"What a disgrace to our family! This woman can never be allowed to be the Matriarch" One of the women married into the family snapped.
"No matter what excuses you come up with, the truth remains, your wife has disqualified you!" Another one of them sneered, the satisfaction in their tone unmistakable.
Olaedo clenched her fists, her patience wearing thin. Her icy gaze swept across the room before she spoke, her voice cold yet commanding enough to silence the murmurs. "Everyone! Chibuzor can't be disqualified because this is a contrac—"
"I have proof against Adamu's claims!"
The voice was weak yet startlingly clear, cutting through the rising tension like a knife. Heads turned toward the speaker, and gasps filled the room.
There, crawling toward them, was Nnenna.
Her blood soaked figure was a shocking sight, and for a moment, no one moved, paralyzed by the surreal scene before them. The silence was deafening until Olaedo's scream broke through, her voice shaking with panic and anguish.
"Nnenna!" she cried out, rushing forward to catch her before she collapsed entirely. Her arms trembled as she held her best friend close, the sight of her friend so battered making her chest tighten with overwhelming grief.
"Someone call a doctor!" Olaedo's voice cracked, her composure completely shattered. For the first time in a long while, the usually composed woman looked utterly vulnerable.
Her eyes darted around the room, searching desperately for someone she could trust. Her gaze landed on Olisa, and without hesitation, she pleaded with him, her tear filled eyes locking onto his. "Olisa, please help her. Please!"
Olisa, who had been frozen in shock moments before, felt his medical instincts kick in. He didn't hesitate. "Bring me a first aid kit! Now!" he barked, his voice firm and authoritative as he rushed forward.
Chibuzor watched everything unfold, his feet rooted to the ground. He had seen Olisa rush past him to Nnenna's side, but what truly struck him was Olaedo's desperate cry for help, not to him, but to Olisa.
His chest tightened as her pleading expression replayed in his mind. 'She didn't even look at me…'
His thoughts spiraled. 'She relied on Olisa first... Is it because I'm not a doctor? No, that can't be it. But… if she truly trusted me, wouldn't I have been the first person she turned to?'
The realization felt ridiculous even to himself, but the sting of it lingered. His jaw tightened, and he forced himself to focus. This was not the time for jealousy, his wife's best friend needed help.
Meanwhile, from her table, Ndidi's face darkened as she observed the scene. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Nnenna's bloodied figure.
"That girl…" she whispered under her breath, her tone laced with disbelief. Wasn't she supposed to be dead?
She glanced sharply at her subordinates, who had just arrived in the doorway, clearly too late to stop Nnenna's dramatic entrance. Her cold, steely voice hissed out through clenched teeth. "Incompetent fools."
Still, she wasn't overly concerned. Ndidi's lips curled into a faint, dangerous smile. She had other plans, and one stumbling pawn wouldn't ruin her game.
The medical team rushed in, working seamlessly alongside Olisa to stabilize Nnenna. The sight of her bloodied body left the guests in stunned silence, their earlier curiosity about her proof temporarily overridden by concern for her state.
Murmurs swept through the crowd, but no one dared to voice their questions aloud as they watched the tense atmosphere unfold.
Despite the paramedics' insistence that she be taken to the hospital immediately, Nnenna shook her head weakly. Her resolve was unyielding, her voice hoarse but firm. "Not yet… not until I reveal the truth."
Her determination silenced even the most skeptical onlookers. With Olaedo and Adanna supporting her trembling frame on either side, she struggled to stand upright. Each breath seemed like a battle, but her eyes burned with unwavering defiance.
Her voice, though faint, rang out with chilling clarity. "Two hours ago... I got lost on my way to the washroom. I... I entered another building without realizing it and overheard a conversation…"
---
Flashback
Nnenna's elegant gown swayed gently as she wandered through the vast estate, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floors. She glanced around, frustration flickering across her face. "I'm lost again," she muttered under her breath. "Adanna's shown me this mansion countless times, and I still can't remember it! Did Olaedo struggle this much her first time here?"
Her aimless steps brought her to a small, intricately designed gate. As she approached, faint voices drifted through the air, their casual tones betraying no concern about being overheard.
Curiosity piqued, she paused, intending to ask for directions. But as she got closer, her instincts screamed for her to stop. The words she caught made her heart pound in alarm.
"Madam is going to deal with that Young Madam tonight," one of the voices said gruffly.
Nnenna froze, her breath hitching. 'That Young Madam… that's Olaedo!'
She quickly reached for her phone, her fingers trembling as she fumbled to turn on the voice recorder. Steadying herself against the wall, she leaned closer to catch the rest of their conversation.
The two men stood casually by the pillars, their postures relaxed as they smoked. They clearly didn't expect anyone to be nearby.
"Are you sure about this plan? What if someone finds out?" the second man asked hesitantly, exhaling a puff of smoke.
The first man let out a short, mirthless laugh. "Find out? Who's going to suspect Madam? She's covered all her tracks. By the time anyone realizes what's happened, it'll be too late."
Nnenna's blood ran cold. 'Madam… This can only mean Ndidi!'
Her grip on her phone tightened as the recording continued. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Tonight was supposed to be about celebrating Olaedo, yet someone had plotted something sinister behind the scenes.
The second man still sounded nervous. "But what about the young master? He'll be furious if anything goes wrong."