225 Choosing Happiness Over Chaos

Previously...

Leon was still in bed enjoying his beauty sleep with Ella, snuggled in his arms when he got a call from Maxwell.

Maxwell instructed him to come over to Marissa’s bedroom by 5:00 AM for a little discussion.

Hence, at exactly that time Leon quietly left the bed, as he had no intention of disrupting his wife’s sleep.

Picking a pen and notepad, he scribbled down a short message, informing her of his whereabouts, before tiptoeing out of the bedroom.

When Leon got to his mother’s bedroom, he lightly tapped on the door and opened it when he heard his mother’s voice, asking him to come in.

Inside Marissa’s bedroom, Maxwell was already seated by her bed and was having a lively chat with her as though they were a couple.

While Marissa was seated up close to Maxwell and laughing her heart out at his funny jokes.

This made Leon wonder if Maxwell spent the night in his mum’s room keeping her company.

.....

A crazy part of Leon’s mind even created a picture of his uncle and mum warming up to one another, due to the spark in her eyes as she spoke to him.

“You are way out of your league, man.” Leon mentally stroked himself due to his drifting thoughts. “Uncle Max is just been a great uncle and a shoulder for mum to cry on. There can’t possibly be a spark between them. Moreover, uncle Max detests relationship and has no plans of settling down.”

“Good morning, mum! Good morning, uncle Max!” Leon beamed as he walked up to them.

Both Marissa and Maxwell acknowledged Leon at the same time with contagious smiles on their faces.

“Mum, you are looking so radiant even when it’s not yet dawn.”

Leon smiled as he walked up to Marissa and kissed her on both cheeks before taking a seat beside Maxwell.

“Aww! Thanks, darling.” Marissa beamed even more while trying hard to suppress a chuckle. “Your uncle has been cracking me up ever since I woke up.”

“Really!” Leon raised an eyebrow animatedly. “That’s great! Thanks, uncle Max for making mum happy.”

“You’re welcome son, anything for your mum,” Maxwell said casually.

“Now, on a more serious note, I want to start this brief meeting by first and foremost thanking Marissa for accommodating Ella in this house and also agreeing not to instigate any form of trouble all through the funeral ceremony of my late brother and mother.”

“For real, mum!” Leon’s eyes brightened up in enthusiasm.

“Yes, but with conditions!” Marissa said plainly.

She couldn’t hide her disgust at the mention of Ella’s name but all the sweet promises Maxwell had filled her head with were just too irresistible.

Maxwell promised to keep Marissa company for the next month in Carlpole, right after the cremation ceremony of her husband if she stopped fighting with Ella. In addition to his first condition, he told her that she mustn’t insight any of her children against Ella or poison Leon’s mind against her.

Marissa, who had been thinking of what life would be like after Rex’s soul had been laid to rest quickly grabbed the opportunity of a lifetime to be in Maxwell’s company.

She had earlier considered going to spend some time in Leon’s house after leaving the island, in other to ruin Leon’s relationship with his wife.

However, the thought of having a peaceful time in Maxwell’s company overshadowed her personal vendetta for Ella. She chose peace and happiness, over chaos and heartache. She also concluded that in due time, Ella’s true color would be revealed and Leon would have no choice but to divorce her.

“Conditions!” Leon narrowed his eyes at his mum, like a detective interrogating an accomplice to a crime.

“Yes, I have just one condition!” Marissa gave Leon a straight face.

“Okay, mum, shoot!”

“All through the funeral and cremation ceremony, you and Ivory must be by my side and this condition is non-negotiable,” Marissa said in a strict but calm tone.

Leon weighed his mum’s condition and said;

“Mum, do you promise that if I agree to your condition, you would stop fighting with my wife?”

“Yes!” Marissa said curtly.

“No more name-calling or denying her access to move around the house?” Leon stared keenly into her eyes.

“Yes!” Marissa kept her straight face, neither smiling nor frowning.

“You promise that you would caution Yvonne’s excesses and warn her to stop butting into my wife’s affairs.

“Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!” Marissa flashed Leon a riled stare.

“Okay mum, thanks!” Leon stood up and gave his mum a warm embrace. “Consider your conditions as good as done.”

“That’s my baby!” Marissa smiled and kissed Leon on his forehead before releasing him to take his seat.

“You see, that wasn’t so difficult!” Maxwell winked at Marissa causing her to chuckle. “When everyone has had breakfast and we are all assembled, I will read Nana Esther’s last message to us all.”

“That’s a great idea, uncle Max!”

Leon was still talking when a gentle tap on Marissa’s bedroom door interrupted him.

All three turned their eyes towards the door as they weren’t expecting anyone. Just as they were all wondering who could be up this early and disturbing Marissa’s peace, the door opened and Yvonne stepped into the room.

—

historical

Back to the present...

“Leon, please!” Maxwell cautioned gently when he observed that Leon was at the edge of losing his cool.

He didn’t want Leon and Yvonne quarreling before Marissa; because he knew that Marissa was a disaster waiting to happen. All she needed were the right catalyst to activate her tantrum all over again.

Leon took in a deep breath and stared at Yvonne with a chilly glint in the corner of his eyes.

“Yvonne, please, refrain from using any form of demeaning name on my wife.”

“But I didn’t...” Yvonne didn’t get to finish her statement when Maxwell snapped at her angrily.

“Yvonne, listen to your brother and stop making a mountain out of a molehill.”

Yvonne turned her contoured face to her mum, expecting her to scold Leon and her uncle but the words that came out of Marissa’s mouth almost caused her a cardiac arrest.

“Yvonne, going forward, you must never address Ella in a rude or despicable manner. She is your brother’s wife and must be accorded the necessary respect that she deserves.” Marissa said sternly. Although, deep down, she felt as though she had been forced to eat back her vomit.