“Or maybe your poor farmer husband has finally found rich people to deceive.” That was enough. For the first time, Chika did not swallow it. She stepped closer. “You should stop talking.” Kemi blinked, then laughed again. “Or what?” Chika’s voice stayed low, but every word landed clearly. “Or I will say what you don’t want to hear.
” “You have taken and taken all your life, Kemi. And still act like the world owes you more.” Kemi’s face hardened. Chika continued. “You took the rich marriage because you wanted status. You took our parents’ attention and still complained it was not enough. You used my pain like it meant nothing. Even what I lost because of you, you still turned into an insult.
” People in the boutique had started watching now. Tunde stepped forward. “Watch your mouth.” Chika turned to him briefly. “You stay out of this.” Then she faced Kemi again. “You think money should only belong where pride is loudest. You think because I married into the village, I should become less. But I am not less.
” Kemi’s eyes flashed. “You are nothing without pity. Everybody only helps you because they feel sorry for you.” Chika slapped her. The sound was sharp enough to silence the whole boutique. For 1 second, even Chika herself stood still. Kemi held her cheek and stared in shock. Not because of the pain. Because Chika had finally done what she never expected.
The older sister who always bent had refused. Tunde moved at once, but Obinna stepped in front of Chika before he could get too close. His voice was calm, but firm enough to stop further madness. “If either of you harasses my wife again, there will be consequences.” Kemi looked from Chika to Obinna and saw something she did not like.
Chika was slipping beyond her control. She was no longer the same woman who kept quiet just to keep peace. Kemi grabbed her handbag angrily and stormed out. Tunde followed but not before giving Chika and Obinna a dark look. That same evening, the matter got worse. Kemi went straight to their father. She cried, complained, and painted herself as the victim.
She said Chika had become arrogant because of village money. She said Obinna was turning her against the family. She said he was probably after their family assets, too. That was when another truth came fully into the open. Most of the valuable property their late mother had arranged was meant to go largely to Chika.
Or at least Chika had a rightful claim to a major part of it. Kemi had always known this, and she hated it. To her, it made no sense that Chika, who now lived in the village, should still have a stronger claim than she did. When Chika heard this again later, she was not even surprised. But Obinna was clear about it. “What belongs to you should remain yours.” He told her.
“Nobody should pressure you to give it up.” Chika looked at him quietly. He continued. “And if it will make you happier, I will put even more in your name. It’s not a problem.” He said it so simply that she almost forgot how unusual it was. He did not talk about her rights as if he was doing her a favor. He spoke as if those rights were normal.
That only made Kemi more bitter. Because while Obinna was speaking of giving, Tunde had already started pressing her for access to her own small money. As wedding plans for Chika and Obinna continued, more things about Obinna stopped making sense. He had assistants. He had managers. He made one phone call and things moved.
His assistant, Henry Cole, handled several arrangements with the quiet confidence of someone used to very powerful circles. When they went to inspect the hotel booked for their formal wedding, the staff greeted Henry with too much respect for him to be an ordinary worker. Chika noticed it. She also noticed how easily a luxury hotel had been secured.
How vendors spoke carefully around Obinna. How some people seemed to know him without saying too much. Yet he still dressed simply. Still spoke quietly. Still carried himself like a man without anything to prove. Then came the wedding dress fitting. A top bridal shop had something already waiting for Chika. When she saw the dress, she was speechless.
It was elegant, detailed, and clearly worth a shocking amount. She turned to Obinna. “You ordered this?” He nodded. “When?” “A while ago.” “A while ago?” He smiled faintly. “Long before now.” That answer stayed with her. When she tried the dress on and came out, Obinna looked at her and forgot to hide what was in his face. Love. Open, deep love.
