“Young lady, are you sure that you are pregnant for my son?” Clem’s dad asked.

” I am very sure sir,”Dera responded.

” For how long have you been in a relationship with him?”

” For about 2 years. He promised me that the relationship will lead to marriage. He told me that he can’t wait to marry me because his parents are pressuring him to get married. He also told me that he is an only child,”Dera explained.

“Shut your mouth . Who is an only son? Must you use lies to cover the former lies you have told?” Clem’s mum shouted at her.

“Woman! be careful. It’s either you seal your mouth or you leave this place. It’s your bad influence on your son that led us to where we are,” her husband reprimanded her.

“My dear, please forgive me. I am sorry for the way I reacted.I am just trying to be sure that she is genuine,”Clem’s mum pleaded.

“Of course. You are the head of the family. You are wiser than your husband. That is why you want to take charge,” Clem’s dad continued bashing his wife.

” No sir. Please forgive me,” she pleaded.

“Young lady, you can continue with what you were saying,”Clem’s dad told Dera.

” I became pregnant last year. When I informed Clem, he was so happy but I never knew that he was pretending. I was in his house and he went out. When he came in, he gave me medicine to take, claiming that it would cure my headache. After taking the medicine, I lost the pregnancy. Clem was crying when it happened. He told me that he had already informed his mum that I was pregnant. The doctor he brought to take care of me claimed that it was my negligence that caused me to lose the pregnancy. I had to beg Clem to forgive me. It was afterwards that I told him that I would like to meet his parents. He brought me here and that woman also told me that he can’t wait for Clem to marry. I never knew that she was not Clem’s mother,”Dera explained further.

As they were still having the discussion, Clem came in with a lady who greeted Clem’s dad and ran to hug Clem’s mum.
On sighting Dera, Clem froze.

“Mummy!” Rose called as she hugged Clem’s mum.

“My sweet daughter in law. When did you come back?”Clems mum asked.

” It was yesterday?”

” You should have told us that you are coming back at least, I would have come to welcome you at the airport. My American daughter in law,”Clem’s mum bragged.

“Mum,” I informed Clem. I told him to tell you,”Rose explained.

” He didn’t tell me.”

Rose gave her the gift she bought for her and she was jubilating.

“Wow! All these for me. God bless you,” she prayed for Rose

“Amen! Thanks mum.

“Please, let’s go upstairs. We have a lot to talk about, “Clem’s mum told Rose. She wanted to take Rose away from where Dera was.

Dera was shaking in fear as she was watching Rose. It was clear to her that Rose was Clem’s fiancee.

Rose turned to greet Dera.

” Hello, my name is Rose. What about you?”

“I’m Dera.”

“It’s like you are a family friend?” Rose asked Dera but Clem quickly interrupted her.

“She is dad and mum’s visitor,’ Clem quickly replied .

“My dear, let’s go. I have really missed you,” Clem’s mum held Rose and led her upstairs.

Immediately they were out of sight, Clem’s dad told him to sit.

“Do you know this lady,” Clem’s dad asked him.

“Yes sir. She is a friend,” Clem answered.

“She is a friend or she is your friend?” His dad asked.

“She is my friend,” Clem responded.

“What kind of friend is she to you?”

“Dad she is just a friend,”Clem answered while facing the floor.

“If truly she is your friend why did you not greet her when you came in?”

“I am sorry about that. I was shocked to see her here. I didn’t know what to do,” Clem answered.

“She told me that she is pregnant. What do you have to say about that?”

Clem kept mute.

“Did you hear my question?” His dad thundered.

“I heard you dad. I don’t think that I am responsible for the pregnancy. Besides, I can’t leave Rose. She is the person I want to marry,” Clem said firmly.

“So what happens to Dera? She is already pregnant.”

“Daddy,I love Rose. I can’t disappoint her.”

“Really. You love Rose . You can’t disappoint her. But you can play with Dera’s emotions. The truth is that you don’t love Rose. If you do, you would not cheat on her.”

“Daddy please, I can take care of Dera till she gives birth to the baby but I can’t marry her. I am not sure that I am responsible for the pregnancy,”Clem begged.

“You can take care of her. Which money will you use to take care of her? You are making promises with my money.I sent you to school to study but you left it and were pursuing shadow. I decided to make life comfortable for you by making sure you don’t lack money. See the way you repay me. I will authorize the bank to freeze your account. I will stripe you off every privilege you have been enjoying. You will go out there and hustle like other young men.”

Clem fell on his knees and begged his dad to reverse his decision.

“Daddy please, I beg you . Forgive me. Don’t force me to marry her, ” Clem continued pleading.

“Why don’t you want to marry her?”

” I don’t love her,”Clem answered.

“You will learn to love her. Go upstairs and call Rose,” Clem’s dad ordered him

“Daddy please, allow me to handle this by myself,” Clem cried.

“No, I will handle it for you. ”

“Daddy please bail me out of this. I promise not to misbehave again.”

“Is this the first time you are making this kind of pledge? I won’t take it from you again. Dera is your wife. Get ready to go and pay her bride price. If you dare to disobey me, I will disown you,”his dad Ed.

“But dad, what will happen to Rose?” Clem cried.

“Rose will be fine. God will give her the kind of man she deserves. Someone better than you. ”

He dipped hand inside his pocket and gave some money to Dera and his business card.

“You can go now. Try to call my phone so that I can have your phone number.”

There was a knock on the door and Clem’s uncle came in.

He looked at Dera’s face,”How are you?”

“Fine sir. Good afternoon sir,” Dera greeted him and left. Clem left them too.

“Who is that lady to you?” Chief Ike asked Clem’s father.

“She is Clem’s friend,” He informed him.

“I hope nothing serious is going on between them?” Chief Ike asked.

“Is there any problem?”

“Don’t allow that lady to get close to your son,”chief Ike warned.

” Why did you say so,”Clem’s father asked.

“I don’t really know much about her lifestyle. But her friend Cindy is one of the girls I normally take along whenever I’m traveling out of town.”

“What! Have you seen why I have been warning you about your lifestyle,” Clem’s dad reprimanded him.

“If not for my lifestyle, would you have gotten the information I gave you now. In fact you will pay me for it.”

“Nothing justifies the kind of life you are living. But thanks for the information.” Clem’ s dad said and sighed.