Chapter Thirty-One: Family Fallout.
The Adebayo Family Mansion.
The living room was way too quiet for how many people were sitting inside. Tammy swore she could hear her own heartbeat punching against her ribcage, like her body was reminding her she was alive in the middle of what was about to be a war. The curtains were drawn, the air felt heavy, and both families—Cokers and Adebayos—were sitting opposite each other like this was some political negotiation.
Jeremy was beside her, his hand loosely resting over hers, calm on the outside but tense enough that his thumb kept tapping against her skin in an unconscious rhythm. Tammy's stomach was already sensitive from everything, but now it twisted even harder with every second of silence.
Her mother finally broke first. "Pregnant?" The word fell out of her mouth like it tasted bitter. Her mom's voice wasn't loud, but the way she said it was enough to slice straight through Tammy's chest.
Tammy's father shifted in his seat, already shaking his head. "This is not happening. This cannot be happening." He leaned forward, his voice rising as he jabbed a finger toward Tammy like she had committed some unholy crime. "You—how could you let this happen, young lady? After everything?"
"Daddy, I didn't plan this," Tammy said quickly, her voice wobbling even though she tried to make it firm. "You think I sat down and decided, 'yeah, I'm gonna mess up my entire life and yours too'? It wasn't like that—"
"Don't you raise your voice at me!" he snapped, standing halfway up, his chest puffing like a rooster ready for a fight.
Her mother grabbed his wrist, pulling him back down. "Kunle was supposed to be your husband. What about him? What about your life? What about your career?"
The words stung, especially the mention of Kunle, but Tammy forced herself to keep her chin up. "There is no Kunle," she said coldly. "Not anymore. And I'm not sorry for that. Besides, you guys were the ones that asked me to stay married to Jeremiah. I'm his wife now so I don't see the problem!!!"
Her father was about to erupt again when Jeremy finally spoke, his voice smooth but firm, cutting the air like a sharp knife. "With all due respect, sir, you don't need to talk to her like that. She's not a child. She's my wife. And she's pregnant—with my children."
The room fell quiet again, everyone processing the weight of his words. My wife. My children. Tammy glanced at him sideways, her throat tightening. He hadn't just defended her, he had claimed her.
Across from them, Jeremy's mom sat like a queen in her throne, her face unreadable but her eyes sharp as glass. She had been silent since the news dropped, sipping tea like none of this touched her. But now she set the cup down with such deliberate grace it made everyone freeze.
"A month and some weeks ago," she began softly, her voice calm but icy, "you had said this was only a temporary arrangement. That you would marry her, appease the media, then divorce her when the time was right. That was the plan, Jeremy."
Jeremy turned his head slowly, his jaw tightening. "You knew?"
"Of course, I knew." She folded her hands in her lap, her nails shining under the chandelier light. "Did you really think you could keep something like this from me?"
Jeremy stared at her like she had just slapped him. "And you didn't think to say anything?"
His mother tilted her head. "It wasn't my place. You made your bed, son. I only expected you to lie in it the way we discussed."
Tammy's chest constricted, the quiet shame of hearing someone refer to her marriage as a "plan" burning through her skin. She looked down, wishing for once she could disappear.
Jeremy didn't let her drown in it though. His hand squeezed hers tighter, then he leaned forward, his voice low but deadly steady. "That plan doesn't exist anymore. This isn't a strategy meeting or some stock investment. She's not some… pawn. She's my wife. And now, she's carrying my children. That changes everything."
His mother's eyes narrowed, but she didn't argue. She only lifted her chin like a woman refusing to bow, even when cornered.
It was his grandmother who broke the stalemate. The old woman cleared her throat and leaned heavily on her cane, her face soft but eyes sharper than all of them combined. "I've lived long enough to know when God's hand is in something," she said, her Yoruba accent thick, her words slow. "This girl has saved your name, Jeremy. Do you know what people would be saying about you right now if this had not happened? That you are reckless. That you are careless. But now?" She turned her eyes on Tammy, and for the first time since entering this room, Tammy felt warmth instead of daggers. "Now, the world will see you as a man with legacy. They will see your wife as strong. They will see your family as blessed."
"Grandmother—" Jeremy's mom started.
"No," the old woman said sharply, her voice snapping with authority that shut the whole room up. "You may not like her, but you will respect her. She is carrying your grandchildren. Triplets! Do you know what that means?" She turned toward Tammy again and, before Tammy could blink, reached out to squeeze her hand. "Thank you, my dear. Thank you for saving my grandson's name and giving this family honor."
Tammy swallowed hard, her eyes stinging with tears she didn't want to shed in front of all these people. She nodded quickly, whispering, "Yes, ma'am."
Meanwhile, her sister sat in the corner of the room, pretending to dab at her eyes with a handkerchief. Tayo's performance was Oscar-worthy, the way she leaned forward like the supportive sibling. "Oh Tammy, I can't believe you're pregnant. I just… I don't even know what to say. I'm so happy for you, sister."
Tammy's eyes slid past her like glass, not giving her the satisfaction of a reaction. She couldn't even look at Tayo right now. Something in her gut always told her that Tayo's concern wasn't real, and the more she spoke, the faker it felt.
Jeremy caught the glance, the way Tammy deliberately ignored her sister. He didn't say anything, but his eyes flicked to Tayo with a coldness that promised he wasn't fooled either.
Her father wasn't finished though. He pointed at Jeremy now, his voice still laced with thunder. "You think this excuses everything? That because she's pregnant, all of a sudden this sham of a marriage makes sense? No. My daughter had a future before you—"
"She still has a future," Jeremy interrupted, his tone calm but final. "Only now, it's with me. And with our children."
Her mother sighed heavily, rubbing her temples like she was seconds away from breaking down. "This is too much. Just too much. How will people talk? How will society react when they hear this? We'll be ruined, Bayo. Ruined!"
"We?" Jeremy's grandmother gave a dry laugh. "Don't worry about 'we.' You're worried about yourselves, your status. But your daughter—" she pointed at Tammy, "—is already inside this storm, and she is the one who will carry the weight. Instead of tearing her down, stand by her. Or risk losing her completely."
Silence again. Only this time, it wasn't because no one had words. It was because everyone was choking on them.
Tammy sat there, her hand still clutched in Jeremy's, her back straight, her heart heavy but determined. For the first time in her life, she wasn't waiting for her parents' approval. She wasn't begging for their love or validation. She already had someone in her corner.
She already had Jeremy.
And judging from the fire in his eyes when he looked at his mother and the way his grandmother had defended her, Tammy realized maybe—just maybe—she wasn't as alone as she thought.
---
Jeremy's voice finally broke the silence, slow and deliberate. "This family fallout ends here. From today, Tammy is my wife. She's the mother of my children. And if anyone has a problem with that—" his eyes swept across both families, sharp enough to cut, "—you'll have a problem with me."
The message was clear. And no one dared to argue.