Grandma's Savings

Chapter 35

Grandma's Savings.

Lyla Atelo.

It was thirty minutes past ten in the evening that I got home. I thanked Taylor once more and apologised for stressing him because now, he had to call a cab to drive back home.

The ride was excruciatingly silent, and I sighed out in relief when the headlights of the car shone on the chipped red house in the neighborhood... my home.

I sat for the past thirty minutes, mulling over my visit to Sage's house. I cringed at a lot of memories, beating myself up and asking why I went there in the first place. Not only that, I was behaving like some spoiled teenager whose entire life depended on her boyfriend.

"Have a good night's rest, Lyla." Taylor took off his hat as he bowed to me and made his way out of the neighborhood.

Thankfully, the porch lights of my neighbours were on, illuminating the small path that led to the main road. The door gave way when my hand touched it, and I stepped into the house, taking off my shoes first.

"Is this how you behaved when I travelled? Staying up late and lying to me that you slept in early."

"I don't know..." I shrugged and murmured under my breath. "I'm sure you have Kendra's number to confirm that."

I threw the car keys on the nearest table and took off the little coat that I hadn't worn when I went to Sage's room. I could still perceive his masculine scent and perfume all over me when he backed me against the wall. I almost blushed at the memory, but I was standing in front of my husband who looked nothing but angry.

"Is this about Kendra again?" His eyes were red and his shoulders shaking. "I told you that she and I have nothing doing. Why will you believe a stranger's word over your own family's word?"

"Fine..." I breathed out, massaging my temples and ignoring how he was openly gawking at the dress I wore. "Something happened in school the other day—"

"Yeah, school. You're going to be using the excuse of school on me now? You think I don't know how these games work?" He was getting agitated, but I didn't care.

"You know I teach rich students, right? Elites..." I stressed out, ignoring his crash out. "And they are always nosy and looking into people's lives..."

"What does that have to do with anything?" He eyed me warily. "How does that add up to coming home late by this time of the night?"

"So... One day, I was having a conversation with my students and someone... just... Out of the blues, she told me about my husband cheating on me and using my grandmother's savings that I kept for our... Children." The last word tasted bitter in my mouth, and there was a pang in my chest that made me feel hollow. Too bad I wasn't going to have children. "This young girl gave me details of how you were slipping out my money and using it to fund and finance your different girlfriends. So, Michael, it wasn't Kendra that told me anything. It was my student." Then I added. "Kendra and I haven't spoken ever since the last time she came here to explain herself..."

If anyone could turn white, Michael did that perfectly. His face morphed into different expressions before it settled on anger.

"Your students will be lying against me, and you will be believing them?" He sounded incredulous. Disbelieving and angry. "They lied to you that I cheated on you, and you believed them? I don't think that school is the right place for you since you're easily manipulated by children!"

"Okay..." I took a deep breath. "If I go to the bank and get my bank statement, would I not see micro withdrawals from that money?"

His face fell immediately. "Wait, Lyla..." His shoulders sagged. "I haven't denied using the money for the company, no. I'm denying, and talking about cheating. Why are you so eager to believe anything anyone says about me cheating? You should know me better than this by now! That's the only reason why I'm disappointed!" He turned around, hands on his waist as he shook his head. "Yes, I take some of the money at times to fund the company. I was going to return it with interest once the company made a profit."

"Why didn't you ever tell me? Or ask me? Or even inform me? Why did I have to hear it from an outsider? What else are you hiding from me? What is your deal with Kendra?"

"You know what?" He turned back to me. "Forget about it. Don't bother explaining why you're home late. I'll just overlook it for today. Why don't we do it this way..." He thought for a while. "A date. We go on a date this weekend and discuss everything at once. We sort out all our differences because I don't like this... bad blood between us."

"There's no bad blood between us, Michael." I finally said, yawning and making my way up the stairs. "And I just went to see my student who was in the hospital after he— she had saved me when I fell into the swimming pool three days ago. She fell sick."

I didn't know why I felt the need to explain my whereabouts, but it shocked me how I wasn't feeling guilty that I was lying to Michael at this point. What was going on with me? How did I change so fast after meeting Sage?

"Just go to bed, Lyla. I'm sorry for stressing you and jumping into conclusions. I wouldn't bother you about cooking tonight. I'll be able to manage."

I scoffed under my breath. Cooking? Even if we weren't having issues, there was no way I would cook by this time of the night. What happened to his own hands?

"Goodnight, Michael." I told him as I made my way upstairs.