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Dedicated to: Teefabulous Tomi_layo Love_Roxy17 omotola05 ishpep2 Sprinklesandlemons Pretty_July I love y'all. Thanks a lottt.

Read and Enjoy....

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*Sola*

"Get out of the water, Justin! Justin!" I screamed in horror.

A minute ago, I and my son were playing water splash on each other in the large swimming pool and then, all of a sudden, Justin was drowning, I watched how he splashed and gasped in front of me, trying to stay above the water, trying so hard to defeat it. but I was unable to move. it was like I was being held down by some unforseen forces, stopping me from rescuing my son.

"Mommy! Mommy!" He kept screaming, It was like the water was beating him down, trying to swallow him. I pushed my hands forward, trying to break through. I moaned and screamed in frustration. Why couldn't I get to my son?! Justin! Please! Let me save him!

"Hang on, baby! I'm coming!" I screamed. But I still couldn't move my limbs. I was frozen in place.

Tears of confusion and frustration streamed down my face. It was getting darker and darker. I watched as Justin slowly lost consciousness. His tiny head going under the water.

"Justin! Justin! Justin!"

I gasped as I snapped my eyes open. I made a pained sound as I realized I just woke up from a nightmare.

"Come back to me, sugar. I'm right here, you're safe.. You're safe..." Slowly and distantly, Alex's soothing voice began to wave through me, making me visibly relax. My heart was racing so fast it felt like I was going to implode.

"Alex!...Justin.. He..."

"Shhhh... Justin will be alright. Our little boy is a strong kid."

"But.. He needs me! Justin needs me!" I moaned in a ragged breath, Feeling the tears pool in my eyes, I sobbed uncontrollably as I rested my head into his chest. He was stroking my widely tangled hair, whispering words of comfort to me.
I cried as I tried to picture the situation my son would be in at the moment. Was he being fed? Justin didn't like his food served cold.

Has he showered? Who will read him his bed time stories? Does he even have a bed to sleep in? I cried harder as the thoughts and imaginations kept crashing into me, making my head swim in despair.

"It was my fault." I conceded in a hard tone. "I should never have gone to the party. I intentionally endangered his life. Now look what has happened. I'm so stupid! I'm sorry, Alex!" I cried harder.

"Please, don't cry, baby. It's not your fault. It's mine. I should have protected the both of you. I love you both so much. I need you to be strong. Nothing will happen to our son. I promise you that. The police are already on Clara's trail. We will get them. And when we do, they'll pay for all the stress they've caused us." Alex whispered. I could feel the anger he emanated behind those words.

I nodded my head in belief and I trusted him. I felt my limbs grow numb as Alex pushed me back into the mattress with so much care and gentleness. He kept murmuring soothing words.

  I smiled as I felt his kisses all over my face. Soon, I was wandering off into a dark, dreamless sleep.

...........................

*Alex*

My eyes scanned the people that were seated. We were we back at bode Thomas, in Sola's home.

Amina was seated beside Sola, they held each other tightly and I knew they were both consoling each other. My eyes moved to Mr Jimmy, who was with a lady who was called Oluchi. Apparently, she was also a friend of Sola.

  Kene and Kalu were sitting across each other, they were staring at some paper work I had no idea about. Fayo couldn't come because of the contractions she was having. My parents wouldn't take a chance so they made her stay with them till the baby was born.

  I glared at Mr Amos, who was on the other side of Sola. I studied the way he looked at her. Like he couldn't wait to get her alone.
I didn't want the foolish man near my woman for one minute, but I didn't want to cause any issues for Sola. I didn't want her to get angry at me. So I was prepared to let the man leach all over her as much as he wanted to.

And then, there was the police. About five of them

"Kene, could you please come over here for a minute?" I called at my friend. He raised his head up at me and walked over.

"What's up, man?" Kene asked as soon as he got to me.

"Um.. I want you to.. To.."

"Keep an eye on the principal? Alex, you have to calm down, that man is absolutely harmless." He said gruffly, pushing up his elbow in a scolding manner.

"Guy, I know. I know. I just... I don't really trust him."

"You're just jealous, man. Face it" kene replied, chuckling.

"Well..."

"Yes, Alex you are. These ladies can drive someone crazy, you know?" I saw his lips twitch as he stared steadily at Amina. I raised my eyebrow amusingly at him.

  "That lady... Do you know if she's single?" He asked in a low voice.

"Kene.. If you're not serious about her.. Don't bother. Sola takes care of her."

"Sola is not her mother. And she's been giving me some green lights... The babe is endowed mehn... Just look at those boobs.."

"Kene!" I bursted into laughter. This guy was a miserable womanizer.

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*Sola*

"Sola," Amina whispered beside me. "Who's that guy?" she was pointing at Ekene.

"Oh, that's Alex's close friend. Kene. He's the one I told you that got so angry at me when Alex had the accident." I replied her.

  "I like him." Amina said. She was openly staring at him. They were even staring at each other.

"You don't even know him, madam! You better remove your eyes." I scolded.

"Does it matter if I know him? I just want to bang him!"

I gasped at Amina's unashamed declaration. This girl was a big clown. "You can't just have sex with someone you don't know yet, Amina!"

We all talked for the next fifteen minutes. I tried to be cheerful, but at the back of my mind, I was still so worried about Justin. I silently prayed that he was okay. I hoped Clara wouldn't hurt my child.
My eyes teared up as I tried to imagine the situation he was in at the moment.

"I need to go use the bathroom, please." I excused my self quickly. I didn't want to be seen crying again. My face was already quite swollen.

I made my way to the bathroom and splashed some water on my face. I was about to walk out when my phone vibrated in my pocket.

I pulled it out and glanced at the number. It was an unknown number. I froze as I felt a heated anticipation rush through me. My palms were getting sweaty as I picked up.

  "Hello..?"

"HI, Sola."

My heart raced as the voice slashed through me. It was undoubtedly Clara's voice.

  "Clara." I whispered. "My son. Where did you-"

"Just calm down, madam. Your boy is here. Waiting patiently for his mummy." I felt my blood boil in anger as she mimicked the 'mummy' in a childish, sarcastic voice.

"Please, Clara. Don't punish my son just because you're angry at me. He's innocent. Please give me back my son!" I whispered desperately.

  I was walking silently out of the room, practically tiptoeing because I wanted to get to the living room so I could inform the police and they could track her line.

"Stop right there!" Clara seethed in a harsh voice.
I froze in place at her tone. It was like she knew what I was doing.

  "Don't even think of telling anyone about this call. I know the police and securities are around you right now. If you're with them, I want you to silently walk out right now... If not, you won't see your son alive." Her voice on the phone was so cruel that it made me cringe.

"I'm alone. Please tell me what you want. Is it money? Don't worry, I'll-"

  "Shut up! I don't need your money, bitch!" Her voice boomed from the phone. I trembled violently as the tears slid out of my eyes.

What did I ever do to deserve Clara's wickedness?

"Now, listen to me clearly." she said firmly. I absently nodded my head as if she was in front of me. I wanted to tell Alex so badly, but I couldn't endanger Justin's life.

  "I want you to come here as soon as you can, no body must know. Not Alex, not the police, not a single soul! You must find an excuse to leave. I'll send you the address of where you will come to in a text. You will come ALONE. And if... One of our security men finds out that you are not coming alone, just consider your son dead! Do you understand?"

"Yes! Yes! Please, don't hurt him. Please.. Let me hear his voice. Please." I pleaded in a tiny, desperate voice.

"Alright."

It took a minute, but then I heard his voice. My son's tired voice.

"Mommy...." it was nothing much of a whisper. He sounded exhausted. Weak. My hand covered my mouth as I tried to stifle my cries.
It felt like my head was going to snap into two. I missed my baby so much.

"Justin, my love. Mommy is coming soon, I'm coming okay? How're you baby?"

Before he could give any reply, the phone was snatched back to Clara.

  "Be fast, mummy Justin." she said with a chuckle and hang up.

   "Oh.. Justin.." I sobbed. I knew what I had to do, but how could I do it when I knew Alex would never let me go? My phone dinged, and I quickly dried my tears and opened it to see text of the address.

  My eyes widened when I saw that the location was the place I'd stayed before with Amina.

  Ijesha.

"Should I tell Alex?"

"Tell me what?"
I gasped and spun around in shock. Alex was staring at me with a suspicious expression.

  "Alex!... I... Um..." I was stuttering. I quickly scratched my brain to think of a reply. "Tell you that,... Amina likes your friend..!" I quipped in quickly.

  I saw his face relax in an easy, charming smile. He was so handsome and his olive skin was a perfect contrast to his dark, hooded eyes.

He moved in slowly, still smiling at me with his hands tucked in his pockets.
"Have you been crying?" He asked as he wrapped one arm around my waist to pull me in. I moved happily into his warm embrace and breathed in his wonderful scent.

  "I miss him, Alex. I'm so so worried." I replied.

"I know, sugar. I miss him too. But I want you to not worry, don't try to take matters into your hands. Okay?" He said firmly and placed his hands on either side of my face. I gulped fearfully. I was consumed by the guilt that swept through me.

  "Okay."

"Promise me that, if Clara calls to threaten you, you will inform me immediately. Don't do anything rash. Let me handle it..okay?"

"Alright, Alex. I love you so much." I said and moved in to give him another hug.

"I love you more, baby. You're my whole life. I can't bear to lose you, or our son." He said, stroking my hair as I cried in his arms.

He thought I was crying because of our son, but he didn't know the reason why I was crying was because I was going to face Clara alone.
That was our only shot of getting our son back alive. I'm so sorry, Alex.

........................

*Third pov*

  Wack!
The child cried harder as he received a slap to his face. Clara felt her heart jump as she stared at Caroline, who was forcing food down the boy's lungs.

The child was a really stubborn one. A very bold child. Like Sola. He wouldn't accept the food and kept crying for his mommy no matter how hard Caroline hit him.

  "Take this garri now! Take it!" Caroline screamed. Shoving the spoon into the crying child's mouth.
In an instant, the child spread his hands on the table and knocked the garri and dried fish off of the table. And everything splayed on the floor.

  Wack!
Caroline delivered a blow that made the child topple over, causing him to hit his head on the hard floor. Clara sucked in a breath at the insolence. She couldn't stand it anymore!.

  "Stop it! Caro! Do you want to kill the child!?" Clara shouted, coming over to pick up the child who was finding it hard to produce more cries. He looked like he was about to pass out. Clara's breath caught. She felt her eyes start to water in pity.

  "What is wrong with you? Are you developing a soft spot for the stupid child?" Caroline asked. Surprise laced in her tone.

"Do I have to? You're being too mean! He's just a small child!" Clara shouted with so much anger that she had begun to tremble. "From now on, I will take care of him by myself, Caro. Don't touch him. Jesus!"

  Caroline scoffed and moved away from the scene. She scanned how Clara was petting the stupid child. Her lip tightened in displeasure.

  "Let me tell you something, Clara. I don't care if you're liking this brat. Tomorrow, the boy and his mother dies! Get that into your sick head!" Caroline said and strolled off in anger, leaving Clara to stare at her retreating figure.

  "Not while I'm alive, Caro." Clara muttered under her breath. She swore right there, that nothing would happen to the little boy.
She cradled him and breathed in his baby scent and the smell of his bruises. Her heart turned over.

  "Don't worry, child. You'll be safe." she whispered.

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End of chapter 25.
Thank you for reading guys! Thank you also for 5k reads!
I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter.
Also, What do you think about sola's decision of not wanting Alex or the police to know of her plans?

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Chapter 26 coming very very soon.
Stay safe ;-)