The servants gasped again, their eyes widening in shock.
"Ifeoma, you should know that you're not my opponent especially in wits" Her words were harsh but they weren't a lie either.
"Also," Olaedo continued, her voice smooth, "I happened to see you watching me quite intently during breakfast. Almost as if you were plotting something. Care to explain that?"
Ifeoma's heart pounded as her carefully constructed plan began to fall apart. She struggled to maintain her composure. "I..It's just a coincidence! You're reading too much into this!"
"Oh?" Olaedo tilted her head, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Then perhaps we should ask the security staff to check the footage. I'm sure they'll find your actions very... enlightening."
The color drained from Ifeoma's face. "T..There's no need for that! It was just an accident, I swear!"
The murmurs from the servants grew louder.
"Miss Ifeoma has always been acting strangely around Young Madam Olaedo."
"Do you think she doesn't like her sister-in-law?"
"Why else would she do this?"
Ifeoma clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Her plan had backfired spectacularly, and now she was the one under scrutiny.
At that moment, Chibuzor walked into the hall, his cold, sharp eyes sweeping over the scene. His gaze landed on Olaedo, who was still drenched, and then on Ifeoma, whose expression screamed guilt.
"What is going on here?" he asked, his voice calm but with an undertone that demanded answers.
Olaedo turned to him, her expression composed despite her wet state. "Ifeoma accidentally poured water on me. Though her explanation seems... lacking."
Ifeoma's head snapped up. "It was a mistake! I didn't mean to—"
"Enough," Chibuzor cut her off, his tone icy. "Your clumsiness, real or otherwise, has inconvenienced someone. Apologize and ensure this doesn't happen again."
The weight of his words crushed any further protests. Ifeoma gritted her teeth, bowing slightly. "I'm sorry, Sister in law."
Olaedo simply nodded, her expression unreadable. "Apology accepted."
Later that day, Ifeoma retreated to her room, her frustration boiling over. "She's too clever! How does she see through everything so easily?!"
She threw herself onto her bed, glaring at the ceiling. "No matter what I do, she always comes out on top. But this isn't over. Next time, I'll make sure to expose her true intentions."
Meanwhile, Olaedo sat by the window in her room, sipping tea. A faint smile played on her lips. "If she wants to keep testing me, she's welcome to try. It's almost... entertaining."
And so, the battle of wits continued, with both sides gearing up for the next round.
Then something huge and unexpected took place making Olaedo realise that she could not be too cocky and let her guard down.
Wednesday evening, Olaedo sat on her bed, staring at the address texted to her earlier that afternoon.
"I'll be waiting tomorrow evening at 7 PM. Meet me at Blessings Garden Restaurant. I'll explain everything. I will also return the money. I love you and I just need another chance to start over with you – Maduabuchi."
Her heart twisted painfully as she clenched her phone. She had barely slept the night before, torn between the temptation to hear him out and the growing guilt about even considering meeting him.
'He said he still loves me,' she thought, her grip tightening. 'That he wants to return the money and start over. But can I trust him after everything? What if…what if he really has changed?'
Her thoughts drifted to Chibuzor. Though their marriage was built on legal agreements, he had done nothing to deserve betrayal, especially not for a man who had once humiliated her. Her brow furrowed as she imagined his reaction.
'He doesn't love me, and I don't love him. This is a contract. But…wouldn't meeting Maduabuchi feel like cheating? After all, I'm Chibuzor's wife in every practical sense.'
She closed her eyes, leaning back on her bed, memories flooding her mind. The way Chibuzor had insisted on upholding the integrity of their arrangement. His stoic yet unexpectedly kind moments. She had grown to respect him more and more, even admire him.
"Ahhh!" she groaned, burying her face in her hands. 'Why am I even thinking this way? I should delete the message and forget about it. But if there's a chance Maduabuchi truly regrets what he did, shouldn't I at least confirm it?'
She finally decided. 'I'll go. But only to set things right once and for all.'
--------
The Next Evening.
At 6:30 PM, Olaedo stood outside the café, staring down the road that led to Blessings Garden Restaurant. Her heart raced with nervous energy, but something in her gut told her to wait before going further. She pushed open the door to the café, its warm glow offering temporary relief from the chilly night.
Pulling out her phone, she hesitated, then called Kamsi.
"Ah, Olaedo! It's been ages since you called. What's up?" Kamsi's cheerful voice filled her ears.
"Kamsi, I need your help. I received a text from a number claiming to be…someone from my past. Can you check it for me?"
The tone of Kamsi's voice shifted immediately. "Of course. Send me the number now."
Olaedo forwarded it and waited, her fingers drumming nervously on the table. Within minutes, her phone buzzed.
"It's unregistered," Kamsi began, "but the IP trace points to a mobile hotspot originating from the Arinze residence."
Olaedo's blood ran cold. "What?"
"Yes. Someone in the house sent that message. Want me to dig deeper?"
"No need. I know who it is." Olaedo's voice was calm, but her hands trembled with fury. Her mind raced through possibilities, but all roads led to one person: Ifeoma.
At the Arinze Mansion.
Olaedo stormed into the dining room, her face set in a mask of controlled anger. The entire family was seated, enjoying dinner in peaceful silence. Ifeoma was chatting animatedly with Adanna about their recent escapades at the amusement park.
Without preamble, Olaedo slammed her phone onto the table, making everyone jump.
"What's the meaning of this?" she demanded, her voice calm but laced with steel.
Everyone turned to look at her, confused.
Chibuzor narrowed his eyes. "Olaedo, what's going on?"
"I would like to ask Ifeoma that," she said, her gaze fixed on the younger woman. "Care to explain why you thought it was a good idea to impersonate someone from my past and send me fake messages?"
The dining room was a stage of shocked silence as Olaedo stood, her face taut with anger, holding her phone aloft. The entire family sat frozen, forks halfway to their mouths, eyes darting between Olaedo and Ifeoma.
"Care to explain, Ifeoma?" Olaedo's voice rang out, sharp and unyielding.
The room shifted uncomfortably as Ifeoma's eyes widened, then narrowed into defiance. "Explain what? You're accusing me of something ridiculous."
Chibuzor's eyes narrowed, the darkening storm in them revealing a rare crack in his otherwise impassive mask. "Enough of this. Ifeoma, I don't know what game you're playing, but you've crossed a line."
"Chibuzor, please," their father, Mr. Arinze, spoke up, his voice a mixture of authority and exhaustion. "Let's not turn this into a full blown argument. We can sort this out calmly."
Olaedo's sharp, incredulous laugh cut through the tension. "Calmly? Your daughter sent me a fake message pretending to be someone from my past, and now you want to pretend this is just a misunderstanding?"
Old Master, who had been quietly observing, cleared his throat, the deep sound demanding attention. "This is serious, Ifeoma. You may be young, but the consequences of your actions affect everyone in this house."
Their stepmother, Ndidi, was secretly celebrating in her heart wishing she could say a big thank you to Ifeoma, but didn't dare to show it openly. She turned to Ifeoma and said with fake disapproval "It's one thing to be cautious, but this… this was cruel and unnecessary."
Ifeoma's mouth opened to retort, but Chibuzor cut her off, his voice low and even. "You will apologize to Olaedo. And until further notice, your entire allowance is suspended, and your movements will be limited. You are not to leave this house without my permission."
Ifeoma's face turned red, her eyes flashing with anger. "You can't do this to me! I'm not a child—"
"Now you are," Chibuzor said coldly. "Until you learn the consequences of your actions, you'll have to earn back my trust."
Chukwudubem, who had been silent until now, stepped forward, his voice quiet but firm. "Ifeoma, this is not the way to go about things. You're only isolating yourself further."
Adanna's expression was solemn, her gaze moving between Ifeoma and Olaedo. "We need to learn to trust each other if we're going to be a family, but this is not the way."
The tension in the room crackled, a palpable storm ready to burst. But it was Olaedo who finally broke the silence, her voice soft but steady.
"I'm not going to stoop to any more drama," she said, turning to Ifeoma with a sharp, searching gaze. "Just know that I don't have time for games. I came into this family with good intentions, and I will continue to do so."