Jacqueline had fully taken advantage of a situation that worked entirely in her favor. Daniel and Irène’s separation, although they had not pursued a divorce, gave her the freedom to gradually fill the void left by Irène.

Daniel rented an apartment and moved in with his two sons, for whom he now had full custody and took great care, although it was challenging for him to manage on his own. Seeing an opportunity, Jacqueline started visiting in the afternoons after work to cook for them.

What began as occasional visits escalated from evenings to weekends, and eventually, she moved in permanently with them. This marked a new chapter in the lives of Daniel and his two sons. Jacqueline transitioned from being an external mistress to the lady of the house. However, for the two boys, their mother had been replaced by a stepmother.

Understanding the trauma the boys had endured, Jacqueline initially showed care and compassion toward them. Yet, the dynamics of this blended family were far from easy. Jacqueline introduced a new lifestyle that disrupted the bond and camaraderie that previously existed among the three men.

To make a good impression, Jacqueline learned about Irène’s devout Christian faith and hoped to win the boys’ affection through it. She sought to maintain the Christian foundations that Irène had started to instill in her sons, encouraging them to continue walking with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The boys joyfully engaged in reading Bible verses, interpreting them, praying, and applying God’s commandments. However, this Christian practice remained confined to their home; since their mother’s departure, they had not attended Sunday school at a church.

A paradox emerged that even the young boys, despite their age, began to notice. Although God was presented as all-powerful, there were occasions when Jacqueline invited a fetish priest, introduced as a traditional healer, into the home.

Jacqueline always ensured Nathan and Pierre were napping whenever this man visited. She would darken the living room, fill it with pungent incense, and prepare an altar adorned with flickering candles and strange objects.

The priest performed sinister rituals, murmuring incomprehensible incantations, as shadows danced mysteriously on the dimly lit white walls. Curious, the two boys would sneak out to observe the unsettling scene.

The first time they witnessed this, a heavy, oppressive atmosphere enveloped the room. A sudden, icy draft extinguished all the candles, leaving the participants in darkness. Menacing silhouettes approached, terrifying them.

Nathan and Pierre ran back to their room, frightened and disturbed. After the ritual, Jacqueline received bark and other ingredients from the priest to prepare and administer to Daniel.

One day, in their father’s absence, Jacqueline sent Nathan to fetch an object from her room. He accidentally knocked over a pot containing prepared herbal bark. Furious, Jacqueline unleashed an unjustifiable beating on the boy, striking him with a belt as his terrified younger brother wept. It seemed as though she had lost something precious.

Fed up with the repeated, unfair beatings, Nathan retaliated with a kick to her stomach, ending the punishment. Writhing in pain, Jacqueline vowed to report the incident to Daniel, claiming his son had hit her. Nathan fled the house to wait for his father and resolved to tell him everything.

Upon his return and hearing his sons’ account, Daniel was overwhelmed with shock and anger, tears streaming down his face. Though furious, he restrained himself.

He confronted Jacqueline, demanding less violence toward his children, the cessation of all mystical practices, and a ban on her bringing sorcerers into their home.

Despite these events, Nathan and Pierre continued to endure traumatic experiences in their father’s absence. Repeatedly reprimanded and intimidated by their stepmother, they felt increasingly saddened by the absence of their mother.

Irène, aware of the schools her sons attended, often visited them there, bringing carefully prepared gifts. Forbidden by Daniel to come to their home, these school visits were her only way to see her children and show them love.

When Jacqueline found out, she ordered the boys to discard their mother’s gifts. She whipped them, warning them:

• “If your mother comes to see you at school again, run away and tell her you don’t want to see her. Is that clear?”
• “Yes, Auntie,” they replied (as she had instructed them to call her).

One month later, Irène visited their school again. The administration summoned the boys to meet her. Paralyzed with fear, they hesitated between their desire to embrace their mother and the memory of Jacqueline’s last beating. They exchanged glances, silently seeking each other’s permission. Irène rushed to them, holding them tightly and asking:

• “What are you afraid of?”
• “Auntie told us to run if you came,” Nathan replied.
• “And what did your father say?” Irène asked.
• “He said to tell him whenever you visit the school.”
• “My children, I understand, but I’m still your mother. I carried you for nine months, and all I want is to see you more often.”

As usual, she hugged them tightly and gave them the gifts she had prepared. But these fleeting school visits were no longer enough for Irène. During one visit, she asked her sons for their new address.

Jacqueline, increasingly worried about Irène’s visits, feared losing her place in Daniel’s life. She intensified her sessions with the fetish priest, becoming almost dependent on him. The more she indulged, the more Daniel appeared to obey her as if bewitched.

One Sunday afternoon, Irène, now aware of her sons’ address, decided to visit. Approaching the house, she knocked and entered through the slightly open gate. She was on the terrace when Daniel, spotting her through the living room’s glass doors, jumped up, shouting:

• “What are you doing here?”
• “Good afternoon. I came to talk about our children.”
• “Which children? The ones you abandoned?”
• “Daniel, I admit I wasn’t the mother I should have been. I’m sorry. I just want to see my children.”
• “We have nothing to discuss. Leave!”
• “Please, Daniel, I know I hurt you and the kids, but let me see them,” she begged, kneeling in tears.
• “Get out of my house!”

As tensions rose, Jacqueline fetched a basin of water, handed it to Daniel, and said:

• “Madam, you were asked to leave. I am the new mistress of this house. Daniel, pour this water on her.”
• “Leave, or I’ll pour this water on you!” Daniel yelled.
• “Do it!” Jacqueline ordered.

As if compelled, Daniel obeyed, drenching Irène with water. Jacqueline looked on with satisfaction, while Nathan and Pierre were shocked.

Drenched and humiliated, Irène vowed:

• “These children are also mine, and I’ll report this to social services.”

This incident marked the beginning of a series of dramatic and surprising events in their lives…

This excerpt is from The Choice by written Franck-Alain Dimale.

We invite you to read the following article “RETURN TO THE COUNTRY“.

FROM MISTRESS TO STEPMOTHER. FROM MISTRESS TO STEPMOTHER.

FROM MISTRESS TO STEPMOTHER. FROM MISTRESS TO STEPMOTHER. FROM MISTRESS TO STEPMOTHER.