“Okay.” Grace stuttered and emerged out of her hiding place.

When Susanne saw Grace, she ended the call and slotted her phone into her glittering hand purse. Once the sisters met, they hugged. Grace had pity in her eyes.

“Thanks so much, Grace.” Susanne wiped out her lingering tears as she softly chuckled through them. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me. You’re my only hope now. But before we go, we need to exchange clothes.”

“What? Why?” Grace blinked twice.

“Yes, you need to look exactly like me.”

“Are you serious? I’m fine like this!”

Susanne checked her pause vividly. “Thank God, I took some makeup with me. Ill give you my phone too, just in case. Let’s go to my car.” Susanne grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the parking lot where she packed her jeep.

They drove into the streets and suddenly pulled over.

Looking at her image through the visor, Grace adjusted the velvet red lipstick she had on.

“Isn’t this too red?” She asked Susanne as she muttered innocently. “I look better without makeup.”

“If you don’t wear makeup like me, they’ll find out. Susanne gave her a warnings glare. As long as you put on makeup, especially with this red lipstick, no one will find out that were two different people.”

Susanne hands over her pause. “Again, I need to warn you. Don’t speak too much. Just answer in one or two sentences and walk away. Don’t tell them anything I told you. Don’t tell them anything, just listen. Here’s my phone.” Susanne handed her phone over to Grace. “I unlocked the password so you can use it better.” Grace scrolled through her gallery and saw a pretty girl’s picture.

“Who’s this?”

“That’s Crystabelle Balogun, but we call her Cryst. She’s Micheal’s rude sister. So you know, she’s a graduate but acts like a toddler. Just avoid Cryst as much as you can because she’s a troublemaker and a blab mouth. You only need to convince Michael for now. After the test, we’ll meet at a coffee shop behind the hospital.”

“Won’t your husband pick me up after the test?”

“Micheal doesn’t permit anyone, not even his sister, to enter his car. He’s too busy to tag me around so, I’m sure he’ll leave after Aunty Funke’s test.”

With a frown, the phone slipped from Grace's grip like a slippery soap.

“Susanne, what are you not telling your husband and me?”

Susanne turned with a painful, yet swollen expression.

“Even as your twin, it will piss me off if this prank was for an evil intent.”

“It’s not for an evil deed, I promise, so let’s just stick to the plan.” Susanne answered and gave her a small smile. “Come, let’s go. Micheal would be here at any moment.”

Susanne and Grace climbed out of the jeep and walked into a coffee shop across the street. It looked like a restaurant, but they only served coffee and herbal tea. Grace hurried up to Susanne as they stepped into the bathroom to change. After changing, Grace walked out and stood by the gates of the Crystal hospital, where Aunty Funke worked, when a text entered. Susanne saved his contact with Darling.

‘Reply to my message, please.’ Grace read on the phone.

Please, don’t go wrong. I know God is on our side. Susanne made a silent prayer while watching Grace.

“Sorry, I had to visit the coffee shop first this morning.” Grace replied to his text.

“Musimbi would have made you coffee. Where are you now?”

“I’m at the front Crystal hospital.”

Just after replying to him, a black jeep pulled up by the hospital’s gate. It was a bulletproof Mercedes G Wagon limousine. Grace turned back on her 5-inches-heel. From the passenger seat, a tall man with chocolate-colored skin and dressed in a black suit and sunglasses got out and made his way to the back door. A young man in black styled carpeted hair, dressed in a dark grey suit, stepped out.

“I’m here. He retorted and handed his phone to the guard, who opened the door for him. “I told Aunty Funke that we’re coming together. I know you won’t stress me today, right?” Micheal buttoned his jacket and walked past her.

He paused at her shocked expression and flashed her a fake smile. “It seems I thought right. Let’s go.”

Plagued by doubts, Grace’s breath hitched to a stop. Watching Micheal walked past her, a thought flickered in Grace’s mind. “Micheal. Why do I feel like we’ve met before?” She exhaled and walked after him while his guard waited outside.

Watching from the other corner of the building, Susanne chewed on her fixed nails. ‘Grace, please act well, for my sake.’

Grace met with Aunty Funke, a skinny old woman in her late 50s. She politely bowed while greeting her, which felt awkward, but Aunty Funke offered her a seat beside her table.

“Give me your right palm.” Grace watched her check as he loosen cheek swell to a wide smile, while gesturing her to do so. Grace turned to Micheal, he sat on a sofa with his legs crossed while watching her with a mysterious stare. It made Grace wondered if Micheal was truly her sister’s husband.

She opened her palm, trusting Aunty Funke.

Aunty Funke held onto her wrist, smiling while studying it. Then, she placed her index and middle finger on her veins.

“Your heartbeat is fast and your blood pressure is high.” Aunty Funke said the instant her fingers touched Grace’s veins. It surprised Grace to know that one has such an ability, even without running a test. Grace was expecting a scientific text to be carried on her since she was in a hospital. Watching sweat gathering on her forehead, Aunty Funke leaned closer. “Have you been sick recently? You seem nervous, uh?”

“Yes... yes! Probably because I just had hot coffee.” Grace stuttered, wiping out the tears with her left hand. “Micheal pressured me to meet you today.”

Micheal and the family doctor squinted at her words.

“Aunty Funke, is something wrong with Susanne?”

Take it easy. Her gaze met his. As she smiled again. Cheek to cheek. “Now, her pulse is smooth. It happens when one is under pressure.” She explained.

Grace just nodded.

Aunty Funke scribbled something on her notepad. “Susanne, have you been feeling sad recently? Like being depressed by loneliness?”

Micheal frowned at the doctor’s observation.

“Liver depression is real.”

“I don’t think I have that.” Grace defended.

Her smile suddenly dropped as the corners of her lips pulled down. Sure, sickness doesn’t show on one’s face. “Your pulse can’t be deceived, either. Did Micheal annoy you?” She asked, darting her eyes between Micheal and Grace. She noticed the neglect on Micheal’s face. “I will help you scold him if he piss you off.” She joked.

Grace pressed her lips, looking down. Aunty Funke just smiled. “You have to relax now, your fist priority is to look after your body. You know you’ll have to carry the family’s heir. So Susanne, hurry up and get pregnant. Benny!” She called.

“Yes, ma.” A short nurse with albinism hurried into the office.

“Prepare some antibiotics for Mrs. Balogun and be snappy.”

“Okay, ma.” She nodded before stepping out.

Once they left Aunty Funke’s office, Grace fastened her step to avoid any interaction with Micheal.

“Is something after you?” Micheal hissed once he met her outside. “Take, this is the health supplement given to you by aunt. Make sure you use them. I don’t want to hear any story.”

“Thank you.” Grace collected it from him.

“This went smoother than I expected.” Micheal glanced at his wristwatch. “There is an appointment I need to attend.” He said, finally facing Grace. His voice was thick and authoritative.

“I also have to go somewhere.” She told him. “Bye now.”

Micheal stopped her before she could even turn. “Before you go.” He took a step closer, his voice came as a warning. “Don’t dream about having kids with me. I have no interest or intention of having a child with you, nor am I mentally prepared.

Grace's eyes narrowed, trying to get him right.

“I just made it clear, so you don’t have false hopes.”

Grace's fingers curled in a tight grip, but she held it to herself. And for the first time, she felt her head on her rigid neck. They shared an intense stare; it was silent and heated. Grace’s black eye darkened into his, bright with pain. She rolled her eyes at him and looked away. Her pressed lips released in an exasperated sigh.

“Your silence means you understand.” His lips raised in a malicious grin, then he walked away.

Grace's jaws dropped open as she gasped for air. His guard led him to the back seat as they took off into the busy road.

“Why would he get married if he didn’t want to have kids?” Grace mumbled to herself. Is that even a husband? So arrogant and annoying! It’s not as if they forced him to marry. Now he’s saying he doesn’t want to have kids. Who in her right mind would want to have kids with that idiot?"

“Hey, why are you bluffing alone, sister-in-law?” A voice came out of nowhere. Turning around, Grace recognized her to be Cryst. The girl she saw earlier on Susanne’s phone. She had a short fancy jean, a pink wrap shirt and a fancy shade on.

Grace wanted to greet her, but she held her words.

“I don’t expect you to use those words on your beloved husband. How come you complain so much?” Cryst took off her shades and held Grace in a tight side hug.

Grace pulled out of the hug instead of pushing her away.

“Can’t I complain about my husband again? It’s not as if I was complaining to you,” Grace hissed.

“You said he’s so arrogant and annoying. Who in her right mind would want to have kids with that idiot, yet you can’t live without him? You must have my brother so much. Why not leave him alone when you can?”

Shocked at her words, Grace remembered Susanne warned her to avoid Cryst. And not to talk too much.

“Okay, bye, I’ll go now-“

“Not so soon,” Cryst grabbed her by the arm. “We aren’t through yet, are we? Since we met and there’s a shopping complex nearby, why don’t I be a good sister-in-law and buy you something?”

“No... No, I don’t want!”

“If you refuse, then I’ll have to tell my brother everything you said behind his back.” Cryst threatened and grabbed her arm. “This is your fate.”

She pulled Grace into her car and drove off.

Watching them from the coffee shop, Susanne stood up, pissed. Unsure of what to do.