Chapter Seventy - three

Valerie waited patiently for Albert to join her in her room. Then she heard a knock. She rose up and walked to open the door.

" Welcome. " She said to Albert as she made way for him to enter, after which, she locked the door behind her. 

Albert didn't wait to be offered a seat. He sat on a stool in the room and looked at Valerie who was now sitting on her bed. 

" What do I serve you? " Valerie enquired.

" Nothing. I'm ok? Can you make things snappy? Albert asked her and she nodded and sighed.

" I know this sounds new but, I called you over to apologize for all I have done. " Valerie stopped to get Albert's reaction. " I won't force you to believe me. I want to see Sofia. I'll apologize. Ok? Anything to make you believe me. I won't compete with her again. I'll let you both be. I promise. " Valerie said almost crying. 

Albert sighed he looked at Valerie for a long time and then smiled a little. " I'll make you meet her soon. Any other thing? " Albert asked Valerie and she shooked her head. " Can I ? " Albert asked again and stood up to leave.

Valerie breathed out a sigh of relief when the door slammed shut. " I'm sorry. " She said in whispers as she went to lie down on her bed.

...

...

" You're not falling for that. Are you? " Eva questioned Albert.

Albert kept quiet. He didn't know what to believe in. Right inside her room, she appeared to be sincerely sorry.

" Young Master. " Eva called. 

" I know that this may be one of her tricks but i just felt that way. And thanks for listening. " Albert said and walked back to his room.

Eva watched him walk out of sight. She immediately sent John a text and went into her own room. 

" You're back. " Sarah said to her. 

" Yes I am and would soon leave. I still have some works to do. " Eva said to her as she settled into a sofa in the bedroom. 

" Guess I'm the only one who hasn't visited Ma'am Sofia and her family members in the hospital. " Sarah said and sighed. 

Eva waited for John to beep her and when he did, she left the room to meet him. John stood outside Eva's bedroom. His face lit up when he heard the door clicked open and as expected, Eva walked out of the room. The duo hugged themselves and Eva walked him off to the kitchen. They locked the kitchen and sat down to discuss. Eva told him all that Albert had told her and her reactions towards that.

" Yea, you're right. I think there's something off about her sudden change in character. " John said to Eva. The duo stayed together for a while before they left for their different duties.

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

TWO WEEKS LATER ...

Clifford and Albert went that morning to bring Aunt Mary and Alma back home after they've been discharged. Everyone was excited as soon as Clifford and Albert joined them.

" We have done as required from us to do. So, what is left? " Clifford said as he looked up while tapping his head.

" To go home. " Mira exclaimed happily and they others clapped. 

Aunt Mary was given a wheelchair to use temporarily while she recuperates while Alma had no much problems. Everyone left the hospital for the new house that Clifford bought.

Clifford drove them through a beautiful estate and stopped in one of it's residence. He honked in front of the gate and a security guard came out and opened the gate for them.

" Wow! " They exclaimed in unison as the rode through an aisle with attractive plants and flowers surrounding it, to the main building. 

Everyone alighted from the car (Aunt Mary was helped out ) and Clifford went to park it in the garage. Sofia was the first to jump on Clifford when he surfaced again.

" Thank you so much. " She said as tears rolled down her cheeks.

" It's ok. It's ok. She's someone's property. " Aunt Mary said still holding Lady Lily and Mira for support. 

Sofia smiled and let go of Clifford. She looked at the other man, Albert who stood with a crumpled face and winked at him before they walked inside the building. The internal part of the building was Paradise. 

" Make yourselves comfortable, while I get something for you to eat. " Clifford said but Sofia interrupted him. Instead, she decided to go with Mira to the kitchen to prepare lunch. So, Clifford showed them the way to the kitchen and brought out all they'll need for cooking. When lunch was ready, Sofia and Mira served it to all present and they had real time together.

It was getting late, around 6:30 pm, Albert was ready to leave with his crew. He insisted that he leave for his house with Sofia and so they all got ready to leave. Sofia promised her Aunt that she was going to take care of her and that she will always come to visit her. She pleaded with Lady Lily and Mira to take good care of Aunt Mary and Alma while she's away and they should always call her or any of them ( Clifford, Albert, Eva or John ) if they needed something. Lady Lily and Mira finally saw them off.

SMITHS RESIDENCE.

Albert got home that evening with Clifford and the rest. Valerie was in the sitting room when they arrived.

" Elder brother Cliff. " Valerie said excitedly and ran to hug him. 

" Clifford " ...

" Albert " ...

" Eva " ...

" John " ...

" Sofia " ...

Valerie loosened her grip on her elder brother and hugged Sofia to the astonishment of everyone. Sofia stood mouth agape when Valerie loosened her grip on her.

" What's that expression? Come on. Aren't you happy to see me? " Valerie said smiling.

That felt weird. Valerie was always mean, so, her smiles looked frightening to a lot of people. "Happy to see her? " Sofia mused. She felt like throwing up at that point. The look on Valerie's face was the worst of all. Those smiles, Sofia felt lightheaded and almost slumped but Albert caught her on time and raised her to her feet.

" Sofia. " Albert called softly.

Sofia slowly opened her eyes and closed it again. " I need some rest. She said in a low tone. Albert carried her upstairs and to her room. Valerie clinged to Clifford as they walk upstairs with Eva and John walking behind them. 

THE NEXT DAY.

Valerie called Albert again, this time to remind him of what she had told him the other time. Albert quickly called Clifford to meet him in Valerie's room, while he left to Sofia's room to take her with him.

" Why does she wants to see us? " Sofia queried Albert. Albert pretended not to know the reason why Valerie wanted to see them. Instead, he told Sofia that Valerie refused to reveal her mind to him.

" That woman is evil. I don't know what she's up to lately. " Sofia said. " I won't go with you. " Sofia told Albert with crossed arms. 

" I and Clifford will be there to protect you of something happens. " Albert said to Sofia. He persuaded Sofia for a while  till she finally turned in.

For Clifford, the call he received from Albert was quite mysterious to him. " Meet him in Valerie's room? But why? " He mused. " Is it because of Valerie's actions in the hospital, or ... ? " Clifford needed an answer, so, he left his room and headed to his sister's room.

* Knock * Knock *

Valerie opened the door and saw Clifford standing outside her room. She put up a smiling face immediately and welcomed him in. Clifford sat down on the sofa in the room with squinted eyes at Valerie.

" What? " Valerie asked her.

" What's this about? " Clifford asked.

Immediately, they heard another knock on the door. Valerie opened the door and Albert came in with Sofia. The duo walked to the sofa and sat down some distance away from Clifford.

Valerie came and stood before the trio in the room. She first of all thanked them for honouring her invitation. She also asked them what they would like to eat.

" Nothing. " The three of them answered in unison and looked at themselves surprisingly. It was as if they had it all planned out. Valerie cleared her throat to get their attention once again. 

" I know you all will wonder why I called you. I wouldn't want to waste your time, so, I'll go straight to the point. I want to apologize for my bad actions. I'm so sorry for the troubles I caused you. And, I'm ready to amend my ways. Sofia, I was only jealous of you and wanted to get Albert's attention. " Valerie said as tears strolled down her cheeks. She immediately went to her knees with hands clasped together. " I've decided to leave you both. I'll also tell Daddy, ( she was referring to Smith ) to do same. So, will you please forgive me? " Valerie pleaded. This time her tears poured down like rain. She really looked like someone who should be sincerely pitied. Everyone stared at her in silence. Each pondered on what Valerie had told them.

Clifford broke the silence as he began clapping. " I know my baby sister would come around, soon. " He said and went to Valerie. He squatted to her level and embraced her for a while. He then looked at Albert and Sofia's direction. " Would you please forgive her? " Clifford asked.

The duo was confused on what to answer. They exchanged glances and kept mute. Sofia wanted to talk but Albert tugged her dress and she got the cue.

" We'll forgive you, if you promise to sincerely let us be and focus on developing yourself for the future. " Valerie nodded at Albert's words. Albert took Sofia and they went to Valerie. The four of them hugged themselves and promised to care for themselves. 

Sofia walked with Albert back to her room. All along, Sofia refused to talk or look at Albert in the eyes. As soon as she got to her room, she hugged Albert and walked into the room and Albert followed her in.

" What's wrong? " Albert asked her.

" Nothing. " Sofia replied. 

Albert came closer to her and looked at her again which made her flinched under his hot gaze. " You believed her? " Sofia asked him. Albert shrugged and Sofia went in for a hug. " Thank you, for everything. " Sofia said and Albert kissed her forehead before leaving the room.

" Who knows what she's up to? " Sofia muttered under her breath and went to rest.