As Daniela reached for her phone, her trembling hands on the screen, the words of the message kept on burning in her mind. Another notification came in again,confirming her fears. “ You should have listened. Now it's too late”. Her blood ran col7d. She knew this message wasn't just a threat, it was someone that was monitoring her that would be sending her all these kinds of messages. Her heart was beating fast as she dialed Lillian's number. She couldn't afford to be distracted by this cryptic warnings . The future of her company was at stake and she needed to focus. “Lillian, get that board meeting scheduled”. Daniela told her assistant as soon as he picked. “ And make sure everyone knows it's non negotiable. I am not stepping out and I will not let them think they can force me out. I want them to see who they are really dealing with”. Lillian hang back at the other end of the line.” But Ma are you sure about this? They might push back hard on this. It's not ju
Daniela sat in her office,gripping the edge of her desk as she stared at the financial reports on her screen. The numbers blurred together, but one thing was clear, her company was falling apart. Lillian entered carefully, a thick folder held tightly to her chest . Her usual composed attitude was gone,replaced by an anxious expression. “ Ma'am… The financial reports just came in”, She said, her voice barely above a whisper. Daniela breathed out sharply . “ How bad is it ?”. Lillian hesitated before sliding the folder onto the desk. “ It's worse than we expected . The stock value has dropped significantly, and the investors are pulling out faster than we can recover”. Daniela checked the reports themselves, her fingers trembling. Negative figures,declining profits and mass withdrawals. She was not happy with what she saw. “Who else has seen this?” “ The board. They held an emergency meeting this morning . Mr Collins was the leader of the discussion”. Dan
Meanwhile, at the Club , The bass thumped, rattling the walls of the exclusive VIP lounge. The air was filled with the scent of perfume,laughter echoing over the music. Alexander leaned back in his seat, one arm draped around the waist of Christiana, his ex girlfriend. She laughed out hard, and whispered something into his ear, and he smirked. His phone, abandoned on the table, vibrated. He ignored it . The screen flashed with Daniela's name . Then, the call ended and a notification of voicemail popped up. Alexander gasped,turning the liquid in his glass before tossing it back in one go. “ Your wife is calling”,one of his friends remarked,Surprised. “ So?” Alexander frowned,eyes drowsy with boredom. “ Let her wait”. He reached for the bottle,pouring himself another drink completely undaunted.Back at the office, Daniela was shoved into the backseat of a police car . The door slammed shut, locking her in. She stared ahead,her breathing unsteady, trying to suppr
Melanie sat in her tiny apartment,staring at her phone. Her fingers tightened around it as she thought about what she had just agreed to.Where the hell was she going to get two million naira? She had no savings. No assets. Nothing even closer to that amount. Her mind raced. There was only one person who could help. She scrolled through her contact lists until she reached a familiar name.Desmond .A wealthy businessman she had met months ago. He had always been interested in her, always offering her expensive gifts , asking her out , making it clear that he wanted something from her.She had turned him down every time . But now she had no choice. She needed his help for the sake of her sister. She couldn't afford to see her sister die in the prison; she had to do something.With a deep breath, She dialed the call button. It rang twice before he picked up. “ Melanie”, his deep voice pureed.” What a surprise! You called me today.” She forced a smile, even though he
Melanie swallowed the lump in her throat as she dialed Daniela's number.The phone barely rang twice before Daniela's desperate voice came through. “ Mel?” “ Dani, I got the money”, Melanie said quickly, trying to keep her voice firm. “ Where are you? Which police station?”Daniela's voice cracked with emotion. “ Did you get the money?”“ Yes,” Melanie confirmed,holding back her tears. “ Just tell me where to come”. Daniela sniffed back. “ Mel, I honestly don't know how to thank you”. “ You don't have to”, Melanie said, pressing her fingers to her temple. “ Just tell me where you are so I can bring the money before it's too late”. Daniela took a deep breath before replying . “ I am at the central District police station. Do you know the place?” “ Yeah”, Melanie said,already grabbing her bag.” I’II be there soon”.“ Mel, wait ,” Daniela's voice increased.“ Where did you get this kind of money?”. Melanie's fingers tightened around the strap o
Daniela stood in front of the mirror,adjusting her dress with trembling hands. The events of the past twenty four hours played over and over again in her mind like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. Her own husband, Alexander Dane, had abandoned her. Not a single call, Not a single message. While she was locked up,humiliated and accused of a crime she didn't commit, he had been out living his life as if she didn't exist. She held her purse and deep the money Melanie gave her inside. She thought about Alexander has she ordered a ride to go home. Would he even be home?Would he send everything? Would he care at all? By the time the car stopped at the mansion, Daniela's anger increased . She marched up to the gate and rang the intercom.A few seconds later, a voice answered. “ Who is it?” “ Tell Alexander it's his wife”, She said,her voice cold . “ And I am not leaving here till I set my eyes on him”. There was a long silence before the ga
Daniela sat in the living room, staring at the untouched cup of tea in front of her. The weight of the past few weeks had settled deep in her bones, making every movement feel like a struggle. She had hardly eaten and barely slept. Her thoughts were consumed with one thing,Noah. Where was he? Who had taken him? Her hands trembled as she reached for her phone, checking once again for any messages or missed calls. There was nothing. Just the same empty silence that had haunted her since the day he disappeared. Then suddenly,her phone rang. Her heart began to beat fast.Then she checked her phone and saw an unknown number. She hesitated before answering,her breath catching in her throat.” Hello?” For a moment,there was nothing but silence. Then a deep disturbed voice came through the speaker. “ You should have listened Mrs, Daniela”. Daniela's stomach turned. “ Who's this?” She demanded . The man laughed a sarcastic laugh. “It doesn't matter Now”. A gunshot
Daniela sat in her office, staring blankly at the resignation letter on her desk. Her fingers panicked as they traced the edges of the paper,the weight of her decision pressing heavily on her chest. She was already exhausted from handling the company and she was ready to leave. For years, the company had been her everything. She had built it from the ground, pouring her blood, sacrificing sleep, happiness and even her marriage to make it what it was . She couldn't do this anymore. Her son was gone. Her marriage was a lie, her reputation had been ruined. What was left to fight for? The sharp scent of ink filled her nose as she picked up her pen, the tip dancing around the paper for a moment. She hesitated, her heart thudding against her ribs. This wasn't just a resignation. This was leaving the last tie to the life she had once dreamed of. With a deep breath, She signed her name at the bottom. It was done.The weight of the company had finally left her shoulder
The palace was quiet—too quiet. Even the birds that usually fluttered outside the grand windows of the king’s chamber were absent, as if nature itself mourned the weariness of the man within.Alexander sat on the edge of his bed, the heavy robe of royalty pooling around him like a shroud. The golden crown, once proudly perched upon his head, now lay abandoned on the floor, its polished surface reflecting nothing but a broken legacy.He had sent the servants away hours ago, requesting solitude. But truth be told, he had been alone for far longer than that—ever since Daniela left, ever since the boy vanished. Ever since he traded his humanity for power.The voices from the past echoed relentlessly in his mind."You want her to be queen? There is a way…""Put this powder in her drink. It will cloud her mind and draw her to you.""Rub this oil on your palms before you touch her—she will not resist.""You must act fast. The elders are watching. You need an heir."At the time, it all seemed
The palace was quieter these days—too quiet for a man who once ruled with noise, power, and pride. Alexander sat by his window, fingers toying with a half-filled goblet of wine. Outside, the moonlight brushed the edges of the thatched palace roof, casting ghostly shadows on the walls. Chisom had long drifted to sleep, her breathing soft, steady. But Alexander was wide awake—again.It had been six moons since she was brought to him, her skin soft as silk, her smile gentle, her body yielding. Each night, she came to his bed, and each night, he held hope in his loins and in his heart. But morning always came with the same bitter emptiness. No signs. No whispers of cravings. No swelling belly. No child.He had tried everything—spiced roots, fertility herbs from the palace medicine woman, and even late-night rituals performed by the native priest. Still… nothing.Alexander rose from the bed, pacing the cold marble floor with heavy feet. A fire burned in the hearth, but it did little to tha
The morning sun filtered through the bright white curtains of their new apartment, casting golden rays across the hardwood floor. Lydia stirred beneath the duvet, her hand instinctively reaching out to the other side of the bed.Empty.She blinked, sat up, and glanced around. The soft scent of brewed coffee and toasted bread teased her nose. A smile curled on her lips.He’s in the kitchen again.Throwing on a light robe, she padded down the hallway and into the warm, open space where Gabriel stood shirtless, wearing joggers and flipping pancakes with an exaggerated chef’s flair.“You’re going to burn them,” Lydia teased, leaning against the doorframe.Gabriel turned, spatula in hand, and grinned. “And good morning to my beautiful wife.”She walked up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. “Good morning, chef husband.”He kissed the top of her head, then plated a stack of fluffy pancakes. “I thought we could eat on the balcony today. The sun’s not too harsh yet.”They
The early morning sun filtered through the intricate lattice windows of the palace, casting golden shapes across the polished floors. Drums beat faintly in the distance, signaling the dawn of a new day—and a new queen.Chisom sat quietly on the edge of a carved mahogany bed, her feet barely touching the polished ground. Around her, the royal maids fluttered like bees, tying her hair into delicate loops, rubbing her arms with perfumed oil, and whispering instructions she barely absorbed.“Your new robe, my queen,” one of the maids said, presenting a cloth woven with silver threads and royal blue patterns. “You must wear it before you greet the king.”Chisom nodded faintly, still unsure how to wear the title of "queen" in her heart. The palace air was thick—not just with incense, but with the weight of expectation. She could feel it in the walls, in the eyes of the elders who measured her with unspoken judgment, and in the stiff bow of the guards who had served another before her.As sh
The palace air brimmed with anticipation, thick like a brewing storm. Inside the grand hall, the scent of burning incense drifted from gold-plated bowls, curling in the air like whispers from the ancestors. Soft drums echoed in the background, played by two palace boys, steady and ceremonial. The marble floors had been scrubbed to glass-like shine, reflecting the rows of candles burning along the corridor.Alexander sat on the throne, robed in deep crimson, his royal crown resting heavy on his head. His face was unreadable—a mask of calm, yet behind his eyes, something stirred. Pain. Memory. Resignation. This was not how he envisioned choosing a queen.Beside him, a guard stood silently, holding a scroll with the names of the maidens. The chamberlain motioned, and the doors opened.One by one, the virgins began to enter.The first maiden, Awele, stepped forward with her head lowered, her feet bare, anklets chiming with each timid step. She was beautiful—smooth dark skin, full lips, an
The sky above the palace bled into a melancholic gray, the sun hiding behind thick clouds as though mourning with the king. The royal garden, once Daniela’s favorite place, stood untended. Wildflowers grew in stubborn defiance through cracks in the once manicured paths. The scent of blooming hibiscus clashed with the scent of time—that old, dusty silence that lingered in places where laughter had died.King Alexander stood still on the palace balcony, arms crossed behind his back, cloaked in heavy velvet. He wasn't the same man he was two years ago. The weight of loss had carved lines into his once-youthful face. His shoulders drooped beneath invisible burdens. Power still clothed him, yes, but it no longer fitted him like pride—it clung to him like grief.His eyes scanned the horizon—the same trail Daniela had once fled down with the child. The same trail the guards had failed to watch. His jaw clenched at the memory.Every now and then, he imagined seeing her figure walking back, ch
The evening of the engagement party felt like a dream to Lydia. The grand ballroom was bathed in warm, golden light. Crystal chandeliers hung high above, their glimmering reflections dancing across the polished marble floor. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, depicting stories of love, fortune, and legacy. Every corner of the room was carefully designed to evoke luxury, but it was the people who made it truly come alive.Guests murmured and laughed in soft clusters, champagne glasses clinking as they raised their toasts to Gabriel and Lydia. They had all come from different walks of life—wealthy socialites, business moguls, close friends of the family. But tonight, there was one thing that united them all: the promise of the future, the joining of two lives. Gabriel stood at the center of it all, a striking figure in a tailored suit, his posture confident but warm as he greeted guests. He was the picture of a man who had everything under control. But as his eyes scanned
The soft light of the morning sun was seen through the blinds, spilling its warmth over the living room of Gabriel’s apartment. Lydia sat on the sofa, her bare feet tucked under her as she scrolled through a wedding magazine, lost in thought. The room was filled with the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee, and the faint hum of the city outside only added to the quiet peace of the moment.Gabriel had just stepped out of the shower, a towel draped low on his hips, his hair still damp. He smiled as he saw her lost in the magazine, the occasional flutter of the page drawing her attention. It was one of those simple, perfect moments that made him feel like everything he’d ever wanted was right here.“You look like you’re plotting world domination,” Gabriel teased, stepping into the kitchen, his voice a warm caress.Lydia glanced up from the pages, offering him a playful scowl. “I’m plotting the perfect wedding, thank you very much. There’s a difference.”“Ah, my mistake,” he grinned, lean
Dark clouds thickened above the palace like a warning, casting long shadows that crept along the courtyard stones. A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the occasional rustle of dry wind against the banana trees that lined the palace fence.Alexander stood stiffly near the throne room window, eyes fixed on the sky. When the priest finally arrived, the guards ushered him in with reverence. The old man’s steps were slow, but his presence demanded respect. His hair, thick and snowy white, spilled down to his shoulders like ancestral feathers. His robe, dyed deep maroon with sacred herbs, carried the scent of ancient incense.He bowed slightly, then looked up. His eyes—milky but sharp—settled on Alexander’s face. “You sent for me, Your Highness?”Alexander gestured toward a mat. “Sit. There is trouble in the land.”The priest slowly lowered himself, folding his legs under him. “I know,” he said softly, voice like wind brushing through dried leaves. “The spirits whispered last ni