The following morning arrived not with calm, but with a media storm.
Instead of celebrating the groundbreaking success of Daniel Lewis's NeuroSpeech project, the headlines screamed a different story, his surprise proposal to Esther Cole. Every news channel aired it. Every gossip blog dissected it. The footage of Daniel slipping a ring on Esther's finger spread like wildfire, sparking debates from boardrooms to breakfast tables.
But in the Cole household, the news didn't bring celebration. It sparked chaos.
The front door slammed.
Sarah burst in, sunglasses pushed carelessly into her braided hair, her heels clacking across the tiles like gunfire. She reeked of last night's club and unresolved bitterness.
"You said yes?!"
Her voice sliced through the air like a whip. Without hesitation, she lunged across the room, grabbing a handful of Esther's hair.
"How could you, how dare you steal my man!"
She tried to drag her down, but Esther yanked herself free, sending Sarah sprawling to the floor with the weight of her own rage.
From the kitchen, Musu's voice came sharp and horrified. "What's going on here?!"
She rushed in, apron still tied at her waist, placing herself between her daughters. Her eyes darted back and forth, alarmed and furious.
"What are you two doing, fighting like this?!"
Esther, adjusting her hair into a bun with shaky hands, was the first to respond.
"She started it."
"Ma!" Sarah wailed as she got up, dusting her palms. "Didn't you say you wouldn't let Esther marry Mr. Lewis? You promised me! You said you wouldn't let him come between us, so why did you let her say yes?!"
She knocked over a ceramic vase, its crash echoing the fury in her chest.
"She knows how I feel about him! And yet she went behind my back, seduced him, and stole him!"
"Will you just be quiet?" Musu snapped, her voice strained and tired. "Sarah, do you even hear yourself? You spent the night out drinking without telling anyone, and now you come home and attack your sister?"
"So now I'm the bad one?" Sarah scoffed bitterly, running her fingers through her frizzed braids. "I've spent three years, three years, trying to get him to notice me. And she just shows up and robs me of everything I worked for!"
"Sarah," came a calm but cutting voice from the hallway. Zainab stepped out, dressed for work, heels clicking softly as she approached.
Her tone was icy, her eyes narrowed.
"Everyone's been patient with your delusions, but you're making it harder every day."
"Oh, please." Sarah rolled her eyes, her voice cracking. "None of you have ever supported me. You all look down on me. I'm just the problem child you can't wait to get rid of!"
She looked around the room, blinking hard. Her voice broke, hollow and trembling.
"I don't understand why she gets your support. Why her? I'm not the one marrying a man twice her age and pretending to be a saint just to get into his bed and play stepmother!"
"Right. The same man you've been throwing yourself at for years," Zainab shot back, unflinching. "And the same child you've been bribing with ice cream and designer shoes all week. Honestly, I pity you. You're the most two-faced person I've ever known." She leaned in, voice like glass. "You call the kettle black, but you're the pot boiling over."
Sarah's face twisted with rage. And then she struck. "And now I see why your fiancé left you for another woman."
The words landed like a grenade.
Zainab's jaw clenched. Her fists tightened at her sides, but before she could react, a sharp crack echoed through the room.
Musu's hand had struck Sarah across the face. Sarah gasped, clutching her cheek, wide-eyed with disbelief.
"I've had enough of you." Musu's voice trembled, not with fear, but with heartbreak."You're out of control, Sarah. You're beyond help."
Sarah laughed bitterly, tears gleaming at the corners of her eyes. She backed away slowly, taking one last look at the room, her sisters, her mother, the broken pieces of the vase on the floor.
"Fine," she said. "I'm done too. I can't stay here another day. I'm moving out."
She turned, shoulders squared, voice low and final.
"If I'm not good enough for this family, if all I ever do is disappoint you, then maybe it's time I disappear. And don't worry…" She glanced at Esther."I won't be living under the same roof as the woman who robbed me of my dream life."
And with that, she walked out.
Meanwhile at LewisTech, the day had dragged on with no mercy. After back-to-back meetings with government officials and foreign investors, Daniel finally sank into his chair, tugging at his tie with a weary hand. His phone hadn't stopped buzzing, and his inbox was drowning, not with praise for the NeuroSpeech launch, but with endless chatter about his very public proposal to Esther Cole.
The news had spread like wildfire. The engagement had upstaged the technology.
A soft knock broke into his rare moment of stillness.
"Sir," Thomas peeked through the door. "You have a visitor. She insisted on seeing you personally."
Daniel didn't look up.
"Who is it?"
"Mrs. Kadiatu."
He froze for a beat before straightening in his chair.
Kadiatu Kamara.
Dija's mother. She hadn't scheduled anything, which meant she wasn't here for pleasantries. If she was here unannounced, she either wanted something, or wanted someone to remember something.
"Send her in."
Moments later, Kadiatu stepped into the room like she owned it. Regal as ever in an ivory silk kaftan trimmed with bold jewel tones, she moved with the quiet confidence of a woman who had built her empire from the ground up. Her eyeliner was razor-sharp, her expression unreadable.
"Daniel," she said smoothly. "You've become a difficult man to reach."
"I assume this isn't a courtesy call."
"Correct." She lowered herself into the chair opposite him without waiting for an invitation. "I came to talk to you about your assistant."
Daniel's jaw tensed.
"Thomas? What about him?"
He had a sinking feeling he already knew.
"I need you to put an end to whatever's going on between him and my daughter," she said plainly. "He's not of her class. There's no future for her with someone like him."
Daniel's gaze stayed fixed on the file in front of him.
"With all due respect, that's not a request I can grant. Thomas's personal life is his own."
"Don't play coy, Daniel," Kadiatu pressed, voice calm but firm. "You have the power to discourage him. And frankly, you should. That boy has no business reaching for someone like Dija."
Daniel finally looked up, locking eyes with her.
"Your daughter is an adult. She's capable of making her own choices, and from what I know of her, she wouldn't appreciate being told who she can or can't be with. I suggest you respect that."
Her expression tightened, but she didn't flinch.
"You expect me to stand by and watch my daughter ruin her life over an errand boy?" she snapped. "Daniel, you more than anyone should understand what people like him are capable of. I won't have a leech draining my daughter dry."
There it was, the venom beneath the velvet.
"Just because you made a mistake once doesn't mean your daughter will do the same," Daniel replied coolly, shutting the file before him. "Don't let your past dictate her future."
Kadiatu stiffened. Her nostrils flared, but her voice remained composed.
"You think I don't have reason to be protective? You think I'm overreacting?" she said. "Let me remind you what people like him are capable of."
She paused, her voice suddenly brittle beneath its control.
"I once fought for someone like him," Kadiatu said, her voice steady but bitter. "I disobeyed my parents. I eloped. I gave up everything, only to find out I was nothing more than a gateway to wealth for him. He took money behind my back… and left me."
Her words trailed off, but the ache lingered in her eyes.
It had been twenty-five years, yet the memory still cut deep. That night was the night she found him with another girl, was seared into her like a scar. He hadn't just betrayed her love, he'd laughed at it. Told her she had been a fool, that he only wanted her for her family's money. And then he left, without remorse, under the storm's howl and a sky that wept for her as much as she did.
She had stood there, drenched and broken beneath the merciless clouds, realizing she was nothing more than a means to an end.
She wouldn't let Dija go through that. Not while she still had breath in her body.
"I won't let Dija walk that same road. I won't let her be a fool for someone who only sees her as a step up."
Daniel leaned back, voice low but unwavering.
"Kadiatu… I'm sorry for what happened to you. Truly. But your scars aren't your daughter's. She deserves the chance to love without inheriting your fear."
Kadiatu rose slowly, straightening the folds of her kaftan.
"And I deserve the chance to protect her," she said simply. "If you won't help me, I'll find another way. But mark my words, Daniel, this won't end with love letters and daydreams. The world isn't that kind."
She turned and walked out without waiting for a response, leaving Daniel alone once more, with the press still screaming outside, and now, the storm of another mother's past pain circling his future.
As the glass door shut softly behind Kadiatu, Daniel let out a slow breath and ran a hand across his jaw. He stared at the closed door for a long moment, then turned back to the stack of unopened emails on his desk.
Another knock came almost immediately.
"Uncle?" Dija stepped in cautiously, her tone lighter than the mood she walked into. "Was that my mother I just saw storming out of here like a queen without a crown?"
Daniel leaned back in his chair. "Yes," he replied, voice low. "You should probably talk to her."
Dija arched a brow and stepped closer. "Let me guess, it was about Thomas, wasn't it?"
He didn't answer.
She scoffed. "Of course it was. She's been on a mission lately, trying to control my life like I'm still fifteen. She doesn't want me to be happy. That's the truth."
"Dija," Daniel said gently, folding his hands on the desk, "your mother wants what she thinks is best for you. It may not always come across the right way, but it comes from a place of concern. She cares. More than she knows how to show."
"She has a twisted way of showing it," Dija muttered, her voice dipping with frustration. "She doesn't even know Thomas. She just… assumes the worst."
Daniel gave her a small, knowing look. "Your mother has her reasons. Her past… it's not mine to share. But there's pain there. Deep pain. She's not trying to ruin your life, she's trying to protect you from the kind of heartache she never recovered from."
Dija's shoulders sank a little. She looked away, blinking hard. "So what am I supposed to do? Let her bulldoze my relationship because she can't move past hers?"
"No," Daniel said softly, "but maybe you can help her see that Thomas is different. That you're different. Talk to her."
Dija sighed, crossing her arms. "She won't listen to me. She never does." Then, after a beat: "But she listens to you."
Daniel raised a brow.
"You're the only person she still respects, even when she's stubborn. Talk to her for me, please. Help her see that Thomas isn't the problem."
Daniel hesitated, then gave a short nod. "I'll speak to her. But this only works if you speak to her too. Grown woman to grown woman."
Dija managed a small smile. "Deal. But if she tries to marry me off to a senator's son again, I'm eloping with Thomas in a kekeh."
Daniel couldn't help a faint laugh. "If you do, send me a location pin. I'd at least like to send a gift."
No sooner had Dija stepped out than Daniel let his head fall briefly against the back of his chair, closing his eyes. The office had turned into a revolving door today, press, investors, Kadiatu, now Dija.
Peace lasted all of ten seconds before his door creaked open again.
"You've got to be kidding me," Daniel muttered without even looking.
"Miss me already?" came Sankoh's smooth, annoyingly cheerful voice as he strolled in like he owned the place.
Daniel opened his eyes and gave him a flat stare. "Do you people take shifts or is there a signup sheet at reception?"
Sankoh chuckled and closed the door behind him. "I'll keep it short, buddy. I need your help."
"With what? Finding a new tailor to match your ego?"
"Funny," Sankoh drawled. "But no. I need Zianab's number."
Daniel blinked. "Zianab? Esther's sister, Zianab?"
Sankoh nodded, easing into one of the guest chairs, totally uninvited. "Yes. The beautiful one with that ice-cold stare. I'm in love, Daniel. Real love."
Daniel stared at him. "You've met her what, two, maybe three times? All in court settings."
"And that's all it took," Sankoh said dramatically, placing a hand on his chest. "Love at first sight. I'm telling you, I haven't stopped thinking about her."
Daniel folded his arms. "You're a notorious playboy, Sankoh. You fall in love every other Thursday. And I'm not about to let you drag future sister-in-law into one of your performances."
"It's different this time."
Daniel narrowed his eyes. "You expect me to help you seduce my future sister-in-law? I'm not a love council. And I'm definitely not handing out numbers to protect your fragile feelings."
Sankoh leaned forward, lowering his voice just a notch. "Neither Esther nor her sister will give it to me. I thought maybe you could… you know… bridge the gap."
"No."
Sankoh tilted his head. "Are you sure?"
"Very," Daniel said, reaching for his mouse and pretending to resume work. "Now get out of my office."
Sankoh didn't budge. He reclined lazily instead, then said with a grin, "Alright. Then maybe I'll just talk to Esther instead. Tell her all the fun things you got up to in college. All the parties. That girl in third year who cried in your dorm. Or should I mention your midnight motorcycle stunt the night before finals?"
Daniel's hand froze on the mouse.
Sankoh smiled wider. "You know… just a little trip down memory lane."
Daniel exhaled sharply through his nose. "You're blackmailing me for a phone number."
"Call it aggressive matchmaking," Sankoh said brightly.
Daniel stared at him for a long beat. Then, without a word, pulled out his phone and typed something.
Sankoh's phone buzzed.
He grinned, checked it, and stood. "You're a good man, Daniel."
"I'm going to regret this," Daniel muttered.
"Probably," Sankoh said, strolling toward the door. "But love is worth it."
The door clicked shut behind him.
Daniel leaned forward, planted his elbows on the desk, and buried his face in his hands.
"I need a lock on that damn door."
By six in the evening, Sarah had reached the last place she ever thought she'd end up, Harriet's cramped one-room-and-parlor apartment. After all her failed attempts to find shelter, this was her only remaining option. The city, as always, was a nightmare when it came to affordable apartments, especially in a time crunch like hers.
Now here she was, perched ungratefully on Harriet's faded sofa, her eyes sweeping the room with judgment, taking in the uneven cement floor, the corrugated roof overhead, and the musty scent of worn-out curtains.
"Okay, let me get this straight," Harriet said, arms folded as she leaned against the wall, eyeing Sarah with thinly veiled disdain. "You need my help, but you can't even ask for it politely? Of all the places you could've gone, why mine?"
"Because you owe me," Sarah replied flatly, crossing her legs on the sofa as if she owned it. "I got you that spot at LewisTech. Don't forget that."
Harriet scoffed. "Oh, I remember. But do you remember why you did it?" she snapped. "You only helped me because I knew your little secret. Let's not pretend you'd have even looked my way otherwise. You've always treated me like trash, Sarah, like something stuck to the bottom of your shoe."
"I don't care," Sarah said, her tone rough despite its calm. "I got you the job. That means you owe me a favor. And this is your chance to return it. Besides," she added with a sneer, "it should be a blessing to have someone like me in this tiny hole of a place."
Harriet's jaw tensed. Her chest tightened with irritation at Sarah's audacity. "If this place is so beneath you, then maybe you should leave."
Sarah let out a groan and dropped her feet to the floor with a sigh. "Do I look like I have a choice? I'm in a tight spot. I'm just… compromising for now. It won't be for long."
Harriet rolled her eyes, torn between kicking her out and letting her stay for the sake of peace. After a long, reluctant pause, she sighed. Her better nature, however faint, overpowered her caution.
"How long?" she asked warily.
"I don't know," Sarah muttered, staring at the cracked, peeling walls. "Until I figure out how to ruin that wedding."
Harriet raised a brow, immediately catching on. "Don't tell me you ran away because Mr. Lewis proposed to Esther. Is it jealousy, or the pain of knowing she got what you always wanted?"
Sarah's glare snapped toward her, sharp enough to silence her halfway.
Harriet raised her hands. "Fine. Not my business. But if you really want to ruin their relationship, you need to start a war between them. Plant a misunderstanding. Or better yet, make Daniel believe Esther's hiding something from him."
Her words slowed, deliberately, as her eyes met Sarah's.
"Something you know about. Something he would hate to find out she kept from him."
Sarah's brow furrowed. "What? No. That would get me in trouble."
"Yes," Harriet said smoothly, "but it would also tear them apart. Especially if you twist it to look like Esther told you to keep it secret. I've heard Mr. Lewis hates lies more than anything. Imagine how he'd react if he found out his fiancée's been hiding a bombshell like yours."
The idea hit Sarah like a jolt. Dangerous, yes. Risky, absolutely. But if it destroyed Esther's engagement, it would be worth every consequence.
And what better time to strike than the traditional engagement ceremony scheduled for the very next day?