Chapter 10

Muse's POV I am very confused and I am feeling very bad. Where am I supposed to go right now under this freezing cold? Besides that, I don't know where I have been thrown by my uncle's wife and her lover. I did not even know the city where I lived previously, how about this place. Where to start now? Where to go? Where am I going to sleep with this rainy season? What could I have done to my uncle's wife and her lover to make them treat me like their enemy? I don't remember doing anything wrong to them though. As long as I can remember, I have always been respectful and polite to them. Why did they hate me, as I would have been their adversary in a previous life? If they didn't want me in this house, they could have just gone and brought me back to my family with my mother. I would then be safe with my siblings. Now I'm on my own in the middle of nowhere and without a dime on me. I have no idea about where I am. Where to go and, how am I going to survive in the face of this hardness of life, my God? If at least my uncle was there to protect me, all this couldn't have happened! He took me away from my family believing he could offer me a better life, while on the contrary he exposed me to the atrocious wickedness of his wife and that of her lover. I currently have no phone number in mind. That of my mother that I had memorized does not work anymore. She must have surely changed her sim card. As for my uncle's phone number, I couldn't keep it in mind. He had given it to me with a cell phone on which I was supposed to contact him in case of the slightest problem, but as soon as he had turned his back to return to the town where he works, his wife witch ripped off this phone with its phone number registered inside. Anyway, I don't even have a penny on me to call anyone. The place where I was left is deserted.There is no living person dwelling here. Looking up, I see a dense light about a thirty minute walk away. It must surely be there town. So they left me at the entrance to the city. I look around once more. Not far from where I am, I see a house under construction. Looks like they haven't worked on it for a long time already. I think it might do the trick and host me while I find a financial solution. I therefore drag my suitcase to this abandoned site. I'm looking for a well-hidden place where I can put the suitcase and lie down while waiting for the sun to come up. I will see later how to get to town so that I can find a job that could get me out of trouble. Having found a good place in the construction site to deposit my things and lie down, I try to arrange it with my feet, then I put my suitcase on the ground. I have a few loincloths and a sheet in my suitcase. I take them away and I spread the loincloths on the ground. I lie down afterwards, covering myself with my sheet. I sleep while praying that God will protect me from critters and snakes. After sleeping for a while, I am awakened by the hot rays of the sun which are already burning me. I get up and stretch myself painfully. I feel stiffness all over my body. The gurgling of my stomach does not help my troubles and reminds me that I have eaten since yesterday at noon. I immediately understand that if I want to survive in this jungle where I was thrown away, I must think quickly on a way to make money. And the only idea that comes to my mind right now is to head into town looking for an activity that I could put a piece of bread in my mouth this morning at least. I set off on an adventure in order to have even my breakfast in exchange for a service. I'm a hard worker that's for sure. I was the one who did all the chores around the house. So working here will not cause me a problem. After less than thirty minutes of walking, I finally arrive in the city. The inhabitants are already outside going about their activities. I walk for a good ten minutes more, crisscrossing the various places where I could offer my services. Finally, I decide to enter by chance in a restaurant where I see some customers eating. The scent of the food pleasantly titillates my nostrils, but accentuates the gurgling of my stomach. I walk casually to the hallway that leads to the kitchen. A servant intercepts me on the way - Hey! Where are you going ? Visitors and customers do not have the right to have access to this place. She lectures me, putting a stern look on me. - I'm not a visitor. I said in a small voice, getting scared at the same time. - In that case, what are you looking for here? We do not receive beggars here either. We must get out immediately! She said sternly. Normally, I would have already turned around, but there, I have no choice. My empty stomach tells me to stay and keep my pride aside. - Please, I just want to have a bite to eat this morning. I promise you, I will do anything to pay you for it. I can wash the dishes, polish the floor, or even scrub the toilet. But please give me something to eat first! I beg the young woman with teary eyes. - Sorry, this is not social affairs. We do not do charity in this restaurant. Get out there! The young woman orders me by violently grabbing my arm. She was already dragging me out by the arm, when I hear behind us a firm voice say - Let go of the Yvana! The young waitress and I turn around to see whose voice is. A mature woman, in her forties, walks towards us with a tight face. - Since when do you take initiatives without consulting me? When such situations arise, I should always be made aware before doing anything. I am still the manager of this restaurant to my knowledge !? Did I make myself understood? She scolds sternly. - Yes Madam ! The young servant stammers without daring to look me in the eye. It is well done for her. What nastiness, when she is not even the owner of the place. She ends up taking leave of us with the tail between her legs. The manager of the restaurant gives me a big smile and then invites me inside. I walk behind her until we get to the kitchen. The manager sits me down on a table and returns to the pots. She returns in less than five minutes with a tray full of food. She places it in front of me, giving me a reassuring and friendly look. There is beef broth, bread, scrambled eggs, and lots of other foods. Beside, she left some fruit juice and some fruit. I think it's been ages since I've been served so well. I even think that since I left my father's house, I had not eaten so well. I eat until I have no more room in my stomach. It looked like I was storing enough food for the next few days. When I had finished eating, the manager came to clear the table and came back to sit next to me. - What can I do to pay your money? I can offer you my services. I am very good at cleaning as well as cooking. I say sharply. - No my dear, it's free. You don't have to do anything to pay me back. She said kindly. - It's true?! I say in joy. - You followed well sweetie. Now tell me all about yourself. Where are you from, and why are you looking for food when you're supposed to be in school? Asks the manager with great interest. - To be honest with you, I don't even know where I am. My aunt and her lover abandoned me at dawn at the entrance to the city. I didn't know where to go until I ran into your restaurant. I explain to the lady. - How's your aunt abandoned you? Don't you have parents Can you explain to me what happened to make something like this happen? The manager asks more and more Intrigued. I embark on a long story about my life. I tell the lady of my setbacks since the death of my father, of my arrival with my uncle after the death of my father. I tell her about the mistreatment I was subjected to at the hands of my aunt. I did not omit anything, even the rape that I suffered until my arrival this morning in this unknown place. She listened to me attentively without interrupting me. When I finish telling her everything in great detail, she says to me with a smile - Don't worry anymore. From now on, you won't miss anything. You will be entitled to whatever you want. I'll take good care of you. - It's true ? Can you host me at your place? Would I have the right to eat my fill? I ask him the question with anthousiasm. - Of course my dear! By evening, I'll take you to your new home. - So I have to go get my suitcase that I left somewhere at the entrance of the city. I say looking excited. - No my Darling. In your new home, you will be entitled to any kind of clothes you want. Do not worry. Okay? - Okay ! I respond with great joy. I stayed in this woman's restaurant until the evening. She brought me back to her home where I was amazed by the beauty of her immense home. Pauline POV I believe I finally managed to get rid of that Muse glue skin. Finally my house can be quiet! This girl annoyed me a lot. His presence in my house was imposed on me by my husband, without me being able to really give myself a point of view. My house is not an orphanage for me to house children whose parents have died. I should put up with her and watch her eat my food without saying anything because her uncle was overprotecting her. Fortunately I have Pen by my side, otherwise, I would still be experiencing the presence of this task. My children must not grow up with it. My husband loves her as if it were his child, who knows if it is not his daughter? With the things we often hear out there about the infidelity of men who end up bringing back the fruit of this adultery and forcing their wives to put up with it, I wouldn't want a bad surprise to learn that Muse is the fruit of his infidelity. . I think it was this fear that made my hostility towards this damn girl more intense since she came to my house. The day after I kicked Muse out of my house, my husband returned after more than two months of absence. Luckily he came home after we chased that witch out. I imagine the scandal it would have caused if he had known about his pregnancy and even worse, about the author of the said pregnancy. I'm really happy to get rid of this source of problems. The fact that my husband is away regularly has also helped me a lot. Besides, he can even spend a year away from home, that wouldn't bother me in the least. The most important thing for me is that he fill my pockets with money the way I like. From the start of our marriage, Georges was transferred to another city which is not very good for our children to live there. He therefore saw fit that I stay with the children in this city, while he will make shuttles between the two cities. After putting up with her absence for over two years, I started dating a man who made me feel sexually happy. At the time, it was our neighbor. We were lovers for five years without Georges knowing it. But one bad luck day he came back before the date he gave me. He surprised me on the bed with our neighbor. Georges went into black anger. He was ready to throw our neighbor in jail. But after begging him, he gave up but demanded the neighbor to leave this town, the latter obeyed without flinching. But after a year, I met Pen. Between him and me, was born a mad love and since then we have not separated. The only trick I had found at the time to prevent my husband from having any suspicions about him was to tell him that it was my brother who had lived in the United States and that he came back there n not long ago, which is why he hadn't seen him at our wedding. Pen and I get along wonderfully. We have the same ideas and we are ready to take the same risks to achieve our end. Once George has returned, he asks directly where his damn niece has gone. "Why haven't I seen Muse since I got home?" "You just got back, why are you asking directly? You haven't even seen your son Maïel yet, but you're asking for your niece ?!" I inquired annoyed. "I've always told you, Muse is my girl, you better fit that into your ciboulot!" Georges answers me by raising his voice. I'm really at the end of the line, and I want to talk to him very badly. But I decide to calm down. "Alright, at least let me serve you. When you have eaten, you can check in on your children afterwards." I tell him in a soft and tender voice. I didn't want an argument over that damn girl. She's already gone, so I don't plan on letting her disturb the peace and quiet of my family. Georges, seeing that I have become gentle, resigns himself to insisting on asking for his niece. While he gets rid of his clothes to take his bath, I go to the kitchen to prepare his food. I made a special meal for him, knowing he will enjoy it. As soon as I finish setting up the dining room, Georges shows up and comes to take a seat at the table. I serve him some food and then I sit down next to him, watching him eat. I told myself that with the attention I am showing him, he was not going to ask me for his niece right away. But it's not knowing my husband well. He even looked like he was hurrying to finish his meal, just to be able to freely ask for this plague of Muse. "Now that I have done what you wanted by finishing eating, can I finally know where my daughter has been?" He asks me straight in the eye. Surely this man must be obsessed with this damn thing. He doesn't even seek to ask for his own children from his womb, but it is this girl that he breaks my ears to ask. Looks like he suspected something about what happened. At least I hope he doesn't know about anything. I think for a moment, then I take a serious look and answer him by getting up from my seat to clear the table. "Since you insist so much on knowing where she is, just know that I don't know." "What do you mean you don't know? I left my daughter in your care before I left, but you're taking me out now that you don't know? Is that wrong with your brain?" Georges gets angry. He speaks raising his voice hard at me. He annoys me and I throw him in a harsh voice "Know that your supposedly daughter got pregnant with I don't know who. I asked her to give me the name of the perpetrator of her pregnancy, but she refused. She preferred to cover up this thug. so insisted, she decided to run away during the night. " Georges is petrified by what I just told him. He looks at me incredulously and I don't hesitate to challenge him with my gaze. He sits up, stopping his chest.