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More update ✨
Happy Sunday
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It's been over a month since Henry and I started dating. My family was doing well, Abasifreke and Mary had registered for their Jamb and the rest of my siblings were back to school. Mary had informed me on the phone about Afanide's speech and how he was improving so much. She also gave me an update on how the twins were enjoying my old phone. Indeed, one man's food was another man's poison. Mary had gotten an iPhone XR for herself and Abasifreke to share.

Baby was doing well. He was getting promotions for his first single which was a hit. I even made his song my ringtone to show off my support for him. He has moved out from our previous compound to a duplex at a luxury estate. Jackson decided to move out of Henry's and into Baby's because he wanted Henry and me to have some alone time and no one wanted him to stay in a hotel till he was ready for his tour.

Christy was still in prison, she was sentenced to three years with hard labour. Yemi was getting better character-wise, all thanks to Wilson. They sometimes meet with Henry and me whenever she and Henry had a shoot or interviews.

Things were going great but I was super nervous.

Henry decided to tell me about his parents and how they weren't his real parents. They adopted him and his sisters at a young age and took care of them like their own parents. In return, he worked hard when he got that opportunity at his secondary school to make them proud and give his family a better life.

They sounded great and I was happy he was fully opening up to me. But then he broke the bombshell, I was meeting them. His parents. Meeting them meant Henry and I was getting really real.

Today was Henry's family dinner and I was expected to go with him. I tried looking my best as I wore a forest green silk dress and silver heels. My hair was packed upwards with a dark green hairpin and my makeup was done by professionals hired by Henry. I stared at my reflection in the table mirror and I gasped.

I knew I was gorgeous but I never knew I was this gorgeous. I took out my phone from my Gucci purse and took several mirror selfies, having a mental note to post them on Twitter after the family dinner.

Realization set in again and I gulped. I turned to leave the room. Walking down the stairs, I noticed Henry waiting for me at the foot of the stairs, putting on a light vintage loose shirt and brown penciled tailored trousers. Looking at his white palm, I knew it cost a fortune. He had the most beautiful smile as he stretched out his hands for me to take.

"You look beautiful," He complimented as he took a hold of my left hand and led me into the living room "Mum would be pleased."

"I'm nervous," I admitted with a shaky breath like I was just placed in a freezer. "You're about to introduce me to your parents, meaning this shit is getting real."

We were now out of his house and Henry stared at me with admiration in his eyes. It furrowed my brows as he had a playful smile while witnessing my predicament "Don't you want things to get real?"

"I do, "We got into his car. Henry sat in the driver's seat beside him. "I'm just nervous, that's all."

"There's nothing to be nervous about. My parents don't bit and trust me, they'll love you." Henry places his palm on the back of my hand in a soothing manner. "You'll do great."

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We finally got to his parent's home. It was as huge as Henry's. Unlike Henry's, this place was filled with workers. I could see a gardener, a diver washing the cars, the gateway that opened the gate for us, and some maids sweeping the compound.

Henry held my hand and led me into the house. Reaching the living room, I could see how homey the place was. Family portraits hung high on the wall, and soft couches and a big oak brown table were at the center of the living room. A red furry center tug and various artificial flowers on vases.

Inside was Dorcas and John. Olamide was there too, giving out instructions to the maids setting the dinner table.

"Baby boo," Olamide turned after noticing us. The way she moved, you won't know she was pregnant. She walked up to Henry and me and gave her brother a warm hug.

"I'm no longer a baby," Henry shook his head, hugging his sister gently to not hurt the baby.

"You're forever a baby. A big gigantic baby." Dorcas moved to stand beside Olamide. "You look nice, Hope."

"Ah um... thank you." I was still seeing Dorcas as that strict manager. So seeing her compliment me in such a manner, took me off guard. "You look great too."

Just like Henry, she was putting on a vintage shirt but it was in the colour orange and blue skinny jeans which complimented her shape. Olamide was putting on a free blue thigh-length dress and white leather slippers. Since she was living with their parents during her stay here, she didn't bother dressing up. But it was no issue, Olamide was beautiful just like her siblings. The way Olamide and Henry looked alike and Henry informed days ago that they looked like their birth mother whole Dorcas looked like their biological father.

"Let's all go to the dinner area," Olamide led us like she was the host. I sat beside Henry, Dorcas and John sat opposite us while Olamide sat close to Dorcas.

"Where's Mum and Dad?" Henry asked sane time the maids brought in the dishes.

"Upstairs," Olamide pointed at the ceiling. "You know how a mother loves grooming herself and never allows Dad to appear without her."

Their family sounded fun. Mine was too, but Henry's was what I refer to as Classy fun. As if on time, we heard heels clicking, and soon, a woman graced her presence with a golden lace that probably cost more than anything I could imagine. The man beside her just wore a casual tee-shirt and black tailored trousers, which was a huge contrast to what his wife was putting on.

"Henry!" She squeezed with joy when she got to the dinner table and swung her hands around her son. Henry stood up so his mother could hug him properly. "You came!"

"You'll kill me if I don't." He managed to comment through the tight hug. She then pulled away once she'd noticed me. I gulped.

With a warm smile, she leaned toward Henry and whispered, "Is it her?"

Henry nodded, reaching for my hand to pull me closer to him. "Mum, Dad, meet Hope, my girlfriend, the love of my life."

"Nice to meet you ma," I became a bit shy at that introduction. I turned to his father, "Nice to meet you, sir."

"She's beautiful!" His mother said happily. She pulled me into her arms and gave me a welcoming hug. "Alright, let's have dinner."

We all sat in our original seats while Henry's dad sat at the edge of the dining table and his mum sat beside him.

"We have two very important guests today," Mr. Williams acknowledged. "Mr john and Ms. Hope."

"I'm so happy honey," Mrs. Williams leaned towards her husband as the maids brought on more dishes. "Dorcas is finally in a serious relationship, Olamide is carrying her first child and Henry finally brought in a girl home!"

"Mum," I heard Henry grumble. He opened the lids to see what was in them. A dish bowl contained Jollof rice, another; salads, another; deep-fried turkey.

"Hope," I turned my head to Mrs. Williams. "Can you tell us more about yourself? We heard about the bodyguard issue but we won't judge you with that."

"Um..." I hesitated, looking at Henry who gave me a reassuring nod. "I'm Hope Prince, the first child of my family with um... ten other siblings."

"Ten?" Dorcas exclaimed while Olamide coughed out the water she was drinking.

I let out a small laugh since I was used to such a reaction whenever I talk about my family. "Yes, ten. My mother is staying at home mum while my Dad works different jobs every week. Manual labour mostly."

"That's why you needed the money," Dorcas' tone felt like she was guilty. I was about to talk about my education next with my first class certificate.

"Your face reminds me of two people I..." I looked at Mrs. Williams but she didn't complete her sentence. Instead, she leaned in to take a closer look at me. "You're Hope?"

"Yes. Hope Prince, ma." I helped.

You don't happen to be the child of Essien and Ebong..." I was a bit surprised by her question.

"I am," I wondered how she knew about my parents. She became tensed on her chair, then reached for a glass of water and drank it all from the cup.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Mr. Williams asked his wife. Mrs. Williams only shook her head. "Nothing, I just do not feel good. I need to go and rest."

"Let me help," Henry stood up from his chair to assist his mother to her room. The dining room fell silent after that episode. Dorcas and Olamide stared at each other while Mr. Williams stared at his wife that was being led by his son, up the stairs. John and I weren't sure what to do so we uncomfortably stared at our food.

Did I do something wrong?

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Word count: 1664

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-Eddy