None of them had noticed my presence, I seemed to have walked in on Joyce shooting her best shot at seducing David. “What do you think you’re doing? Are you crazy?” David shouted, obviously surprised and embarrassed about Joyce’s desperate attempts to get him to sleep with her. “First, you show up in my hotel room unannounced, after I left you behind in Nigeria and now this?” he said, pointing at her, “you should be ashamed” he fumed,
“But Babe we can still work things out, it’s not too late” Joyce begged, coming closer and rubbing her body against his chest, “just STOP” David shouted pushing her away, “I’m going to leave now, I’ll get the front desk to see to your eviction from my room” he said walking away towards the door, he froze in his steps when he saw me standing there watching. “Ba-ba-babe, I can explain” he stuttered, while I just stood there, dumbfounded, trying to understand what was happening. He sounded like someone who was suffering from a rare condition called psychogenic stuttering.
Psychogenic stuttering is a rare condition that occurs mostly in individuals who have experienced severe emotional trauma or who have a history of psychiatric illness. People with this form of stuttering usually experience rapid repetition of initial word sounds. People who experience this type of stuttering could recover spontaneously, however, if stuttering persists, evaluation will need to be done by a speech-language pathologist and treatment such as speech therapy, may be necessary.
“It’s not what you think,” David stammered, his voice laced with desperation. “Let me explain.”
My mind couldn’t comprehend the sight before me. Joyce, David’s ex-girlfriend, stood there, unabashed, her presence filling the room with tension. David, caught off guard, looked equally stunned. The silence between us was thick with disbelief and betrayal.
“Chioma, it’s not what you think,” David stammered, his voice laced with desperation. “Let me explain.”
My emotions were a chaotic mix of anger, hurt, and confusion. My throat tightened, and I struggled to find my voice. “Explain? What is there to explain?” I managed to say, my words laced with a bitterness I didn’t recognize in myself. “I trusted you, David. How could you betray me like this?”
Joyce, seemingly unfazed by the situation, smirked. “David and I have a history. You were just a distraction,” she said, hurriedly putting her clothes back on.
READ ALSO :Dangerous Disguise – Episode 32
Anger flared within me. I couldn’t believe the audacity of the situation. My heart, once brimming with love and excitement, now ached with an unbearable pain. I felt like my entire world was collapsing around me.
David immediately chased after me and caught up with me pulling me back, “see I can explain” he began, “I came up here to get my wallet, and I don’t know, she probably followed me here or something” he continued, “I didn’t even know she was in Dubai, talk more of her being in this hotel. I was shocked when she walked in.” he explained, “Before I could even react, she already undressed herself. I promise, nothing happened and I didn’t plan to do anything with her, she’s a closed chapter in my life. It’s you that I want” David added. “It’s less than 24 hours to our wedding, please don’t let her ruin it for us” David begged, dropping to his knees while still holding on tightly to my hand.
Somehow, I believed him. I knew he was sincere, I could see it in his eyes. Besides, I reflected on the part of their conversation that I had heard, he didn’t know I was there but he had rejected her advances. “I understand,” I said, pulling him to his feet, “I’m sorry I overreacted.” I apologised, “No you didn’t overreact” David interjected, “you reacted the way any normal person would.”
Eventually, we got to find out that Olamide and Joyce had arranged for Joyce to join her in Dubai on a separate flight that left Nigeria the day after we left. Olamide had also been accommodating Joyce in her room without David’s knowledge. David had to warn Olamide sternly not to try anything funny at our wedding. He had no control over who stayed at the hotel so could not do anything about Joyce’s presence at the hotel.
The next morning, under the golden sun, with the gentle sound of waves as a backdrop, our beachside wedding unfolded like a dream. The sandy shore stretched infinitely, meeting the vast expanse of the ocean, creating a picturesque setting for our special day. Rows of white chairs were meticulously arranged on either side of a sandy aisle, adorned with delicate flower petals, leading toward a beautiful archway entwined with tropical blooms.
Our guests, dressed in breezy beach attire, took their seats. As the ceremony began, a hush fell over the crowd. The bridesmaids, dressed in flowing pastel dresses that mirrored the shades of the ocean, made their way down the aisle. The groomsmen, handsome in their light linen suits, stood tall under the sun’s glow, exuding an air of quiet confidence.
And then it was my turn. With my heart pounding with excitement, I stepped onto the sandy aisle. The train of my dress, adorned with delicate lace, trailed behind me.
David, waiting at the altar, looked every bit the vision of a beachside groom. His crisp white shirt was paired with khaki trousers, the ensemble embodying effortless elegance, his eyes filled with love and a promise of forever as I joined him at the altar.
As David and I stood at the altar, our eyes locked in a moment of profound love and commitment, a sudden disruption rippled through the air. I turned, my heart skipping a beat, to see Joyce, wearing a vibrant red dress, making her way down the aisle.
Gasps echoed through the crowd as people exchanged bewildered glances.
With determined steps, Joyce approached the altar, her eyes fixed on David. “David, please, you can’t do this,” she pleaded, her voice carrying over the murmurs of the guests. “You don’t love her; you love me. You’re making a mistake.”
My mind raced with confusion and disbelief, Joyce had finally done her worst.
Find out what happens next in episode 34 #checkwithdoctoro