The journey felt endless. Darkness threatened to claim her more than once, but the thought of her best friend kept her going
----
"..So everyone, that's what happened, Nnenna concluded, her voice steadier now as Olisa worked to patch her up. Blood still stained her torn gown, but her eyes were fierce, unyielding
The crowd stared at her in stunned silence, her harrowing account leaving them speechless. Slowly, every pair of eyes shifted toward the subject of her accusation Ndidi.
The older woman's face was a mask of calm, but her clenched fists betrayed her inner turmoil.
"She harmed her own step daughter in law and tried to kill her best friend when she got too close to the truth!" someone whispered, the words sparking a ripple of outrage through the room
Old Master Arinze rose from his seat, his expression thunderous. Unlike the others, there was no shock in his eyes only fury. He had suspected Ndidi's malice from the beginning, ever since she had wormed her way into the family through manipulation and deceit
"You did this?!" he roared, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Ndidi's calm demeanor cracked ever so slightly, her lips twitching as she met his fiery gaze. But she said nothing, her silence damning
The night was no longer about celebration, it was about justice
"I reluctantly didn't force my son to divorce you, but you actually dared to harm my granddaughter in law!" Old Master's voice thundered through the hall, his face a mask of rage.
Ndidi took a deep breath, steadying herself as her years of practice in deception came into play. Her expression turned pitiful, and her voice quivered. "Dad, I don't know what that girl is talking about! She must be making up stories to defend her friend."
But Old Master was having none of her pretense. His sharp gaze bore into her. "If she made it up, then how did she get so grievously injured in our own residence? Answer me that!"
Ndidi's eyes widened in faux shock before quickly shifting to a helpless shrug. Tears began streaming down her cheeks as she played the victim. "How would I know, Dad? I've been in this hall the entire time. Everyone can attest to that, I haven't left the gathering even once."
She turned to her husband, Obi, and her voice softened to an almost desperate plea. "Obi, you have to believe me. I would never hurt anyone, let alone Olaedo! I've always treated her like my own daughter!"
Her trembling hands reached out toward Obi. The tension was almost suffocating, and the guests in the hall exchanged uneasy glances.
Old Master, however, wasn't swayed. He slammed his cane onto the marble floor, the sharp sound making Ndidi flinch. "Stop this pathetic act! Do you think I'm blind? Your crocodile tears won't work on me!"
Ndidi's lip quivered, and she sank to her knees, wailing. "Father, please! I don't even know what's happening! Someone must be framing me!"
Obinna finally stirred and without hesitation, though deep in his heart, a shadow of doubt lingered. He couldn't deny the truth entirely, he was the one who had fought for the right to marry Ndidi despite the opposition.
If she were exposed now, his own pride and dignity would crumble alongside hers. That thought alone compelled him to stand by her, his support immediate and unwavering.
But his decision only deepened the chasm between him and his children. Even Ifeoma, who had been silently questioning the validity of Adamu's claims, now looked at him with a flicker of doubt in her eyes.
Nnenna, however, couldn't stay silent. Her temper flared, her voice cutting through the tension like a whip. "It's you!" she snapped, her tone brimming with fury. "You've never liked Olaedo from the very beginning, and now you're claiming to care about her? Don't insult us with your lies!"
Ndidi's face remained calm, but inside, she seethed. She should have ensured the girl's complete silence when they had sent her that picture. Regret burned through her veins, but she knew there was no time to dwell on it now.
Quickly, she shifted to the next phase of her defense, her voice ringing out with righteous indignation. "Fine! Where's your proof?" she demanded, her tone sharp and biting. "Do you think you can just accuse a member of the Arinze family without evidence? Do you think our name is some plaything for baseless accusations?"
The room fell into a tense silence, the air crackling with unresolved conflict as all eyes turned to the accusers, waiting for their next move.
Many of the guests nodded in agreement at Ndidi's demand. It was a fair point, the girl needed to present evidence if she wanted to back up such a serious accusation.
Nnenna let out a derisive laugh, her confidence blazing like a beacon. Without hesitation, she pulled out her phone and unlocked the screen. "Sure! I'll prove it now. You all will see the serpent you've been nurturing in this house. Here it—"
She paused, her fingers swiping across the screen. Then again. And again. The room seemed to close in around her as her confidence began to falter. Her breaths quickened, her movements becoming frantic.
The voice recording was gone. The video… gone! Every trace of evidence had vanished from her phone.
Nnenna's face drained of color, the pallor stark against her earlier bravado. The shift did not go unnoticed. The guests, whose curiosity had been piqued, began to murmur among themselves.
The sound swelled, filled with mockery and judgment. Eyes filled with disdain and disbelief settled on her, their expressions accusing her of nothing less than a desperate, unfounded attack.
"She has nothing," someone whispered loudly enough to carry across the room.
"So this is what the Arinze family has come to?" another voice chimed in, heavy with ridicule.
Nnenna's hand dropped to her side, her phone clutched tightly, as shame clawed its way up her throat. She opened her mouth to defend herself, but no words came out. Ndidi's lips curled into a triumphant smirk, her mask of calm now replaced with quiet satisfaction.