CHANTEL

CHAPTER 13

"Dad!!!" Jade ran and hugged her weak father.

"Jade!" he embraced her.

Chantel and Max just watched them. Chantel perceived a strong cologne from the kitchen. She

traced it and saw a woman—a white woman with blue eyes and fancy hair.

"Jesus! Daddy is also flirting with a white woman!" she screamed inside.

"Hello, Chantel!" the white woman greeted.

"Oh, Dad already told her my name," she screamed inside.

"Hello," she replied.

The woman walked close to Chantel, smiled at her, and hugged her warmly.

Gosh! She smells like money!

Chantel was so uncomfortable with the sudden hug.

"Chantel, I am so sorry!"

"Why is she sorry?" Chantel's head screamed.

"Henrietta, let go of my daughter!" Ken, Chantel's father, yelled.

"Your daughter is also my daughter!" the white woman fired back.

Chantel frowned and scoffed. She smelled a rat.

"Excuse me?" Chantel addressed her.

Henrietta grabbed Chantel's hand and rubbed it warmly.

"Chantel, I know it is hard to believe, but...""DON'T CORRUPT MY DAUGHTER'S MIND!" Ken yelled.

"What do you mean 'corrupt your daughter's mind'? After taking her away from me for 22 good

years and—"

"What are you guys talking about?" Chantel asked curiously.

"Let's get things straight here. Come to the living room," Ken said, and they followed. "Sit!" he

added.

"Go straight to the point, please," Chantel said furiously.

"Chantel, this woman—" Ken paused for a while, looking at Jade and Max. "Who are you?" he asked

Max. Max was busy examining the house; he didn't even know what was happening. He was having

feelings of déjà vu. Those flashy cars outside were so familiar.

"I am Maxentinus," he said confidently.

"Max!" Henrietta yelled.

Damn!

"Mrs. Thompson?" Max said, surprised.

"What—what are you doing here?" she asked curiously.

Henrietta Thompson was actually the mother of Tiffany Thompson, the woman his parents were

pestering him to marry. What was she doing here?

"Ma'am, what are you doing here?" he sent back the question.

"Why is everything so complicated! Someone please explain what is going on here?" Chantel yelled.

"Chantel—"

"Dad!!! Tell me what I need to know and stop beating around the bush!" Chantel interrupted him,

yelling.

"Chantel, I am your mother!" Henrietta said without hesitation. "I have waited for this day for a long

time! I have searched for you all over Nigeria! And now I have found you," Henrietta said, grabbing

Chantel's hand.

Chantel was the most confused person at that moment.

"What are you talking about? My mother is dead! I—"

"Your father lied to you. When I gave birth to you, he took you away from me—I am your mother! I

gave birth to you!" Henrietta had tears on her eyelids. Chantel was totally paranoid. Jade was extra

confused. Max was in disbelief.

Chantel finally let go of the unwanted tears.

"Dad? Is this true?" Her voice wavered emotionally.

"Chantel, I am afraid it is. She is your mother."

Chantel gasped for air. She held her chest as if someone had pierced a hot rod into it. Then she

started hitting it hard. She cried like a baby while Henrietta tried to comfort her."Chantel, I am sorry. I am so sorry," Henrietta said softly. Jade sat in exhaustion, bent her head, and

started crying. Max hated when women cried around him. He stared at Chantel for a while, then he

took her from Henrietta and carried her to an empty room.

"How do you feel?" he asked after Chantel's crying subsided.

Chantel kept sobbing softly. It was cute!

"Has anyone told you how ugly you are when you cry?" he asked seriously.

Chantel immediately stopped her sobs and gazed at him angrily.

"How could you tell me I am ugly when I cry? Other guys tell their girls how beautiful they are when

they cry, and you—you—ugh!" Chantel yelled.

"What? I am saying the truth!" Max chuckled.

"I hate you!" Chantel said and cutely started hitting him on his shoulders.

"If I told you that you are beautiful when you cry, you would cry more. And I don't want you to cry. I

hate watching you cry. Please don't cry again when I am around," he said, cupping her cheeks.

Chantel laughed wryly.

"You are always beautiful," he said, kissing her forehead.

"Ahem," Henrietta cleared her throat. She was standing at the door, staring at them.

Max adjusted himself when he saw her.

"Are you in a romantic relationship with my first daughter when you are supposed to get married to

her sister?" Henrietta went directly to the point.