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Chapter 28
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2025-04-27 02:56:02The air was thick with tension as Zara stepped into the lounge.
It was a cozy, dimly lit place tucked away from the busy streets of Lagos, but even the calming atmosphere couldn’t settle the storm inside her. She spotted Regan almost immediately — slouched in a corner booth, one hand gripping his phone so tightly his knuckles were white. She made her way over, her heart pounding in her ears. He barely looked up when she slid into the seat opposite him. For a few moments, neither of them spoke. The silence was deafening. Finally, Regan cleared his throat. “Zara, thanks for coming,” he said, his voice rough like sandpaper. She offered a stiff nod. “You said you needed to talk.” Regan shifted in his seat, looking everywhere but at her. “I… I just… about that night,” he stuttered, raking a hand through his hair. Zara’s stomach twisted. “What about it?” He swallowed hard. “I’m sorry,” he said finally. “I’m sorry it happened. I shouldn’t have let it get that far. I don’t want you to think it… meant anything serious.” Silence fell. Zara blinked, stunned for a moment, as if she hadn’t heard him correctly. The words sliced through her like a cold knife. “I thought we…” she started to say, but the lump in her throat blocked her words. She looked away quickly, blinking back the sting in her eyes. “You know what? Never mind.” She grabbed her bag and stood up so fast her chair scraped loudly against the floor. Regan opened his mouth, as if to say something, but the look on her face stopped him. Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked out. The humid Lagos air hit her the moment she stepped outside, but she barely noticed. Her hands trembled as she fished out her car keys, trying to breathe. Once she slid into the driver’s seat, the dam broke. Tears clouded her vision, but she angrily wiped them away. She wasn’t going to cry over a man like Regan. She refused. With shaking hands, she called Kemi. “Kemi, you won’t believe what just happened,” she said the moment her friend picked up. “Ah ah, babe, what happened?” Kemi’s voice was instantly alert. Zara tried to laugh, but it came out choked. “I just met up with Mr. Full-of-Himself Regan. He called me out, only to basically apologize for us sleeping together… and told me not to take it seriously.” There was a pause, then Kemi let out a low whistle. “Ehn? Wait. What?! Are you joking right now?” “I wish I was.” Zara snorted bitterly. “Imagine. After everything, he’s acting like it was just… just a mistake! Like I was just some random girl!” Kemi hissed into the phone. “That guy is mad. He’s actually crazy. After all the emotional up and down he put you through!” Zara leaned her head back against the headrest, staring blankly at the dark ceiling of her car. “Honestly, Kemi, I even wanted it this way from the start. Let him go to hell. I don’t care.” “You don’t care,” Kemi repeated skeptically. “I don’t!” Zara insisted. “In fact, I wish this whole stupid marriage thing would just shatter. Maybe my parents will finally call it off. I can go back to living my life without this drama. He’s too arrogant, too full of himself. Urrrgh, I hate him!” Kemi chuckled dryly. “You’ve been hating him since day one. Why am I not surprised?” They both laughed, but Zara’s laugh was hollow. Kemi’s voice softened. “Babe, it’s okay to feel hurt. You’re human. Just don’t let it eat you up. Dust yourself, fix your crown, and move mad.” Zara smiled weakly. “I hear you, motivational speaker.” “You better hear me well,” Kemi teased. “Sha rest today. Tomorrow, we move!” They hung up, and Zara sat there for a while, the ache in her chest refusing to leave. Her mind replayed Regan’s face, the way he couldn’t even meet her eyes when he spoke. Did he really mean it wasn’t serious? Was it that easy for him to forget what happened between them? Her chest tightened painfully. Finally, she started the car and drove home, the city lights blurring past her. In her heart, a cold decision was forming — if Regan didn’t want her, then she wasn’t going to beg for him. She was Zara Tunde. She had dreams, ambition, and a life to live. No man — not even Regan Kareem — was going to reduce her to an afterthought. Tomorrow would be a new day. And she was going to rise again — stronger.
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The reluctant vow Chapter 29
The morning sun barely warmed Zara as she sat by her window, staring out blankly at the street below.She hadn’t slept much the night before — every time she closed her eyes, flashes of her conversation with Regan haunted her.The words repeated themselves in her mind, over and over:“I’m sorry. I don’t want you to think it meant anything serious.”Her heart ached with humiliation.No matter how much she tried to act tough, the truth was she felt discarded, like a fool.Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.She glanced at it — a message from Kemi.Kemi: You awake? Should I come over?Zara thought for a moment, then replied:Zara: Give me like two hours. I’ll come to yours instead. I need a change of environment.Kemi replied with a string of heart emojis. Zara forced a smile.At least she still had friends who genuinely cared.Dragging herself up, she got dressed in jeans and a loose T-shirt, tied her braids into a messy bun, and slipped out quietly.Her parents were downstairs — her fa
Last Updated : 2025-04-27The reluctant vow Chapter 30
The morning sun crept lazily through Regan’s window, but there was nothing bright about the day for him.He sat at the edge of his bed, staring down at his phone as if it could change the situation. His thumb hovered over Zara’s number for a full minute before he finally pressed it.It rang twice before she answered.“Hello?” Zara’s voice was soft, hopeful even.Regan swallowed hard. He hated what he was about to say.“Zara… I’m sorry, but I can’t make it today. Something urgent came up,” he forced out.There was a long pause.He could almost hear her heartbeat through the silence.When she finally spoke, her voice was icy.“You know what, Regan? Don’t ever call me again to invite me anywhere,” she said sharply. “Don’t ever bother. Just stay in your lane. Stay there until our parents are ready to throw me into your family like some unwanted thing!”“Zara, please just listen—” he began desperately.But she wasn’t having it.“I don’t want to hear it!” she snapped. “I don’t care what you
Last Updated : 2025-04-27The reluctant vow Chapter 31
The morning sun poured weakly through the blinds, casting long slanted shadows across the room. Regan sat at the edge of his bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands tangled in his hair. He had barely slept a wink, haunted by everything that had unfolded the previous day — Zara’s angry words, Imani’s blackmail, and the mess his life was spiraling into.His phone vibrated on the nightstand.A new message.He grabbed it, already expecting the worst.But it was from Zara.“I’m less angry now. If you still want to talk, I’m free this evening.”Regan let out a slow breath. Relief and guilt warred inside him.She was giving him another chance.But he wasn’t sure he deserved it.Just then, his phone buzzed. A message from Imani.“See you today. Same time as last. 1 PM. Room 305. Don’t be late. Or don’t bother calling this child yours when he or she is born.”Regan read the message twice, his jaw tightening.He sighed and typed back,“lol I would love that tho.”It didn’t take Imani tw
Last Updated : 2025-04-27The reluctant vow Chapter 32
Regan slammed the car door harder than he meant to when he got home.The house was silent, peaceful — a sharp contrast to the war raging inside him.He hated himself.He hated that despite all his promises to be better, despite knowing how much was at stake, he had once again let his weakness control him.One moment of stupidity.One careless night.And now guilt was chewing him alive.Zara.He thought of her, her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she laughed.He had been making progress with her — tiny, beautiful steps forward.Now he had thrown it all away for a few minutes of reckless lust.He was still brooding in the living room when his father, Chief Kareem, walked in, wearing his usual intimidating air of authority.“Regan,” Chief Kareem said briskly, not wasting a second. “Family announcement dinner is this Friday evening. Be there. We’ll be officially announcing the date of your wedding to Zara.”Regan froze.Wedding.He was getting married.To the one girl he had been betr
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Zara hadn’t planned to walk into Regan’s office that afternoon. She told herself she would be calm, professional. She told herself she was done letting him get under her skin.But after the show Imani pulled earlier with the gift delivery — the flowers, the note — her blood was boiling too fiercely for calmness.Without knocking, she pushed his office door open.Regan, who had been reviewing documents for the upcoming family dinner, looked up sharply.The second his eyes met hers, he tensed.There was fire in her gaze — raw, unforgiving.“Zara,” he said, standing up slowly. “What’s wrong?”“What’s wrong?” she repeated, her voice sharp with disbelief. “You’re seriously asking me that?”He frowned. “Zara, what happened?”She threw the small card onto his desk. The one that came attached to Imani’s flowers and gifts.“From Regan Kareem to my darling Imani.”Regan stared at it like it was a snake about to bite him.“What the hell is this?” he asked, genuinely confused.“You tell me!” Zara
Last Updated : 2025-04-27The reluctant vow Chapter 34
Zara pushed open the front door and walked in, her heels clicking softly against the marble floors.The house smelled faintly of jollof rice and fried plantains, but even that couldn’t lift the heavy weight sitting on her chest.She was exhausted — physically, emotionally, everything in between.Her father’s voice boomed from the living room before she even made it past the hallway.“Zara, your wedding announcement dinner is tomorrow at 5 p.m.,” he said, not even looking up from his newspaper. “Just have it at the back of your mind.”Zara dropped her bag on the console table and kicked off her shoes.“I knew that already,” she replied dryly, her voice flat. “Mr. Kareem already sent me the invitation.”She didn’t miss the sharp glance her father threw her way.“It’s not an invitation,” he barked. “It’s our family announcement. You’re not a guest — you’re the reason everyone is gathering.”Zara rolled her eyes slightly.“Yeah, I know. I’m the one you’re all about to give out like a part
Last Updated : 2025-04-27The reluctant vow Chapter 35
Zara’s heels clicked sharply against the marble floors, each step punctuating the growing unease in her chest. The dinner had been a spectacle — a lavish affair with far too many smiles that felt fake and far too many eyes that seemed to follow her every move. As Zara mingled with the guests, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of her situation pressing down on her. The engagement was official now, the date set, and nothing about it felt genuine.She could feel Imani’s gaze on her from across the room. The woman was lingering far too close for comfort, always within Zara’s line of sight, her smirk never wavering. Zara tried to ignore it, pushing down the discomfort gnawing at her. Imani wanted attention, and Zara was determined not to give her the satisfaction of acknowledging it.Kemi, however, had a different idea. Zara turned toward her best friend just as Kemi spotted Imani. Without hesitation, Kemi marched across the room, her stance filled with determination. Zara watched as h
Last Updated : 2025-04-27The reluctant vow Chapter 36
Later that evening, Zara found herself in her room, sitting on the bed, her thoughts racing. She couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that there was more to Regan’s behavior than he was letting on. It wasn’t just the coldness between them now, or the gifts from Imani that still made her stomach turn; it was everything. The way he avoided answering her questions, the way he acted like everything was fine when she could see the cracks forming around him.Just then, the door creaked open, and Kemi stepped inside, looking every bit the comforting friend Zara needed at that moment. She glanced at Zara’s furrowed brow and knew immediately that something was bothering her.“You okay?” Kemi asked, sitting next to her on the bed.Zara let out a sigh, leaning back against the headboard. “No, I’m not. Everything is just… complicated. I don’t even know where to start.”Kemi raised an eyebrow. “Well, why don’t you start with Regan? You’ve been avoiding him all night.”Zara shook her head. “I’m not a
Last Updated : 2025-04-27
Latest chapter
The reluctant vow Chapter 36
Later that evening, Zara found herself in her room, sitting on the bed, her thoughts racing. She couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that there was more to Regan’s behavior than he was letting on. It wasn’t just the coldness between them now, or the gifts from Imani that still made her stomach turn; it was everything. The way he avoided answering her questions, the way he acted like everything was fine when she could see the cracks forming around him.Just then, the door creaked open, and Kemi stepped inside, looking every bit the comforting friend Zara needed at that moment. She glanced at Zara’s furrowed brow and knew immediately that something was bothering her.“You okay?” Kemi asked, sitting next to her on the bed.Zara let out a sigh, leaning back against the headboard. “No, I’m not. Everything is just… complicated. I don’t even know where to start.”Kemi raised an eyebrow. “Well, why don’t you start with Regan? You’ve been avoiding him all night.”Zara shook her head. “I’m not a
The reluctant vow Chapter 35
Zara’s heels clicked sharply against the marble floors, each step punctuating the growing unease in her chest. The dinner had been a spectacle — a lavish affair with far too many smiles that felt fake and far too many eyes that seemed to follow her every move. As Zara mingled with the guests, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of her situation pressing down on her. The engagement was official now, the date set, and nothing about it felt genuine.She could feel Imani’s gaze on her from across the room. The woman was lingering far too close for comfort, always within Zara’s line of sight, her smirk never wavering. Zara tried to ignore it, pushing down the discomfort gnawing at her. Imani wanted attention, and Zara was determined not to give her the satisfaction of acknowledging it.Kemi, however, had a different idea. Zara turned toward her best friend just as Kemi spotted Imani. Without hesitation, Kemi marched across the room, her stance filled with determination. Zara watched as h
The reluctant vow Chapter 34
Zara pushed open the front door and walked in, her heels clicking softly against the marble floors.The house smelled faintly of jollof rice and fried plantains, but even that couldn’t lift the heavy weight sitting on her chest.She was exhausted — physically, emotionally, everything in between.Her father’s voice boomed from the living room before she even made it past the hallway.“Zara, your wedding announcement dinner is tomorrow at 5 p.m.,” he said, not even looking up from his newspaper. “Just have it at the back of your mind.”Zara dropped her bag on the console table and kicked off her shoes.“I knew that already,” she replied dryly, her voice flat. “Mr. Kareem already sent me the invitation.”She didn’t miss the sharp glance her father threw her way.“It’s not an invitation,” he barked. “It’s our family announcement. You’re not a guest — you’re the reason everyone is gathering.”Zara rolled her eyes slightly.“Yeah, I know. I’m the one you’re all about to give out like a part
The reluctant vow Chapter 33
Zara hadn’t planned to walk into Regan’s office that afternoon. She told herself she would be calm, professional. She told herself she was done letting him get under her skin.But after the show Imani pulled earlier with the gift delivery — the flowers, the note — her blood was boiling too fiercely for calmness.Without knocking, she pushed his office door open.Regan, who had been reviewing documents for the upcoming family dinner, looked up sharply.The second his eyes met hers, he tensed.There was fire in her gaze — raw, unforgiving.“Zara,” he said, standing up slowly. “What’s wrong?”“What’s wrong?” she repeated, her voice sharp with disbelief. “You’re seriously asking me that?”He frowned. “Zara, what happened?”She threw the small card onto his desk. The one that came attached to Imani’s flowers and gifts.“From Regan Kareem to my darling Imani.”Regan stared at it like it was a snake about to bite him.“What the hell is this?” he asked, genuinely confused.“You tell me!” Zara
The reluctant vow Chapter 32
Regan slammed the car door harder than he meant to when he got home.The house was silent, peaceful — a sharp contrast to the war raging inside him.He hated himself.He hated that despite all his promises to be better, despite knowing how much was at stake, he had once again let his weakness control him.One moment of stupidity.One careless night.And now guilt was chewing him alive.Zara.He thought of her, her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she laughed.He had been making progress with her — tiny, beautiful steps forward.Now he had thrown it all away for a few minutes of reckless lust.He was still brooding in the living room when his father, Chief Kareem, walked in, wearing his usual intimidating air of authority.“Regan,” Chief Kareem said briskly, not wasting a second. “Family announcement dinner is this Friday evening. Be there. We’ll be officially announcing the date of your wedding to Zara.”Regan froze.Wedding.He was getting married.To the one girl he had been betr
The reluctant vow Chapter 31
The morning sun poured weakly through the blinds, casting long slanted shadows across the room. Regan sat at the edge of his bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands tangled in his hair. He had barely slept a wink, haunted by everything that had unfolded the previous day — Zara’s angry words, Imani’s blackmail, and the mess his life was spiraling into.His phone vibrated on the nightstand.A new message.He grabbed it, already expecting the worst.But it was from Zara.“I’m less angry now. If you still want to talk, I’m free this evening.”Regan let out a slow breath. Relief and guilt warred inside him.She was giving him another chance.But he wasn’t sure he deserved it.Just then, his phone buzzed. A message from Imani.“See you today. Same time as last. 1 PM. Room 305. Don’t be late. Or don’t bother calling this child yours when he or she is born.”Regan read the message twice, his jaw tightening.He sighed and typed back,“lol I would love that tho.”It didn’t take Imani tw
The reluctant vow Chapter 30
The morning sun crept lazily through Regan’s window, but there was nothing bright about the day for him.He sat at the edge of his bed, staring down at his phone as if it could change the situation. His thumb hovered over Zara’s number for a full minute before he finally pressed it.It rang twice before she answered.“Hello?” Zara’s voice was soft, hopeful even.Regan swallowed hard. He hated what he was about to say.“Zara… I’m sorry, but I can’t make it today. Something urgent came up,” he forced out.There was a long pause.He could almost hear her heartbeat through the silence.When she finally spoke, her voice was icy.“You know what, Regan? Don’t ever call me again to invite me anywhere,” she said sharply. “Don’t ever bother. Just stay in your lane. Stay there until our parents are ready to throw me into your family like some unwanted thing!”“Zara, please just listen—” he began desperately.But she wasn’t having it.“I don’t want to hear it!” she snapped. “I don’t care what you
The reluctant vow Chapter 29
The morning sun barely warmed Zara as she sat by her window, staring out blankly at the street below.She hadn’t slept much the night before — every time she closed her eyes, flashes of her conversation with Regan haunted her.The words repeated themselves in her mind, over and over:“I’m sorry. I don’t want you to think it meant anything serious.”Her heart ached with humiliation.No matter how much she tried to act tough, the truth was she felt discarded, like a fool.Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.She glanced at it — a message from Kemi.Kemi: You awake? Should I come over?Zara thought for a moment, then replied:Zara: Give me like two hours. I’ll come to yours instead. I need a change of environment.Kemi replied with a string of heart emojis. Zara forced a smile.At least she still had friends who genuinely cared.Dragging herself up, she got dressed in jeans and a loose T-shirt, tied her braids into a messy bun, and slipped out quietly.Her parents were downstairs — her fa
The reluctant vow Chapter 28
The air was thick with tension as Zara stepped into the lounge.It was a cozy, dimly lit place tucked away from the busy streets of Lagos, but even the calming atmosphere couldn’t settle the storm inside her.She spotted Regan almost immediately — slouched in a corner booth, one hand gripping his phone so tightly his knuckles were white.She made her way over, her heart pounding in her ears.He barely looked up when she slid into the seat opposite him.For a few moments, neither of them spoke. The silence was deafening.Finally, Regan cleared his throat.“Zara, thanks for coming,” he said, his voice rough like sandpaper.She offered a stiff nod.“You said you needed to talk.”Regan shifted in his seat, looking everywhere but at her.“I… I just… about that night,” he stuttered, raking a hand through his hair.Zara’s stomach twisted.“What about it?”He swallowed hard.“I’m sorry,” he said finally. “I’m sorry it happened. I shouldn’t have let it get that far. I don’t want you to think i
