Family falling out
Fikani is torn between his wife Alexa and sperm-stealing Lesedi.
Fikani (Nicholas Acuna) was an angry raging bull at the end of July when he discovered that he has a secret child with Hillside lawyer Lesedi (KB Motsilanyane). It’s not so much because the woman stole his sperm sample from the clinic and was artificially inseminated without his knowledge, but more the fact that his loving wife Alexa (Carina Nel) found out and tried to keep it a secret. “He comes from a tragic background. His mom died, his dad is in prison – he has trust issues, and the one person he trusted with his life has betrayed him,” says Nicholas. And it’s only going to get worse for Filexa (as Laan fans have dubbed the couple) before it maybe gets better.
GONE GIRL
Alexa and Fikani have been arguing nonstop since she confessed her findings to Fikani recently. “He trusted Alexa and now that trust is broken. It’s crushing him and Fikani is confused about what to do,” explains Nicholas. “Where do they stand? There’s huge disappointment and that ripples through their marriage. They’re pretty much at rock-bottom right now. Alexa promised never to let him down and that’s exactly what she’s done.”
Lesedi isn’t getting off scot-free though. She stole a medical sample and misused it after Fikani repeatedly made it clear that he didn’t want a relationship with her. “Even now, when Fikani and Alexa are so distant and apart, there’s no way – absolutely no way – that Fikani thinks of Lesedi in that way,” explains Nicholas. His character is on the warpath but he’s also sensitive to his baby daughter’s well-being and needs. “He originally tells Lesedi to get away from him, then he calls her back, almost telling her that he wants to be a father to ‘their’ child,” says Nicholas. As a doctor and a father who has parent issues, Fikani simply cannot allow his child to be running around the streets feeling abandoned. “He has mixed emotions because he loves children and while he didn’t make this child the usual way, she is his blood,” says the actor.
WOMEN WOES
But as much as Fikani is hurting, Nicholas makes it clear that Alexa is crumbling too. “She’s definitely hurting a lot more than she lets on. She didn’t tell Fikani about the child because she thought it was in his best interests not to know about something like this. She realises now that she should’ve told him, but it’s difficult. She had to decide.” It’s not like Lesedi is a stranger – they’ve interacted with her for years and she did try to steal Fikani from Alexa before. Alexa is also a little fearful about losing Fikani now and it’s her own jealousy. “There’s a baby, so why wouldn’t he leave her and go to Lesedi. That’s in Alexa’s mind – and Fikani has custody of their son Nelo… so it’s a tight spot for Alexa,” says Nicholas. Oh how little Alexa knows her loving hubby…