Anita goes back home with her father and mother, who arrived at her school to witness her final graduation ceremony.
Her mother is very happy, but her father keeps his usual non-smiling face as he drives them home.
He's proud of her that Anita didn't allow her beauty to sink into her brain and deter her from becoming successful in life, but nonetheless, he's still confused as to why she's the prettiest of all his daughters.
Even though his wife didn't give him a son, he isn't bothered about that, as their custom permits a woman to inherit all her father's property, even though she's already married to another man, but he still wonders if he's Anita's true biological father.
He sighs as he drives towards their home, as the university is closer to their home that's in the city.
Arriving home, he drives into their simple compound and parks, as their home is just a simple bungalow, which is a flat consisting of 4 bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and 5 toilets with bathrooms.
Mr. Joshua Baker is the owner of the house, as he acquired the house from the direct land owners, and he steps out of the car while Anita and her mother step out next. Anita's sisters Flora, Esther, Favour, Lisa, and Glory were all inside, but none of them stepped out to welcome them as they arrived home.
Mrs. Tonia walks into the living room first, while Anita follows suit, dragging her two boxes as her father remains in the car answering a phone call.
"Mom!" Esther and Favour rush up to their mother first, while Lisa and Glory step out next.
They all have separate rooms they share, as Anita and Flora share a room, while Esther and Favour share another room, with Lisa and Glory sharing the last room that was sometimes used as the guest room too.
"Welcome back home, mom. How did the event go?" Favour asked their mother first, as she's an 18-year-old girl.
"Fine, why don't you ask your big sister about it? She won two awards as the best overall graduating student and best in her department as well," Mrs. Tonia responded with a faint smile, while Favour frowned and replied, "Who cares, mom?"
"Shut your mouth, Favour. She's your big sister, and you should accord Anita some respect!" Mrs. Tonia warned Favour, while Esther quickly responded, "We don't care, mom!"
"Esther!" Mrs. Tonia warned Esther too, while Esther rolled her eyes from where she's standing by the middle door entrance and holding the curtain.
"Is everything okay, Mom?" Anita walked up to their mom and tapped on her shoulder softly, but Mrs. Tonia responded, "Your father caused all this." Mrs. Tonia almost burst out into a sob, but just then Mr. Joshua walked into the living room and asked, "Caused what?"
Mrs. Tonia sniffed and quickly wiped off her tears as she replied, "Nothing. I was just discussing something not important."
Mrs. Tonia quickly walked away into the kitchen while Mr. Joshua's eyes narrowed at Anita, who smiled faintly at him, as she isn't an albino but her beauty is too much and too charming. And staring at her dimples and chubby cheeks alone made her look like an angel from heaven.
"Fine, take all these bags inside, and where are your sisters? Flora, Favour!" Mr. Joshua calls them out while they respond.
"Yes, Papa. Good evening, Dad. Welcome back home."
Flora walked past Anita, who was dragging her two boxes, and walked up to give their father a welcome hug.
"Assist your sister and take those luggage inside," Mr. Joshua instructed Flora after giving her a warm hug too, and she bit her lower lip angrily and finally assisted Anita in carrying her second box to the room they both share.
Anita didn't utter a word to Flora, who carried her box to the room, but as Flora turned to leave, Anita finally said, "Thank you," but Flora didn't respond as she walked back to the living room to meet her father, who was sitting on the long couch and taking off his shoes.
"How was your day today, Flora?" Mr. Joshua finally asked Flora, and just then, the rest of his daughters stepped out.
"Father, do you remember your promise to take me to a private university?" Esther asked.
"Yes, I remember, but you still haven't passed your Jamb exams yet, and this's the fourth time that you're writing the same exam with your younger sister Favour. Can't you both learn from your elder sister, Anita?" Mr. Joshua questioned.
"No, father!" Esther and Favour both responded, surprising their father and making his jaw drop.
"What has come over you girls? If you still fail to pass your exams this year again, then forget about going to the university and look for a trade or handwork to learn! I cannot continue to waste my hard-earned money sponsoring you both through a private university when you cannot even qualify for a government university. Now leave my sight, silent children. I am sure you all inherited your dullness from your mother. Can't you learn from your elder sister for once? Don't you see her good grades, despite her being more beautiful than you all?"
"Father!" Flora, Esther, Favour, and Lisa all exclaimed sadly.
"Shut your mouths and don't bother me. I have been a good father to you all, yet you all cannot be good daughters in return. Fail your exam this year again and see the other side of me!" Mr. Joshua warned, and he stood up from the couch. Just then, his wife steps out of the kitchen and stares at him and her five daughters in the living room, as Anita is the only one in her room.
"Excuse me!" Mr. Joshua walks past his daughters and walks into the room he shares with his wife, knowing it's entirely his fault. As he has shown more love to the rest of his daughters than their senior sister, Anita, and made her look like an outcast, now he's regretting it all.
He's even facing some challenges at his office, as some missing funds from some transactions were detected missing under his records, and if the error isn't corrected, then he's on the verge of losing his job as a banker in a government-owned bank.
His brows furrow as his wife steps into their room to meet him a few minutes later.
"Aren't you being too harsh to our daughters today?" Mrs. Tonia questioned, but Mr. Joshua only glanced at his wife, not responding as he stared away. Loosening his neck tie, he takes off his long-sleeve shirt and strips it.
"I'm preparing dinner; it's already getting late," Mrs. Tonia informed him, but he still doesn't respond as he loses his trouser belt too.
"Honey, you aren't saying anything in response?" Mrs. Tonia finally asked him, and he replied, "What do you want me to say to you? Can't you at least see that I am busy?"
Mr. Joshua walked past his wife and stepped into the bathroom to take his bath, while Mrs. Tonia sighed and shook her head in sadness. As she knows, all isn't well with him, as he has been behaving so unusually and was even acting happier when Anita was announced as the winner of the two prestigious awards. He jumped up happily and screamed out "Yes!" Not minding the other parents and relatives around, he stood to witness the awarding of the best graduating student, and when he saw Anita approaching, his smiles and happiness faded, as Anita didn't smile at them approaching, as she thought he hated her and wasn't proud of her achievement.
Mrs. Tonia smiled faintly, remembering how her husband had reacted to his daughter's wins. Although the school rewards weren't much, as they only awarded Anita some cash and medal rewards, Mrs. Tonia believes her daughter's certificate will get her into one of the highest-paying jobs in their country.
Mrs. Tonia finally walked out of the room she shares with her husband, as he's already taking his bath, and she can hear the sound of water splashing in the bathroom.
She walked into the kitchen, as the okro soup she was preparing had already heated a little, and she served it out on different soup plates.
Just then, Glory walked into the kitchen to assist her and carry it out to the dining room, beside their living room.
Glory's a 14-year-old girl, as her children senior themselves with only a two-year gap each. And Glory is still in Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3).
"Mom, I want to become a business administrator like my big sister," Glory said as she carried the tray of soup up in her arms and stared up at their mother.
"There's no problem with that, Glory. You should study hard as well. You've got your big sister here to guide you," Mrs. Tonia smiles at her last daughter.
"Okay, mom, is Big sis going to marry soon? Chika told me that her big sister won't be returning home as she's already pregnant and expecting a child for her fiance," Glory asked.
"No, Glory! Although I don't know about that yet, Anita will first get a job before she settles down. You know your big sister is hardworking and wants to become an independent woman first instead of depending on a man for money," Mrs. Tonia replied.
"Oh, so mom, you depend on your father too for money?" Glory inquired, surprising her mother.
"No, Glory! Now that's enough of the conversation. Carry the soup out now before it gets cold. Oh, Anita is already here to assist us," Mrs. Tonia smiled faintly, and Glory turned to face Anita, standing by the kitchen door.
Anita overheard their conversation, and she had a faint smile on her face too.
"Why are you standing there and staring at us? Come assist us in serving the dinner out. I'm sure your father will soon be out," Mrs. Tonia said, but Anita's smile quickly faded away from her face as she heard her father's name and didn't like him either.
Mrs. Tonia smiles faintly at Anita as Anita makes way for Glory to pass with the tray of soup in her hands. Anita walks into the kitchen without uttering any words to her mother, but her face holds a great sorrow that her mom understands better."Anita," Mrs. Tonia slowly calls her name."What is it, mom?" Anita asks as she walks beside her mother."I want you to know that your father really loves you, like the rest of your siblings, and isn't against your success," Mrs. Tonia replies, holding Anita's hand in hers."Hmph," Anita sighs. "I know, mom, but I don't care about that. If Dad likes me, fine; if he doesn't, fine. I will always see him as my father, and that's all.""Anita," Mrs. Tonia begins."Mom, where's the fufu?!" Flora steps into the kitchen and interrupts them. She looks at Anita and walks to the kitchen cabinet to meet their mother."Mom, why are you holding her hands and talking to her? Are you begging her for something?" Flora asks again, crossing her arms over her che
Mrs. Tonia didn't say anything after Flora exited the room. She sighed and walked up to sit beside Anita on the bed, while Favour and Esther also exited the room."You shouldn't be so harsh with your sister. Fighting with her wasn't necessary," Mrs. Tonia said to Anita as she sat beside her on the bed."I know, mom, but they keep disrespecting me too much, and it's getting out of hand," Anita replied."It's okay. I understand, but don't change yourself because of them. Keep being my sweet and calm daughter," Mrs. Tonia advised Anita."Okay, mom," Anita sighed as she stared at her mother, while Glory walked up to sit on the bed too."I've got to go now and meet your father. Glory, go now, pack your bags, and come join Anita here," Mrs. Tonia said."Okay, mom," Glory replied. She stood up from the bed and walked out of the room to the one she shared with Lisa. Flora was already there, arranging her clothes into the wardrobe, but she didn't say a word to Glory, who stepped in and carried
Anita couldn't say anything after their mother left them to be with their father. She sighed and stared back at Flora, who seemed worried, as they walked back to sit on the couch."What do you think is the problem?" Esther asked Flora, but Flora shook her head and replied, "I don't know, but I am worried it's something serious."They sat back on the couch, waiting for their father or mother to step out and talk to them. Anita sighed and finally walked back to her room, not knowing what the problem was. She believed her mother would let them know, even if her father didn't want to, as she saw her father was already dressed to leave for work before receiving whatever news made him devastated. She prayed silently in her heart, "Let it not be that my father has lost his job."Anita shook her head and walked back into her room, feeling that her father's scream had something to do with his office work. She sat on her bed and picked up her phone to type her letter of application to the Benson
Liam walked into his office and took his seat in his executive chair, swirling it sideways and staring around his office. He smiled and rolled up his sleeves to start his new day at the office, leaning forward to his desk and switching on his computer to check the company's records. He waited for the computer to finish booting.Liam tick-tocked the time as he waited for the computer to boot up. Just then, his secretary knocked, and he responded, "Come in."Margret walked into his office, holding a file, and smiled faintly at him, staring downward a little before stopping in front of his desk."Yes... What's your name again?" Liam asked her as he looked up at her pretty face."Margret Jonathan," she said, still smiling at him."Okay, Miss Margret, what do you want, or what can I help you with?" Liam asked her."Sir, Mr. John Patrick brought this file this morning and said I should hand it over to you," Margret replied, staring at him."Okay, drop it here." Liam pointed to the space on h
"Hello, boss," Margret quickly picked up the office line and received the call."Come into my office right away," Liam responded. Margret gulped, quickly stood up from her seat, and dropped the phone. She saw Bambam smiling at her as she prepared to attend to a client sitting in front of her.Some clients stepped into Margret's office to see her, but she immediately directed them to other staff on the third floor, knowing the new boss didn't like to be kept waiting. Margret walked towards Liam's office door, knocked gently, and heard his cold response, "Come in."Margret gulped as she opened his office door and walked in."What took you so long to respond to my call?" Liam asked, continuing to type on his computer without looking away from the monitor."I'm sorry, boss, I arrived late from lunch," Margret replied. Liam paused his typing and looked up at her."Do you want to be fired?" he asked."No, boss," Margret responded nervously, fumbling with her fingers as her palms became sweat
Temisa is in her father's mansion, a standard duplex in a government-owned estate that her father bought as a new house."Father, have you submitted my CV and letter of application to the new boss?" Temisa asked as her father stepped into the living room. She sat on the long couch, filing and brushing her long nails.Mr. John stared at his daughter. Instead of standing up and welcoming him, she sat comfortably on the couch, filing her nails and asking him questions as if he were her errand boy."Temisa, you're quite unbelievable; not even a welcome greeting for your father?" Mr. John asked as he dropped his briefcase on the center table and loosened his necktie."I am sorry, father. Good evening, father. Welcome home," Temisa said, dropping her leg from the couch where it had been resting."Where's your mother?" Mr. John asked."She went to the market to refill the house with food.""And your elder brother?""Father, I'm not their keeper, and I don't know where Martin went either," Tem
"Mom, I cannot work with them if that's what their new boss now wants from them," Temisa refuted as she stood up from the couch. She had been sitting with her mother when Felicia left with the car key to offload the car's boot."I can understand you, Temisa, but know that your father went through the stress to get your application submitted to their boss. It will be very insulting to your father if, after their new boss approves you, you fail to resume with them. Remember, your results aren't even the best, and yet they want you to work with them," Mrs. Bianca said."But mother..." Temisa was lost for words as she stared at her mother, a beautiful, full-figured black woman."Just think about it, Temisa, and be easy on yourself. You're lucky your father is doing all this to get you to the top among your peers. He told me personally that the CEO's father wants you to be engaged with his son, and the only way you can be engaged with his son is by getting closer to him and building a bond
In the kitchen, Felicia was busy dishing out the delicious Oha soup she had prepared. She was serving it on smaller soup plates when she heard the kitchen door click open. Felicia turned to see who it was, and seeing Martin, she quickly looked away, wondering what he wanted in the kitchen.Martin stared at her back and down to her slim, curvy waist. He liked her, and even though he had a girlfriend, he wasn't in love with her as much as he loved Felicia. He knew he was supposed to see Felicia as his sister, but they weren't related by blood, and he didn't even know how to approach Felicia and tell her about his true feelings. Whenever he wanted to discuss his feelings with her, he felt stuck, unable to get the words out.He had watched her grow and had always admired her, knowing his mother liked her too. So he stood by the kitchen door, scratching his head confusedly as he thought about Felicia. He wanted her badly, but she was still considered his sister, and he hated to admit they w