Chapter 5 THE DISCOVERY

Cherish became so uncomfortable in the Woods home. She doesn't know what their next plan is just to get her to accept the proposal. She knew she had to leave the house, but her pregnancy was due and she didn't want to risk her life and her baby's life as she didn't know where to go.

One sunny afternoon, Mr Wood called her to his study room. After her refusal to sleep with Mr Woods, he avoids her like a plague and doesn't talk to her. Cherish was surprised when he called her.

"Cherish baby, see you and your big stomach. Are you sure you're not carrying twins" Mr Woods jokingly said, pushing her gently.

Cherish shook her head and laughed

"No sir, it's one oh. I've not carried one, not to talk of two" she responded

"Alright, if you say so. I called you here for something important: I've seen that you're a very good girl and how you served me and my family despite your condition. I want to give you a sum of ten thousand dollars, for you to support yourself in your delivery " Mr Woods handed an envelope to Cherish.

Cherish did not know whether to accept the money or not. Was this part of the plan like they said?

On the other hand, if she rejects the money, how will she do about her hospital bills and other items she needed for delivery which she has not gotten any of them.

"Thank you very much sir. I was not expecting this. I can't thank you enough" Cherish expressed her joy jumping up.

"You deserve more than this, please manage and ensure you and your baby are fine" He said

"Can I leave now?" Cherish asked, her voice very calm"

"Yes you can but wait I have something to whisper to your ears" He replied, coming closer to Cherish.

Just then, the door opened and the cook brought his food to the room as he requested.

"Sorry sir, I badged in. I brought your food" He apologized, dropped the food and left.

"Cherish, you can go now" Mr Wood ordered, as though he had been angry for days.

Cherish turned and left.

Cherish kept looking at the envelope and something in her kept telling her the envelope was for a reason but she can't reject the money because she really needed it.

As the days passed, Cherish became more and more uncomfortable. She started noticing strange things happening around the house.

"Has this been happening since I came or I'm I just observing it now" Cherish thought.

There were whispers and glances between the family members, and she saw suspicious-looking people coming and going but she couldn't place her hands on what exactly was going on.

One day, while exploring the house, Cherish stumbled upon a hidden room. It was so inside that if you don't look carefully, you won't know that there's a room there.

Inside, she found some documents and files that sent shivers down her spine and made her blood run cold.

The Woods family was involved in human trafficking.

Cherish couldn't believe she had been so blind to the family's true nature and they had hid all these from her till she found out herself.

As she made her way to her room, Cherish's mind could not stop racing. A lot was going through her mind.

"If this family is involved in Human trafficking, there's every possibility that me and my baby might be the next" She whispered to herself.

That same evening, a suspicious-looking young woman visited. Cherish decided to eavesdrop their conversation.

"... it's like she's too stubborn. After everything. If she's so insistent, we can have her baby and sell the baby off, we'll still make money" The young woman said.

Cherish immediately urinated on herself without her knowing.

"Her baby?"....

Mrs Woods hesitated before she spoke.

"I wouldn't want to do that but since she's been stubborn, this is the best way to treat stubborn people"

Mrs Woods said.

Cherish didn't want to hear anymore. She rushed into her room and started sobbing uncontrollably.

"What exactly should I do right now?

Run? When I'll be giving birth any moment from now. What should I do" Cherish started asking herself questions.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. Her water broke and she knew she was going into labour.

She didn't tell anybody where she was going. Cherish grabbed her bag and ran to the hospital.

Immediately she got to the hospital, she looked for the doctor in charge of her delivery.

"Please sir, I want you to help me out with something: I will soon give birth as my water has broken. Until I'm conscious, don't give my baby to anybody that will come as a mother, father, uncle or aunt" she requested.

The doctor's eyes narrowed

"Alright. But is there any problem"

Cherish shook her head as the labour started so serious immediately.

It was not until 10 minutes after she was done speaking to the doctor that she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Exhausted but relieved, she held her son in her arms to protect him from the Woods said family as he was the next target.

Just as she was about to rest a little, a nurse approached her with a concerned expression."Cherish, Someone is here to see you. She claimed to be your aunt"

Cherish's heart skipped. The Woods found her after she didn't tell anybody where she was going.

"What is her name" Cherish asked to confirm, her instinct was not lying to her'

"She says her name is Mrs Woods"

"Let her in," Cherish responded.

Mrs Woods walked in with so much excitement written all over her

"Congratulations, my daughter. Now I can be called a Grandmother. I'm so happy you came out successfully. My husband is at the reception. Can I take his son to him so that he can see" She asked

Cherish raised an eyebrow

"No ma. The weather is very cold outside. If your husband wants to see my baby, he can come in. The nurses will allow him .

Mrs Woods heaved a sigh of relief.

"Well, don't bother. We'll come back in the night to see our son, we will also get him some things while coming. Take care of my grandson" She said, then turned and left.

Cherish was so happy at this show of love because she was very sure they had ulterior motives.

"Mrs Woods said she'll be coming in the night. Why will it be in the night that she'll come?

What plan does she want to execute this time?

Should I tell the nurses to restrict her from coming in" Cherish thought and thought.