All Chapters of The Tears Of A Chaste Woman: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

Ami’s Pov “Aunt Monica, what does the first night after marriage look like?” “Why beat around the bush, Ami? Just go straight to the point! Or did you call me here to do your hair or to give you tips about your first night after the wedding?” She tickled me on my ribs, and I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. My chuckles, however, caught my mom’s attention. I had deliberately taken Monica outside, away from the bustling three-room apartment we called home. The brick walls, still unplastered, were packed with relatives who had swarmed in for my upcoming wedding, now only two days away. Monica and I were sitting under the shade of the old mango tree on the left side of our spacious compound. Nearby, unerected canopies lay scattered on the right side. Everything around me seemed tied to the wedding; the giant cooking pots, the stack of fireworks, heaps of uncooked food filling one of the rooms, and the endless stream of visiting family members. All of it reminded me of what lay

Ami’s povThe next day felt like the longest day of my life. My home, usually so full of activity, had gone quiet. It was as if someone had died. The heavy atmosphere made me anxious. What if my family agreed with what Solomon had said? Their faces and body language looked helpless. But I love Efosa, and nothing anyone says can change that. Just thinking about him is comforting, he always knows how to make me laugh.The joy I felt when my aunt was braiding my hair was gone. My hair was still half-done, but I didn’t even care anymore. Those in charge of cooking didn’t know whether to keep going or stop altogether. I was certain the news had already reached Efosa’s family, just like it had spread to my best friend. I didn’t know how to feel—happy, sad, or something else. My heart was in turmoil.Early that morning, while I lay in my room, I overheard Solomon saying,"If Efosa’s family refuses to come to us, I’ll take your daughter with me.”The moment he said "your daughter," I knew he

Mrs Imose’s povI couldn’t imagine attending this prayer session alone while my husband stayed at home. The most heartbreaking part was when he called Solomon to ask when he was arriving, and Solomon said around 3 p.m., seven hours away. My husband didn’t even want to come and meet this man of God. Doesn’t that show he’s growing tired of this marriage?I tried to keep a smile on my face while I was with him, but the moment I got into my car, the tears came pouring out.On my way to the new church, I decided to call my closest friend, Esewe. We had been friends since college, and I was the first to get married. She had three children and had stopped having any more, but she had always been supportive and knew most of my secrets. Her words had a way of comforting me, even on my worst days. Halfway to the church, I dialed her number, even though I worried the call might make me late.“Good morning, Mrs. Esewe. How are you?” I asked.“I’m doing fine,” she replied.“You didn’t even call to

Mrs Imose's povI prayed it wasn’t what I was thinking. If it was, there would be no peace in this house. Did he honestly believe that this village girl could give him what he wanted? Was this why he refused to join me at the prayer meeting this morning? It was unlike him, indifferent, even as he paid no much attention to my facial expressions. My husband had never disregarded the things of the Lord before. This would be the last time Solomon set foot in this house. I should have stopped him long ago.My husband had never brought another woman into our home. Never! Even when he forgot one of his phones while offshore, not a single call from a lady had come through. But this man, Solomon, wasn't even a family member to my husband, yet he was far too close. His presence in our lives was beginning to feel like an intrusion. I didn’t even realise when I clenched my fists. Anger churned within me. All these thoughts raced through my mind in mere seconds as my husband and I stood, waiting f