The morning came with Frank still in bed, wallowing in self-pity. He did not feel like getting out of bed. The alcohol he had taken the previous day had only provided him with brief amnesia and a throbbing headache.The sun had brought back the reality that he had tried to escape from, and it reminded him that the horror was far from over. He turned on the bed trying to get into a comfortable position, but all he ended up with was a sole backHe could only assume the old man and his wife were out of the state, and now he had the job of praying that she was pregnant. He was never a prayer person; he stopped years ago and left such to his mother because he lost faith and believed life wasn't fair, especially if one was poor.The irony was that he was supposed to pray for his aunt to be pregnant. Something that was a taboo, and he couldn't think of how to start such a prayer. Maybe his mother would know how to start such a prayer. And talking about his mother, he remembered how he screa

Frank stared at his phone in surprise; he never expected the old man to agree so easily, especially given how pissed he was the last time they met, and he put a stop to their contract without warning.He began wondering what happened for him to change his mind. Something happened for him to ignore how close they were to being caught. On second thought, it was none of his business why the man changed his mind. What was important was for him to do the job professionally this time and make sure she fell pregnant for the sake of his brother.In the afternoons, a parcel with some money, plane tickets, and his passport arrived. He informed his mother about the trip and maintained the story of the cougar. He did not like lying to her, but there was no option.Ireen felt disgusted for putting her son in such a position. When he was leaving, she could only nod her head without saying a word. The shame was too overwhelming for her to even look him in the eye. She had completely failed as a mot

Slowly but steadily, Marcus took short breaths. Back at the hospital, the doctors warned him to control his temper if he did not want to have a stroke. He could hear Nera yelling but decided to ignore her and get some sleep for the sake of his blood pressure and sanity.He walked to the bed but remembered that she had instructed him to use another room. He could not blame her; he had disappeared on her just like he always did when there was trouble.He changed into his pajamas, grabbed a pillow, and walked out of the room. He was going to honor her wish and sleep in a different room and wait for her until she calmed down.However, when he woke up in the morning, he found Nera yelling at the servants, just like he left her when he slept. He walked out of the room, pissed, and ordered her to follow him."Marcus, I am busy!" She yelled back."Nera! Now!" He yelled at the top of his voice. It was the first time he was yelling at her in their three years of marriage.Nera turned while the

Meanwhile, after all the failed efforts to get in touch with Marcus, Frank spent the entire week patrolling the nightclubs and spending all the little money he was earning on alcohol and women.He was still in Taxes, ashamed to go back home. He couldn't face his mother; how could he when he had run out of lies and excuses? He had failed, and he felt worthless. His brother was going to die because of him, and he was too worthless to prevent it.He had tried going to the mansion but stopped at the gate when he realized he was going to bump into Marcu's wife, so he talked himself out of the stupid plan. Seeing her face was only going to invite more demons into his head.The one week of free hotel services Marcus had paid for was over, and his return ticket expired, which meant he was going to have to pay for his own ticket back.It was a matter of time before the old man stopped paying for the dialysis. That was the reality he did not want to face his mother.He knew hiding was not going

With everything sorted, Marcus walked back to Nera's room, certain that all loose ends were covered. The boy was paid in full even though the contract stated the other million would be paid after Nera gave birth, but he decided to settle everything once and for all and hoped for him and his wife to have their happy ending.He walked back to Nera's room with the intention of taking her back home, but when he opened the door, he found the doctor he bribed to lie to Nera about his impotence talking and laughing with Nera."Marcus, do you remember Doctor Smith?" Nera asked in excitement.Marcus froze at the door as his muscles stiffened. He could hear his own heart trying to burst out of his chest."I was just telling her about the African herb that brought about the little miracle inside of me," she laughed out.The doctor stared at Marcus; from his posture and unwelcoming glares, she could tell something was wrong. She did not need her medical degree to know that no herb in the world wo