The injuries he sustained were severe. He had multiple broken ribs, extensive bruising, and internal injuries. Throughout his recovery, Adaugo took a leave of absence from school to stay by his side, rarely leaving his bedside.
Back at the Arinze household, Old Master Arinze was livid. His pride and joy, the only grandson interested in furthering their empire, had nearly lost his life over a reckless confrontation with cult members.
Chibuzor's actions infuriated him, not because of the fight, but because the boy hadn't considered the potential consequences of his impulsive behavior.
As Chibuzor lay on the hospital bed, shame consumed him. He couldn't even bring himself to look Adaugo in the eye. Not only had he failed to protect her from Professor Abubakar, but he had also caused her endless worry with his injuries.
It didn't take long for Chibuzor to deduce who was behind the attack. Professor Abubakar had hired the cult boys to punish him. He shared his suspicions with his grandfather, and the elder Arinze wasted no time taking action.
Using the full weight of his influence, he ensured that Professor Abubakar was arrested. The disgraced professor was demoted, stripped of his position, and eventually sentenced to prison.
Chibuzor vowed to never let himself be caught in such a helpless situation again.
After that incident, no one in the entire school dared to come near Adaugo or him. Their family's status had been revealed, and suddenly, everyone was afraid of them. But this newfound fear didn't bring him any joy.
Chibuzor had always leaned on his family's reputation to fuel his confidence, but after that day, when he had been beaten senseless, he realized he needed to be strong on his own.
He decided to key into his grandfather's plans for him and put more effort into his studies and personal growth. It paid off, as he achieved a lot personally and within five years after graduation, he expanded his grandfather's company into a trillion local currency empire.
Three months ago, when he married Olaedo, he discovered another weakness. Her constant, playful punches to his shoulder whenever she was annoyed made him realize that, despite his financial power and influence, he was weak in personal strength, particularly in martial arts.
Determined to strengthen himself in this area, he asked Olaedo to teach him, and she agreed without hesitation. 'That woman is surprisingly amazing!' he thought, smiling at the memory.
---
Thinking back to those days when he had been arrogant, relying solely on his family status and not understanding the importance of building his own strength, he smiled. He glanced at Chukwudubem, who was watching him with a teasing grin, trying to get his attention.
Chukwudubem raised an eyebrow. "Big brother, are you thinking about sister in law?"
Chibuzor chuckled, feeling guilty as charged, and playfully slapped Chukwudubem's head. "What are you daydreaming about now? Go cook so we can eat."
"Who says I'm cooking for everyone? I just want to cook for myself. It's almost 6:00 a.m.; the chefs will start cooking soon," Chukwudubem replied with a grin.
Since it was already 5:45 a.m., Chibuzor decided to let it go and headed upstairs.
Meanwhile, Olaedo stirred awake. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept so well. Aristocratic families might have fancy imported beds, but the difference wasn't just in the furniture, it was in the atmosphere. She stretched, feeling more rested than she had in a long time.
What truly lingered in her mind, though, was Chibuzor's actions the previous night. She hadn't expected such consideration from him. Memories of her ex, Maduabuchi, crept in for comparison.
Back then, he had rarely prioritized her. In the early days of their relationship, he showed effort, but after six months, it became clear that his world revolved solely around himself. She accepted it at the time, thinking it was normal. 'I was so stupid.' she thought bitterly.
But Chibuzor had proven her wrong. He made her feel important. His thoughtful gesture reminded her that a relationship could be different, where both people mattered. She smiled to herself, warmth spreading in her chest.
---
Four years ago after the plane encounter....
Two months prior, after her mother's recovery and return home, Olaedo had gone back to work. As a perfectionist CEO, she had personally taken on the task of interviewing candidates for an opening in the public relations department.
"Next person, please," she called out, her tone brisk.
The door opened, and someone walked in with heavy, deliberate steps.
"Good morning, ma. My name is Aneke Maduabuchi. Here's my CV."
'Maduabuchi?' The name struck a chord in Olaedo's mind. She thought for a moment, then it clicked, this was the charming, kind man she had met on the plane a few months ago.
She finally looked up from the files on her desk, and her heart skipped a beat.
There he was, standing right in front of her.
"Maduabuchi?! Is that really you?"
The man across from her mirrored her surprised expression. "Yes, it's me! Miss Olaedo, right? Wait…how are you the interviewer? Do you work here too?"
"Yes, it's Olaedo. And yes, I work here too." She couldn't contain her excitement. For months, she had regretted not exchanging contacts with this man during their flight. Yet, fate had brought him to her doorstep.
"Gosh, it's so good to see you again! I kept looking for you after that flight, but I couldn't find you. I had to leave quickly because my mom was sick."
"Same here," Maduabuchi replied with a warm smile. "I wanted to check on you and see if things worked out with your mom. I tried looking for you too but had no luck."
Olaedo grinned even wider. "Well, fate works in mysterious ways, doesn't it? I'm so glad we met today. Since I'm interviewing you, I won't play favorites, but if you're qualified, I'll definitely give you the job."
As the day progressed and all the candidates were interviewed, Maduabuchi's qualifications shone brightest.