Three years have passed, and Edu was doing well both in high school and the music industry. Maven Music Label sponsored his university studies abroad while he continued to produce top-notch music, even as a student.
He was known far and wide, not only for his music but also for his winsome personality, which endeared him to many, playing a massive role in his music career. This was part of the reason why the record label signed him; they knew society was more attracted to endearment. Well, he had made them very proud by proving himself with the best hit songs in town, bringing in more money for both him and the record label.
Brands were vying to endorse him, and every singer wished to collaborate with him.
No doubt, he was a product of grace in the sight of the public due to how he just came from nowhere to become one of the biggest celebrities in the world. Lots of people saw him as their beacon of hope.
He was performing one of his hit songs in a concert that night, titled "Forever," a romantic song that could trigger anyone's love motion, with a mix of woeful and enamored lyrics.
The crowd applauded him as he climbed the stage, singing along with him. Something seemed unusual about him that night, but fortunately, only his father, who happened to be his manager, noticed. The entire audience was flowing along with him, some with sad love stories even cried following his sad motions while singing along with him, while others cheered him for his professional acting skills due to how he got sucked into emotions while singing.
The concert turned rowdy as the audience became extremely noisy with joy after the artist's performance, screaming Edu's name at the top of their voices, hailing and cheering him.
Edu acknowledged their unique expressions, shaking hands with the few who were at the front before heading to the green room to take a rest.
His personal assistant rushed to give him a towel to wipe off his sweat while another hurriedly gave him a bottle of water to drink before he sat down.
He noticed the distasteful appearance on his father's face but ignored it completely. After they finished cleaning up his makeup, he changed into a more casual attire before opting for his car, together with his father, and they drove off.
"What was that for?" Ali finally broke the awkward silence, as he couldn't hold back the words that had been burning in his heart.
Edu ignored him completely, pouring all his attention on the window.
Sadness covered his face; he avoided saying something because undoubtedly, he was tired of fighting with his father all the time.
His father observed how he ignored his words completely and decided to lay low until they got home.
As the sleek black luxury car glided to a halt, a hefty man promptly opened the door of the car for Edu and his father to step out.
Edu sighed with relief as he was greeted with the gilded accent of his living room as soon as he stepped in. He opted for his velvet sofa to grab a rest after the long day; his workers were strolling around the house, making some hubbub noise. He stood up from the sofa and walked through the marble steps, heading to his room.
He was at the top of the stairs when his father's loud voice echoed in the spacious luxurious mansion, frightening all the staff. "How dare you ignore me when I'm talking to you, Edu?"
He held a step for a second, debating whether he should answer him or not before continuing to move, ignoring his father completely.
He was in the hallway when his father hastened his pace and approached him roughly. "Don't you dare in your entire life ignore me when I talk again, is that clear?" His tone sounded more pissed than ever.
Edu clenched his teeth in an attempt to hold back his rage. "I'm not in the mood for this."
"Well, neither am I, but I won't stand here to watch my son insult me," Ali retorted. "Or didn't anyone tell you that ignoring someone is like a slap in the face?"
"What was the question again?" Edu asked, trying to avoid further quarrel.
"How many times do I have to tell you to stop pouring all your frustration on stage?" Ali lowered his tone so that no one would understand what they were talking about.
"Oh, so you know I'm frustrated?" Edu replied with a puzzled gesture. "Well, it's a good thing because that typically means you also know you are the reason for my frustration," he spoke into his father's face without any sign of remorse, prompting his father to give him a hot slap.
"I am your father, and I won't have you talk to me in such a manner," Edu glanced at him with so much irritation as if he wanted to strike back, but rather, he pivoted and entered his opulent bedroom, locking himself up.
That's the usual thing Edu does almost all the time; sometimes, he can lock himself up for even a week or month, mostly when he doesn't have any show to attend or song to record. He does that just to avoid seeing the face of his father; it was like the sight of his father triggers his inner turmoil.
Each time Edu talks about going home to amend his mistakes, his father gives him so many reasons why he couldn't dare do that, saying it will affect the firm they have worked so hard to build because the media is definitely going to record it. He even stopped him from going to see his mother, and his mother had refused to visit him in the city, saying if he can't come home to greet her for once, then she'll never make an attempt to visit him either because it's children that look for their parents, not the other way round.
His father succeeded in spoiling all the relationships he had with almost all his friends and cousins in the village where life seemed easier and more fun for him. He was wounded in the heart as each time he locks himself inside, he couldn't shake the memories of Bassy off his head; he had always wondered if she'll ever forgive him for everything he made her go through for no good cause.
His mom always talks to him about how Bassy is in the village suffering, even if Edu swears to her that he's not the real father of Bassy's son, her instincts tell her something is fishy but she keeps her distance from her because Edu asked her to.
One thing that made Edu despise his father so much is the fact that he'll cover him up completely in the public, telling people how happy his son is for being at the peak of his career at 20, claiming everything about him was perfect on his behalf. But as soon as they get home, that smile turns to chaos. Ali even forced Edu to change his stage name to EDUAl, which is a mix of his own name and Edu's name so that his fans will know that he is truly his father's son.
The next morning, Edu woke up earlier than usual to take a shower and dressed up in casual wear. A sigh of bewilderment washed over him on seeing his father in the living room watching a movie as soon as he walked down the stairs.
He wondered why his father had woken up so early but decided to ignore him completely while walking towards the exit door.
"Where are you going, son?" Ali asked with a cold
tone that Edu couldn't resist, even if his father had slapped him last night.
"I'm going to Abudu to see Bassy and my mother," Edu replied with a firm but strict tone.
"You will do no such thing," Ali stood up from the seat, widening his eyes to confront Edu.