Ali's tone echoed around the luxurious mansion. "You're so foolish for thinking Bassy will embrace you into her arms after dumping her for three years. Do you think it's that easy to raise a child at such a young age all alone?"
"Yeah, coming from the same person who asked me to neglect my responsibilities for the sake of fame," Edu fired back, his fury uncontained. "Now you're pouring all the blame on me."
"No," Ali objected, "you should have said we both impregnated her. You are so blinded by foolishness that you cannot see how far I have brought you in just three years. Would your mother ever have taken you this far?" Edu interrupted, turning red.
"Oh, I see," Ali stirred, challenging Edu's defiance. "You've grown so many wings that you fight your father all the time, isn't it?"
Edu took a deep breath, trying to control himself before doing something he'd regret. "Dad! Dad!! You're pushing me into a corner. You're leaving me with no choice," he lowered his tone, speaking composedly.
"You are the one pushing yourself, son," Ali replied, manipulating Edu's mind as usual.
"I know you might be looking at me like the worst father that ever existed, but God knows, I'm doing everything for you. Bassy is not your kind of woman anymore, and she's never going to accept you back into her life, even if you become a millionaire. I believe she's doing well now, which is all that matters."
"How would you know she's doing well when you've never met her once?" Edu objected.
"Because I send money to your mother's uncle every month to send to both of them, and I've told you this countless times. Going to that village is only going to ruin your career, son. What we worked so hard to build, believe me, I'm telling you nothing but the truth," he changed his tone sympathetically. "I'll devote myself to getting you a good woman. I acknowledge the fact that you don't just want any woman in your life, as there are varieties of them to choose from."
"Remember you said after I get signed and make my name in the music industry, I can amend my mistakes?" asked Edu calmly.
"Yeah," Ali stammered. "But it's too risky. I'm afraid it might ruin your career, as the chances of that girl forgiving you are too low. Come on, son, why take the risk of giving her the chance to exact her revenge on you instead of hanging out with some classy girls in town?"
Ali spoke in a low, calm tone, manipulating Edu slowly until he suddenly gave in due to how calm his tone was, making it hard for anyone with a heart to not listen.
That whole day, Edu was in his room, crying for what he had done to Bassy, as his heart couldn't stop racing at her thoughts.
The fact that Ali claims to be sending Bassy and Oyo a huge sum of money every month calmed Edu down whenever he sank into thoughts about the village.
Deep down, Edu felt extreme guilt for neglecting Bassy when she needed him the most. His father knew about this, which is why he always used it as Edu's weak point to never go back to her.
Dule and Bassy got along so well over the years. Bassy respected Dule with all she had, even turning herself into Dule's maid when she got pregnant for her husband.
The relationship between Dule and Bassy blossomed so well that it even sparked gossip among the villagers. Some claimed that Dule's husband was the real father of Bassy's son, Gabriel, and they were just hiding it to avoid embarrassment. Others spread rumors that Dule was fortunate to have a free maid. Dule's husband wasn't pleased with these rumors. He asked his wife to send Bassy and Gabriel away a year ago, but Dule pleaded on her behalf, reminding her husband of Bassy's helpfulness since she moved in.
Mr. Nnamdi, a teacher at the village secondary school, initially resisted the idea of Bassy living with them. However, witnessing Bassy's interactions with Edu in school and recognizing her intelligence, he eventually relented, agreeing with his wife to let her stay. Mr. Nnamdi's reputation for womanizing led villagers to speculate that he was responsible for Bassy's pregnancy.
After Dule gave birth to her own child, her attitude towards Gabriel changed. She no longer saw him as the cute little boy he once was but rather found him annoying and troublesome, resulting in her disciplining him for every minor mistake.
Just a week ago, Dule mercilessly punished Gabriel for accidentally hurting her daughter Olaedo. Witnessing the incident, Bassy confronted Dule for the first time. She reminded Dule that Gabriel was just three years old and still a child. Instead of seeing it as a mother's protective act.
"Dule perceived Bassy's actions as disrespect rather than seeing them as a mother protecting her child. Instead of viewing it through the lens of protection, She used it as an opportunity to remind Bassy that she did her a favor and it's taking longer than expected. She even mentioned that she did what her own Aunt, who is her blood, couldn't do for her, and Bassy dared to confront her for beating her child.
Bassy promptly went on her knees, begging Dule to forgive her, saying she didn't mean it that way. She was so scared of getting thrown out that she started crying, with her son begging Dule to forgive her.
Dule forgave her that day but reminded her that if she ever tries that again, she's going to be thrown out with her son.
Bassy had always wanted to tell Dule about how her husband, Nnamdi, has been begging her to sleep with him for over a year now that Dule has given birth, but she's always scared of her reaction. She decided to keep it to herself, remembering what Dule had taught her when she started living with them: that one doesn't rape someone."