For days, Christiana was trapped inside the house. Every time She tried to leave, Alexander made sure the doors were locked. His guards stood to watch her, ensuring she didn't live the compound. Praise, Oblivious to the tension, cooed in her Crib. Christiana ran a gentle hand over her daughter's curls, tears pricking her eyes. â We'll get out of here, baby I promise.â When Alexander finally returned home with a DNA test kit, Christiana felt her stomach turn. âTime to put an end to this debateâ, he said, throwing the kit on the table. â Open Praiseâs mouth â. Christiana's arms tightened around her daughter. She's not an experiment, Alexander â. He turned his eyes. â Stop being dramaticâ. He grabbed the swab. â Hold her stillâ. Tears burned Christiana's eyes as she gently divided Praises lips apart. The baby wiggled, whining as Alexander roughly switched her cheeks. When he was done, he stared at her. â Now, we waitâ.The following days were suffocating, A
The cold night air hit at Christiana's skin as she held Praise close, rocking her gently. Her daughters tiny whimpers were the only sounds breaking the silence of the deserted streets. Her chest tightened . She had nothing. No money , no home . No one to turn to. Alexander had thrown her away like trash. Tears burned in her eyes, but She refused to let them fall. Not here. Not when she had to be strong for her baby. But where will she go? As she walked round the street, her legs weak from tiredness and heart break, She heard the unmistakable sound of heels clicking against the pavement behind her. Christiana turned out of fear , her heart sinking. There, standing under the dim glow of a street light, was a woman She recognised instantly. It was Daniela , Alexander's ex wife. The woman she frustrated with her pregnancy so that Alexander will put her in the house. And with the look on Daniela's perfectly makeup, She was enjoying herself not minding anything Chri
The streets were cruel. Christiana had nowhere to go. No money, no food, no idea what tommorow would bring. She walked for hours,her arms wrapped tightly around Praise, who was in deep sleep. Every step felt heavier, her legs barely able to carry her. She passed by Restaurants,their bright lights and warm air spilling onto the streets, mocking her. She could perceive food,rich dishes that made her stomach hungry and twist in agony. Her last meal had been when? She couldn't even remember. Desperation clawed at her throat. She needed help. But who would help her now? She used to have clients who threw money at her feet,but those days were gone. No man wanted a woman with a child,especially with a child like Praise. A slow tear slid down her cheeks. Her baby was hungry. Her baby was cold. And she could do nothing about it. She had never felt this worthless. As she sat on a bench, trying to rock Praise to sleep, an elderly woman approached her. She had Gray hair tucked ben
Christiana wiped the sweat off her forehead,exhaling a deep breath as she pulled another tray of freshly baked bread from the hot oven.The scent of warm dough filled the small bakery mixing with the faint aroma of coffee and sugar.She had been working since morning, her hands covered in flour, her feet aching from standing from hours. But despite the tiredness,She forced herself to keep going. She had no choice. The job at the bakery was all She had.After being thrown out by Alexander and his mother,She had wandered the street , hold ing Praise to her chest. With nowhere to go and no one to run to, She had spent the night outside, shivering under the cold sky. But fate had helped her. The woman who supplied bread to several shops in the neighbourhood had seen her struggles and offered her A job as a bakery Assistant. It wasn't much, but it came with a tiny room at the back of the bakery, a place she can rest her head on, even if it was small. It was better than the
Daniela sat in the back of the taxi,her fingers tightly gripping her purse. The city outside the window blurred as the vehicle sped past familiar streets,each one carrying a memory She had left long buried. For years, She had been absent from this place,from the people who once mattered ,convincing herself that She was better off without them. But now,with everything crumbling around her, She found herself desperate for something to hold on to. Her sister was gone. Her marriage to Alexander had ended in humiliation. And now, She had finally decided to reconnect with her Dad. She had avoided him for so long, ashamed of how her life had turned out. But deep down,She wanted to believe that despite everything , he would still welcome her with open arms. She had replayed her words a thousand times in her head. She would tell him about her divorce,about how she had lost her sister, about how lost she felt.He had blamed her for marrying Alexander but now she needed him to c
The club was filled with energy, a stark contrast to the suffocating silence that had filled Daniela's mind since she learned about her father's death. She sat in the dimly lit VIP lounge, a glass of whiskey in her hands, swirling the liquid absentmindedly. Loud music was filled in the air, the bass vibrating beneath her feet, but it barely drowned out the guilt eating deep in her blood. She had come to the club to escape, to calm her nerves down. But no amount of alcohol could raise the growing doubt in her chest. As she stared at the dance floor, her eyes was drawn to a man watching her across the room. He was tall, Confident, with black piercing eyes and he had a particular charisma that made him stand out in the crowded club. Their eyes met and for a moment, Daniela thought She imagined him kissing her lips deeply. Not long after, he moved straight towards her. He sat beside her, his scent rich perfume mixed with something dangerously intoxicating filling her se
Gabriel leaned back, his whiskey glass resting against his knee as he studied Daniela. The way she carried herself intrigued him, so he wanted to know more about her. He had met many women in clubs beforeâsome looking for excitement, some chasing wealth, others simply bored. But Daniela? She wasnât any of those.She was drowning.And she didnât even realize it.âYou donât strike me as someone who usually drinks alone,â Gabriel finally said, breaking the comfortable silence between them.Daniela exhaled a humorless laugh,sipping the last remnants of her drink. âI donât. Not usually.ââBad day?â he tried to examine.She let out a breath, shaking her head slightly. âTry a bad life.âSomething flickered in Gabrielâs eyes. âThat bad, huh?âShe turned to look at him, taking in the way he held her gaze without hesitation. Most men would have backed off by now, sensing the weight in her voice. But he didnât. He held steady, waiting, offering no judgmentâonly curiosity.âI lost my father,
The first thing Daniela felt was something pounding in her head.The second was the unfamiliar warmth of soft sheets beneath her.Sunlight streamed through the curtains, a golden feeling settling over the modest guesthouse room. The air was quiet except for the tap water that was running speedily. Daniela stirred, groaning slightly as she pushed herself up on the bed.For a moment, she forgot where she was.Then, it all came backâthe club, the music, the drinks, andâĶ Gabriel.Her eyes filled across the room, landing on his dark suit jacket draped over the chair. That single sight made her heart skip. He was still here.As if on cue, the bathroom door opened, and Gabriel stepped out, steam curling around him. A towel hung loosely around his neck, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, exposing just a hint of his toned chest. His hair was damp, slightly tousled, as if he had run his fingers through it.âMorning,â he greeted, his deep voice carrying an unmistakable smoothness.Daniela ru
The palace was quietâtoo quiet. Even the birds that usually fluttered outside the grand windows of the kingâs 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 thatâever 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 wayâĶ""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 herâshe 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 daysâtoo 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 awakeâagain.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 everythingâspiced roots, fertility herbs from the palace medicine woman, and even late-night rituals performed by the native priest. StillâĶ 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.Heâs 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 chefâs flair.âYouâre going to burn them,â Lydia teased, leaning against the doorframe.Gabriel turned, spatula in hand, and grinned. âAnd good morning to my beautiful wife.âShe walked up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. âGood morning, chef husband.âHe kissed the top of her head, then plated a stack of fluffy pancakes. âI thought we could eat on the balcony today. The sunâs not too harsh yet.âThey
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 dayâand 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.âYour new robe, my queen,â one of the maids said, presenting a cloth woven with silver threads and royal blue patterns. âYou must wear it before you greet the king.âChisom nodded faintly, still unsure how to wear the title of "queen" in her heart. The palace air was thickânot 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 unreadableâa 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 beautifulâsmooth 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 Danielaâs 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 timeâthat 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 prideâit clung to him like grief.His eyes scanned the horizonâthe 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 lifeâwealthy 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 Gabrielâs 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 heâd ever wanted was right here.âYou look like youâre plotting world domination,â Gabriel teased, stepping into the kitchen, his voice a warm caress.Lydia glanced up from the pages, offering him a playful scowl. âIâm plotting the perfect wedding, thank you very much. Thereâs a difference.ââAh, my mistake,â 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 manâs 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 eyesâmilky but sharpâsettled on Alexanderâs face. âYou sent for me, Your Highness?âAlexander gestured toward a mat. âSit. There is trouble in the land.âThe priest slowly lowered himself, folding his legs under him. âI know,â he said softly, voice like wind brushing through dried leaves. âThe spirits whispered last ni