UNBREAKABLE BOND OF BLOOD

It all started with two love birds, Damsel and Stephen in a small town known as Freeland. Damsel was a dress maker and Stephen, a fisherman. They loved each other so much that, no one could come between them although Damsel's father was not in support of their relationship because Stephen was a pauper and he wanted his daughter to marry a rich man he picked out of his numerous friends for her.

She vowed to run away and never return if not allowed to marry the love of her life. Her father had no choice than to accept her wish because he loved her so much and always wish for her happiness.

Their love was an unconditional one, a love brought together by destiny. It was so deep that they feel each others every pain and weakness. Even if one is unwell, the other feels same. That is how beautiful these couple begun.

THE DRAKE'S HUT

" Damsel....honey....where are you....got a great news....", Stephen called, blissfully from the entrance of their hut but was met with cold silence

" where could she be.?" He thought to himself as he sauntered into the hut.

Meanwhile, Damsel was behind her sewing machine, spacing out with tears in her eyes. Her heart ached with the thought of her childlessness and her mind brooded over her misfortune.

"Why...me..God...why– why can't I bare just a single child? We've been married for 5years– For how long shall I wait for a child to call my own?; Is my womb so weak that it can't hold one?"

She was in desolation, that she didn't realize when Stephen walked in neither his calls.

" Damsel...hey...." He softly called, tapping her on the shoulder with a worried look, just when he neared her.

She jolted, instinctively drying her eyes in a swift.

" Hey, honey...welcome...have you been here for long? She asked, hiding her tears.

" Not really" He answered, settling next to her. "But why were you crying–what's wrong with you ;Please tell me.." He persisted but Damsel spontaneously denied.

" I'm not crying dear, something just fell on my eyes–that's why..." She opted an explanation but Stephen snapped in, stopping her in her words.

" Dear, you know there's nothing you can hide from me– I know you were crying badly and I can feel it...please tell me...."

He stared into her eyes, holding her hands in his.

" Are you still crying because of our childlessness..?", he added, looking through her teary eyes as if he could read through her soul.

She instinctively broke down in tears, falling into his bosom as she hugged him.

" For how long, Stephen?– How long?, I've tried everything possible and I've done all the rituals needed yet still nothing is happening... People have started calling me names already; Why me....God...."

She moaned and Stephen sighed in devastation.

" Its okay, dear....I'm your husband and I'm not complaining. Let people say what they can say. What matters is– I still love you no matter what" He consoled. " Come, come here"

He led her to the porch and made her sit on a stool at the corner of the barrel, seated at the right corner. Stephen crunched in front of her, forcing a smile.

" I'm always happy and proud to call you my wife, Damsel– Is God that gives children and I know at the right time, he'll make us proud. Just endure for me, okay?. I promise to be by you no matter what happens." He assured and she smiled.

This words seem to had lightened her up. She stared at his face and hugged him.

" Thank you dear, I love you so much."

" I love you too dear. Now cheer up....I have good news for you." He exuded which made her glance at her with smiles which told her curiosity.

" Really, what is it...tell me now." She hastily asked, beaming with smiles.

" That's it" Stephen exclaimed with a smile. "l like it when you put on this look, you're more pretty when you smile." He offered a tease which made her chuckle.

"Knock it off Steve, stop teasing and tell me now–what's the news about?"

He chortled. "I didn't know you were that , impatient " He stated and they both chuckled.

" Well, the news is that,Mrs. Prisca, the owner of the big shop at the middle of the town, Prissy's clothing had agreed to allow you work with her." He announced and for a moment, she stared with an O mouth and eyes glittering with pure joy.

" Are you kidding me.?" She exclaimed, surprised.

"No, dear,I'm serious here– She said you can join them next Monday."

" Wow, that's really good; I promise to put out my best."

" I trust you,dear." He smiled and rose to his full length. "Now get me something to eat, I'm starving."

He turned to the dinning table to which Damsel hastened to get his meal.

" Sorry dear, ill be with you in a minute."

Stephen sat at the settled over the mini dinning table at the centre of the kitchen as he kept staring at her back with smiles.

" I'll do anything to keep you happy, always– Damsel" He vowed.

THE WALTER'S MANSION

At the other end of the village, 40 meters away from the Drake's hut lived the Walter's family, Leyla and her husband Daniel Walter.

This family was the exact opposite of the Drakes, Stephen and Damsel. They were very rich and own a lot of businesses both in the village and the city but one thing was common with these two families, childlessness.

Leyla and Daniel had been married for 10 years but unable to bear children. Daniel had travelled her, in and outside the country and other cities to find out the cause but to no avail. Due to this, the love between them grew cold with each passing day. They soon had quarrels with every little thing, whenever they encounter each other.

IN THE HALL

Leyla was in the kitchen, getting dinner ready when Daniel stormed into the house, calling at her. She flinched at the sound of his voice, her attention instinctively travelled to the door.

" Leyla.....Leyla– You barren woman. How dare you come to my office to threaten my secretary.."

He approached the kitchen with swift steps. Just when he got to her, she barked back her fury.

" So what are you coming to do....beat me.....?"

" I'll do worse if you try that again." He roared with harsh breath, his veins throbbing in his neck with anger.

" ooh...I see.." She chuckled and as if on an impulse, added. "Until you stop flirting with all those girls out there and give me the love and attention I need–l'll never stop." She drummed home her point to which Daniel glared.

He angrily raised his hand to hit her but then, suddenly paused in the air, midway as if something held him back.

" Were you about to hit....me....?" She chortled. "I dare you to try it Dan–Hit..me..., go ahead. " She yelled, pulling his hand.

He angrily snatched his hand and left to the room without uttering any word. Leyla glanced at his back and suddenly, her knees felt numb as she trembled with tears. She instinctively faint into a chair over the dinning table and the tears which she had all along, fought back, trekked down her eyes.

" Oh...God...when will all these nightmares end." She sobbed. " I can't lose my marriage just like that...I need to do something.... and very fast...before its too late...."

She vowed in tears.

THE WALTER'S MANSION

Daniel angrily entered the room and banged the door behind him. He sauntered over to the bed and throw off his coat on it as he swiftly pulled down the tie with a furious gaze.

" Gosh... I'm damn tired of Leyla. She drives me crazy, wish I could just get her out of my way..God...!" He roared, thumping over the mini wardrobe beside the bed in the process which caused the scattering of the items on top of it, over the floor.

" I'll call for a divorce– I'm feed up of all these; I can't stand her childlessness any longer." He yelled in anger.

*****************

Leyla continued her chores in soft sobs– Just then, a ring from her phone caught her attention which made her stare back towards the hall where the phone was.

" Who could it be?"she murmured and trod off to the hall. On arriving, she instinctively picked the phone and checked who it was– It was Dora, her childhood friend. She smiled, drying up her tears as she answered.

" Hello...Dora, i'm glad you called. I really need to have a talk with you." She cried which got Leyla troubled since she was already well informed of the current situation of her friend's marriage.

" Leyla?– What is it again?, why are you crying?;Is everything okay? " She queried, verbalising her worries.

" Let's meet and talk. I need to see you now..." Leyla insisted, breaking down in profound tears.

" It's alright, stop crying–Meet me at my restaurant okay..?"

" okay...I'll be on my way then"

" Alright, waiting for you, bye..."

" bye" With that, the line went dead and Leyla hastened out of the house, picking only her car keys and her phone.

THE DRAKE'S HUT

" Steve...", Damsel called from the porch, glancing out of the open door.

" Um,what is it, dear?" asked Stephen as he continued mending up his fishing net outside.

" I need to go to dad's place to pick some items for my sewing business before I join Madam Prisca at her shop on Monday and i'm thinking, if you'll like to go with me since its been a while we visited" Damsel, uttered while she chanced over to his end. Stephen spontaneously glanced up at her, pausing midway through his work.

" Honey" He sighed. " You already know how your dad acts when he sees me–I don't want to offend him. I really think it's better you go alone."

Damsel instinctively feigned a smile on hearing his frustration. She crunched next to him and held his hand.

"I know how you feel towards my dad but I think it's better we visit often so he gets over it. I know he'll accept you fully into the family soon. Let's just take it a step at a time just as you always say. Huh?"

She assured with a sweet smile which made him smile as well with a kiss on her cheeks.

" You're such a lovely woman, Damsel and I love you so much dear."

" I love you too, honey"

She teasingly poked his nose, smiling and they both chuckled, ending it with a hug.

" So when do you plan on going?" He finally asked.

" Tomorrow, after you've returned from work. What do you make of that?"

" I'm okay with it....we'll visit tomorrow. "

" Okay....I'm leaving to the market now to sell some of the fish then".

" Alright dear, take care."

She nodded and returned to the porch after which she picked her basket of fish and left to the market.

DORA'S RESTAURANT

Dora waited patiently at the reception while she kept herself busy, talking to one of the waitress. Just then, she noticed Leyla approaching. Seeing her depressed gaze, she instinctively dismissed the waitress.

" Hurry, go and do as I instructed–No mistakes please, okay?–You can go now."

" Okay ma'am." She answered and hurried off to the kitchen. After she had left, Dora spontaneously met up Leyla midway to the door, worried.

" Why are you looking so pale, bestie...what's going on with you?" She asked.

" Can we go to a more private place?" Leyla snapped in, ignoring her earlier question.

" Sure, come, let's go to my office"

With that, Dora held her depressed friend by the shoulder and led her to the office.

OFFICE

Dora entered first with Leyla close after her. "Here, have a seat, Ley" She offered and Leyla moved over to the black and white sofa which seated right in front of the glass window– Dora joined her afterwards.

" What can I offer you?"

" Nothing...I don't feel like taking anything" She answered with a furrowed brow and began to sob.

" Take this water....to calm you down, so you can tell me what the problem is, please." Dora pressed on, seeing how dejected she looked.

" I don't want to...Dora...." Leyla broke down in complete tears.

" Will you stop this tears and tell me what the problem is? –You're really getting me worried now, honey" Dora cried.

" It's Daniel–Dora...(sobs) he's bend on calling off this marriage if I don't give him a child."

" What?" She exclaimed with a surprised look. "Has it really gotten to that?"

" Yes dear and he keeps flirting with his secretary. I need to do something very fast this before it's too late but what?–What?, Leyla; just tell me" She drown in her tears. "I don't know what to do now....I'm so depressed at the moment."

With those words, she hugged Dora, crying out her sorrow. Dora became troubled with the non improving condition of her friend.

" Its okay, calm down– I promise, we'll definitely find a way out. With a really need to smart and wise act wise, I think we can work this out. Huh?" She takes a deep breath, drifting down in thought. A moment of silence, erupted the room.

"Yes, I've got a plan" She finally broke the silence to which Leyla stared at her with an expectant gaze.

"But, it gonna be quite difficult to push it through". She added.

" What is it...tell me...I will do anything... ", Leyla stuttered.

" Do you still make love with your husband?" Her words made Leyla glazed with a befuddled gaze.

"How does this come in, Dora?" She asked but Dora swiftly cut in, hazarding a retreat.

"If you don't need my help, just say– No need to act up" She stated which made Leyla surrender.

" No... he doesn't allow me to even touch him..."

" You'll need to work that out–I'll take you to see a friend who is a nurse. We'll talk to her to update us when a newly conceived woman walks in so we can fake a pregnancy for you. You'll move to the hospital when its almost time for that woman to deliver. After her delivery, her baby will be given to you.....What do you think of it?"

" Great....thanks so much, Dora, you're such an angel."

She smiled faintly, murmuring in her thought.

"In this game of breaking childlessness , anything goes".

Dora chuckled and held her hand.

" What are friends for?– Now cheer up...What will you eat, the bill is on me"

Leyla smiled and pulled her up from the sofa.

" Anything from you is surely great so....I'll take anything you serve"

" Done then, let's get to the restaurant. "

They gleefully left the office.

THE DRAKE'S HUT

Damsel was happily and busily packaging some foodstuffs for her father's visit when Stephen arrived from work,exhausted. He dropped his tools on the porch, glided to the hall and slammed into the chair.

" Hi,honey, you're finally home." Damsel called from the kitchen, approaching him.

" Yes dear, missed you so much" He said and she smiled." Missed you too dear"

She placed a gentle kiss on his lips and sat beside him." How was work?– Did you have a good catch today?"She queried and he answered.

" Good as always."

" Great, now let me get you something to eat. Remember we'll be visiting dad today so first...wash down and come–Food will be ready by then"

" Gosh I almost forgot. "

He quickly stood up ,dashing off to the bathroom.

" Honey, I brought some fish for your dad, it's in the porch. Kindly wrap it up for me. I'll join you shortly " He shouted.

" okay, dear" She smiled and hobbled over to the porch. She searched through his sacks and picked out a black bag.

" Gosh, this is quite heavy." She exclaimed.

Damsel moved back to the kitchen with the bag. She wrapped it and set the table for Stephen.

Few minutes later, Stephen came out to the kitchen, refreshed and neatly dressed in a blue jeans with a striped blue and white lacost.

" You look so handsome in your attire."Damsel remarked with a jovial expression. He instinctively drew closer to her and pulled her gently into his arms"

" Are you trying to get my attention?" Asked Stephen, lustfully.

" Hey....stop it..." She giggled. "Eat up and let's go, its getting late." She spontaneously snatched herself away, chuckling.

" Alright, I've given up."He laughed and settled in the chair.

DORA'S RESTAURANT

Dora was in front of the restaurant, busily attending to a call when she saw a familiar car pulled over, drawing her attention from the call.

" Isn't that Daniel's car? " She mumbled to herself, her gaze still fixed on the visitor. Confirming her doubts she mumbled. "But who's that lady with him" She wondered, wearing a sceptical gaze as he watched what was going on.

Daniel got down and slowly opened the door for the lady with him.

"Here we are–" He mumbled.

" Thank you." She replied with a smile.

Dora stared on at the two with a stunned expression.

"Theodora?, His secretary?" She howled with a furrowed brow. "Am i dreaming or what?This is unbelievable." She exclaimed, puzzled.

She stood there confused, soon, she her realization hit her – Dora noticed Daniel and Theodora approaching.

" Damn, the're coming here–Can't let them see me"

She quickly hid behind her car, capturing them on her phone.

THE WALTER'S MANSION

Leyla was seated by the pool, leisurely reading a magazine when she heard her phone vibrate. She picked it from the table beside her and checked what it was.

" A message from Dora?– What could it be" She queried, looking a little nervous. She opened it and saw Daniel and Theodora, his secretary flirting with each other.

" Look who I saw." The message read.

" What?, Daniel?–but he just texted that he was at a meeting– So.....Oh God....when will all this end...when?" She cried.

DAMSEL'S DAD'S HOUSE

Stephen and Damsel arrived at her father's house. She quickly rushed to the door, knocking endlessly, exhibiting her impatience.

" Here is your money." Said Stephen to the cab driver.

" Thank you sir." He mumbled and drove off after which Stephen joined Damsel.

" Who is it?– I' coming" A voice called from the house.

Stephen stood behind, beaming with smiles as he glanced at Damsel who was beyond the word cheerful. Just then, the door slowly, slum opened.

" Mum!" Damsel cried, hugging her mother.

" Hey, Damsel– you finally came to visit, we really missed you . Come....come inside.."Kristella led them in, elated.

" Who is it, honey", George, Damsel's father exclaimed.

" Is Damsel and Stephen" She answered.

" Dad!" Damsel raced off to his end and hugged him.

" My baby, you finally came to see me– I missed you so much."

" Missed you too daddy"

" Come, sit beside me"

She got up and sat beside her father on the sofa.

" These things are for you, mum and dad– I brought you some foodstuff and fresh fish." She handed them over to her mother.

" That's so thoughtful of you, honey."Kristella exclaimed and left with the items to the kitchen.

" Good evening sir...", Stephen uttered with a grin, settling in a sofa opposite them.

George stared gloomily at him – Stephen felt uneasy and gave a faint smile.

" Dad, stop this, please–you're making him feel wired. Don't forget, he's still my husband and I love him. She pressed and George gave up the cold.

" Okay, okay, dear, I get you." He smiled. " So, to what do I owe this pleasant surprise."

"Uhm, well, I came to pick my sewing items. I'll be starting work at Prisy's Fashion this Monday"

" That's great news" Said Kristella who approached them from the kitchen.

" Yes mum,Stephen spoke to her and she agreed to let me work with them."

"Oh, i see, that's good–I'm glad he's taking good care of you." George remarked.

" Alright, I'll be with you shortly. "Damsel stated and rushed off to her room to pack up her things, leaving Stephen behind with her father.

" So how's work going?" asked George.

" Good sir, we're managing."replied Stephen.They continued chatting happily.

THE WALTER'S FAMILY

BEDROOM

Leyla sat by the window in the dark, drinking herself off. Suddenly, she heard the door swung.

"Welcome"She exclaimed from the window which flinched him out.

" Gosh, Leyla, you startled me." He stuttered " But why are you in the dark" He queried about to turn the light on but then, she stopped him.

" Don't, I like to be in the dark."

" Why?–what's wrong with you?" He asked and strolled over to her side–he then settled next to her.

" Leyla?–you're drinking?" He asked with a furrowed brow on noticing the bottled of beer in her hand. "When did you start this?" asked Daniel, verbalising his worry.

" The day you started cheating on me." She exclaimed weakly in tears.

" What do you mean....Ley.....I told you I've not cheated on you ever before." He instinctively rose to his full length in anger.

" Then what is this....Dan....? Will you still deny?She shouted in tears. He took the phone and was shocked at the video he witnessed.

" How did you get this?" He stammered.

" It doesn't matter Dan" She sobbed. " Why are you doing this to me....why....?" She shouted, hitting his chest in tears.

" You want to know....? – Fine...I'll tell you"He shouted.

" I'm doing all this because I need a child. I'm my parents only child and if am not able to bare a child before I pass on then our name would diminish from this earth. Can't you get it....?"

" Let's adopt one then...."

" No....I want a child of my own and until I get one, am never, ever stopping. Get that straight... "

He angrily left to the bathroom–Leyla faint to the floor, shuttered in tears.