His words hit like sharp daggers. Olaedo felt her anger flare up, but she quickly suppressed it. She had always known their dynamic, her position as a CEO and billionaire often caused tension in their relationship.
Due to this, she had bent over backward to accommodate his insecurities, constantly reminding herself that no man would feel completely at ease dating a woman higher than him in social status.
But his repeated use of the same excuses was wearing her thin. She wanted him to succeed and save money for her bride price, as was customary for their traditional rites, but did that mean he could no longer make time for her?
Besides, her people would never make things difficult for him since they love her.
Still, knowing that escalating the argument would only worsen things, she chose to step back.
"I'm sorry, honey. Please calm down," she said, her voice soft and placating. "I just thought today was special and hoped you could make an exception. If you have to keep working, that's fine. We'll reschedule for another day, okay?"
On the other end of the line, Maduabuchi smiled to himself. His tactic had worked yet again. "Yes, today is special, but it won't be as special as our wedding day, okay? I have to get back to work now. Just fix another day if it's so important"
Then he warned sternly "And please, stop bringing up these things, you know how much it upsets me. You shouldn't be making me angry like this. I thought you knew me better by now. Anyway, bye."
Olaedo quietly agreed, feeling crushed but unwilling to argue further. She sat there alone in the restaurant, tears brimming in her eyes. But as a public figure, she couldn't afford to let anyone see her break down. After a moment, she collected her bag and left, driving home in silence.
On the drive, her mind kept circling back to the faint sounds she had heard in the background during their call, club music. It didn't add up.
If he was working late, why was there such noise? Were they entertaining clients in a nightclub? Her doubts grew, but she dared not ask him; she knew it would only provoke his anger and lead to yet another emotional confrontation.
Her relationship with Maduabuchi no longer brought her the joy it once had, but she was still deeply in love with him. That love, though now fragile, gave her the resolve to endure his behavior and stay strong.
---
Looking back on those painful memories now, Olaedo realized the bitter truth: his actions were never love. No..... they weren't. She had been too blinded by her feelings to see it at the time.
Ring... Ring...
The sound of her phone snapped Olaedo out of her thoughts. She reached for it and answered, only to hear the voice of a man on the other end.
"My pride and joy... You married a man inferior to you. It's my fault. But don't worry, i will fix this soon...."
Click. The call ended abruptly.
Olaedo stared at the screen, perplexed. "Pride and joy? Married a man inferior to me? What is this all about?" she murmured to herself. "And how does he even know I'm married? No one outside Chibuzor's family and friends, mine and the servants, know, so how?"
She tried calling the number back, but it was unreachable. Unease crept over her. Deciding to bring it up with Chibuzor later, she pushed the incident to the back of her mind and got ready to head downstairs.
---
Across the ocean, in a castle that dwarfed the grand Arinze mansion, two men sat on a luxurious balcony. The younger of the two, a strikingly handsome man looking like he was in his thirties, paced back and forth, his expression dark with frustration.
"Elder Brother, I can't believe she married someone so beneath her! It's my fault. If I hadn't been so careless, she would be where she belongs...married to someone worthy," he growled, clenching his fists.
The older man, who bore a strong resemblance to him, chuckled lightly. "No one will ever be good enough for our princess," he replied. "But let's not forget, the Arinze family is the pinnacle of wealth and status in that country. Technically, she's married well. Still, you're right. If you had been there, this wouldn't have happened."
"But you took a big risk calling her. I know you miss them but you must exercise self control! The patient dog eats the fattest bone."
The younger man stopped pacing and turned to his brother, a fire of determination in his eyes. "I know I made a mistake and I will try to be more patient. Let's hurry up and finish what we started. She can always remarry once we fix things."
The older man nodded with a knowing smile. "Exactly. Let's proceed."
---
Meanwhile, Olaedo was brushing her hair when a knock came at the door.
"Good morning, Sister-in-law! Are you awake?" a cheerful voice called. "We need to head out for your dress fitting. The family ball is only a week away, and it has to be perfect! This will be your grand introduction!"
Olaedo opened the door to see Adanna's bright face. She smiled back. "I'm ready. Let's go greet the others and have breakfast first."
Downstairs, the dining hall was buzzing with activity. Most of the family greeted Olaedo warmly, though Ndidi, Chibuzor's stepmother, had a far less welcoming expression. Her eyes flicked to Olaedo's midsection, her thoughts venomous. 'Three months of secret marriage... What if she's already pregnant? That child would solidify their hold on the family fortune. I need to stop this!'
Ifeoma, Chibuzor's sister, wasn't any kinder. Her skeptical gaze followed Olaedo closely. 'She's just a gold digger,' Ifeoma thought. 'Adanna fell for her act so quickly. How can no one else see through her?'
But their suspicions were drowned out by the affectionate scene at the table. Chibuzor kept placing food on Olaedo's plate, a rare softness in his eyes. Olaedo, blushing slightly, returned the gesture by serving him as well. Their grandparents exchanged delighted smiles, basking in the warmth of young love.
'Finally, he's moved on after Adaugo...' they thought with relief.
If only they knew that the couples had just gotten better at their pretense.
After breakfast, Adanna and Olaedo headed to the city's largest mall for dress fittings. Along the way, Olaedo called her best friend, Nnenna, to join them. The three women met at an upscale boutique, where they were promptly offered snacks while waiting.
"Nnenna, this is my sister-in-law, Adanna," Olaedo introduced warmly.
Adanna extended her hand. "Nice to meet you! May I call you Big Sister Nnenna?"
Nnenna blinked, startled by the request, but smiled. "Of course."
The soft ambiance of the luxury store was filled with the hum of polite chatter, the faint shuffling of designer heels on polished floors, and the occasional ring of the cash register. It was a place where wealth was paraded, and everyone's social rank was silently assessed.
Olaedo and Nnenna sat on a plush, velvet sofa near the shoe aisle, sipping on complimentary cocktails and waiting for Adanna's return from another section. As they browsed, Olaedo's eyes caught a pair of sparkling blue heels 'it's stunning, with just the right blend of elegance and boldness,' she thought.
"These are perfect," she said, rising to pick them up. She gently lifted one, marveling at the craftsmanship, and reached for its pair when an impeccably manicured hand snatched it away.
"That's mine," came the sharp voice behind her, cutting through the store's peaceful hum.
Olaedo stiffened, her breath catching for a moment. She turned slowly, already knowing who she would see.
There she was, Lydia.
The same Lydia who had tormented her through her teenage years, standing there like the self proclaimed queen of the world. Her golden brown curls bounced as she tilted her head, her light complexion glowing under the boutique lights. She was dressed in a tight designer dress, accessorized with jewels that screamed wealth and arrogance.
For a split second, Olaedo's past insecurities bubbled up, but she squashed them. She wasn't that scared schoolgirl anymore.
"Lydia," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Long time no see."
Lydia's brows lifted in mock surprise, and then she smirked. "Olaedo? Oh my God, I almost didn't recognize you." Her eyes trailed over Olaedo's outfit, chic but understated. "Still shopping for clearance items, I see."
Olaedo never saw the point in dressing extravagantly so Lydia mistook her low key dressing for financial instability.
Olaedo felt the sting of the jab but didn't flinch. "Still picking fights over things you can't have, I see," she replied smoothly.
Lydia gasped in mock offense, clutching the shoe to her chest like a trophy. "Oh, honey, you must be mistaken. I can have anything I want."
Adanna, who had just returned and noticed what was going on, stepped forward. "Lady, she picked that shoe first. Let it go."
Lydia's smirk widened as her gaze shifted to Adanna. "And who are you? Another one of Olaedo's little followers? How cute."
She turned back to Olaedo, her tone dripping with mock sympathy. "It must be hard for you, huh? Still single, still struggling, still trying to prove you're more than that little scandal of yours?"