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Warning ⚠️, it's actually an emotional and a sensitive chapter so if you have a weak heart, do not read❤️

Tell me what you're scared of.

I'm scared of heights 😂

Dedicated to TheOfficialSemiloore and I-stan-myself

Ada let out a slow controlled breath and attempted to loosen her body movements. She was walking like a clockwork soldier and that was no way to be in this situation. She gave her shoulders a wiggle and lolled her head in a circle, let her stride slacken to a more casual pace. She then crouched low and began to sob.

“I-I honestly didn't mean to shoot...."

“H-he killed her. He did it." Aderonke sighed deeply, “My husband killed my daughter."

“But I shot him in the neck." Ada cried out as she pointed to Wale whose neck was oozing out with blood and his eyes pale as if he was about to die.

“Y-You did what you had to do." Aderonke spoke again as she slowly patted the chair with her buttocks, her hands trembling as they kissed the couch.

“How are we going to prove it? The only thing proven is that I shot him and I will be the one to take the responsibility." Ada sniffed.

“I will take the responsibility. You shot him because you found him strangling me." Aderonke started as she scooped up the gun from the floor and aimed it at her head.

With a quiet voice, Ada spoke, “W-What are you doing?"

“My daughter died and I completely fell apart. I stopped countless of people from entering my home because I didn't want them to comfort me. I never mourned for a moment because I wanted to know who... killed my daughter and now I realize it. I did it. I was the genesis of it all." Aderonke started, “A-And I will end it tonight."

Taking slow steps, Ada responded, “And will killing yourself make it any better? Your husband killed her. It wasn't your fault."

“It was my fault. I refused to listen to my daughter's cry for help. I was never...there for her. I pushed her to her death. How can I live knowing that?" Aderonke's voice turned low as her body shook.

“Then I dare you to live, Aderonke. Live through all this. You're a badass crazy woman through all this pain. I dare you to persevere." Ada begged as the space between them became smaller.

“A-And who are you to tell me to live?" Aderonke continued to sob aloud. Her words broke up and all she could say were stuttering sounds. Hot tears streamed down her face, and she squeezed her eyelids shut in the hope her tears would stop. Her choppy breathing and watery eyes remained for quite some time, and she stood there unmoving.

“I am an incompetent detective, remember?" Ada's eyes began to water as she engulfed Aderonke into a bone crashing hug.

Ada felt something tugging at her chest as Aderonke continued to cry on her neck and Ada began to pat Aderonke on the head. A wack on Ada's shoulder prompted her to step backwards and she rubbed her aching shoulder.

“Don't ever do that again." Aderonke warned as her usual self began to emerge again.

“Okay." Ada replied.

Before Aderonke could reply. Sounds of sirens began to wail in the air and disturb the quiet night as their headlights announced their arrival.

“D-Did you call the police? I told you to come alone." Aderonke shouted.

“I didn't call the police. I only..."Then Ada remembered Osaze and she began to pace around.

“W-What did you do, you incompetent detective?" Aderonke yelled again.

“Guess what, I don't know. I'm incompetent." Ada confessed and before she could dial Osaze's number, men dressed in black with their guns aimed stepped into the house and in slow motion, Ada watched as Osaze stepped in as well. It took Ada a whole hour to lie that Wale had committed suicide after confessing to his dear wife. Her lie was well structured and she was grateful when Aderonke said there were no CCTVs in the house.

Slipping a paper into Aderonke's hand, Ada whispered, “I found that in your daughter's phone."

Taking a bow, Ada retreated as she watched the men bundle up a dead Wale in a large black, thick nylon. Her eyes nearly stung with tears again on not realizing it too soon. That was the reason why the girls were all lying. That was why Sade begged her not to dig further.

The truth brought only chaos. Only Chaos.

Stepping outside to receive the fresh air that bathed her face, Ada grabbed Osaze by the shoulders and held him by the hem of his shirt.

“Ada-"

“W-Who sent you work, Osaze? Did I ask you to bring the entire police force here?" Ada thundered.

“I thought you might be in danger." Osaze responded.

“Oh really? And why did you not call me?" Ada countered.

“I panicked." Osaze responded.

Ada sighed and muttered under her breath. She took quick steps towards the car and yelled at him to drive. She made sure that Osaze turned on the air conditioner so she could calm her ragging heart. She had solved a case. A case that would leave her traumatized for weeks.

                                  ******

Aderonke started at the cold and empty living room. Her mind was completely shattered. In one night, she had found out the person who murdered her daughter and in one night, the murderer, her supposed husband died. Her hands shook as  she looked at the picture frame of she, Bimbo and Wale that hung on the wall.

When did everything start to go wrong?

She opened up the piece of paper that Ada had given her and her heart again began to race. The content of the paper was simply like a diary. Her eyes began to water as her eyes scanned the paper.

Why does mommy hate me?

Aderonke sat on the floor as tears began to flow down once again.

Is that why she travels a lot? Is it because I am not her daughter?

Aderonke's voice shook with as quacking sobs racked all her body.

Why did she lie that I am her daughter when Daddy did not?

Aderonke began to bang her knuckles aggressively unto the ground as pangs of regret shot through her nerves. She began to think of the day Bimbo started walking. The joy she felt seeing her child laugh while walking melted her insides. She remembered the times when Bimbo often threw her phone into water anytime she felt bored and she did it repeatedly until she turned three. She reminisced on when Bimbo would lock the door with her tiny legs and would sneak just to sleep beside her. Aderonke cried harder on remembering when Bimbo started to draw away from her when she turned sixteen.

Why did she ignore the signs? Why wasn't she there when Bimbo needed her?

Aderonke wailed harder and louder on remembering how Wale comforted her when Bimbo died. The tears felt flowing like an endless river. She felt pain... absolutely everywhere. The pain took over a portion of her brain, as if dealing with it is energy expenditure enough, without the effort of new thoughts. The emotions of loss are that way, right? Death, abandonment or betrayal, they all lead there.

With the remaining strength in her bones, Aderonke walked over to the pictures of Wale that hung up on the wall and she began to shatter them one by one all over the ground. She didn't stop. She continued till tiredness took a toll and she carried the  picture she took of Bimbo when she turned one and she hugged it tightly to herself. Remembering Ada's voice, she willed herself to live, survive and persevere.

“I loved you...my daughter." Aderonke muttered amidst quiet sobs.

                               *****

Ada briskly stepped out of Osaze's car as she flagged down a cab. She refused to answer his loud cries as she was too focused on bargaining with the cab man. She stepped into the cab and began to think. She wondered how Aderonke was feeling and those minutes of wondering and pondering began to turn into hours. A few minutes after and she was out of the cab, staring at the empty street.

Her heart sank on noticing that there was no birthday text from Kola. What was she expecting? After their last encounter, she was sure that he thought Osaze was her boyfriend. Her stray thoughts were brought to a halt on noticing a man preaching in the middle of the road with a bible under his armpit and a nearly rusted bell in his other hand. She began to move closer and then she decided to take another road but something urged her to look back.

The darkness of the night made her at first not to realize who the man was but as she stared intently at him, the realization dawned on her. Her hands shook and her heart hammered against her ribcage.

Dread gnawed at her insides, she was mute with horror. She was paralyzed to the spot, the menacing aura holding her in a tightening grip. Fear became a tangible, living force that crept over her like some hungry beast, immobilizing her; Her brain, holding her captive. Terror sucked the very breath from her mouth.

Why was she looking at her... biological father?

What was he doing with a bible?

Fear transformed into rage as she took quick strides towards him as the traumatizing images of the wrongs that her father did to her began to resurface. With disgust written all over her face, she pushed him unto the floor and she grew angrier when he muttered, “Jesus Christ."

“How dare you...show your face to me? W-Why are you alive?" Ada asked as she punched him on the jaw.

“A-Ada." He spoke slowly, “Is that you?"

“W-What are you doing here?" Ada thundered back.

“I came to preach the gospel to-"

“Preach what? After you nearly ruined my life. Who gave you the power to preach to people?" Ada grabbed hold of the sleeves of his shirt.

“I have given my life to Jesus Christ and he has forgiven me." He rasped.

“Forgiven what? D-Did you ask for forgiveness from me? Did you even for once apologize? Stop using the lord's name to deceive me." Ada shouted back.

“I made a mistake, my daughter and I realize...it." He started, “It took me years to realize what I did to you and I am sorry." He  finally spoke.

“Y-You call that a mistake and you say that you're sorry." Ada started, “You raped...me repeatedly, you didn't stop even when I begged you to. You continued to do it..."

“I was drunk, my daughter. I-"

“Shut that stupid hole you call a mouth. You did it even when you weren't drunk and don't you ever refer to me as your daughter because for the past ten years, I have endured holding on to that surname." Ada held back tears.

“I am sorry. I am very sorry. Please forgive me. The bible says-"

“Stop talking." Ada finally screamed, “It is too late to apologize and for the past ten years, I have felt immeasurable pain and anguish. I will never forgive a man like you. Instead I will teach you a lesson so don't you ever apologize." Ada resumed punching him on his aged face as her eyes displayed a glint of triumph as his blood splattered all over her knuckles.

“You disgust me. You raped me repeatedly for years and now you think it's only a mistake...." Ada was about to punch him to blindness when a pair of hands ripped her away from her father's sleeves and she was about to punch the living hell out of the person who interrupted her when she froze on the spot on seeing Kola.

“W-What-" Ada stared at him as he pushed past her as she tried her best to speak. She was almost about to open her lips when she noticed Kola holding her father by the sleeves.

“Better run, baba before I punch you to death. " Kola yelled as he threw the bible unto his face and Ada watched as her father scrambled up on his feet and ran away still shouting, “Jesus Christ."

“Kola, I... "

He didn't allow her to speak as he took hold of her hand and led her all the way to her apartment. Ada began to wonder if he heard what she said. When they both reached the apartment, Kola turned around and said,

“Let's go to...my house."

“Then let me pick a bag..." Ada started.

“No, you can't." His voice grew high pitched and Ada sensed something was wrong. Shoving him to the side, she unlocked the door to her apartment and turned on the lights.

Her eye sockets nearly popped out on noticing her bed decorated with petals and balloons, and the entire floor littered with roses. A bottle of champagne wrapped in a box stood by her bed side and her eyes lifted up with joy.

“D-Did you do this?" Ada asked.

“I didn't. I am completely as shocked as you are." Kola answered hastily.

“You are lying." A smile swept across her lips as she edged closer to him.

“H-How can you smile, Adaobi?" Kola asked as he cupped her face with his large hands.

“W-What do you mean?"

“You told me that your father was dead and I saw him today." Kola started as his voice began to shake, “W-Why didn't you tell me, Ada. W-Why did you keep all that within yourself?"

“You wouldn't understand. You never let me explain." Ada argued.

“Then you should have forced me to listen."

“I-I had a mental breakdown two years ago because I couldn't stop remembering what he...did and I decided to break off the engagement." Ada confessed as she sat down on the bed, “I couldn't bear to tell you no matter how I tried."

“A-And now I know, Adaobi. I know that you  are a victim of rape and your father did this to you." Kola responded.

“You don't even love me... anymore, Kola. What are you even doing here?" Fresh tears ran down  Ada's cheeks.

“W-Who said I stopped loving you, Adaobi?" Kola plopped down on the bed beside her taking her hands in his, “You know me better than that."

“Y-You said that you were going to move on." Ada responded as she rested her head on his chest.

“And how come a detective believes that, huh?" Kola chuckled as he cradled her head with his arm.

“Y-You still want me, Kola? Even after seeing how dirty I am?" Ada bursted into tears as her throat began to ache.

“You're not dirty, Adaobi. You are still like a flower... waiting to be plucked." Kola wiped her tears with his knuckles.

“Really?"

“Yes and any man would be lucky to have you and I feel... guilty for pushing you away like that." Kola spoke.

“It's not your fault."

“I-I won a ticket to a resort in Miami and I want you to go there...alone." Kola pushed a ticket into her palm.

“W-Why can't we go together? You just said-"

“Y-You need to heal, Adaobi and I don't think I should be there with you after everything that happened between us. I don't want you to feel awkward with me. I just want you to have fun." Kola whispered.

“T-Then I'm not going."

“Ada, please." Kola begged.

“I'm not going without you. Let's have fun together." Ada pouted.

“Okay. I'll think about it." Kola smiled as he played with Ada's hair.

“Where is it?" Ada suddenly asked.

“Where is what?" Kola asked.

“The ring that you gave me when you proposed?" Ada responded.

“It's here." Kola produced it from his pocket and handed it over to her.

With a sly smile on her face, Ada placed the ring on her fourth finger and said, “The ring...is back to where it belongs."

“W-We can take it slow if you want."

“I want it fast. I even want to get pregnant... tonight." Ada grumbled.

“I am completely against premarital sex." Kola argued back.

“But you're not against me touching you."

“Let's take it slow, Ada. I will take you to a therapist tommorow and...."

“I don't need a therapist." Ada complained.

“You can't keep running away from it. You have to face it head on." Kola spoke with honesty.

“Okay." Was Ada's only response.

“Then let's start off as... friends." Kola spoke again.

“Friends? Do you really think we...can be friends?" Ada looked at his lips and licked her lips in anticipation.

“W-Why are you staring at me...like that? Friends don't look at friends like that." Kola teased.

“T-Then will you be my boyfriend again?"

“A-Are you asking me out?" Kola nearly choked.

“Say yes... first."

“Ada, if...you need anyone. You know you can call on me. You don have to pretend that it's fine. You can cry tonight. Cry...it all out. I'll give you my shoulder for tonight. Y-You did not deserve everything that you went through..."

Tears began to form in Ada's eyes as she leaned on his shoulder, quiet sobs making her body vibrate. She never had anyone to comfort her about what her father did and now she had someone who was ready to. Her eyes turned moist as she tried not to sob aloud. A tightening of her throat and a short intake of breath started and a gut-wrenching sob that tore through her chest followed.  A great sob escaped her, and she covered her face with shaking hands and when he patted her back, she sobbed louder, remembering  the vivid images of seeing her father on her birthday.

She held on to Kola as her face got buried in the crook of his neck and her sobs began to  grow quieter when Kola began to apologize again and she found herself sobbing again. Everything felt completely strange as Kola began to sing a birthday song while showering her with words of encouragement and a promise to never let her go.

Hello.

How are you doing?

Have a great weekend ❤️

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