At the shopping mall, Grace picked a new hair conditioner, shampoo, hair oils, earrings, bangles, body soap and sanitary pads. She picked up a bottle of lotion and was reading its content when her eyes stopped at its price tag.

‘#57,000’.

“How can one bottle of lotion cost this much?” Grace hissed. “Like seriously, even if it’s imported, doesn’t it have to be this expensive?”

“It’s not as if it’s your money.” Cryst shot at her and snatched the body lotion from her grip.

Grace’s face flushed in reaction.

“You’ve always been greedy, so why the act?” Cryst raised a brow and continued picking other stuff like baby diapers, baby oils, baby bottles, baby rash powder, and baby unisex shoes. Behind her was a four wheeled, metal basket shopping chat that swiveled from corner to corner of the shopping store.

“What do you mean, I’m greedy?” Grace frowned at her

Cryst took a step closer to Grace and gently placed her right palm on her forehead. Grace took off her hand in disgust.

“Are you under the influence of drugs or something?

“Even Google knows that you’re a better shopaholic compared to me. So annoying!” She hissed and took another bottle of the lotion just in case. Then she swiveled the shopping cart away.

Grace, with squinted eyes she blew out her cheeks in frustration. She just nodded and followed Cryst behind, till they got to the cashier’s check post.

“I would like to pay for these,” she told the cashier.

The female cashier who was chatting with her male counterpart focused on Cryst. Their uniform policy was a pink shirt on blue jeans and blue face caps, which fitted the lady perfectly. The cashier brought out the goods from their shopping cart and started calculating with the tag prices on it. Cryst deepened her hand into her side pocket and brought out her atm card while Grace simply watched.

“The total amount is #700,000”

Grace’s eyes narrowed in a shock under her creased brows. A short intake of air forced into her lungs but it all went down the moment Cryst turned her back at her.
“Are you alright?”

“Why this lavish spending?” She sighed. “I thought you wanted to get some gifts for your friend, but... are you expecting a baby?”

“Yes.” Cryst handled her atm card to the cashier and directed her gaze on Grace. “I’m expecting your baby. Maybe if you wake up to this every morning, you’ll remember your task for our family.”

“Ma, your password.” The cashier handed her the calculator-like POS and she keystroke her password it to it.

After a minute, the cashier handed her a slip and gently packed the goods into four large shopping bags.

“You should be grateful you have a good sister-in-law like me who has your interest at heart. So please, get pregnant soon, uh?” Cryst took one of the shopping bags and majestically strolled away while she left Grace with four enormous bags to carry.

Jutting a chin, Grace slammed her palm against the cashier’s table as she watched Cryst walk away.

“Hope all is well, ma?” The cashier calmly asked.

A flat smile widened on Grace's lips as she faked a smile to the lady. Her eyes squinted as she paused and suddenly rolled it, as if hiding her anger at others to see. Instead of carrying any of the bags, Grace stormed out of the shopping mall and took a taxi.

Watching her from a distance, Cryst adjusted her dark shades to rest properly on her rising cheeks.

“You’re in luck. I’m in a good mood today.” Her smile suddenly faded. “Wait until you get pregnant and watch me add fuel to your fire. I will expose your cover, slut!”

Cryst’s jaws clenched as she grabbed her mobile phone. Her fingers scrolled through it and dialed a number. Then she placed her phone by her right ear.

“Yes, I’m Crystabelle Balogun. Please send those goods to my house. I’ll text you my address.” She ended the call before receiving any reply or excuse.

The phone slipped out of her grip as she slut her car key into the ignition and turned it on. Then she grabbed the steering wheel tightly, with her knuckles turning white. But Cryst didn’t pay attention to any of this. She fired every driver assigned to her by her father.

Her car engines made a low, steady hum, then she revised and drove off in a hurry. Other passerby split and some cursed at her as though she pressed down the car pedal. Without paying attention, Cryst hit her dashboard, and a music started playing. It was a foreign rock music. Driving erratically and wavering in and out of the maitama’s traffic, Cryst zoomed to her way home.

Grace returned to the coffee shop, hoping to meet Susanne, but she wasn’t there. After several thoughts, she decided to check her at home, in the guesthouse.

“Didn’t we make an agreement to meet at the cafe after the test with Micheal was over?” Susanne fired at Grace once she stepped in through the main door.

Tired of everything, Grace dragged her feet with hesitation while she entered. She avoided locking eyes on Susanne and slouched into the sofa, hiding her pounding head with shut eyes.

“Am I not talking to you, or why are you acting dumb?” Susanne fired and suddenly panicked. “Did they find out about our secret? Please say something!”

“Your supper annoying, parrot-mouth sister-in-law dragged me to a shopping complex at Area 1!” Grace complained once her hand slid from her face. “That girl did a baby shopping as if I was pregnant! She was so sarcastic about you and called you a greedy shopaholic.”

With a crinkled nose, Susanne held her breath. Lost for words, she dropped to sit next to her sister on the double-seat sofa.

“Sister.” Grace sighed, facing Susanne. “What kind of people do you live with? Do they even love you? And your husband, Micheal... He’s even worse! He didn’t even look at me in the eyes. He speaks with so much anger and pride, as if everyone is his puppet! At a point, I doubted if he was the one because he referred to me as Susanne throughout! No hello, no goodbyes.... I mean, did you guys ever date?”

Reading the expression on Grace's eyes fixed and her jaws slacked as she read the expression on Susa”nne’s face. Her sitting posture suddenly turned droopy, and her button lip jutted out as she blinked with misty eyes.

“Are you alright?” Grace leaned closer.

“My dearest sister.” Susanne placed her hands on Grace’s hands and held her right. “I apologize for the way you found out, but was anyone aware that you weren’t me?”

“No.” Grace confessed. “I also didn’t want them to find out that you have a desperate sister who lives in their house and is dependent on their chicken change.” The sisters shared an intense stare. “I’d never tarnish your image.”

A small smile formed beneath Susanne’s darting eyes. “Thank you.”

“Susanne.” Grace brought up. “What made you so busy that you couldn’t meet with your husband today? Are you that scared of Aunty Funke? She seems nice.”

“No, it’s not that.” Susanne mumbled.

“Why were you at the Alafia Specialist hospital earlier today? It seems you were hiding from Micheal before we met. What are you not telling me?” Susanne looked away, and she robbed the back of her neck.

“As you can see, dealing with the Balogun’s family is no bed of rose. I never planned for any of this, but it’s my reality. It’s a reality I’ve come to embrace. Micheal showered me with so much love at first. He proposed to me on the first week we met. I thought it was love at first sight, not until a month later, when he married me. I hate the fact that you have to be my saviour in time like this; I mean... You also deserve better. All I wanted was a break from these.”

“A break? Why don’t you divorce him for good? It’s not as if anything is working.”

“Grace,” Pain laced in Susanne’s eyes, as it flickered in gathering tears. “Don’t say that again. I love Micheal and who says getting a divorce is the solution?”

“I’m sorry, I brought that up,” Grace placed with a straight mouth. “I didn’t know you two were in love. Of course, you’re still married.” She gave a tight-lipped smile.

A weird silence reigned between them. Susanne sniffed and wiped the corners of her eyes.

“Okay, fine. If that’s what you want. But let’s not put up a prank like this again. I’ll always be by your side. Grace gave her a soft side hug, while Susanne held her tighter. “You saved me today, thanks.”

Once Susanne got home, into the main building, she took a shower and changed into a laced pink nightgown. She emptied all the bottles of antibiotics and all the medications prescribed by Aunty Funke into a cup and poured it into the mounted wall water closet. A malicious grin spread across her red lips as she flushed the pills down the drain.

Susanne walked up to her wardrobe and brought out her waist trainer. About to put it on, she placed a hand on her belly, remembering the words from Doctor Bukky. She let the thought play in her mind, before putting it on, beneath her nightgown. Walking to the wall mirror, she stared at her reflection for a while.

‘Susanne, you don’t have time to think now. All you have to do is act! You must give birth to this child... This might be your last chance.’

Strolling out of her room, Susanne gently shut her room door from behind and was about to walk into Micheal’s room when a voice stopped her.

“I see you’re going to lure my brother to sleep with you tonight. Cryst hissed from behind as if she was waiting for Susanne to do so.” Cryst was in a red nightwear which had black lace ast it’s edges. “As you know, Micheal doesn’t sleep till midnight. He’s too busy with office work. It will do you so much good to go back to your room and spend the night alone. I hard that Micheal too was using his own herbal medicine.”

Susanne frowned at her words, but didn’t face her. She despises Cryst as it was. So far, all her advice about having Micheal caused nothing but chaos to her marriage. And all her efforts to separate them never worked as well. Remembering she called her a greedy shopaholic in Grace's presence, Susanne knew it must have pained her, how Grace treated her earlier on. She ignored her with a frown, a pout, and crossed arms.

“I see you’ve suddenly lost your tongue!” Cryst added. It’s best you keep being the quiet housewife, else, this family will replace you in no time!" With a satisfied reaction, Susanne turned to face Cryst.

“You of all people are aware that Micheal is my husband. He married me legally and graced me with this ring, so please, stop screwing rubbish because you have no idea what I’m capable of.”

“Awn... isn’t that cute?” Cryst blushed and rolled her index finger against her rough afro hair as she walked up to Susanne with a heated glare and a pressed smile. Well, I wish my sister-in-law gets pregnant soon so I can have someone to chat with in this boring house.

Fuelling and about to give a reply, Susanne subsided her anger in a deep exhale. A door bolted open from behind where they stood. Their fixed gaze turned to Micheal hovering posture.

He too, was in a silky navy blue robe, tied around his rocky stomach.

“Cryst, why are you so lousy?” His eyes squinted above his pressed lips. “If you keep doing this, I’ll send you packing.” He warned.

"Liar!" She rolled her eyes at him in reply and gave him a glare.

“What did you say?” His arms crossed over his firm chest, exposing the unbuttoned part of it.

Susanne's eyes fixated on him and he adjusted it once he caught her doing that. She just looked away, rubbing her neck.

Cryst, disgusted, hissed and walked away, leaving the couple to figure things out on their own.

“Why are you standing there? It's past 10:00 p.m., go to bed!” Micheal ordered Susanne who just watched him.

Flushed, she chewed on her jaw and swallowed on her saliva. Her thumb twisted the wedding ring on her ring finger as she pondered. Staring at him with darting eyes.

'Sorry, Micheal. I wronged you by carrying this child, but you have to accept it. Why is it so hard to convince you?'

Her eyes, lustful as thoughts filled her mind. Instead of going to her room, she walked up to him and entered his room. It was the first time of entering Micheal's bedroom in the last 5 years of their marriage. Without fear, she sat on his king-sized bed while he stood right next to her.

"You know Cryst has a temper yet. You put words in her mouth. His calmly scorned. How many times would I urge you to avoid her? You know how my dad reacts when he finds out that Cryst is troubled. The whole family will be affected and the media will paint us black again."

"Micheal, how long will you keep treating me like this?" Susanne's eyes glittering eyes made Micheal wonder if it was by the luminous lights or by the tears of her emotions. He took a step closer, carefully studying her dark brown eyes, but then spun away and realized that he shouldn’t have stared so deeply. In reaction, Micheal's nose crinkled as he flinched away.

"I remember how well you impressed me and made me fall for you. And after our wedding, you told me about your nightmares, but 5 years have passed in the tick of time. Shouldn't your nightmares be long cured?"

Tears slowly pooled in Susanne's eyes while explaining. And her voice shivered, but she continued. "Though I also had a past before we met. I left behind everything and wanted to be the perfect woman for you. And the best wife. I understood and waited patiently, praying day and night just so you love me like you used to."

Micheal stroke his head, paying attention to her thought with tilted head towards the wall. He just listened.

Despite my efforts to understand you, Micheal. You now despise my presence like a devil. When last did we share a kiss? It's been 5 years now and the only kiss we shared was our wedding kiss. Have you ever thought about how this affects me?” An exasperated sigh whooshed from her breath.

A burning shiver ran down her spine, with the tingling sensation that engulfed her whole like wildfire. Then a single tear rolled down her eyes. She wiped her nose and continued. And Micheal's eyes blinked with incredulity.

“Although Aunty Funke has prescribed me drugs that are enough to open a pharmacy store, they're all useless! Not to mention your sister. Do you think I trust Musimbi these days? All she does is eavesdrop and backbite with Cryst. I really hate complaining, but I have to open up to you at this point. Tell me, Micheal. Why are you doing this to me?”