Eric tried to perform mouth-to-mouth breathing to see if he could resuscitate Itohan but he didn’t succeed. So he ran out in confusion and went to call her elder sister.

They both carried her outside and fanned her till she regained consciousness. As they were taking her in, Eric’s mum walked in and demanded to know what happened.

“Iye, Itohan fainted, we were trying to make her regain consciousness.”

“Really? Why won’t she faint, when she is lazing around, doing nothing. I used to trek from Benin to Ijebuode to supply goods while I was pregnant. But ordinary to pound yam, she cannot do it.”

“Iye, that is not the issue here. Eric deceived Itohan, told her lots of lies before they got married. I never knew he told her that he owns both this house and a duplex. It when I overheard her, telling him that they she should move to his duplex that I decided to intervene. But it’s like there are other lies he told her concerning his financial capability,”Ese explained.

Eric’s Mum busted out laughing.

“Iye, why are laughing? I didn’t say anything funny” Ese asked in anger.

“So Itohan wanted to reap where he did not show. Is she rich? Why would she marry a rich man,” her mum asked her.

“Iye are saying that Eric did well by deceiving me?” Itohan asked in tears.

“Yes, he did well. So you agreed to marry him because of money, not because you loved him. I am happy that you are pregnant. Is it not both of you that embezzled my daughter’s money?”

“Iye why are you talking like this. Must you support Eric even when he is wrong. That was how you were supporting everything he does when he was growing up, see where it has landed us.” Ese ranted.

“Shut up your mouth. So I should abandon my only son. Are you not taking care of your own children. You caused a major part of what is happening now. When Eric brought this girl, I told him not to marry her. I explained to you that Eric needs a helper not a pauper. But you refused and supported them. You said that she was a good girl. But you forget that good girl does not put food on the table. Just get ready to feed them.”

“No problem Iye, I will feed and take care of her in this pregnancy. I will ensure that she doesn’t lack. But as for your son that wasted my resources, he will not never see my back again. He will work and take care of himself. After Itohan has be delivered of her baby, I will establish a business for her.”

“Not when I’m alive. Ese, if you try it I will curse you. You want to abandon your brother and take care of Itohan. This same Itohan that insulted me because I told her to pound yam. She also charmed my son to support her. It will not happen. I told her that she must return back to my house, and take care of me, the way I took care of my mother in law. If she did not do it, there will be no peace.”

“Iye, I will take care of Itohan, don’t threaten me with a curse,” Ese told her

“Ese don’t dare me. Whatever you think you are today, I made you. The business opportunity that made you what you are today was for me, but I handed it over to you. I did it because you are my first child. People blamed me for choosing you instead of your brother. I knew why I did it. I knew that you would not abandon your brother. You have tried your best for him. If you choose not to do again, no problem. But what I will not allow is for you to establish business for Itohan and leave your brother. Whatever you want to do must be in your brother’s name. If it will not be so, then don’t do it ” She threatened Ese.

Ese suddenly became cold.

“Iye please, this is not the best time for this. Itohan is not in a good mood now. Let’s not add salt to injury,” Eric begged.

” I will not only put salt, I will add pepper to that injury. Don’t you ever talk to me. Is it not because of this same girl that you suddenly started disrespecting me. We used to walk hand in hand. When I talk , you listen. You wasted all your sisters resources on her and almost make your sister go bankrupt. She will suffer for it. I promise her that I will make her to suffer for all her crime.”

“Iye please, I did not spend my sister’s money on Itohan. The money has finished before she agreed to marry me, ” Eric explained.

“But you bought a car for her. True or false,” His mum asked.

“Iye I did not buy car for her. Where did you get that information from?”

“You are asking stupid question. I was told that you gave her a car, the day you proposed marriage to her in church. People took picture of it and posted it on Facebook. It was one of my friends that showed me.”

“I was not given a car o. It was a scam,” Itohan cried out.

“You are speaking grammar. It’s not me that you are talking to. I will ensure that you vomit all the money that you squandered” Eric’s mum threatened.

“Iye this is not right. I am someone’s child too. I will report to my parents” Itohan said in tears.

“This girl, you are playing with me. Which parents are you talking about? Is it the ones that have disowned you. I have made inquiries about you. You and I know that you dare not carry this big stomach and meet your parents. They will roast you alive. I have made inquiries about you.”

“Ha! I am finished.” Itohan cried.

“It’s okay, please. Stop crying. Nothing has spoilt,” Eric begged her.

“Why are you begging her. She has not started crying. This is just the beginning,” his mum said with a wicked grin.

“Iye, I don’t like what you are doing. Please allow Itohan to breathe,” Eric told her in anger.

“I am not holding her. The only thing that I need is for her to recognize me as her mother in law and respect me. She must do whatever I say. She is still in this house because I allowed it.”

“Itohan cannot disrespect you. But she will not do whatever you say. I am the one marrying her, not you. I am the one that wanted her to be with me. Mummy please stop saying this things that you are saying”Eric told her.

Itohan was not comfortable with the way things were going, she decided to plead with her mother in law.

“Iye please forgive me in any area that I have offended you. I am so sorry. I promise to be a good daughter to you,” Itohan pleaded.

“If you want me to forgive you, come back to my house. You disrespected me by handing over the work I asked you to do to your husband. As if that was not enough, you left with him, not minding that I did not approve it. I am very angry with you. If you want me to forgive you, then come back to my house. I did it for my mother in law. You have to do it for me.”

“Iye, that will not happen,” Eric snapped

“Eric I did not talk to you. Allow her to answer for herself.”

“Iye, I will answer for her. She does not have the strength to be pounding yam and running errands. Get a house help if you need one. My wife is not a house help,” Eric snapped.

“No problem, if she cannot do it, them marry someone that can do it.” His mum told him.

“Iye please, I don’t like this joke. It is an expensive one. Why would you tell me to marry another person,” Eric replied in anger.

“I said that because I need a daughter in law that will take care of me. If Itohan is ready to do it, there will be no problem,”

“Iye, I will surely take care of you ,” Itohan promised.

“It’s okay. When are you coming to my house? I will prefer that you come as soon as possible so that you can escort me to the village to do farm work. I wanted to pay labourers but there will be no need anymore. We can keep the money and use it to be feeding ourselves.”

“Iye you are insulting me and I don’t like it. Itohan is not going anywhere with you. That is my stand. You either take it or you leave it.”

“Eric, are you threatening me? I will teach you not to ever threaten me again,” She brought out her phone and started punching some texts. Everyone was wondering what she was doing.

“Iye, I don’t like what is going on here. Let’s settle this issue amicably as a family. I am not in support that Itohan should leave her husband and come and live with you. The worst is that you also saying that she should follow you to the village to do farm work. Why would you be farming? I’m I not taking care of you ? Please leave this girl alone” Ese said in anger.

“I have already left her for you,” Her mum snapped. Afterwards, she stood and went outside. They thought that she has left. Within few minutes, she came in with a lady.

On sighting the lady, Eric started shaking.

“Eric, I believe that you know this lady. Ofcourse you cannot deny that you know her because I saw her with you last month. She came to my house and was telling me something that I did not really understand. I want her to say what she told me.”

“Iye, what is the meaning of this? Who is she,” Ese thundered.

“Ese, I am in my son’s house, not yours. If you don’t behave yourself, I will show you that my madness is greater than yours” She threatened.

Itohan became confused. She signalled Eric to know what is happening but he looked away.

“Iye what is going on?” Itohan asked her mother inlaw in agitation.

“Who is your Iye?” She snapped