everything had already changed for me. I started living with my dad and his wife (Ronke). She hated me so much but the feeling was mutual.



She maltreated me. Sometimes without food or water like I was fasting or something. She treated me badly. Her and that evil daughter of hers. My dad didn't know about this and I planned to never inform him. Him and his wife can go to hell.



Her daughter (Bolu) was also cruel to me due to the fact that I was better than her physically, morally and academically. I was trained well by my mom. I guess all that training paid off. I never cared what she thought because it never mattered to me.



I made up my mind that I was tired of the maltreatment. It was time to show them who is boss. I made up my mind that if Bolu bothered me again, I would personally teach her a lesson that she will never forget and if her mother interfere, she would wish she was buried six feet under by the time I was done with her.



This was my house not theirs. Not even my father's. Since it was willed to me, I decide who to stay here.



"Sandra, come here right now." Ronke (my step mother) called.

I rolled my eyes because I knew my step mother very well. She will start with her tantrum again.

"Didn't you here I was calling or what? Or you just decided not to answer me, you shameless girl?" She decided to rant but what caught my attention was when she called me shameless and I snapped.

"Who are you calling shameless? Please I think that insult describes you Ronke" I mocked giving her sting eye.

"What did you just say to me?" She screamed ready to pounce on me like an hungry lion but I was ready for her today.

"You heard me. It is only shameless people who go about chasing after married men with money. In fact you are not only shameless, you are a gold digging home wrecker." Before I knew it, I was greeted with a slap by Ronke. The slap was so heavy that my head turned to the side after the impact.

I gave her two dirty slap. One for my mom and one for defending my honour. Who gave her the audacity to slap me.

"Sandra, who do you think you are talking to my mom in that manner? You even dare slap. Wait till dad get home?" Bolu started with her own ranting again.

"For the record, your dad is in Nigeria which means you will be leaving my house to see him soon. Your flight ticket is ready. Let's cut to the chase Darling, you and your mom are not welcome here. Please tell your mom not to cross my path. First thing tomorrow morning, I need you out of my house immediately. I think your stay in this house is over. Its time to go to daddy, hmm?" I explained with a smirk. Oh I was living this.

"Who gave you the right to send my daughter parking in my husband's house and who gave you the audacity to slap me?" She snarled thinking she had the upper hand. If only she knew.

I laughed heartily. Oh Ronke Ronke.

"First off, this house was my mom's whom you killed by the way. It was willed to me before her death. So my dear, tell your husband to get his own home so you can move in there because this one isn't. Secondly, since I'm the owner of this house my dear, I have got every right to slap you. Have you forgotten Ronke? I'm the owner of where you live and you are at my mercy" I laughed at her shocked face. I didn't realise that my dad was back until I heard his voice.



"What in the name of God is going on here? And you Sandra, who gave you the right to send her daughter off without my permission? What has come over you? Your mom would be disappointed."

All hell broke loose immediately my mom's name was mentioned.

"First off, she would be disappointed at herself for getting married to you. What was she thinking? Secondly Father, this is my house not yours. But if you want to leave with them, it can be arranged." I shrugged showing that I don't care what he thinks or says.

"Sandra, when did you turn to this? You were never like this. What happened?" He said sadly but I didn't care because Bolu was leaving tomorrow whether they all like it or not.

"Where you here when I had to do four jobs to keep mom alive? Where you here when I heard to endure the pain that mom is no longer with us but gone forever? As if that was not enough, your wife and her daughter decide to maltreat me for two years for no good reason. Sometimes I would starve because your wife will not give me food and you are asking me what happened. You happened Father, you happened." I was really angry at my dad. I vented the anger all at him in frustration.



"Is it true Ronke? I took care of your daughter while you maltreated mine. How could you? You had no right to treat my daughter in that way. I need you and your daughter out of my house this night. Take this, book an hotel because tomorrow you will be leaving California. I'm disappointed." He said giving them a cheque and cash.

"I'm sorry. Forgive me. It was the devil. I promise it won't happen again. I swear." Ronke was pleading but my father remained stoic.



"I don't want to see you. If I see close to my daughter and I, I will personally see to it that you never leave prison. Goodbye Ronke." He left to the bedroom before returning with their suitcase.

"But please, I'm sorry. Sandra tell him to forgive me. I love your father. Please--" my father didn't let her finish. He pushed her out of the house and shut the front door with a loud bang.

"Sandra, I'm sorry you had to go through what you went. I'm sorry I was not there for you. I'm sorry that--" I interrupted him immediately.

"It is not me you should be apologising to but mom. You hurt her so badly yet she kept wishing you would come through that hospital door to apologise but you never did. Yet she forgave you. But I, Sandra Ayetunde have made up my mind never to forgive. So don't bother thinking it will happen cause it won't."

"I'll make it up to you. I promise." He sounded determined but I didn't care.

"Good night father." I left his presence to my bedroom to get rest.

Today was long day for me.


© Faithfulness Celestine