How old are you? Busayo was the first to find her voice. Just like you, her older siblings were also struck by muteness.

I’m twenty-five. Just like Aduke.

The bastard even knew the ages of your children. Clearly, Femi had been spending time with her and or with her mother. You still feel like a fool. Femi had cheated on you during your first year of marriage and had kept the truth from you all these years. You remember the awkward silence that followed for nearly ten minutes before you said to Femi, I need to speak to you in private.

The girl, you still can’t get yourself to call her by her name, sat down and admired your house lovingly. She was relishing in the idea of coming to live with you all, you were sure. Common sense didn’t tell her that she would be the dent in this previously perfect nuclear family. Things would never be the same again.

Femi had followed you to his study without protesting. Aduke was the first to stand up after you two and in the seconds that followed, Kola and Busayo joined her upstairs. Femi eyed his retreating children’s backs but did not order them back to the living room. They needed to process the revelation without being in the presence of the genesis.

I know I owe you an explanation Ife mi, Femi had began as soon as the door was closed.

You raised a finger to shush him, not caring that you were being disrespectful to your husband. Luckily, Femi obeyed. Don’t call me Ife mi, Femi. You don’t know how much I am aching deep in my soul right now. How could you betray me like this? How could you cheat on me during our first year as a couple? Eh Femi? How many more bastards of yours are out there that you don’t know about? The questions kept pouring out from you till you felt drained and collapsed in the couch in his study.

Ife mi, Femi said again even after your warning, I’m so sorry. Whoever I cheated on you with is insignificant. She meant nothing to me and if not for Titi, I would have had no business with her after that incident. It was a one time thing, he said it like it would reduce the enormity of his betrayal, and when she found out she was pregnant, I paid her off. Over the years our conversations were transactional. I would send her money and she would send me pictures and videos of my child. I never saw them. I swear. I finally met Titi on her matriculation and we’ve been in contact for six years now.

You asked if he still sees his concubine. No, Titi’s mother is in the States now, and happily married. You asked where they had met. I met her at the golf club few weeks after our return from the UK. You asked if you had been a bore in bed for him to cheat on you so early in your marriage. You were amazing, Ife mi. It was just matters of the flesh. I can’t explain it. Then he said he was sure the children would warm up to Titi with time. That’s why I waited till they became mature enough. Ife mi, I can’t swear that I’ve been faithful throughout our marriage but I swear Titi is the only child I have out of wedlock.

As he spoke, you stared at his lips. The only lips you have ever tasted. Lips that know their way around your body. And in that moment, you hated Femi! He was despicable! Looking back now, you wish you had spat on him. He disgusts you. You stand up and make your way upstairs, a determined look behind the tears running down your face. You’re going to kill him. Oh this you know for sure. If not tonight then tomorrow.

THE END