ANWANA'S RESIDENCE:
Anwana's phone buzzed as she pulled it out of her bag – an old Android device, its cracked screen lighting up the dim, quiet room. She shifted from the bed slowly, fatigue still clinging to her bones. The room was small but meticulously arranged. Victor lay at the corner of the bed, covered by a black duvet, his tiny frame curled peacefully.
"Hello, Brother Kene," she answered softly, her voice barely escaping her throat, sleep still resting heavily on her. Her hair was a mess, her bonnet somewhere on the floor, her red silk nightgown twisted around her frame.
"Wana," he called fondly. "How's Victor? I hope his leg has completely healed?"
"Yes, he's fine," she replied, her voice as gentle as the petals of a rose.
"I just discussed things with your brother, Ekere. He told me you decided to rent your own apartment? Hmm... Wana, why didn't you tell me you were resuming your cooking class? I would have helped."
"Bro Kene, it's not like that oo... I just wanted to stand on my own. You already did enough, naa. You helped me that night... that very night... Nooo, why should I keep bringing more problems to your doorstep?" She sighed, a heavy one, like a burden she'd held for years had just cracked open again.
Kene went quiet for a moment, then said, "I'll be back to Lagos soon. Life in Abuja is good, but I need a break. I'll visit you. And... Yes, I heard you still went ahead to work with the Adebanjos? Ahhh, Wana!"
Silence followed.
If there was anyone who would defend her without hesitation, it was him.
He was her brother's friend. Then, gradually, he became more. A brother. A guardian. A man who loved her without asking for anything in return.
That night, five years ago, was still fresh. The rape. Her brother was out of town. She had no one. No one but Mr. Kene Nduka.
She had called him immediately after it happened. Her hands trembling. Her voice broken. He left everything to come.
She was bleeding.
She was broken.
She was lost.
And Kene came.
He found her on the floor, in tears, bloodied and shaken. He cleaned her up, helped her report to the hospital, and stayed until her brother returned.
She always thought the Adebanjos had something to do with it. A meeting had been held. They warned her clearly to leave their son. She assumed the attack was their doing. She never dug deeper. Fear, anger, and pain kept her from investigating. But she always believed it was them.
"Yes, Bro Kene, I still haven't investigated it. What if it wasn't them? I just assumed. Besides, I didn't know it was his mother's house when I got the job."
"You keep defending them. They literally said they would do worse if you didn't stay away from their son. How could it not be them?" But she had no answer. Just silence.
"Anyway," he continued, "be careful. And if you ever need anything, you know you can call me."
"Thank you, bro," she said softly as the call ended.
She glanced at her phone and jumped. "Oh my God, it's past 10:00. I'm dead!"
She rushed to get ready, waking Victor with soft kisses. "Hey baby boy, it's time to wake up."
She managed to make yam porridge before heading out. Her 120,000 naira monthly salary could cover essentials – just enough. She left home by 12 noon. By 1 PM, she arrived at the Adebanjos'.
---
She walked in, Victor's tiny hand in hers. The air was tense. Something was off.
Tade.
He stood at the front, eyes locked on her. His stare was sharp. Dagger-like.
"Good day, sir," she stuttered. Her knees felt like jelly. Her heart raced.
He didn't respond. Just walked past her, heading to the garage.
She swallowed.
Inside the house, Amara came forward.
"Awwn, my little baby angel is here," she cooed, taking Victor. Anwana smiled faintly and handed him over.
Remi's voice cut sharply through her thoughts.
"Wow. So you now come in anytime you like?"
Anwana lowered her gaze. "No ma, I'm really sorry."
"Is this job even important to you? Or did Victor's father show up today so you had to entertain him first?"
Victor's father?
Her throat tightened. Did she know who he was? Even she didn't know.
"Ma, please. It's unnecessary to bring up Victor's father," she whispered.
Remi smirked. "Ohhh... I was right. Mr. Kene is back."
Her heart skipped. Drummed. "Kene?"
"Don't act dumb! You've been taking advantage of my son, cheating up and down with that Kene man... or is he a boy?"
It burned. Kene?
Her brother?
She moved past Mrs. Adebanjo, confusion clouding her head.
Remi followed and yanked her blouse.
"Where are you going?!"
"With all due respect, ma, I'm late and I'm sorry. I had to get something for my son. I'm not understanding these accusations..."
"Young lady, you're fired."
Everything shattered. She couldn't speak. Couldn't breathe.
Aisha walked in, fixing her hijab. "A pure gold digger. You thought you could get my husband, abi?"
It struck hard.
Victor munched his snack from Amara. Oblivious.
"Yes! I'm done working here! With a ruthless woman like you! You want to know how I crumbled?!"
Her voice cracked. She trembled.
"You caused every tear that rolled down my cheek!"
No words followed. Just more tears.
Tade wasn't around. Of course he wasn't. He knew this was coming.
"Ah ah aunty," Aisha added, "You're still talking? Let me call the guards. You were late, they fired you, why are you shouting? The new chef is already on his way."
Amara tried to calm things down. She even dialed Tade.
No answer.
Anwana walked out. Tearfully. Shamefully. What had she been thinking accepting this job?
Victor sniffled. "Mummy... I'm sorry I collected the snack from her. I won't do it again."
She hugged him tight.
"It's okay, Victor. I'm not crying. It's just water. See? I'm smiling."
She forced the hardest smile she could manage.
---
Tade sat in his car, parked outside a mall. Saturday.
He couldn't go to the office.
Couldn't even breathe.
She cheated.
He stared at the image Aisha sent. It haunted him.
Anwana.
In a park.
With Kene.
She was pecking him on the cheek. Smiling. Victor stood between them.
The caption: My son 💕
His heart shattered again. There were chat screenshots too.
Messages about him – about Tade.
Her and Kene planning how she would marry Tade, take his wealth. Chats about sex, casual and reckless. Romantic messages. Nicknames.
The timestamps aligned with Victor's age.
Everything matched.
She used me.
She planned this.
He felt sick.
He wanted to scream.
---
SUNDAY EVENING – TADE'S RESIDENCE
Anwana stood by the gate, eyes swollen.
She had waited hours.
When the security finally let her in, she knocked gently.
Remi opened.
"What do you want again?!"
"Please ma, I need to speak to Tade. Please. Just a few minutes."
"After everything? You're still not ashamed? Go home!"
"Please..." she begged.
Tade walked down the stairs.
Their eyes met.
She stepped forward. "Tade please... You have to hear me out. Kene isn't who you think. Those messages, the pictures, it's not what
it looks like. Please..."
He stared blankly. He didn't utter a word.
He walked past her.
Like she never existed.
The sound of the door shutting behind him hit harder than anything else ever could.