Kingsley's tall frame, clad in a black designer suit, stood at the door of the rented apartment. He pressed the doorbell, and Mrs. Nike answered almost immediately. The sight of him at her doorstep stunned her.

"Kingsley? Is that you?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"Good morning, Ma," he greeted through clenched teeth.

"What are you doing here?" she frowned, her tone sharpening as she gasped. "Leave right now! You've been pestering my daughter for years. Only God knows how many abortions she's had for you before finding her husband. And now, here you are again? Leave, and don't come back!"

Mrs. Nike moved to shut the door, but Susanne's voice came from inside.

"Mum, let Kingsley in. I invited him."

Susanne stood behind her mum, adjusting her sleek black dress. The diamond necklace around her neck sparkled under the soft light, but her eyes were cold and distant as she prepared for yet another battle.

"What?" Mrs. Nike gasped, her shock now mixed with terror.

"Excuse me, Ma," Kingsley said arrogantly, raising his eyebrows. Mrs. Nike's face twisted in frustration, her lips tight with anger.

"I need to see your daughter. I won't stay long," Kingsley continued, stepping forward.

But Mrs. Nike blocked his way, her eyes blazing. "If you have anything to say, say it to me! You have no business with Susanne. You two broke up years ago! What gives you the right to show up here?"

"Mum, please," Susanne interrupted, her voice firmer now. "We have something important to discuss."

"Discuss? What could you possibly have to discuss with him? Haven't I warned you to stay away from him?" Mrs. Nike turned to her daughter in disbelief. "You're married, yet you're still associating with Kingsley? Of all people, Kingsley?"

Kingsley stood there, arms folded, watching Mrs. Nike with an indifferent expression as she continued her tirade.

"You were lucky Michael never dug into your past. Do you think he would have married you if he knew?" Mrs. Nike spat, her voice rising in anger.

"Ma, I understand you don't approve of me for your daughter," Kingsley replied, his voice tinged with guilt. "But that doesn't give you the right to judge me for my past. If I hadn't messed up, Susanne and I would've been married by now. But that's the past. I'm here to take responsibility."

"Responsibility?" Mrs. Nike scoffed, cutting him off. "What responsibility could you possibly take? For what, exactly?"

"The child," Kingsley said, his voice steady. "We need to put the child's needs first, and let go of our grievances."

Mrs. Nike's eyes widened in horror, her voice trembling. "What child are you talking about?"

Fear clung to her words as she looked at Susanne, desperate for an answer.

Susanne, arms crossed, finally faced her mother. "You thought Michael was the father, didn't you? Sorry to burst your bubble, Mum. Kingsley is the father."

Tears welled up in Mrs. Nike's eyes as the full weight of Susanne's words hit her. She lashed out, hitting Kingsley's arm in rage.

"Why did you come back? Haven't you done enough damage already? If not for my intervention, you would have destroyed Susanne's future with your lies. How much more do we owe you? I knew you were no good for her, which is why I didn't approve of your relationship in the first place. And now this? How did you get her pregnant? She will abort this baby, and you will be out of our lives for good!"

Susanne, her face etched in frustration, gave her mother a pitiful look. She rolled her eyes, exasperated by the drama unfolding before her.

"I'm not the same man I used to be," Kingsley said, his voice resolute. "We're keeping the baby. I'll do everything I can to make sure Susanne and the child are safe."

"Keep the baby?" Mrs. Nike hissed, incredulous. "If I had known you were the father, I never would have supported Susanne up to this point. Over my dead body will she raise your child! You hear?"

"Mum, listen," Susanne said, her voice icy. "Michael and I ended long ago. I'm not a fool. I'll have this baby. And with the groundwork I've laid in that family, they'll never find out."

Mrs. Nike's eyes darted to Susanne's growing belly, panic rising in her chest. She stepped forward, trying to reason with her daughter one last time.

"My dear, you're angry at me, I know," she said, her voice cracking. "But Michael truly loves you. If you just open up to him, things could still work. Look the other way, even if he's surrounded by other women. At least keep your position as Mrs. Balogun. Keep your dignity, and please-abort this child before it's too late."

Susanne jerked her hand out of her mother's grip, nearly knocking her off balance. "Mum, give me time to think, okay? That family doesn't even want me."

Mrs. Nike's face crumbled in anguish. Unable to bear the weight of their deceit any longer, she turned and walked away, tears streaming down her face.

"I will never agree to any of this," she cried, her voice fading as she left. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

By noon, Grace finally made it home, her heart pounding with excitement. The swap would go off without a hitch, and for the first time in a long while, she felt the weight lifting from her shoulders. Soon, she would be free. Free from the chaos, free from the secrets.

She moved slowly, savoring the moment. First, she tended to the garden, carefully pruning the trees and shaping the flowers with precision, as if each cut symbolized her taking back control. She rearranged everything with care, swapping plants and positions to create a different look altogether. The garden was her canvas, and she worked on it until it mirrored her sense of calm.

Next, she made her way to the boys' quarters, a place that had gone untouched for weeks. She swept and mopped every single room, her movements light and fluid as music from her playlist echoed through the empty hallways. The rhythm of the songs filled the space, driving her to clean with even more fervor. She didn't stop, lost in the flow of the work until the sharp pang of hunger pulled her back to reality.

Her stomach growled a reminder that she had been at it for hours. Grace wiped her brow and headed to the kitchen. The scent of semolina and rich vegetable soup soon filled the air as she cooked with practiced ease, her mind wandering to Susanne. A small smile tugged at her lips as she sliced fresh apples and oranges, knowing that Susanne would be relieved after the success of the surgery. The thought made her blush with quiet satisfaction.

With the meal ready, she uncorked the bottle of cold strawberry wine she'd bought earlier. Pouring it into two large glasses, she set the table, the arrangement neat and deliberate. Everything had to be perfect. Grace could already imagine the relief in Susanne's voice when she called to share the news-that she was now free to give Michael the child he always wanted.

Grace sat down at the table, her fingers tracing the stem of the wine glass. The soft clink of the glass against the wood was the only sound in the room as she waited, her heart quietly racing.

***

When Kingsley asked the ad campaign manager about Susanne, he was shocked to hear she had suddenly resigned. His mind raced back to all the missed calls and unanswered texts. "I thought you'd decided to abort the pregnancy," Kingsley admitted, noticing the blank expression on Susanne's face.

"Is that why you threatened me with that video?" Susanne asked, her voice cold and sharp. It startled Kingsley that she knew about it.

"I was confused," Kingsley replied, regret heavy in his voice. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again, I swear! Just keep this child, and I'll do anything."

Susanne's voice softened but remained firm. "If I wanted to abort this baby, I wouldn't have sent you the address or asked you to come. But we need to have an honest conversation first before we become parents. We're not married, and there are things you need to understand. This child must not be born into poverty like I was."

Kingsley's chest tightened, but he nodded. "Don't worry. I'll work day and night to ensure our child has the best life. It won't want for anything."

Susanne gave him a half-hearted smile, her eyes drifting away from his. "That won't be necessary. You're not getting any younger, Kingsley. Save your strength. I already have a plan."

Kingsley blinked, unsure of what she meant. "A plan? What plan? Susanne, you're not thinking of using this child for your gain, are you?"

Susanne's gaze turned cold. "What do you mean, 'using'? This is for the baby, for you. The child needs the background of the Balogun family to inherit their wealth. It's the only way."

Kingsley's face twisted in disbelief. "Is that your master plan? Do you want to pass off my child as Michael's? How could you take advantage of an innocent child like that?"

Susanne said nothing, her silence infuriating him. Kingsley's voice grew louder, his face hardening. "How can you even think of giving my child to another man? Michael isn't stupid. He'll do a DNA test the moment he gets suspicious, and the truth will come out."

Susanne smirked. "The only way I'm keeping this child is if it bears the Balogun name. Let's end this discussion now. Once the baby is born, it'll live with me in my husband's house. I didn't bring you here for your opinion, Kingsley. I'm just informing you, so you don't feel left out."

Kingsley's jaw clenched, his fists tightening by his side. "I won't allow it, Susanne," he growled through gritted teeth.

Susanne raised her brow, her tone condescending. "I've already made my decision, darling. And you have one more task-get rid of Michael before this baby is born."

Kingsley's eyes widened, his lips parting in shock. "Get rid of Michael?" he repeated, incredulous. "You must be out of your mind. Do you even realize who Michael Balogun is? He's one of the youngest billionaires in Nigeria, with more connections than I could ever dream of. How am I supposed to even get close to him?"

Susanne crossed her arms, her expression unchanging. "What are you implying? Will you help me or not?"

Kingsley threw up his hands in frustration. "I can't help you, Susanne. This is madness!"

"Stop yelling at me!" Susanne screamed, her breath growing ragged as tears welled in her eyes. "I knew you were weak, and now you expect me to have your child?"

Without warning, Susanne stormed into the kitchen and grabbed a sharp knife. Kingsley's heart dropped. "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice laced with panic.

"If you don't care about me or this child, then I'll just end it now," Susanne shouted, disappearing into the bathroom. Kingsley stood frozen for a moment, but when he heard the click of the lock, he rushed to the door. His heart pounded in his chest as he banged on the door.

"Susanne, open the door!" he called desperation creeping into his voice.

Mrs. Nike came running into the hallway, her eyes wide with fear. "Where is she? What's going on?" she demanded.

"She's locked herself in the bathroom," Kingsley explained, panic rising in his throat.

Mrs. Nike gasped. "Susanne, my daughter, please open this door!" she cried, pounding on the door. But all they could hear were Susanne's faint sobs.

"I'll keep this child, and it will bear the Balogun name," Susanne's muffled voice came through the door. "If no one agrees with my decision, then you can all forget about me."

"That's not a reason to take your life, Susanne," Mrs. Nike pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "Please, Kingsley, break the door down."

Kingsley slammed his fist against the door. "Don't do anything reckless, Susanne. Just give me a day to think about it, please."

"Think about what?" Susanne's voice cracked. "I left Michael and hid here. This baby will be five months along soon. I don't have time to wait. You both have two options-either I give birth and this child becomes part of the Balogun family, or I'll end my life and the baby's right now."

"No!" Mrs. Nike shrieked, her voice filled with anguish.

Kingsley's heart pounded in his ears. "Don't, please don't!" he begged, his voice cracking.

"You have three seconds to decide," Susanne warned, her voice eerily calm. "One, two-"

"Just agree to whatever she wants!" Mrs. Nike sobbed, gripping Kingsley's arm.

"Three."

A heavy silence fell. Kingsley could barely breathe, his mind racing. Then, with a shuddering gasp, he gave in. "It's enough! I'll do things your way," he whispered. "Anything for you, Susanne."

***

This chapter is dedicated to you, dear reader, with heartfelt gratitude. May your dedication to reading reward you with deep knowledge and wisdom in life. Remember to vote, comment, and share with love. Wishing you a blessed day!