CHAPTER 4
"You shouldn't do that Aunt Jessica, let me help you carry that bucket of water," Emerald muttered, running towards Jessica to help her with the bucket of water she was fetching. "What are you doing there Emerald?" Aunt Clara's voice filled the Air. "I need you in the house right now, how do you expect me to stack up all those snacks and carry them to the market alone? Get over here and help me," Aunt Clara said. "I'm just going to help aunt Jessica with her bucket of water inside the house Mother," Emerald said."You silly child, let her do it. Moreover, she can carry the bucket of water herself. Isn't that right Jessica?" Aunt Clara asked. "Of course," Jessica muttered with a small smile. "Since you heard her already, can you just come inside and help me out? Hurry up Emerald," Aunt Clara mumbled."Just go help her out, I will be fine," Jessica muttered with a smile. The minute Emerald had gone inside the house, Aunt Clara came back outside before pouring some liquid substance on the floor. She smiled a little before walking inside. Jessica lifted her bucket of water before walking inside the house. The minute she stepped on the slippery substances that were sprayed earlier, she lost balance and fell heavily on the floor with the bucket of water spilling everywhere. "Arhh, my tummy," she yelled in pain. "Aunt Jessica, what happened here?" Emerald asked, running towards her. "Let me help you get up," Emerald said, trying to lift her up but couldn't. "Mother," Emerald yelled as Aunt Clara came running towards them. "This is why I told you not to fetch some water, how did you slip? You have to be extra careful because you're pregnant, I hope you aren't hurt," Aunt Clara asked. "I hope you didn't break any bones, aunt Jessica," Emerald asked worryingly."Arhhh, blood," Jessica muttered as she stared at her clothes that were soaked in her own blood. "Aunt Jessica," Emerald muttered almost in tears."You're bleeding! Hurry Emerald. Go get some help or call the cab so we could get her to the hospital," Aunt Clara said. "Wait right here aunt Jessica while I get the cab, you would be fine," Emerald let out before running to get help. "Hurry Emerald before it gets literally disastrous," Aunt Clara yelled.**************"Nurse, where can I find Jessica Franco?" Travis asked, panic laced in his voice. "The first bed on your left sir," The nurse said, making Travis nod. "Brother?" Emerald called the instant she noticed Travis. "Emerald? Jessica?" He called before taking a seat close to his wife. "Babe?" Jessica called as Travis held on her hands tightly. "What happened to you love? how did you get here?" Travis asked. "Please forgive me, babe, I didn't mean for this to happen," Jessica muttered with a little sob escaping her lips. "Excuse me, are you Mr. Franco?" The woman dressed in a white laboratory suit asked as Travis sprang up from the chair. "Yes, doctor," Travis replied. "Well, your wife is out of danger," The doctor said. "Thank you, doctor," Travis said with a sigh of relief. "What about my baby doctor?" Jessica asked. "Both of you shouldn't worry, your baby is safe." The doctor let out, with a smile. "Oh, thank goodness," Jessica let out. "Next time Jessica, be careful and don't do heavy house chores. It is not good for you and the baby," The doctor warned. "Yes doctor, I won't," Jessica said with a nod. "Everything seems stable, I need to attend to another patient! Please excuse me," the doctor muttered before leaving. "Love, please would you stop exhausting yourself too much from now on?" Travis pleaded softly as Jessica wouldn't stop sobbing, the thought of losing her first baby scared her to death."Household chores aren't something that's hard Travis," Jessica let out. "Brother, I have something to say," Emerald said. "What's it, Emerald?" Travis asked gazing at her."I have been feeling guilty for a long time now, it's about my mother. She has been doing and harboring bad things towards aunt Jessica," Emerald explained. "Emerald, don't say that about your mother," Jessica said. "Is that true love?" Travis asked but Jessica couldn't stare him in the eyes."I don't want to ruin your family and the relationship you have with your stepmother," Jessica said."No, if she doesn't like you, she shouldn't involve our baby. I need to talk to her about this," Travis said with anger visible on his whole face. "No need, don't just mind her." Jessica pleaded. "Careful aunt Jessica," Emerald muttered as they walked inside the house. "Emerald please get Jessica a cup of water," Travis muttered, making her head to the kitchen. "Oh, I see you are back from the hospital Jessica! So tell me how you and the baby are doing?" Aunt Clara asked. "No complication, we are doing fine," Jessica replied. "Well, thank Goodness that both you and the baby are safe," Aunt Clara said, holding her chest. "Aunt Clara? Love? I need to get back to the wine factory. Please take good care of Jessica for me while I'm away," Travis said. "Of course Travis, I would take good care of her," Aunt Clara said. "Thank you," Travis said before staring back at his wife. "You should be careful," he warned before pecking her on the lips. He walked out of the room before lurking at the back of the door. "Nothing went wrong with your pregnancy? Oh no, that means there is no stopping another mouth to feed in this house. I just can't believe this." Aunt Clara said a little mad."Aunty, I know ever since I came to this house. You never liked me for Travis but I hope you would leave my child out of this," Jessica said. "Are you threatening me?" Aunt Clara asked. "I'm asking you with respect because I respect you and since my husband looks up to you as his real mother but if you ever threaten the life of my child again, I won't allow it anymore." Jessica let out firmly."What're you going to do? Huh, you talk asive you are someone high and mighty. If you feel you have grown tough now then let me warn you because I'm someone a lot tougher " Aunt Clara let out. Jessica felt it was a waste of time arguing with her as she turned to leave but aunt Clara hauled her by the hair. "Uhhh," Jessica wimps in pain."Where do you think you're going when I'm not finished talking to you?" Aunt Clara asked, hauling her grip harder on Jessica's hair. "Aunty please stop," Jessica begged. "I won't let you push me around, remember that," Aunt Clara let out as she put up her hand to slap Jessica but Travis held her hand tightly before she could succeed."Don't you dare hurt my wife aunt Clara," Travis muttered angrily. "You only act nicely towards her when I'm around and treat her badly when I leave for work. I can't take this anymore, I want you out of this house." Travis let out with finality in his every phrase.CHAPTER 5"Travis, you mean, you're going to kick me out of the house?" She asked, surprise visible on her face. "So now, I'm at fault here? I was married to your father. I may not be your real mother but I took care of you and treated you like my own son and now you want to treat me this way because of that filthy woman." Aunt Clara said. Emerald walked in with a glass of water to her grip, she was unhappy and felt bad. It was all her fault that her mother and brother were having a big fight. "You brought this upon yourself," Travis muttered out angrily. "Travis please stop," Jessica let out trying to pull him away but he was just too strong. "I'm doing this because I want a much better life than this for you Travis. Instead of you using your brains, you went out and married someone who is as poor as we are. Our lives is supposed to be getting better but it seemed that we are bound to suffer because of that stupid woman you call your wife." Aunt Clara let out. "Get out of this
The city was filled with busy cars and people trying to get on with their various lives and activities. Travis held the full carton of wine to deliver to the wine shop beside the road but an elegant-looking lady who looked frightened, shattered, and unhappy stopped him. "William," she let out before pulling him into a hug. The minute she realized herself, she quickly pulled away. "Sorry about the hug, do you have the strongest wine here?" She apologized after realizing her mistake."We just got some delivery right now Mam," the shop attendant replied instead. "Are those alcoholic wines?" The lady turned before asking Travis yet again. "No, this isn't Alcoholic Ma," Travis said, holding the carton tightly to prevent it from slipping to the ground. "I honestly wanted to have a last taste of something really bitter before dying." The lady said with a small sob escaping her lips. She clenched her chest tightly before walking away.Travis marveled at what kind of a strange lady was that
Jessica has been unconscious in the hospital for two days straight. She was clothed in the hospital uniform and a tube was placed around her nose. Her eyes slowly lit open as she gazed at her surroundings to notice Travis sleeping beside her.She slowly used her hands to caress his hair softly. That little gesture instantly woke him up from his intense nap."Love, you are awake? You and our baby are out of danger. I was scared but the good Lord had granted all my prayers because I don't know what I'm going to do if I lose the both of you," Travis let out with a little sob."I was afraid because I honestly thought I was going to lose both of you," he let out before placing a warm and soft kiss on her hands. "The good lord has its ways, I was saved from harm's way because our family was given a chance to be complete," Jessica let out weakly. "Yes, Jessica, God is truly loving," Travis muttered, caressing his wife's hand."I think I'm better, can we go and visit our daughter right now?
"You know what buddy? I hesitated a lot before seeing you, you have earned a lot from the city and I had no one to turn to right now but you. I thought maybe I could borrow some money from you because my wife would soon be due to give birth next week." Travis asked his friend. "The money you are asking for is a lot right now. I don't have that with me since we are renovating our house, I'm truly sorry," His friend said firmly, you could see the disappointment that instantly displayed on Travis's face. What was he going to do now?"it's alright, thanks anyway I would just go now," Travis said with a little smile but his friend was quick to stop him. "Wait, there is an opening from where I work in the city. The pay is really good, do you want me to recommend you? However, you have to be based in the city if you must take such a job. Can you handle being away from your family?" His friend asked him but Travis stood frozen at his friend's question."I would get back to you," he muttered
"We do many deliveries here Travis, the boss is here." Travis's friend Manuel said heading towards the man with a walking stick. He seemed to be in his early sixties. "Manuel?" The man called out."Yes boss," Manuel replied as they trudged towards him."Good morning sir," Travis greeted. "Morning, Manuel is an excellent worker here and he told me that I can always rely on you so don't disappoint me." Mr. Roman let out. "I can assure you, sir, that I would do my best," Travis said, pinching his hands, that was exactly what he does when he gets nervous. "Good, you're in charge of him Manuel, and teach him what he has to do," Mr.Roman instructed as Manuel helped him down the Factory steps. "Mr.Roman is a really nice man but don't just make him angry," Manuel warned."I would do my best here Manuel and you won't be sorry for securing this opportunity for me, you know how grateful I'm that you brought me here." Travis let out thankfully making his friend nod. "Oh, by the way. What exa
The workers at the wine Factory where Jessica worked alongside Emerald had been Summoned by their boss. Their boss Mrs. Mary had something important to them but she was yet to show up. After twenty more minutes, she was standing in front of them dressed elegantly. "I would apologize for keeping you under the sun but I have something important to say to all of you. I want to introduce you all to the new supervisor around the wine factory. She would be in charge of everything here whenever I'm not around. So, you must obey what she says at all times.""She would check and inspect all progress around the wine factory." Mrs. Mary finally let out as a lady dressed averagely trudged in. One could mistake her for a market seller instead of a supervisor at a huge factory like this. "This is Clara," Mrs. Mary let out, making Jessica stunned. Not only Jessica but Emerald too."She is going to be the supervisor around here and would be in charge of operating the wine factory. So, anything an
It's been three days since aunt Clara started working as the supervisor at the factory and Jessica had been through more than hell with her. "Clara, where can I find Jessica," Mrs. Mary asked, trudging inside the Wine factory where a hundred of workers were busy extracting wine. "Jessica, the boss wants to see you," aunt Clara let out, making Jessica nod before leaving what she was doing to head toward her boss. ."I think you should continue with what you were doing," Mrs. Mary told aunt Clara who nodded but still hangs around to eavesdrop on their conversation. "You asked for me Madame," Jessica muttered. "Jessica, I'm happy with the outcome of your work here at the factory, the grapes and strawberries are well stacked and the wines are being extracted just flawlessly. Whatever that you may be doing! Please continue to do so." Mrs. Mary praised as a wide grin appeared on Jessica's face. "Yes madam, you have given me this job and it's only right that I do my work well," Jessica l
Throughout the ride back to the Roman Empire. Travis couldn't help but ponder about what had happened a few minutes ago, the minute they got back he came down from the car before unleashing the question that had been bothering him to Manuel. "Manuel, what did we deliver back there?" He asked Manuel. "Travis, you can't tell anybody about this! Not even your wife. Our job is not actually to deliver those tools in those boxes but drugs, those cargoes with us are filled with drugs." Manuel let out. "Do you mean those were drugs?" Travis yelled in panic. "Would you shut up or keep your voice down? Not everyone in the factory knows about this man," Manuel exclaimed. "Come on Manuel. Why didn't you tell me that you were doing an illegal job here in the city? A drug syndicate for God's Sake." Travis muttered, stunned at what he had just heard. "Because I felt so sorry for you Travis, you were desperately in need of money right? You were even grateful that I brought you here and the boss g