“Yes it was. The next time he travelled on a business trip, my foster mother made her move. She started with my history revealing that my father was an Ikwerre man who lived near her family after the civil war. Rumors were he died that year, possibly at the hands of the family of the Hausa girl he got pregnant. She confessed that he‘d rejected her for the girl and became maudlin, babbling that she loved Graham Bestman and I looked like him. She begged me to have sex with her. I refused and ran away from the house that same day.” Gladys wrapped an arm round his waist when he stopped. “That couldn‘t have been easy.”
“No, but it didn‘t end there, I returned the next day.” His voice was a deep sound against her chest as he held her close. “I had confirmed the circumstances of my birth and my biological father‘s name at the orphanage and came to explain things to Chief. He was not back yet but was expected soon so I waited in the kitchen with the house help. I don‘t know how Mrs. Okrika became aware of my visit or why I was there but she rushed into the kitchen shouting all kinds of accusations. She said I wanted to destroy her marriage to Chief, to disgrace her and make her a homeless bastard like myself. The next thing I knew, she had picked up the knife. I tried to wrestle it from her and the knife stabbed her shoulder.”
Gladys had her hands over her mouth in shock.
Edward was lost in the events of the past. “The security man and driver, alerted by the house girl, came in then. She told them to detain me claiming I attacked her without provocation. Chief came back and I was arrested and charged with attempted rape, assault and theft. I insisted on my innocence but there was no help for it. My previous reputation and Mrs. Okrika had done the damage. The police took me away. I remained in their cell and was tortured for a month.”
“No wonder this was so traumatic for you, I‘m so sorry.” She could barely stop the tears. The remembered pain was evident in his eyes. She stretched out an arm towards him and then dropped it.
Edward‘s voice was strained. “So that was what happened that day.” He looked over at Gladys, “I swear that was how it all happened. I don‘t know what Mrs. Okrika said…”