CHAPTER 13

It was 7 am. I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing. It was the same caller. I got up from the bed gently and answered the call. The receiver on the other end waited for a while before greeting.
"Did I wake you?" The voice sounded familiar. It was the same annoying voice from my childhood. Lisa? Six months had passed since she ran off with her lover. Why was she calling me now?
"Lisa?" Not sure if my assumption was correct. I called out her name.
"Yes. Hannah, before you drop the call, I just want to say I'm sorry."
"Sorry? Lisa, I'm not the one you should apologize to. Go tell that to mum. I don't even want to know why you ran away. Bye."
"Wait!" She shouted. "I'm the reason you got married to Liam. I promise to rectify my mistakes when I return."
What did she mean by rectifying her mistakes? I dropped the call and sat on the bed with my hands wrapped around my knees. She didn't return when I needed her, so why would she return now. I love Liam and I'm already dealing with Diana and now, my sister.
"I have to tell Liam about Lisa," I mumbled to myself. I picked up my Bible and read through Revelation 20. God was the only solution to my problems. Liam and I have faced so many obstacles but we are still together. It took me several months to realize I was in love with Liam. Now I'll have to make him love me too.
Three months had gone by since we attempted to get divorced. Diana returned with her excuse of not liking the school. I don't know how, but she got the school to decline her admission.
"Why are you awake? Isn't it too early?" Liam yawned.
"It's 7 am. We need to get up now."
"Are you trying to be a perfect daughter-in-law? It doesn't suit you." He turned to the other side of the bed and covered himself with the bed cover.
"Baby, get up. Don't you ever get tired of lying down?"
"Yes. When you're not here. And stop calling me, baby." When I call him baby, he gets angry but when Diana calls him baby, he enjoys it. I pulled down the bed cover and climbed on top of him.
He placed his hands on my thighs and stroked them gently.
"Don't you get tired of being rejected?"
I glared at him. "I told you already. I love you, so I don't get tired."
"Even if I don't feel the same way?"
"Mmm." He pulled the bedcover up and kissed me passionately. His fingers traced the robe of my nightwear and untied them.
While Liam was still inside me, Diana opened our room door and walked in. She didn't even feel sorry for what she did. She dropped the flowers she had in her hand and sat on our bed.
Liam wore his robe and sat up on the bed.
"Hey, Diana. What are you doing here?" He asked calmly.
"Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday, baby. You still look cute as always."
"Thanks, D."
"Wow! Looks like I'm the first person to wish you a happy birthday. Hannah, you should have wished your husband first. Don't you know everything about your husband?" I didn't even know it was his birthday. Our relationship was very weird. I didn't know I would eventually fall in love with Liam so I didn't bother to know anything about him.
"I didn't know." I quietly replied. I knew Diana was going to use this against me but I wasn't going to say anything to her. It was Liam's big day and I wasn't going to ruin it for him.
"Oh my! A wife doesn't know her husband's birthday? How can you say you love him?"
"You can say all you want but I don't care. I forgot his birthday doesn't mean I don't love him."
"Diana, she didn't know anything about my birthday, just let her be. At least you remembered. Thanks."
"I have a huge surprise for you. Get dressed and come downstairs."
"Sure." After Diana had gone, he got up from the bed and entered the bathroom.
"What do I get for Liam?" I opened my laptop and searched for what kind of gift to give your husband but the results were not pleasing.
I got up from the bed and paced around the room thinking of what to give Liam. I poured myself a cup of orange juice and sipped a little before reaching for my phone.
Chika should know something. I mumbled to myself. Chika was my Nigerian online friend I met two years ago. Chika and I both shared the same passion. We were writers. She was among the few humble writers I knew. I quickly dialed her number. It rang for 3 mins before she picked up the call.
"Sup gal."
"Hannah, it's been a while."
"I know. A lot has happened. I can't wait to tell you all about it."
"Why have you called? You never call unless you want something." She knew me too well.
I smiled before replying to her. "It's just, I don't know what to get for my husband. It's his birthday and his ex-girlfriend is here. She's trying her best to please him."
"You are married!"
"I'll tell you everything when we next chat. Remember, when you said you wanted to get married to a Canadian man?"
"Yeah,"
"You did your research on them. Please tell me what they like to eat."
"Make him some poutine. He will love it."
"I dunno how to make those. I've never even heard of that before."
"It's not that hard. It consists of french fries topped with cheese curds and rich gravy. You can also put toppings like pulled pork, bacon, and smoked meat. Just check how to prepare it online. I'm sure your husband would love it."
"Thanks, gal."
"Anytime." Liam came out of the bathroom shirtless. I stared at the water dripping down from his shirtless body. Every second I craved his touch. The towel on his waist dropped to the ground. All thanks to Diana, Liam and I couldn't have s*x this morning. I looked away before looking back at him. This time around he was glaring back at me.
He picked up his towel and threw it at me before going to his closest.
"Stop checking me out."
"Why? Is it bad to look at my husband?"
"I don't know what has gotten into you lately but I hope it gets out. You can't love me. Didn't you say, if I was the only man left in this world, you wouldn't marry me?".
"It's all in the past now. I'll make you something to eat." He walked out of the room without saying a word. Liam was trying his best to keep me away from him. I brought out the black gown Liam had bought for me. I wasn't comfortable in short dresses but for Liam, I was willing to compromise.

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DOWNSTAIRS
The party had already begun but there was no sight of Liam and Diana. Where could they be now? I mumbled. I wore this useless cloth for him but he was nowhere to be seen.
"Hi," a young guy of about Liam's age greeted.
"Hello"
"You look beautiful in that dress."
"Thanks." I blushed. "I'm Hannah Smith, and you are?"
"Jeremy. Your husband's cousin."
"Nice to meet you. Excuse me." I moved out of there. The guy looked like he was intoxicated. He had his eyes fixed firmly on me. I looked around to see if anyone I knew was there.
"Max!" I called out as soon as I saw him. He was with a lady. She wasn't that tall but she was indeed beautiful. When they got to where I was standing, Max smiled before introducing the girl.
"Hannah, meet my finance, Rosy. Rosy, my sister-in-law, Hannah." We exchanged greetings and began chatting. We talked for 30 minutes before Max went to the dance floor. He was a pretty good dancer.
"So, crazy party huh?"
"Yeah." She shouted. The place was noisy so we had to scream to communicate.
"How did you and Max meet?"
"Diana's birthday party."
"Diana? That means you are friends with Diana?"
"Not really. Diana and I schooled together back in Australia. She wanted to become a singer so she moved back here with her aunt."
"A singer?" Diana told everyone that she's been staying here. She wanted to become a nurse. "Didn't she say she wanted to be a nurse?" I asked.
"Nurse? Diana has always wanted to be a singer but her dad insisted that she did medicine. After many refusals, they finally let her pursue her dream."
"What relationship does she share with Liam?"
"Diana was Liam's ex-girlfriend. They loved each other very much but, after Diana gained admission in a school in Australia, they broke up. She fell in love again. Diana is now engaged."
"What?" Everything this girl just told me contradicts Diana's words. But if Diana is engaged, why is she here? I reasoned within myself.
"Why are you asking about her?"
"She stays here. She's obsessed with Liam."
"That's not true. Diana is madly in love with Caleb. It's just that I haven't been able to reach her since she returned, otherwise I would have called her.
"When did she return to Canada?"
"Four days ago." The glass cup I had in my hand fell to the ground. Rosy is correct, who's the girl in Liam's house? What did she want?.
"No! That can't be possible. Diana has been here for the last 4months.
She brought out her phone from her handbag and placed a call to someone. When the receiver answered, she put her phone on loudspeaker so I could hear it.
"Hi, aunt."
"Hi, Rosy."
"Aunt, I just want to know if Diana is with you?"
"No, dear. She left for Canada 4days ago. I haven't been able to reach her since she left."
"Thanks, aunt." She dropped her phone and stared at me pitifully. "So who has been living with you all?"
"Who could she be? Does Liam have any enemies?"
"I dunno Liam that well. You can ask his brother. There is only one woman I think might hate Liam, The girl, Liam raped. I'll go join Max on the dance floor."
"Sure." Thanks." How do I find this girl if we are not allowed to make mention of her in this house? "Jeremy," Jeremy said he was Liam's cousin. He might know one or two things about that girl.
"Yes, baby?" He had in his hand a plate of grilled chicken and in his armpit a bottle of champagne.
"Look at your condition. How could you still be taking alcohol?"
"If you tell me to stop, I will."
"Jer......" No. If I told him how disgusted I was with his behavior, he wouldn't be of help to me. I stuffed my mouth with sushi to avoid venting out my frustration. "Jeremy," I called out when I was done chewing. "I need your help."
"Anything for my woman."
"It's about Liam."
"No. I won't help you."
"The girl Liam was accused of raping, a few months ago, what's her name?"
"Hillary."
"Do you know where she lives or maybe her parents?"
"No. Mr. Smith is the only one aside from Liam that knows everything about that girl. Why are you asking?" He poured the remaining champagne in his mouth and gulped it down slowly before throwing them to the floor.
"It's nothing. I just feel that I should know everything about my husband including his past."
"That means you know about Diana?"
"Yes." This was the perfect opportunity to get more info about that girl. I smiled beneath my breath. "I heard she returned from Australia 4days ago."
"Diana? Diana's been in Canada for 4months."
"How's that possible?" Here I was believing that Jeremy might be of help to me but I was wrong. He says Diana's been here for the past 4months. "But, I heard she just returned to Canada a few days ago. She's here to pursue her dream."
"How's that possible? I stayed at Diana's place 4months ago when I got out of jail."
"Where does she stay?"
"I was so drunk that day," he laughed. "How could I have remembered? All I know is, it's down 229 Winnett Avenue. I can't remember much."
"Thanks."
"Here's my number," he handed me a small piece of paper. "Call me if you change your mind concerning Liam."
"Thanks." I took the paper from him and squeezed it when he wasn't looking. How could a cousin be after his cousin's wife? I muttered.
After he left to go join the party, I sat there thinking what and how to find Diana's former home address.
"What are you doing there?" Liam's stern voice brought me out of my thoughts. I rolled my eyes at the sight of him. He wanted to know what I was doing here but he didn't care how I would feel when he went out with his ex. I turned to the other side and sipped my juice slowly. "Are you upset with me?"
"Hi, Jeremy!" I called out when I noticed Liam approaching me. "I'm ready to dance now."
"Good to know." He took my hand and accompanied me to the dance floor where we danced as a couple. Jeremy disgusted me but Liam's actions disgusted me more. Liam glared at me with jealousy.
"Hi, darling, do you want to dance?" Diana asked him.
"No." He shook her hand off him before walking past her.
I danced all night with Jeremy completely ignoring Liam's jealous eyes.