THE INCARCERATED STRANGER

 

Chapter 42

 

“Do you think Mangaliso knows about Dad’s sickness?” Senzo asks Mzwandile, his voice laced with concern. 

“No, no matter where he takes him, he won’t find anything. Not even the doctor he took him to,” Mzwandile replies confidently. Senzo lets out a heavy sigh.

“What’s wrong with you? You look like you’re already scared,” Mzwandile teases, trying to lighten the mood.

“I don’t know… I just can’t shake the feeling that he suspects us, the way he acts and looks at us,” Senzo admits, his anxiety palpable.

“Relax, man! You can’t let him scare you; he’s nothing! Father will die soon—he has only a few days left, wherever he is, even if we don’t know where he’s been taken,” Mzwandile says dismissively.

“Just imagine getting all the business our father owns. Both of us ruling the factory. You feel that, little brother?” Mzwandile adds with a smirk, his eyes glinting with ambition.

“The poison won’t be traced, right?” Senzo asks cautiously.

“Why are you being so dumb today, Senzo? What’s making you this clumsy?” Mzwandile questions, rolling his eyes at his brother's hesitance.

“Loosen up, man! Come on, have a drink!” Mzwandile says, pouring them both a glass of expensive whiskey. They clink their glasses together and take a hearty sip.

“Now we have to find the lawyer who has his will and change it. There’s no way Mangaliso can get that factory and the businesses while we only get peanuts!” Mzwandile declares, his voice filled with determination. 

Senzo nods in agreement, realizing that his brother is absolutely right. The thought of losing everything they could inherit fuels their resolve.

.

Outside their study room, Mangaliso overheard everything. He already knew his father had been poisoned. Blade had found out and was helping him; the poison had been removed from his body, and he was getting better each day. 

With a heavy sigh, Mangaliso heads to his room and calls Sage. 

“Mazibuko,” Sage greets him.

“Sage, I want you to gather every piece of proof from those doctors that my half-siblings paid off, and I need the call records too. After that, make those bastards pay, but just don’t kill them,” he instructs. Sage replies that he’s on it.

Mangaliso hangs up and throws himself onto his bed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He sighs again, reflecting on how cruel Senzo and Mzwandile are. They were ready to kill their own father out of sheer selfishness. At first, they had wanted him dead—wishing for him to rot in jail—but they hadn’t succeeded in any of their attempts. Now, they want their dad to die just because they know what’s in their father’s will and what they stand to gain. What kind of sons are they?

 The door to his room opens, and Mangaliso sits up. It’s Hleliwe.

“Mom,” he says, and Hleliwe nods in acknowledgment.

“Son, I was looking for you,” she replies.

“I just want to say thank you for helping your father,” Hleliwe continues.

“No need to thank me, Mom. He is my father; I would do anything for that man,” Mangaliso responds, and Hleliwe smiles, nodding in agreement.

“What was exactly wrong with him?” she asks. He sighs, unsure if he should tell her. He hasn’t mentioned that it was poison eating away at Dad—a very dangerous poison. Honestly, he’s lucky it didn’t kill him outright; it was just slowly destroying him from the inside. Blade promised he would be okay and return to his old self again.

“Uhm… Mom, I don’t think you’ll be pleased to hear it,” Mangaliso admits.

“Please, son, I want to know. I have to know what was happening to my husband. Is it sickness?” Hleliwe presses.

“Mangaliso, I’m your mother, okay? Talk to me! What was happening with my husband?” she pleads, tears beginning to spill down her cheeks.

“Father was poisoned, Mom. Poison was eating him from the inside. He was supposed to die; thankfully, he didn’t—it was just a slow process,” Mangaliso explains as Hleliwe looks on in shock.

“What? H-how? Where did he get the poison? Who would want to poison my husband?” she sobs. Mangaliso pulls his stepmother into a comforting hug.

“I can’t tell you who fed Father the poison; I’m afraid you won’t believe me. I’ll bring you proof,” he assures her.

Hleliwe shakes her head in frustration. 

“The way I trust you, you should trust me back, Mangi! Please tell me who was poisoning my husband!” 

Mangaliso sighs deeply as he looks at her. 

“It... it was Senzo and Mzwandile,” he finally utters. Hleliwe feels dizzy for a moment, and Mangaliso helps her sit on his bed.

“W-what? My own sons wanted their father dead?” she asks in disbelief.

“Do you believe me?” he questions gently, wanting to know if she truly trusts what he just told her.

“I know you wouldn’t lie to me, Mangaliso. I trusted you with my husband’s life. Why wouldn’t I trust you now? Just because Senzo and Mzwandile are my biological sons and you are a stepson?” Hleliwe says, her voice trembling. Mangaliso shrugs slightly.

“I believe you, son,” Hleliwe finally says with a heavy heart.

“I’m trying to get proof. The doctors you took Dad to were paid by your sons to keep quiet because they wanted the poison to kill him. They knew exactly what they were doing,” Mangaliso reveals.

“But why?” comes a whisper from Hleliwe.

“Because they saw Father’s will and realized that I benefit a lot more from it compared to them,” he explains grimly. Hleliwe shakes her head in disbelief.

“How can they be so selfish like this?” she asks, a question lingering in the air without any answers in sight.

 She is more than hurt that her sons could do something like this—to her husband, to their father. Hleliwe sighs deeply, wiping away the tears that continue to flow. Mangaliso moves closer to comfort her, feeling the weight of her pain.

“Why can’t my sons be like you?” she thinks bitterly. “Why can’t they be good sons like Mangaliso?” The thought that she once felt disgust for him fills her with shame. Mangaliso is a good child, a good son. She is grateful that she eventually welcomed him and accepted him as her stepson. They get along so well; they clicked the moment she learned that Mangaliso loves to cook, just like she does. They share so much in common—more than she ever realized. It dawns on her that she had been hating this boy for nothing.

“When is my husband coming back home?” Hleliwe asks, her voice trembling with worry.

“Next month, he will be back home. Be patient again, okay?” Mangaliso says gently. Hleliwe nods in response.

“Thank you so much, son,” she replies, leaning in to kiss his cheek. He smiles at her affection.

“So, tell me, when are you introducing your woman to us?” Hleliwe asks, her curiosity piqued.

“When Dad comes back, I will definitely bring her to you guys,” Mangaliso assures her.

“Speaking of her, tomorrow I’m leaving; she misses me,” he adds with a smile, and Hleliwe smiles back.

“No problem, son. Go be with your woman,” she encourages.

They both walk out of the room and head to the kitchen to prepare dinner. As they work together, Mangaliso tells Hleliwe not to confront her sons and to act like she doesn’t know anything.

“What are we cooking?” he asks as he opens the fridge, looking for ingredients.

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RILEY 

She just drove from the court after a long session. The case she has been busy with for the week is finally over, but unfortunately, they lost. As she drives back home, her body feels exhausted; all she craves is a hot shower to wash away the day.

Upon arriving home, she parks the car in the garage and notices Mangaliso's car. A smile creeps onto her face as she locks her car and walks out of the garage, heading inside the house. The delightful aroma of freshly cooked food greets her, and her heart warms at the sight of him in the kitchen, wearing an apron.

“Staring is rude, love,” he teases as he walks toward her. In a burst of happiness, she attacks him with a hug. Mangaliso wraps his arms around her tightly and effortlessly lifts her off the ground.

“You didn’t tell me you were coming back,” she says, a hint of surprise in her voice.

“I wanted to surprise you, Cupcake,” he replies, leaning in to kiss her lips. She kisses him back, and the kiss deepens, eliciting a soft moan from her.

“Let’s get you bathed, and then we can deal with another hunger in bed,” he says with a naughty smirk, making her giggle.

Mangaliso listens intently, his expression shifting to one of concern as she shares her frustrations. 

“I just can’t believe it,” she continues, the water glistening on her skin. “I thought we had a solid argument, but the jury just didn’t see it that way. It feels like all my hard work was for nothing.”

He nods, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

 “You did your best, love. Sometimes the outcome is out of our hands. What matters is that you fought for your client.”

She sighs, leaning against him as the steam envelops them.

 “I know, but it still hurts. I had never lost before—it’s a tough pill to swallow.”

Mangaliso pulls her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. “You’re an incredible lawyer, and this doesn’t define you. You’ll bounce back stronger than ever,” he reassures her.

She looks up at him, appreciating his support.

 “Thank you for always knowing how to lift me up.”

After they finish their shower, they dry off and wrap themselves in towels. They finish applying lotion and head downstairs for dinner. Mangaliso dishes up the food, and they take their seats at the table.

“So, what are you going to do about your brothers now that you have all the proof?” she asks, recalling the details he shared about his half-siblings’ evil doings.

“Only Dad will decide,” he replies, his tone serious. 

“I’ve given him everything he needs to make an informed choice. It’s up to him how he deals with Senzo and Mzwandile.”

He doesn’t want anything to do with them, and the thought of their actions weighs heavily on him. Hleliwe nods, understanding the complexity of the situation. “It’s a tough position to be in,” she says softly.

“Yeah, it is,” Mangaliso replies, his eyes distant for a moment as he contemplates the family dynamics. “

They continue their meal in a comfortable silence, both  enjoying each other’s company.

_ 

“You look beautiful in that dress,” he says, planting a soft kiss on her neck. With a flourish, he pulls out a small box containing a stunning necklace. 

“This will look great with it,” he says, revealing the beautiful piece to her before gently placing it around her neck.

“Thank you, love! It’s beautiful,” she replies, her smile radiant.

“Just like you, Cupcake,” he responds, his eyes sparkling with affection. They finish getting ready, the excitement palpable in the air. 

Today is a significant day; he’s going to introduce her to his father and stepmother after having already introduced her to his biological mother and her family,Last of last week. Although she felt a flutter of nerves, all her apprehension melted away when they  welcomed her with open arms. Everyone was kind and she enjoyed the warm atmosphere that surrounded her.

Now, however, she’s preparing to meet another branch of Mangaliso’s family. She knows them already, but this time feels different—before, she was just his lawyer; now she is his lover. A small wave of nervousness washes over her as she wonders what they might think: how could she fall in love with someone who was once her client? 

She pushes those negative thoughts aside, recalling Mangaliso’s reassurances that they will accept her just like his other family did. With a deep breath and Mangaliso by her side, she steels herself for what lies ahead.

They both leave the house and get into the car, driving off with a mix of excitement and nerves. When the car comes to a stop, Ayakha takes a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling slowly as they step out. Mangaliso takes her hand, and together they head toward the house.

“My son is here!” Hleliwe exclaims excitedly, pulling Mangaliso into a warm hug.

“Hey, Mom,” he replies, smiling as she releases him and turns her attention to Ayakha.

“Mom, meet my woman. Cupcake, meet my mother,” Mangaliso introduces them with pride.

“Nice to meet you, my daughter,” Hleliwe says with a beaming smile.

“Nice to meet you too, Ma’am,” Ayakha responds, feeling her cheeks warm.

“You both suit each other so well,” Hleliwe adds, making Ayakha blush even more.

“Come in! Everyone is at the table; your father is back!” Hleliwe says with a grin directed at Mangaliso. The three of them head to the dining table, where Mangaliso and Ayakha greet everyone warmly, including Mangaliso’s father, who seems to be in better spirits.

“It’s good to have you back, Father,” Mangaliso says sincerely.

Donga nods with a genuine smile. 

“It’s good to be back too, son.”

Hleliwe watches her husband with love in her eyes; she is overjoyed that he has recovered and is getting back to his old self again. 

Just then, Mzwandile decides to ruin the mood at the table. “So, Ms. Lawyer, have you fallen in love with all your clients?” he asks with a smirk.

Ayakha feels her stomach drop at his comment, but she steadies herself for what’s next.

“Mzwandile, stop!” Amahle interjects, her voice firm. 

“What? I didn’t ask you! You, with seven kids already, shouldn’t even be here—you should be married!” Mzwandile retorts, directing his words at his sister. An uncomfortable silence falls over the table.

“I’m just asking, Ms. Lawyer—don’t take it to heart,” Mzwandile adds dismissively.

“You love them bad, huh?” Senzo chimes in, joining his brother in the teasing.

Ayakha feels the heat rise in her cheeks as she tries to remain composed, The tension in the air is palpable, and she hopes the moment will pass quickly.

“Absolutely! I love them just like your brother does—definitely not like those who would plot against their father for a bit of cash and some possessions.” 

At her words, both Mzwandile and Senzo cough, caught off guard by her sharp response. The tension at the table thickens, and their eyes widen in surprise as they process what she just said.

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