep with her but I didn’t. I saw her as a small girl, like my sister. I wanted her to have the best of education. She wanted me to sleep with her but I couldn’t because I love you so much.”

“You are such a lously lier! So why did you tell me you never knew her?”

“I know that was my mistake. I said that because…because I was the last person to see her before she died. She called me when she was in pain and I went to her house.

Read " Finding Solace " by the same author ( Tobi Loba )

. She was covered in blood but I was helpless, I knew if she dies, I would be arrested. I could see that she took some drugs which affected her womb, I panicked. I couldn’t even …..I couldn’t call for help.

That night of your rape…I denied knowing her because I was afraid. I didn’t know how her brother found me or why he thought I raped her because nobody saw me that day. I quickly went back to school and travelled back the next day. You were raped because of her and I didn’t want you to suspect me.” He was shedding tears now as he spoke but I was unmoved.

“I thought you were a good man Henry…even with all these! You are still lying!”

My phone rang and I finally picked.

‘What? Who is this?”

“It is Musa.”

“Oh! “ I said, I have forgotten I left my number with him in case the second diary comes up. So I put the phone to loud speaker. “You should listen to this Henry, so that you will finally realize that your secret is out.

“We finally got the second diary and  we realize there has been some mistake…”

“You don’t need to be scared Musa, please say it, Henry is here, let him know what he did.”

“It wasn’t he who raped Benita…it was one Mr …felix. We found the diary …Henry was only her crush….he didn’t rape or kill her…Felix did everything. I am so sorry…”

The phone dropped from my hand and clattered on the floor as I heard the news. My legs were trembling and my heart was beating rapidly…I couldn’t say a single word as I stared at Henry whose face was now covered in his hand…

Just then Felix opened the door….

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