"Father," Chetachukwu began, his voice dripping with disdain as he bowed slightly. His words, however, carried the heavy weight of his grievance. "You made a rule, a sacred one. Anyone who disgraces this family loses their claim to the inheritance. My elder brother did just that, and you disqualified him, as you should have. That left me next in line. But instead of honoring the rule, you skipped over me and handed everything to this... boy."
He gestured toward Chibuzor, his contempt evident in every movement. "Now, he's married a woman whose actions disgrace the Arinze name. Are you going to ignore your own promise again? Isn't it my turn yet?"
The room fell into shocked silence as Chetachukwu's words hung in the air, the revelation of the family rule spreading like wildfire. Whispers swelled, buzzing like angry bees, as the guests exchanged wide eyed glances.
Olaedo's gaze flicked to Chibuzor, her heart sinking as she observed the icy calm on his face. 'So this is why he's so angry with me,' she thought, guilt clawing at her chest. 'He's been warning me to improve myself, to avoid causing trouble... and now I've brought him this. What have I done?'
Her chest tightened with the realization that she had inadvertently placed the man who's been helping her in such jeopardy.
But Chibuzor's thoughts were far from the company. It wasn't about the empire, it was just one piece of his vast possession. What gnawed at him now were the words he had just heard, and the voice carrying that damning message. 'Could this be true?'
At the head of the table, Old Master Arinze's face darkened, his fury simmering beneath the surface. He slammed a hand on the table, the impact silencing the whispers with a single thunderous motion.
His children shared his anger, but none dared to speak. The rule Chetachukwu referenced was real, but discussing it openly, before outsiders, was an unforgivable violation of the family's unspoken code.
It was Old Madam who took control. Rising gracefully, her voice cut through the tension like a sharp blade. "Chetachukwu, enough!" she commanded, her gaze hard and unyielding. "Is this the right place? The right time for such words?"
Chetachukwu froze, his confidence faltering under her piercing stare. His bitterness, however, was too deeply ingrained to be fully suppressed.
Bowing slightly, he spoke again, his tone apologetic yet still firm. "I'm sorry, Mother. But Father must honor his word. If we don't address this now, he may go behind our backs and choose someone else, just as he did with my elder brother's son."
Old Master's face turned even darker, his chest rising and falling as he fought to control his rage. When he finally spoke, his voice was sharp, uncompromising, and filled with authority.
"It is my company," he thundered, "and I will give it to whomever I deem fit! Yes, I made that rule, and yes, it still stands. But let me remind you why you and your siblings were bypassed in the first place. None of you, not one, has proven yourselves as capable as Chibuzor, whom you so easily call a 'boy.'"
He turned toward the entire room, addressing not just his son, but the gathering as a whole. "In five years, Chibuzor has achieved what none of you could accomplish in fifty. Thanks to him, every shareholder in the Arinze empire has reaped countless rewards including all of you. And you dare to question my judgment?"
The room was still, the weight of his words hanging in the air like an oppressive storm cloud. Chibuzor's grandfather leaned forward, his eyes locked onto Chetachukwu's, as if daring him to speak further.
"Let no one say that I am a man who breaks his word," he continued, his voice low, filled with authority. "If Chibuzor fails this family, then you will have your turn. But until that day comes, sit down and hold your peace."
The room fell into stunned silence, every guest marveling at Old Master's unyielding resolve.
Whispers of respect rippled through the crowd, but the second generation children sat in embarrassment, their pride shattered under the weight of their father's words.
Chetachukwu, although humbled, managed to regain some of his composure. Still, the sting of his public dressing down lingered. His shoulders slumped as he returned to his seat, the weight of defeat heavy on him.
The second generation heirs of the Arinze family, their pride and arrogance shattered by Old Master's brutal words, slowly withdrew into the shadowed corners of the grand ballroom.
Among them, Chetachukwu, the second son, stood frozen, the bitter realization of his mistake settling over him like a heavy cloak. He had gone too far, and now the consequences were painfully clear.
Old Master, however, was not a man to be swayed by fragile egos or family squabbles. His steely eyes now turned toward Olaedo, his voice cutting through the tense air. "Olaedo… what that man said, is it true?"
The words hung in the air like a damning accusation, and every pair of eyes in the room turned to her, including Chibuzor's cold, unreadable gaze.
Olaedo's heart thudded painfully in her chest. She knew this was her moment, Old Master had given her a chance, a fleeting opening to explain herself, to hold onto her place in the family. But how could she? The proof was gone, wiped clean in a moment of regret. All she had now were her words, and she prayed they would be enough.
She stood tall, her posture unwavering, though her heart raced. "Yes, those messages…" Her voice rang out clear and steady, despite the weight pressing on her. "They were sent by me...to Maduabuchi."
The room exploded in gasps, the sound echoing through the ballroom like a thunderclap. But there was more to the story, and everyone knew it.
She paused, gathering her thoughts. "It happened six months ago, when Maduabuchi and I were still engaged. We had a disagreement while planning our wedding, and in a moment of anger, I cancelled the engagement but then sent those messages later on, and I sent them to the man on that stage because I could not reach my ex fiancé directly."