Mitah was shocked, but all the same didn’t want to give her father the letter claiming it was personal to her.
Angrily, Lati snatched the letter from her. He read the contents and dropped it
“I knew you were hiding something, you are still seeing that boy. Haven’t I warned you to stay away from him? You will be shocked at what I will do if you do not desist! Have you no shame?!"
"Shame?! What are you talking about Dad? I am not matured enough to have a lover? Why do you keep treating me like a child?!" Mitah uttered loudly with a frustrated tone. 
"If you want to have a lover Mitah, not Dino not anyone from the Martins family. That evil man!"
"Oh. Please Dad. Evil man?! From what I could remember, you were colleagues at work and he used to come here. When exactly did he turn evil?"
"Don't you stress me over and over Mitah! He is an evil man and a killer. I will not allow you have anything to do with his offsprings!" Lati yelled emphasizing with his fingers that had become shaky from anger. He was sweating. Mitah stared at his father and his expression terrified her.
"He...he is a soldier. He is meant to fight wars and kill opponents, just like you do too! and you call him evil because of that? I don't understand anymore. Is there something else to this? Besides whatever happened between you and him, should be none of Dino's business. He is not his father. So why don't you just let it go!"
"Get out of my way" Lati just uttered storming into his room leaving Mitah distressed
Lati got into his room and received a call from his poultry's manager. He was still fuming in anger as it was noticeable when he answered the call
"Sir... The big turkeys are not available and they want to buy twenty of them" The manager reported.
"Then it's not available! What am I supposed to do, drive over there right now or make a magic for it to be available!" Lati raged. 
"Sir...I am sorry" The manager said wondering why he sounded so angry ."I just wanted to know if...."
"There is nothing to be sorry about! Lati cut in."The mother turkeys will be delivered tomorrow evening. Dont you know that? Tell that to the buyer! and if they can't wait, they should go somewhere else!" Lati yelled and dropped the telephone sighing in aggrievation
Lati's poultry farm was the second biggest in the State with varieties of poultry animals and food. Dignitaries and other  poultry farms in the state patronize him. He made millions from it every month 
**Few minutes after the poultry manager called, Lati changed his clothings, picked his car keys and went straight to Dino’s residence and issued him a Fierce warning to let his Daughter be. But Dino was courageous enough to tell him that he wasn’t afraid of him.
He emphasized how he loves Mitah and not ready to give her up. He had been pleading all these while and he was tired of it. Lati stood in the compound of Dino's mansion, right at the door entrance
"General, I love Mitah very much and cannot imagine my life without her. You should ask her how long we have been together. What have I really done to you Sir? Why are you trying to come between us?" 
"You really have some nerves to stand right there and ask me questions?! Don't you?" Lati growled. 
"General. I mean well for Mitah. I want to give her the best of love, happiness and wealth. It baffles me why you don't understand that" Dino said helplessly 
....Lati raised his hands and slapped him hard on his face. “I can’t understand because you’re from a family of criminals! Do you not know that? Let this be the last time I see you with her” He said holding his neck firmly, almost choking him "Or I will kill you! ”... he released his hands and walked straight into his Car. 
Dino held his neck and tried to catch his breath. He stood there, despaired and angry. He actually slapped him?  Nobody has ever done that to him, not even his late father. He clenched his fists, slammed the door and entered the house.
Amanda who had overheard their rift dropped the fruits she was slicing and quickly moved closer to him “Dino.. Are you alright? This is serious. I think you should let go of her”
Dino heaved a sigh still yet to recover from what just happened.
"He now hits you! This is becoming toxic Dino. Can't you see?!" Amanda said her face showing deep worry and fear
"Amanda. I can't imagine my life without Mitah. That's the truth. No other lady appeals to me. I should find a way around this" Dino muttered frustrated
"Find a way, How?" Amanda asked ", Don't Tell me you are planning to abscond with her?. Dino you heard him clearly. He WILL kill you. Without traces, even"
Dino did not respond to that. Amanda cautioned him to be careful with Lati reminding him of the fact that they do not have parents around them
"I know you are an influential man yourself  but the truth is that man is brutal and more powerful. Do not land you or even us into trouble. please" She advised
"Don't worry. No trouble is coming. This evil man just baffles me. I am responsible, good looking, wealthy, I am the perfect partner. Why doesn't he want me for his daughter?!" Dino queried troubled and clueless
"Because of our father?. I mean Mitah told us that's what he has been saying"
"Oh please. I would never believe that. What could our father have done to him? I remember clearly they were once friends. He is just an insatiable human" Dino uttered rolling his eyes. 
He growled in a frustrated manner and walked over to the table he had placed his Computer to check for a mail. 
"Your life is important Dino. You really need to be careful" Amanda advised worriedly before she remembered she wanted to say something before the dispute with Lati. She turned back to face her brother
"Dino, our neighbor Clara, was here when you stepped out. She mentioned about running a high temperature. She was also shaky. She requested you write her Anti- Malaria medications"
“I have always told her to visit hospital for a test as a first step anytime she is ill. I am not a physician but a pharmacist. She wouldn't listen" Dino said his tone weak, and barely audible
Dino had always dispensed medications to Clara for uncomplicated illness without complaints. But with what just happened, he felt irritable.
"Well...She said she knows how she feels whenever she is infected" Clara reported
Dino tiredly grabbed a pen and wrote a combination of anti- malaria medications, pain killers, and multivitamins. He penned down his signature on the paper. 
“Give this to her. She should tender it at my pharmacy at the Island. She is not making any payments"
"Dino you have always been covering her medication expenses. You are running a business. Don't you think you are doing too much really?"
"The woman is a widow Amanda. She needs as much help as she can get. How much are the medications anyways? Doesn't affect me or the business in any way and you know that too"
"I know Dino, I am not against you helping her but what I am saying is, it shouldn't be all the time. Before you know it, other people might start feeling entitled to what you are doing for her"
"Please Amanda, I need some rest. Don't bother me with this" he muttered. He was unable to concentrate on the computer in front of him no more. He stood up to go lie on the Cushion.
"Could you tell the Cook to make me some malt Juice please" he requested
"Hmm. Okay sure" Amanda responded
Dino touched his forehead in distress. Lati is becoming a menace to him and he really did not know if he should hold on anymore or simply let go. He had to hit him and almost choke him to death?!
God knows if any other person tried that with him, such person wouldn't get away with it. But he didnt want to be unruly with his lover's Parent. 
Amanda returned from delivering Dino's message to the Cook. 
"Don't get yourself worked up. Please" Amanda said noticing her brother's distress "I will run along to Clara's now"
*****************************
Lati has placed a house arrest on Mitah. He didn’t allow her to go anywhere except if she was going to school for her Projects and Lati’s personal bodyguards would always take her,  to keep an eye on her, so she wouldn’t meet up with Dino at all. 
A month later, It was Mitah’s convocation and Lati was finally proud of his daughter. She bagged a degree in Chemistry with distinctions.
On her big day, Lati still had soldiers roam round the Institution. He was also in attendance with his younger brother Ken.
The ceremony was held in a giant hall with the parents/guardians,  dignitaries, lecturers, graduating students amongst others in attendance
Lati did let Mitah move around and relate with her Co-Graduands but had the soldiers watch her as she did that at a distance.
If only Lati was aware that Mitah already devised a cunny plan on how she would see her lover. The absence was killing her. She had earlier called him on phone and they came to a resolution; 
Dino would wait for her in his Cousin's apartment who was also attending the same Institution.
Even though Dino was getting tired of Lati's rejection and humiliation, he had come to the realization that he missed Mitah terribly and could not function properly with the feeling that he had to let her go. 
Her captivating smile, her alluring smell, he was yearning for it and he didn't care what the implications would be
Two hours into the Program, Mitah was  getting bored and impatient. She wished she could be in Dino's arms already. She looked around and could still see her Father's bodyguards at random with their Strong Faces. She really has to devise a means to get out of here. 
Anxiously, She walked over to her father who was seated at the foremost seat. He was one of the honourable guests. He whispered something to his Ears and Lati stood up. They left to where was less rowdy and noisy
"What is it Mitah?" Lati asked worriedly
"Uhh..Dad, you know my Friend and Course mate. Rita? "
"Yes I do"
"She just sent someone to me. The person said her mother needs to meet me. I guess she wants to show some appreciation for being so kind to her daughter"
"Really. Where is She?"
"Rita's hostel. Not far from here. Rita couldn't make it earlier enough to book a seat in the Hall. I really have to go now. Look, there is her brother she sent to me" She said pointing to a random masculine figure in the Crowd. Her heart beat faster as she hoped her father falls for it else her plans are busted. 
“Alright" Lati nodded. "My men will escort you then” 
"Come on Dad!, don’t make this seem more awkward than it is already. You want her mother getting terrified when she sees the Soldiers? She is an old woman" Mitah said her expression, a serious demeanor. I promise I will be back soon”
"Well.......Okay. But make sure you are back soon." Lati said reasoning with her
"Okay Dad! "Mitah uttered with a satisfactory smile. She walked away in quick paces.