“Have you spoken to Gladys since you left for the States?”
He shook his head. Aunt Isioma pressed a button on the player again. “Listen to this.”
The voice he heard was Gladys but it was more intense than he‘d ever heard it. “You and your wife tried to destroy Edward, but even though he was still a child, you failed. This time you’re not going to succeed either, because he is older and he has me on his side. Edward loves me, and I love him too.”
“Aunt Isioma, I know Gladys must have told you what happened. Please, you have to believe that I‘m sorry.” Edward pleaded rising to his feet.
She waved her hand indicating that he should sit down. “Yes she did tell me, and I was disappointed. Edward, how could you?” He remained silent, head bowed in mortification. “You proposed last January and your wedding is only three months away. Yet you almost threw all the love and trust you professed out of the window.”
“It wasn‘t like that...” Edward wanted to bury his face in shame.
“It‘s not like what? Then what is it? Gladys told me everything that happened when I returned two weeks ago. I‘m surprised that you don‘t even trust her enough to know what she‘s capable of. Why would she sell your shares for money?”
“Not to exonerate myself, but there were reasons why I...”
Gladys aunt cut in an unfamiliar manner, “Reasons my foot! Look I know you might be aware of some of this but I want you to think about it. Gladys is from a poor home and I was not able to help then, as I should have done. If reasons were enough, don‘t you think she had enough to make her not to be the kind of girl you met and fell in love with? Answer me!”
Edward squirmed in his chair, “Please understand, my own past... I was eaten up with worry about the company. Someone was trying to steal Bestman and had implicated Gladys in the process. Everything weighed on my neck at the same time...”
Gladys aunt interrupted impatiently, “Is that why you left her alone in your house? Even if she betrayed your trust by selling the stock you gifted her, is that enough to refuse her calls. In those three days she said you didn‘t talk to her or see her. Do you know how worried she was? For the future of your relationship, for Bestman, but most of all for you…”