As Chibuzor lay on the hospital bed, shame consumed him. He couldn't even bring himself to look Adaugo in the eye. Not only had he failed to protect her from Professor Abubakar, but he had also caused her endless worry with his injuries.
It didn't take long for Chibuzor to deduce who was behind the attack. Professor Abubakar had hired the cult boys to punish him. He shared his suspicions with his grandfather, and the elder Arinze wasted no time taking action.
Using the full weight of his influence, he ensured that Professor Abubakar was arrested. The disgraced professor was demoted, stripped of his position, and eventually sentenced to prison.
Chibuzor vowed to never let himself be caught in such a helpless situation again.
After that incident, no one in the entire school dared to come near Adaugo or him. Their family's status had been revealed, and suddenly, everyone was afraid of them. But this newfound fear didn't bring him any joy.
Chibuzor had always leaned on his family's reputation to fuel his confidence, but after that day, when he had been beaten senseless, he realized he needed to be strong on his own.
He decided to key into his grandfather's plans for him and put more effort into his studies and personal growth. It paid off, as he achieved a lot personally and within five years after graduation, he expanded his grandfather's company into a trillion-local-currency empire.
Three months ago, when he married Olaedo, he discovered another weakness. Her constant, playful punches to his shoulder whenever she was annoyed made him realize that, despite his financial power and influence, he was weak in personal strength, particularly in martial arts.
Determined to strengthen himself in this area, he asked Olaedo to teach him, and she agreed without hesitation. 'That woman is surprisingly amazing!' he thought, smiling at the memory.
---
Thinking back to those days when he had been arrogant, relying solely on his family status and not understanding the importance of building his own strength, he smiled. He glanced at Chukwudubem, who was watching him with a teasing grin, trying to get his attention.
Chukwudubem raised an eyebrow. "Big brother, are you thinking about sister-in-law?"
Chibuzor chuckled, feeling guilty as charged, and playfully slapped Chukwudubem's head. "What are you daydreaming about now? Go cook so we can eat."
"Who says I'm cooking for everyone? I just want to cook for myself. It's almost 6:00 a.m.; the chefs will start cooking soon," Chukwudubem replied with a grin.
Since it was already 5:45 a.m., Chibuzor decided to let it go and headed upstairs.
Meanwhile, Olaedo stirred awake. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept so well. Aristocratic families might have fancy imported beds, but the difference wasn't just in the furniture, it was in the atmosphere. She stretched, feeling more rested than she had in a long time.
What truly lingered in her mind, though, was Chibuzor's actions the previous night. She hadn't expected such consideration from him. Memories of her ex, Maduabuchi, crept in for comparison.
Back then, he had rarely prioritized her. In the early days of their relationship, he showed effort, but after six months, it became clear that his world revolved solely around himself. She accepted it at the time, thinking it was normal. 'I was so stupid.' she thought bitterly.
But Chibuzor had proven her wrong. He made her feel important. His thoughtful gesture reminded her that a relationship could be different, where both people mattered. She smiled to herself, warmth spreading in her chest.
---
Four years ago after the plane encounter....
Two months prior, after her mother's recovery and return home, Olaedo had gone back to work. As a perfectionist CEO, she had personally taken on the task of interviewing candidates for an opening in the public relations department.
"Next person, please," she called out, her tone brisk.
The door opened, and someone walked in with heavy, deliberate steps.
"Good morning, ma. My name is Aneke Maduabuchi. Here's my CV."
'Maduabuchi?' The name struck a chord in Olaedo's mind. She thought for a moment, then it clicked, this was the charming, kind man she had met on the plane a few months ago.
She finally looked up from the files on her desk, and her heart skipped a beat.
There he was, standing right in front of her.
"Maduabuchi?! Is that really you?"
The man across from her mirrored her surprised expression. "Yes, it's me! Miss Olaedo, right? Wait…how are you the interviewer? Do you work here too?"
"Yes, it's Olaedo. And yes, I work here too." She couldn't contain her excitement. For months, she had regretted not exchanging contacts with this man during their flight. Yet, fate had brought him to her doorstep.
"Gosh, it's so good to see you again! I kept looking for you after that flight, but I couldn't find you. I had to leave quickly because my mom was sick."
"Same here," Maduabuchi replied with a warm smile. "I wanted to check on you and see if things worked out with your mom. I tried looking for you too but had no luck."
Olaedo grinned even wider. "Well, fate works in mysterious ways, doesn't it? I'm so glad we met today. Since I'm interviewing you, I won't play favorites, but if you're qualified, I'll definitely give you the job."
As the day progressed and all the candidates were interviewed, Maduabuchi's qualifications shone brightest. His résumé was one of the best she had seen, and she concluded he was the most suitable candidate for the role.
Unintentionally or not, her fondness for him made her even more certain of her choice.
Once Maduabuchi joined the company, they interacted frequently, their connection deepening with every passing day. It wasn't long before he asked Olaedo to be his girlfriend, expressing his intention to marry her in the future.
Olaedo didn't hesitate. She was already in love with him. A few weeks into their relationship, she revealed that she was, in fact, the CEO of the company.
Maduabuchi acted shocked at the revelation, but thinking back now, after his betrayal, Olaedo suspected he had probably known all along.
Their relationship flourished for six months. Maduabuchi was attentive, helpful, and always prioritized her. She adored him, believing she had found the perfect partner.
But after six months, his behavior changed. He no longer seemed interested in being with her as much, and prioritizing her became a thing of the past. Yet, by then, she was deeply attached. His earlier actions had hooked her so thoroughly that she justified his distance, eager to hold onto the relationship despite the growing cracks.
Whenever Nnenna or her family tried to talk sense into her about Maduabuchi's behavior, Olaedo always found excuses for him. And when she confronted him about his increasing withdrawal, he masterfully guilt-tripped her, making her feel like the problem. Over time, she convinced herself that she needed to be a better girlfriend to keep him happy.
One such occasion was their one-year anniversary dinner. They had reserved a table at an upscale restaurant months in advance. Olaedo, as always, was punctual, arriving exactly on time and eagerly waiting for Maduabuchi. She assumed he was running late because of work, he had told her he had taken a second job at another company to save money for their wedding.
Thirty minutes passed. Olaedo's optimism began to waver, so she decided to call him. The phone rang slowly for a long time before he finally answered.
"Chi, where are you? I'm at the restaurant already. Are you on your way?"
She heard muffled muttering amidst a cacophony of noise, cheering, loud music, and voices. It sounded like a nightclub.
"Honey, I can't hear you properly. Can you step away from the noise?" she asked, her tone a mix of confusion and unease.
The background noise faded slightly, and his soothing voice came through. "My dear, I'm still working late. I'm really sorry, but I can't make it to the anniversary dinner. I'll make it up to you, my angel."
Olaedo frowned. This excuse was becoming all too familiar. A wave of frustration surged through her.
"Of all days to work late, you chose the day of our one year anniversary. Do you even love me?" she asked, her voice laced with hurt.
Her words seemed to trigger something in Maduabuchi. His tone turned cold and sharp.
"I'm working so hard to make enough money to marry you and be worthy of you, and you're here complaining about a dinner?" he snapped. "You're being so selfish! How can you behave like this? You used to be so understanding. I don't know what's happened to you."
Olaedo's grip on the phone tightened as he continued, his voice growing louder and harsher.
"Don't you want us to get married? Don't you see I'm doing this for you? Everything I do is because of you! Do you think I want to exhaust myself like this? Sometimes, I feel like you don't appreciate my efforts. I'm trying my best, but you're always demanding more. Can't you be more understanding?!"