###Chapter 74

Chapter 74



Anthonia had gone into early labor and delivered a baby boy as expected.

He wasn't mature enough as his lungs were still developing so he was kept in an incubator in a private ward.

The Mother, Anthonia was in another private ward unconscious.

It was a miracle how she had pushed out her baby without giving up the ghost.

The family was around her bed when she finally woke up.

She gasped sitting up immediately as she glanced around.

"Relax Anthonia…" Aditi said sitting next to her on the bed as he hugged her.

"Am alive…" She sighed holding unto Aditi.

"Hold on…" She said and quickly pulled away as she felt her stomach.

"My baby…" She muttered staring at Aditi.

"Where is he?" She demanded.

"You need to be calm Anthonia. He is safe." Granny assured and a bright smile appeared on her face.

"He .?. I ..I want to see him." She mumbled the request.

"We will speak to the doctor about it okay? For now, you need to have enough rest." Mother urged.

The ward door opened and her Mother rushed in.

"Anthonia…" She exclaimed and hugged her as Aditi gave way.

"Am so glad you are alive. Diya is going to rot in jail. ..I promise you." She assured and hugged her again kissing her temple.

****
****

Location: Rathords Mansion.

Abba stared at the mirror eyes brimful of tears.

Jeet was at the door leaning, watching her.

"You need to relax Mum. It has happened…nothing can change that." Jeet sighed.

"Shut your mouth Jeet!" She yelled and faced him.

"Do you have any idea what it feels like to have a daughter that would waste her years in jail?" She rasped.

"I would never want to know what it feels like Mum. You caused all this yunno." Jeet retorted and her eyes grew wide in surprise.

"Yes Mum. You brought us up the wrong way. You made us hate our own family and here you are lamenting like you are not the mastermind behind Nathasha's hatred towards Anthonia." Jeet spat and Abba clenched her teeth before charging at Jeet landing a tight slap across his cheek which made his face move.

"Don't…don't you ever say such things to me. I am your Mother Jeet!" She scoffed and turned her back against him.

"We need to fix this mess." She muttered.

He only shook his head and walked out of the room.

***
***

Location: Station

Aditi waited at the visiting area and Diya appeared soon enough.

"Adi…" She sighed rushing to hug him but he quickly held up a hand stopping her immediately.

Aditi got off his seat and faced her.
"You came…" She sighed.

"Of course…I came. I came to see that one lady I called a best friend. That one person I shared lots of things with. That lady that tried to wreak my home and happiness." Aditi stated and she shook her head.

"No Adi …I did all I did for you…for us. I love you so much Adi .." Diya sighed trying to touch him but he moved away.

"You almost killed her!" He barked and she flinched.

Everyone around had their attention on them while some faced their business.

"It's over now Diya. You are going to jail …you and that devilish accomplice of yours." He drawled and turned to leave but paused.

"And for your kind information…she gave birth to my son and heir successfully." He notified and walked away.

Diya could barely believe her ears.
She slumped sitting on a seat as she hugged herself.

How was that possible?.
Anthonia ought to be dead…not alive.
She made sure the hut was hot enough…
How come…

***

Anthonia was taken to the private ward on a wheelchair.
She could barely walk after everything.
The Doctor and Aditi was with her.

When she was finally positioned before the incubator,a wide smile escaped her lips as she gasped.

"My goodness Aditi…he's so cute…" She sighed and he smiled caressing her hair.

"Just like his Father…" He grinned and she scoffed.

"You wish…"

"I think he is right. Just take a look at him ." The Doctor chuckled and Anthoniasmiled and passed her hand through the little opening in the incubator.

It felt…warm…
She finally touch him…his soft smooth skin.

His hand she held was so small and fragile.

A happy tear escaped her eye.

"I'll excuse you two." The doctor said and made an exit.

Anthonia admired her little one.
One of the only reason she had to live for.

"What are we going to call him?" Anthonia muttered and Aditi smiled.

"Jerome…" He smriked and she looked up at him.

"What!?" She hushed and chuckled.

"Seriously?" She asked.

"Yeah. There is no name from India that could fit our son. Besides,we are leaving the country immediately he is mature enough." Aditi notified and Anthonia let go of her baby hand removing it out of the incubator.

"What do you mean Adi?" She asked.

Aditi walked to her front and squatted before her then took both of her hands in his.

"What I mean is…I want to take you and our son away from here. We will be going to L.A and I bet you haven't been there before." He grinned and she chuckled.

"For real? How about our family?" Anthoniaasked and he rolled his eyes.

"Right now…you and our son is my family." He replied and leaned in kissing her.

*
*
*

The Doctor walked into the ward with a cop.

Nathasha tried sitting up as she winced.
The bullet wound was still fresh.

"Good afternoon Miss Rathord." The cop greeted and she nodded.

"Words came in last night that you finally woke up. How do you feel?" He asked and she gave a weak smile.

"Better." She muttered and glanced at the handcuff that was around her left wrist and linked to the bed frame.

"Am under police custody now right?" She asked and the cop nodded.

The Doctor took his leave as Nathasha exhaled.

"Am ready to talk." Nathasha said.

"Great…"

****
****

After her statement,the cop left.
She was all alone again.

With no one by her.

She remembered when she had woken up…no one was there for hours.
Until the Nurse on duty showed up and informed the Doctor.

According to what she was told, only her Mother had come around.

Nathasha felt disappointed at herself.
Really.. it takes something big for someone to realize that they have been wrong all along.

No one wanted to be around her.
How would that even be possible when she had made a deal with the dev!l and tried wreaking someone's life.

She wished Anthonia would forgive her but that was like asking for too much.

She was more than ready to turn a new leaf.

★★★★ A Week Later ★★★★

Anthonia was finally getting out of the hospital.
Everyone was happy…her baby would be leaving with her too as he was finally mature enough.

After they had signed the necessary documents,the Doctor bade the family goodbye and left the ward.

"Ready to go home?" Jaya asked.

"We are waiting for the hour that Jerome would be released." Anthonia replied.

"Jerome? Who's that?" Anthonia's Mother asked and she smiled.

"Our son. That's his name." Anthonia replied.

"Wow …. So he's not getting a Hindu name?" Aunt Indu asked.

"Nope. " Aditi chipped in.
"We are actually leaving the country next week." He notified and everyone was stunned.

"What?!"

"Why!?"

"Change of environment." Aditi shrugged.

"Who would take care of my grandson?" Aditi's Mother asked.
. "We have that settled. Reason Anthonia's Mother would be coming with us." Aditi replied.

"Me?" She asked surprised.

"Yes Mum." Anthonia smiled at her.

"Wow …here comes another trip!" She chuckled as Anthonia laughed.

They recalled how they travelled a lot.
The rest of the family except Aditi was lost as to why they were laughing.

"Um…. I need to see someone." Anthonia notified.

"Who is that?" Aditi asked and Anthonia bit her lower lip already nervous.

Her sudden silence made everyone curious.

"It's um… Nathasha." She finally said and different sighs went across the room.

"What for Anthonia? That girl nearly got you killed." Maya scoffed.

"She was just an accomplice." Anthonia said.

"I can't believe this." Aunt Shyla exclaimed.

"What has come over you Anthonia?" Aditi's Mother snapped and she itched her nape.

"Look ..I understand that she did a lot of harm towards me but….she is still my sister. Right now, nobody would want to associate with her and l have to be there….for her." Anthoniasaid and there was silence.

She glanced at Aditi who stared at a fixed spot for a long time.

He didn't want to look her way.

Was he mad at her?...

"I'll take you to her ward." He suddenly spoke up.

"She's here!?" Anthonia asked surprised and he nodded.

Everyone watched silently as they both left the ward.

"What's wrong with her?" Aunt Indu muttered.

Anthonia's Mother only sighed.
Anthonia really had a heart like hers despite how stubborn she could be sometimes.

And for that,she loved her a lot more.

****

Nathasha laid on the bed thinking about a lot of things when the door opened.

It could be the nurse coming to check up on her .
She didn't know as her back was against the entrance.

"I am perfectly fine. You don't have to ask." Nathasha said.

"It's me…. Anthonia…"
She heard that voice and sat up immediately and winced regretting it.

She turned stunned to see the least person she expected to come see her.

"Anthonia!?" She whispered surprised as Anthoniasmiled at her.