Celebrating 10 weeks of In Too Deep

Khotso and Oluremi have been separated for two months now. And because the Mohales refuse to leave Oluremi’s house, Oluremi has moved into my house. Which means Khotso has moved into my house because he comes here to beg her everyday to forgive him and hear him out. Then he sleeps in the car and as his boy, I can’t let that happen. So I let him sleep in the house now, in the guest bedroom next to the one that Oluremi sleeps in. This has seen Tebza not talk to me for two weeks, but she finally realized that this is not our fight and these are our friends. At the end of the day, we want to see them happy and together because despite everything that has happened, Oluremi does still love Khotso. I also think she’s getting soft now because she sees his efforts. We all do. I know Tebza is getting soft. But Oluremi just walks past Khotso and refuses to speak to him. We’d all be having dinner and Oluremi speaks past Khotso, speaking to everyone but him. It hurts him, but I think he’s comfortable knowing that she’s not seeing anyone. I’m just beginning to feel like my house is big momma’s house.

Today is the grand opening for Oluremi’s store. From what I understand, the store is a Sip’ n Read store. There is everything to drink there: alcohol, all kinds of coffee and health drinks. Then the walls are covered with books to read. So you go into her store to read and have a drink – whatever your preference is. They’ve been shooting a lot of advertisements for the place and they are so good, they’ve even invited me to go check out the store.

I get into the kitchen and I just see my kitchen covered in roses.
You know what… if I didn’t like Khotso, this shit would really piss me off. Now Tebza will walk in here and ask me why I don’t do things like this for her.
The roses are all red… at their centre, there are pink roses spelling out CONGRATULATIONS OLUREMI.
I look at this and am not sure how to really move around my own house.
I see a piano and some pianist on there, ready to play the piano as Oluremi walks into the living room. Then Khotso is there in a tux.
I could punch this guy right now. I’m also in a tux and I was really hoping that I’d have a stiff drink before we left for this event.

Oluremi and Tebza walk down the stairs together. My wife is obviously looking amazing! But Olu is also looking really nice. As she steps into the room and they are both amazed at the sight before them, the pianist starts playing John Legend’s “I’m gonna love you like I’m gonna lose you”. Just as we are focused on this, some soloist walks in and starts singing. I’m glad to know that my house is the fucken grand arena.
But Oluremi smiles… and you know what, this is progress. Tebza is holding onto her chest as if stopping her heart from beating too fast. I’m going to smack this Mohale boy. I really am.

Oluremi heads downstairs and she finds her way through this fucken garden that’s now in my house. Tebza is taking a video of this with her cellphone. Oluremi hugs Khotso and says thank you. Khotso looks like he wants to cry. He better not. He’s not a bitch-ass like that.
“I love you, Oluremi. And I’m going to keep fighting for us.” Khotso says.
What more is he going to do after this? Isn’t this the fight of all fights?

We step outside and prepare to leave, then we stumble upon a grey G63 with a red ribbon on it. The plate number reads “MY LULU TK”.
Khotso fought hard. No like, this is a lot. If this doesn’t bring Oluremi home, nothing will. Okay, maybe a house then.
“Bitch, he bought you a whip?!” Tebza says to her.
They both giggle together.
“Khotso, you do realise that this doesn’t solve the issues that we have, right?” She says.
What does she mean?
“I know.” Khotso says. And let’s just be clear, he is just saying that. But now that I think about it, this is ivula mlomo. He wasn’t being spoken to until a few minutes ago.
“It doesn’t change the fact that you betrayed me. You betrayed my trust. You have a child on the way that I’m not prepared to accept. I’m not prepared to love that child and I’ll never raise it. No matter what happens, I’ll never be the woman who raises a living and breathing reminder of my partner’s betrayal.” This is very deep. Even after the Wagon? Clearly he’s proven that he can look after both the kid and her.
Khotso is quiet. We are all just watching this.
“And you shouldn’t want to be with me. You shouldn’t be with someone who will not love your child or be prepared to mother it. You made a mistake and it hurt me deeply. But we need to move past what happens when my heart heals and your mistake is finally forgiven. There is a child involved in all of this and I can’t allow you to damage that child from the get-go. Go and be with your child and it’s mother, Khotso. It will hurt, but I’ll be okay. Your child won’t. And that’s not okay. That cannot be on me.” She has a very good point.
“I want you. I want only you. I told you that child is not going to live.”
Huh?!
“Khotso, you kill babies now?”
Silence.
“Could you at least let me take you to the opening? Please? This is the biggest evening of your life and I want to be part of it. With you. Please.” Khotso begs.
“But Remi and I are obviously driving the Wagon, right?” Tebza says.
“I think we can all ride in it.” I say.
“But I’m driving!” Lulu says and I see Khotso smile. He’s achieved 10% of his goal tonight.
I pat his back and we make our way to the backseat of the car.

Khotso and I talk about sport as the women are quiet in the front seat. It’s just an awkward car ride. I’m just thankful that it is not a long car ride. The cars to this venue start parking from two streets away. This place is packed! The advertising was great. But damn, we didn’t expect it to be this hectic.
We are still trying to find parking and the media is already all over us. This is insane.

We find parking eventually then we start walking towards the shop itself. As we get closer, the buzz gets more tense. Oluremi seems to be getting a bit claustrophobic – she does suffer from claustrophobia – Khotso holds her hand and pulls her close to him. She holds onto him. Then I see him telling her to breathe. Some person steps up to her trying to get an interview and Khotso moves this guy away with his entire arm.
He then carries Olu in his arms and we all get into her office. Now she’s trying to breathe. She breathes and coughs, standing in front of the fan and trying to cool down.
Khotso comes with some brown paper bag and puts it over her mouth and nose. He tells her to calm down and breathe. She has tears streaming down her eyes, but she listens to his voice and she starts breathing as Khotso counts breaths for her. I see Tebza admire them. They are so good together. They understand each other. They know how to show up for each other. It’s beautiful.

She is finally calm.
Khotso helps her sit on a chair and he holds her hand.
“Are you okay?” He asks her.
She stares at him for A LOOOOOONG time then she says, “Why did you do this to us?”
Khotso is immediately disheartened.
The door flies open and Ona walks in with his parents.
They have flowers and wine and chocolate.
“Congratulations, lady”, the queen says.
Olu is giving them half smiles and half hugs.
“Where’s Dise?” Khotso asks.
“At home. She’s with Mohale.” Ona says, but he’s pissed off.
We all know she’s upset that her cousin is being done dirty. She’s mad that Khotso has not given that girl the time of day and no one is forcing him to.

“Babe, are you ready to go out there?” Tebza asks Olu.
“I just need a minute. I forgot my pills at home. I need to find another coping –
“I have your pills. Here.” Khotso says, giving her two small pills.
We are all amazed. I see morena smiling. Clearly, he has been coaching Khotso.
“Thank you”, Olu says.
Khotso smiles at her and nods his head.
Ja neh…

…

Lethabo could have her baby any minute now. She’s HUGE!
Khotso has not even spent a minute with her. The minute that he has spent with her, he has been violent with her. I’m really pissed off about this situation and Ona and I have been in a really bad shape. We just fight all the time. He keeps saying that Lethabo knew what the deal was from the beginning so what did she expect? Where is Khotso’s accountability in all of this? Where? Lethabo is going to give birth any day and Khotso is okay with missing it. I don’t even understand how Mofomahadi is okay with this. She is not this kind of woman. I really don’t understand this. They even left her to stay in a hotel.
So instead of going to Oluremi’s grand opening, I just went to sit with my cousin and make sure she doesn’t go into labour alone and has to sort herself out as Khotso has left her to do.

“How are you feeling?” I ask her as we have dinner together. Mohale is already asleep.
“I should have aborted this child, Regodise. What kind of life is this? I’m going to have a child with a man that wants nothing to do with me. I disgust him. I’m a constant reminder of his mistake and betrayal to the woman that he truly loves. What is he going to do to my child? How is he going to feel about the child when it arrives?”
“He will come around, Lethabo.”
“When? When will that happen? It’s been nine months. The family doesn’t want me back because I have a child out of wedlock and the father of this child wants nothing to do with me.”
“Okay, nna I’m here. I’ll help you with this child. You are not alone.”
“Aowa, Regodise. I’m too young and too much of a vibe to be stuck in such a toxic situation with an even more toxic man. I’ve made an arrangement with someone to help me be done with this child.”
“Be done with this child?”
“Yeah. She’s actually on her way here. The baby is already dead. I swallowed pills yesterday that have killed the baby. Now, the person is coming here to take the baby out of me. I’m using that fifty thousand that Khotso gave me and I’m paying this nurse for this.”
I’m honestly shocked.
“Lethabo?”
“If you are going to judge me, you can leave right now. If you are going to stay, you will keep this to yourself, hold your breath and pray that I don’t die. When I heal from this, I’m going to the Bahamas to find a hot Caribbean man and just have exotic sex and irresponsible fun.”
I just laugh. I’m in shock. I’m even more pissed off at the Mohales for pushing my cousin to a point where she is having an abortion at nine months of pregnancy.

The nurse is here. There are about three nurses here. I see the blood. I see them taking the baby out through performing a c-section. The baby really is dead. Born dead. But now, Lethabo is also not breathing.
People who have c-sections don’t look like this.
“What’s happening? Why does she look like this?” I ask the nurses.
“She understood the risks.” One of the nurses tells me.
“Risks?”
I’m panicking now.
“Can you help me get her into my car, please?”
These people don’t even entertain me.
I drag my cousin to the car. When I get out of her hotel room, some of the hotel butlers see me and they help me drag her to my car. I managed to go back to get my sleeping child. He is wide awake now.

I speed through the streets of Tholoana Kingdom like a mad person. Mohale is a bit spooked. He is sitting in the front seat for the first time ever because I cannot make him witness Lethabo half dead in my backseat.
“Face the road, papa”, I keep telling Mohale because he keeps looking at the backseat out of curiosity.
“Phone papa”, Mohale keeps saying to me.
“I’m going to phone him when we get to the hospital. We need to help Auntie Lethabo first.” I say.
He doesn’t get it. He wants his dad there when there are problems and he doesn’t understand why I’m not phoning him.

We get to the hospital and she gets admitted immediately. Now I can call Ona. Mohale is on my lap.
“Hey baby”. He answers my call.
“Onaleruna! I need you to grab Khotso and come to the hospital right now. Lethabo is in a coma and the baby is dead.”
He is silent.
“Ona!”
“Where’s my son?”
“He’s with me.”
“What did he see?”
“Onaleruna, my cousin is fighting for her life and all you care about is –
“Yes, I care about my son more than I care about some slut who cannot respect people’s men.”
“So, that’s what you also think of me? Remember how you and I got together? If you treated me the way that Khotso is treating Lethabo, we wouldn’t have Mohale. Do you regret this? Do you regret our family?”
“Are you serious right now? You really want to take what your cousin has done then compare it to our situation? Seriously?”
“Are you coming or not?”
“I’m on my way. But I cannot speak for Khotso.”
Then he hangs up.
Yho!

…

Mohato, myself, Ona, Khotso, Oluremi, Teboho and Maboko arrive at the hospital and find Regodise sitting with Mohale in the visitor’s area. Regodise is EXTREMELY upset. She’s actually shaking and emotional. We all look at her.
“Are you at least going to ask how she is? How your child is? Take any responsibility at all, Khotso?” Regodise spews.
Khotso just looks at Regodise. We all do really.
“Had you all showed up like this when it mattered, the baby and Lethabo would still be alive. They are both dead and I hope that you all rot in hell for this.” She says then she takes Mohale and storms out.
“Onaleruna, she can’t drive in that state. And if she’s going to be stubborn about it, bring Mohale.” I tell Ona.
Both he and Khotso run after each other…

I don’t know what happens. I don’t know how it happens. But whatever happened, Regodise ran my son over with a car and now Khotso is being brought into this hospital in a stretcher. He is still. There’s a lot of blood. Ona is upset and Mohale is crying in Ona’s arms. They are running beside Khotso’s bed. Regodise runs in after all of them and I just see Oluremi charging towards Regodise and punching the insanity out of her. Regodise is on the ground from Oluremi’s punch. I just see Mohato get Oluremi and pull her into a hug. We are all falling apart here. I cannot grasp what is happening. I don’t understand. What I do know though, is that I’m not losing a son. If I lose a son, Onaleruna is losing a wife. I will kill her with my own bare hands.

…

Oluremi is shaking on the chair. She cannot stop shaking. I’m sitting next to her as if we are in-laws mourning our common love. Ona is pacing up and down the waiting room. Mohato has been in theatre with Khotso. They tried to keep him outside and get him to sit with us in the visitors’ area, but he’s Mohato. He does what he wants when he wants it and absolutely no one can tell him anything. I just feel like he’s probably making every person in there ten times more nervous.
Oluremi’s parents walk in together extremely panicked. They were here for the opening of Olu’s store. Her mother finds me first and she just embraces me. We just hug and her father just embraces his baby girl.
“Have you heard anything?” The dad asks Oluremi.
Olu shakes her head.
She’s just shaking.

Teboho and Maboko bring something to eat. Teboho gives Oluremi some chamomile tea. She gives me a cup too. She even gives a cup to Ona – after hugging him. Regodise is here with us, but honestly, we are not interested in how she’s doing right now. We are just not mature enough to understand that this is difficult for her too. I know that this is tough on her. I know that she’d never do this deliberately. I just know. But right now, I blame her. I just want her far away from me until I know that my child is okay.

Letlali and Zithulele walk in with a double stroller. Both their kids are fast asleep and they are in tracksuits. Letlali goes straight to Oluremi and hugs her. Then she gives her a jacket to wear over her dress. She’s such a nice girl.
“Has anything been said yet?” Tlali asks Oluremi.
Oluremi shakes her head.
Tlali nods her head.
Teboho gives her food and she accepts it. She finds a chair and she sits down to eat. Her boys are peacefully sleeping. She’s such a strong girl.
Zithulele is with Onaleruna.

…

The sun rises and people are asleep on the chairs. Tlali is awake because she’s feeding the small son and Zithulele is feeding the older one. The partnership is beautiful. Mohale is on top of me because Regodise decided to leave the hospital hours ago.
We didn’t prepare for Mohale to still be here. Letlali hands me a bowl of food she has mixed – similar to what Banathi is eating and I say thank you as I accept the bowl. I start feeding Mohale and shame, baby boy was quite hungry.

The doctor comes out after two hours and I wake Oluremi up. She was sleeping on her mother’s lap. Her parents actually have no idea about her and Khotso’s fight. I admire a woman who can keep issues away from her family. She understands that she can forgive him one day, but they won’t.

“Khotso is out of surgery. The surgery went well. We got our best doctors to work on him and we really did our best. For now, he is experiencing some paralysis in his legs.”
“Paralysis?” Oluremi asks.
“Yes. We cannot tell at this point if it’s permanent or temporary. But as he heals, it will be clearer.” The doctor says.
I’m glad he’s alive, but I can see why people feel sad.
“Can I please see him? Please?” Oluremi says.
The doctor nods his head. I follow Oluremi and we are led to Khotso’s ward.
I didn’t realise that Ona was right behind us.

Khotso is attached to some intimidating machines. Mohato is next to his bed, sitting on a chair and is hanging his head. I put my hand on him and he looks up at me.
“They lost him three times in there.” Mohato tells me.
What?!
“I held a gun to their heads and told them to make him live. I knew that he wasn’t just going to leave us. This is my son. He’s not going to die that easily.” Mohato says.
I pull his head towards me and I wrap my hands around his head as it lays on my stomach. He wraps his arms around my waist and starts crying.
I’ll never be able to show Mohato just how grateful I am for the way that he loves my children. I’m eternally thankful.

Ona and Oluremi are standing next to each other with Mohale in Ona’s arms. They are looking at Khotso and Oluremi is just crying.
Khotso opens his eyes. Oluremi steps closer to him and holds his hand. She smiles at him.
He seems to acknowledge her. Then he closes his eyes again.
“Khotso”, Oluremi says.
He opens his eyes and looks at her.
“I love you.” She says.
I see a tear fall out of his eye.
“Rest, okay baby? I’ll be right here when you wake up. You promise me that you’ll wake up after you’ve rested, right?”
He squeezes her hand.
She kisses his forehead then she says, “Okay, baby… get some rest.”
He closes his eyes.

“You can go home and shower then change. We will stay here with him until you get back.” I say to Oluremi.
Oluremi nods her head.
“I’ll drive you”, Ona says.
Oluremi nods her head.
They leave.

…

Oluremi has been crying throughout our drive. We haven’t really been able to even talk. She’s just been looking out of the window and pulling her snots while wiping her tears every now and then.

“He’s going to be okay”, I tell her.
She looks at me and she smiles. Then she looks away.
“He needs you to forgive him, though. We all do. We all need you to forgive us. We are all sorry for the role that we played in this mess. We know that we’ve hurt you deeply and we probably don’t deserve your forgiveness, but we ask that you please find it in your heart to please forgive us – especially Regodise.”
Her body language changes.
I stare at her.
“Please, Oluremi. Please find it in your heart to forgive her.”
“Do you forgive her? Do you forgive her for running your brother over with her car?” She asks me.
“I’m trying to. I know that she didn’t mean to, but there’s a part of me that feels like she did. There’s a part of me that feels like she wanted us to feel the hurt and the pain that she is feeling because of her cousin’s death. She does feel that it’s unfair for her cousin to be on the worse end of the stick in this situation. While I have to be her husband and be there for her, I also have to deal with the fact that she ran my brother over. And I know my wife… she doesn’t just do things. She really doesn’t. So I do need to understand what her thought process was in all of this.”
She’s quiet.
I’m quiet.
“I’m not ready to forgive her. And with me, it’s not just her running Khotso over with the car… it’s the role that she played in getting Khotso and I here today by advocating for her cousin. It says a lot about how she really feels about me and how she genuinely sees me in Khotso’s life. Even when I do forgive her eventually, I don’t think I’ll ever forget this.”

Eish.

We arrive at her place and I park the car outside the garage. Mohale was passed out in the backseat. My poor son. He’s seen way too much over the past twenty-four hours. We are using my car because Tebza and Maboko went back to their house with Olu’s new whip. It’s a very sexy car.

Olu takes Mohale and lets him sleep on her shoulder. Mohale has an interesting love for Oluremi. He literally looked up and saw that he is in Oluremi’s arms then he passed out on her shoulder.

We walk into the house and we find Regodise passed out on the couch. There are three empty wine bottles on the table.
WTF?!
Olu and I look at each other.
“I’ll take Mohale upstairs and I’ll make sure I bath him as well.”
“Thank you”, I say.
She goes up the stairs and as soon as she disappears, I start cleaning up here. I’m very annoyed. I’m tired. I’m irritated. And now I must deal with a drunk wife… after she ran my brother over with a car.
When I’m done cleaning here, I wake her up, throw her over my shoulder and I take her upstairs.
We get into the bedroom and I make her sit in the shower. Then I open cold water and close the shower door.
She wakes up and she starts swearing at me. She wants to get out the shower, but I’m closing her in. I’ll know she’s sobering up when she has sense enough to close the cold water, open the hot water and actually take off her clothes.
She yells and screams at me until she just closes the water and sits on the tile of the shower. I also sit down and lean against the shower door.
She cries. Painfully!

“She didn’t have to die, Ona.”
I’m just quiet.
“She didn’t have to die. Now all of you have just moved on. You’ve all moved on and none of you want to recognise her. You are putting all the blame on her for all of this mess that Khotso participated in. Now none of you even have the time of day to just support me as I mourn her. I know her as a doctor – a well-specialised doctor with a ten-year-old daughter who now has to be raised by relatives, and all you give a damn about is her being the slut who ruined Khotso’s and Lulu’s relationship. She didn’t do it alone, Ona. She made a mistake, but she didn’t do it alone.”
I just sit here and listen to her.
“It’s not fair, Ona. It’s not fair.” She says.
“Her parents won’t even talk to me or my parents. They blame us for all of this. We’ve even been banned from attending the funeral. We had a decent relationship. She supported me when I was being called a slut for sleeping with you and carrying Mohale. I couldn’t even protect her from the repercussions of sleeping with Khotso and being impregnated by your brother.”
She just cries and cries and cries.

After some time, I take my clothes off and step into the shower with her. She takes her clothes off and we shower. We don’t talk to each other throughout the shower. When we are done, we lotion ourselves and we get dressed. The walk-in closet is straight out of the bathroom. She dresses up into pyjamas. I wear a tracksuit because I’m headed back to the hospital with Olu.
As she gets into bed, there is a knock on the door.
“Come in”, I say.
Oluremi walks in with two plates of food on a tray and Mohale on her back wrapped in a towel.
“I thought I’d bring you something greasy to eat.” Olu says.
Dise looks at her.
I walk up to Olu and take the tray from her.
“Thank you”, I say.
She nods her head, then she looks at Dise and says, “I’m really sorry for your loss, Regodise. Despite everything that has happened, may her soul rest in peace. Motho a se dibi tsahaye. We celebrate her life remembering her for the positive footsteps that she has left in our lives. I didn’t know her and my experience of her hasn’t been great. But I’m sure she wasn’t all that bad. Phephi.”
Regodise gets emotional. Then she says, “Kea leboha, Olu. You have no idea how much that means, especially coming from you. Kea leboha ho me nahane.”
Olu nods her head then says, “I won’t be able to do much as far as going to your home ho tsidisa. But, I’ll look after Mohale so you don’t have to worry about him. Just take your time and get better.”
Dise nods her head as tears stream down her face, then she says, “Thank you.”
Olu nods her head then leaves the room and closes the door behind her.
Also this plate… steak, eggs, fries, sauce and garlic bread. Yerrrr! My stomach is happy!

…

We have come to this old man’s house to hear him out. He needs to explain why he wants me out of my chair as a king and what makes him think he can do a better job at leading Tholoana Kingdom. I’m here with my wife. We were let in by his wife – third wife I think. He has a shit load. We are sitting in the lounge area and waiting for him to come here.
“Are you okay, baby?” Kea asks me.
I look at her. I kiss her.
“I’m here.” She says as she gloves my hand with hers. I put my other hand over her hand and I rub her hand between my two hands. Then I kiss her hand.

The old man finally comes into the lounge area. He is the spitting image of the man I believed was my father for a very long time. Apparently, this man was his younger brother. He still seems fit, but he has a stench of pathetic in his aura. He looks like someone I could murder myself – not even call a hit on him – and I’d still be able to sleep peacefully at night.

“Mmathuso, come get makoti here. We have men business to discuss”, he calls for one of his wives.
Kea is instantly offended and I feel her body tense up.
“My wife is not going anywhere”, I tell him.
“My laaitie, we don’t share everything with these people”. He says.
I feel Kea’s blood boiling over time.
“Ey wena! I didn’t come here to get advice on how to piss off my wife. You know exactly why I’m here and can we just stick to it?! Are you going to tell me what I want to know or not?!”
He looks at me for a looooong time then says, “Mathabo was right. This one makes you soft. You should’ve taken a second wife when you felt yourself go soft.” He says. Now Kea is about to explode. She just says, “Bona mo wena –
I just kiss her and say, “I’m gonna kill this man, baby. Don’t worry.”
The old man and the Mmathuso lady look at shocked.
“Ke etswe jwang, papa?” Mmathuso enquires.
“You can leave us.” He coldly says.

“Your mother was a baie ncaaaa ousi. Yeses! Mathabo! Sy was baie mooi!”
Now I’m getting irritated. Is this man really going to speak about my mother like this?
“When I met her, that old geyser was eyeing her too. I didn’t blame him. She was a baie mooi ousi. But as you know, he couldn’t give Mathabo what she really wanted: you! A son who she could rule this country through. So I knew that when it came to getting her son, she’d have to come to me for bed things. And she did. My God!”
“Ey wena! I’ll fucken kill you. That’s my mother”. I’m irritated now.
“Do you think we didn’t have fun making you?”
Kea giggles in shock. I just stand up getting ready to leave and this man says, “What’s with the temper, my laaitie? Come on now.”
I’m going to pump bullets in this man’s head. It’s such a fucken pity that Shaka took my gun before I walked in here. I think he knew this prick would force me to use it.

“Fine, I’ll spare you the details. The point is, you are my last surviving son, Mohato. All my sons are dead. The royal house made sure that they kill them all after they had even promised me that by helping the men in this family with useless sperm, I’d have a significant seat in the throne. But life is funny. They thought they’d keep me away forever, but now it’s my son who sits on the throne.”
“Old man, why do you want to take over the throne?” I’m getting annoyed with him now.
“I want you to be happy, son. I know that throne doesn’t bring any joy. My father was never happy on that throne. My brother – your supposed father – he was never happy. He even made his sons unhappy. You, Reahile and Morena were never happy and could never love each other as brothers. I’ve never been able to truly be a father to my sons. I let them use Thapelo to be in my position – make children he would never be able to raise. He died with three wives yet still unhappy. You are my last chance and I want to go to my grave knowing that I made at least one of my sons happy. I hear I have a great grandson too.”
“You not taking over my throne. It’s never happening. And the next time you unleash an attack on me or my family, I’ll fucken murder you. My family and I have a decent life and we make it work for ourselves.”
“How do I be part of that? Part of your life?”
“You don’t have a son in me. Go marry another young thing and make her birth your next priced possession. I’m not it.”
He looks hurt.
I stand up. Kea stands up too. Kea wants me to stay and create a bond. She’s just that person and I can see it on her face that she wants me to entertain this man.
I pull her out before she can suggest anything.