My Replacemennt

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I didn't know how I was going to react. I felt cheated, betrayed, annoyed, full of hate, I was ready to murder someone.

"Why? Why is this happening to me? After all this time? What will happen to my daughter? How can another man just come in and take over?"

I felt like I was not man enough; another man had to come do my job.

Rose had called me the day before and she asked that I meet the man she will be marrying the next month. She said it was important because he will be the one who will be helping her take care of my little princess Nelly. She wanted to make sure I was cool with it, and to make things simpler she would also come along with my daughter.

I did not know how to react. What man would want to meet his rival. My thought began flowing on the fact that she was cheating on me before the divorce. This man she was bringing was probably responsible for it. He gave her something I couldn't. The worst thought I had, was Nelly was not mine but his. I figured Rose was not coming to introduce this...this...devil to me, not to tell me he was going to be Nelly's stepfather, but he was Nelly's actual, biological...I cannot finish that statement.

I was sinking deep in dark thoughts. I had strangled, killed, burnt and shot this man. I had cut his limbs, put them in acid and hang one of his teeth on my neck as a reminder of the man who stole my precious. I almost lost my mind. That is when I remembered Nelly. My princess. I loved her so much. I felt guilty when I divorced her mother, because that would mean we would be apart. Of course I get to visit and have her for some time, but I want to be with her forever. She is my precious.

I returned to normalcy and decided, 'you know what, I will be happy for Nelly. She means the world to me'. I returned the knife to the drawer and realized I was cutting my wrists in my unconscious raged state. I also returned my pistol and poison that I was to place in the man's tea. I went took out a piece of bandage and covered my hands. It was 2 pm and they were almost arriving.

I cleaned up hastily and started cooking spaghetti which was Nelly's favorite dish. The door bell rang. I froze. It rang again, I breathed in and out heavily, took off my apron and went to open the door.

"Halo, come in."

"Daddy!"

She came running out of the car and into my arms. I hugged her so tightly as I wept.

"Halo my princess. Come in."

I did not pay that much attention to Rose and her man. She knew I would not. They came in and sat, while Nelly helped me set up the table and serve the food. We chatted away, while eating, ignoring the two and Rose was almost having a meltdown.

"We are here as well. Do not ignore us."

"I am sorry. I do not get to see my daughter that often."

"You know what, it was a mistake to come here, let's go home honey."

"Wait, wait. You came here to talk, so let's talk."

"Daddy, this man has been living in our house with mom."

"Yes, I know sweetie."

"I don't want him, I want you, when are you coming back home dad?"

"We already talked about this Nelly. Your mom and I are no longer together."

"But dad?"

"My dear sweet princess, let me talk to them for now then we will talk later on, OK?"

"OK"

"Go to my room, I bought you some new toys to play with so that you don't get bored."

"Thanks dad."

She left us. The three of us in one room. Me, my former wife and my replacement.

"So?"

"Really we already talked on the phone."

"Yes, I know we did. I am waiting for you to tell me who this man is."

"This man is my fiancé. His name is Joseph. He works at an insurance firm, and earns around 120,000 Shillings a month, more than you. He is a devoted Christian and loves me a lot. We are getting married next month and he will be helping me take care of Nelly, something you were never able to."

In between her speech I had the urge to strangle her neck, but since I had passed that phase a while back I felt sorry. Sorry that she had to insist and put emphasis on how better her new man was. Joseph kept staring around avoiding eye contact with me as Rose kept heaping praises about him. I was no longer interested though, so I blocked my hearing. Once she was done I composed myself.

"Well that is good, if indeed this man is as good as the many praises you have made, then I accept him as the step-father to my child." I smiled.

Rose almost collapsed. She was in complete shock. She just moved her mouth up and down.

"What did you just say?"

"Feel free to get married. It is no longer a concern to me."

"What do you mean it is no longer a concern to you?"

"You have brought him and introduced him to me, that is quite enough. Please go get married, and make sure you take care of my daughter."

"Thank you, I will"

Rose was still paralyzed, I am guessing she expected me to react violently. She thought I would blow up with jealousy knowing that she had replaced me. She wanted to dig in farther to see if she can get the reaction she wanted.

"Are you seeing someone?"

"Not really."

"Why are you so calm about this?"

"How did you want me to react Rose?"

"Well...I...what happened to your arms?

"I was exercising in the gym, unfortunately I do not have gloves to protect my hand and palms."

"Were you cutting yourself?"

"Not really. I was doing pull ups with my arms, when I got tired so I decided to pull with my palms. However, I got some nasty cuts and blisters."

My constant smile was keeping her uneasy. However, she knew when she was beaten. I turned to Joseph;

"Listen I love my daughter a lot, please take care of her. If anything happens to her I will hold you responsible. If you will excuse me I will go play with her for a little while."

Rose tried to protest as I stood up and left them. But she couldn't.