"Rissa, would you just listen? Listen to me for Christ's sake!" Bernard repeated.

"Stop taking the Lord's name in vain, boy." Mr. Babalola chastised Bernard, and Bernard muttered sorry, his eyes on Marissa.

"I think I have listened enough to you. More than enough. I have had enough of your bullshit! I do not bargain for this, you hear me? I tried to avoid messy stuff like this, did I not? I told you that I want nothing to do with things like this!" She poked him in the chest. "You made me believe you! You made me believe that this child could rely on you, and now what? I...