Ifeoma's mouth opened to retort, but Chibuzor cut her off, his voice low and even. "You will apologize to Olaedo. And until further notice, your entire allowance is suspended, and your movements will be limited. You are not to leave this house without my permission."
Ifeoma's face turned red, her eyes flashing with anger. "You can't do this to me! I'm not a child—"
"Now you are," Chibuzor said coldly. "Until you learn the consequences of your actions, you'll have to earn back my trust."
Chukwudubem, who had been silent until now, stepped forward, his voice quiet but firm. "Ifeoma, this is not the way to go about things. You're only isolating yourself further."
Adanna's expression was solemn, her gaze moving between Ifeoma and Olaedo. "We need to learn to trust each other if we're going to be a family, but this is not the way."
The tension in the room crackled, a palpable storm ready to burst. But it was Olaedo who finally broke the silence, her voice soft but steady.
"I'm not going to stoop to any more drama," she said, turning to Ifeoma with a sharp, searching gaze. "Just know that I don't have time for games. I came into this family with good intentions, and I will continue to do so."
The family fell into a charged silence. The once confident Ifeoma felt a flicker of doubt, her anger ebbing as she realized she was outmatched, not just by Olaedo's words, but by the disappointment etched into every face.
Later that night, Chibuzor sat at his desk, fingers drumming against the polished wood. The confrontation replayed in his mind, but there was something else gnawing at him. A fear he wasn't willing to admit out loud.
'If Maduabuchi's message had not come from the house.....would she have gone with him?'
The question lodged in his mind, refusing to leave. He stood up, pacing, eyes cast toward the closed door to their room where Olaedo stayed. 'Would she stay for the sake of our contract, or would her past lure her away from me?'
"Why does this matter so much to me?" Chibuzor muttered to himself, the silence of the house swallowing his words.
---
The next morning, the family gathered in the dining room, the air thick with unspoken words. Chibuzor was absent, having secluded himself in his study, but the tension was palpable.
Ndidi, frowning, but still dancing happily in her heart, broke the silence. "It's not like Chibuzor to react so harshly. But Ifeoma, you've pushed him beyond what he can bear."
Ifeoma crossed her arms, refusing to show any vulnerability. "And what about Olaedo? You're all ready to believe her over me."
Old Master leaned forward, his eyes meeting Ifeoma's. "Olaedo has shown she deserves respect. You, on the other hand, have shown you need to learn consequences."
Ifeoma bit her lip, the hurt stinging behind her defiance. But her eyes drifted to the hallway, where the silence loomed like a warning. The family's reprimands felt like a hammer, chipping away at her stubborn facade.
Upstairs, Olaedo stood at the window in her room, staring out at the garden, specifically the household's award winning flowers, gnawing over the secrets she carried deep in her heart.
'I can't believe I entertained the thought of getting back together with Maduabuchi.' She sighed in realisation 'My Mom was right.....I'm not over him yet. I need to work on myself!'
Her fingers clenched at her sides as she thought of Chibuzor and how his unspoken concern had revealed itself during their dinner confrontation.
'Did he really care? Or was it just a matter of pride and maintaining his image as the head of the family?'
A soft knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts. She opened it to find Adanna standing there, a look of worry on her face.
"I'm sorry about earlier," Adanna said quietly. "I didn't think Ifeoma would go that far."
Olaedo gave a small, weary smile. "It's okay. It's just one more obstacle, isn't it? We'll find a way past it."
Adanna's eyes softened, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I believe you can since you guys love each other. And I think Chibuzor… he'll see that, too."
Olaedo's eyes met Adanna's, hope sparking in the depths of them, even as doubt whispered in the corners of her mind.
But the question remained, 'When the next storm came, would they all weather it together, or would they be torn apart by their own choices?'
Clock ticking to the annual family ball.
The Arinze estate was a hive of activity, buzzing with an air of anticipation and controlled chaos. Servants scurried about, laden with fresh bouquets, crystal glassware, and polished silver trays.
Seamstresses adjusted hems and stitched final embellishments onto extravagant gowns in one corner, while chefs debated over the correct plating for hors d'oeuvres in another.
In the grand sitting room, Adanna and Ifeoma sat stiffly on a velvet sofa, watching their grandfather as he examined the final guest list with a stern gaze. His booming voice filled the room.
"Adanna, the ambassador's family is still waiting for a response to their RSVP. I don't want any lapses this year!"
"Yes, Father," Adanna replied, her tone as poised as her immaculate posture.
Ifeoma, meanwhile, fidgeted with the hem of her designer dress. "This is so boring," she thought. "Why do we have to sit through this?"
The tension thickened as their grandmother swept into the room. Old Madam, the formidable matriarch, carried an air of authority that silenced everyone instantly. Her sharp eyes scanned the arrangements.
"Where is Chibuzor? He should be here to finalize his responsibilities for tomorrow," she demanded.
Chibuzor, ever punctual, appeared just then, his usual calm demeanor in place. "I'm here, Grandmother," he said curtly, ignoring Ifeoma's exaggerated eye roll.
Old Madam nodded approvingly. "Good. This year's ball must surpass all others. Remember, this is not just a party. It is the Arinze family's way of reminding everyone of our influence and legacy."