The atmosphere in the Awujo home was unusually tense as the family gathered for dinner. Simi could feel an electric charge in the air, causing her skin to prickle. It was a Sunday evening, typically filled with laughter and warmth, but today felt different. Gbolahan had been unusually quiet since Simi's confrontation about the arranged marriage, and Abosede seemed to carry a burden of worry on her shoulders. As they sat around the dining table, Simi noticed her father meticulously cutting his food into small pieces, his jaw set tight. Abosede served the jollof rice with a forced smile, attempting to maintain some sense of normalcy amidst the rising tension. "Hi, Temi. How was your day?" Simi inquired, hoping to lighten the mood. "It was good!" Temi responded brightly, her innocence in stark contrast to the heaviness around them. "We learned about animals in school!" Simi smiled as she spoke to her daughter, but her heart was not in it; she could feel Gbolahan's gaze on her, assessing and calculating. "Let us focus on what is important," Gbolahan said abruptly, his voice cutting through the light conversation like a knife. "Simi, we need to discuss your future." Simi's stomach dropped at his words. "Dad, can we just have dinner first?" she said cautiously. "This is important," he insisted, leaving no room for debate. "You have to understand what is at stake here." Simi exchanged glances with Abosede, who appeared equally concerned. "I understand perfectly well what you want from me," Simi declared defiantly. "But I do not want it." Gbolahan's face hardened as he leaned forward in his chair. "You are being foolish if you believe you can ignore your responsibilities." "Responsibilities?" Simi responded incredulously. "You meant your expectations! You want me to marry someone I do not even know!" "It is best for our family!" Gbolahan yelled, his voice rising as frustration seeped through his words. "The best for you!" Simi shot back, enraged. "You do not care about my happiness!" "Enough!" Abosede interrupted sharply, her voice commanding. The tension in the room rose as both Gbolahan and Simi turned to look at her, surprised. "Do not raise your voice at our daughter," Abosede said firmly, her eyes filled with a fierce protectiveness Simi had never seen before. Gbolahan blinked in disbelief at his wife's unexpected outburst. "I am trying to do what is best for this family!" he argued. "And what about what is best for Simi?" Abosede countered, standing her ground. "You are forcing her into something she does not want!" Simi felt a surge of gratitude for her mother, but also bewilderment; why had Abosede not spoken up sooner? Why had she let Gbolahan dictate their lives? "You have never told her!" Gbolahan yelled at Abosede, his voice filled with an intensity that made Simi flinch. "You kept it from her all these years!" "What are you talking about?" Simi asked sharply, her heart racing as she sensed an impending revelation. Abosede looked pale, her hands trembling slightly as she glanced between Gbolahan and Simi. "This isn't the time or place for this discussion." "No," Gbolahan insisted, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "It's time she knows the truth." Simi felt a chill run down her spine; fear gripped her heart as she faced both parents. "What truth?" she demanded, her voice shaking slightly. Gbolahan stood up abruptly, frustration boiling over. "You deserve to know who you are!" "What does that even mean?" Simi asked, fighting against rising panic as she searched their faces for answers. Abosede took a deep breath, her expression softening as she faced Simi directly. "Simi… there are things about your parentage that I never told you." The words hung heavy in the air, and Simi felt the ground shift beneath her feet. "What do you mean?" "I did it to protect you," Abosede said quietly, her voice trembling with emotion. Gbolahan stepped closer, his expression fierce. "You have every right to know where you come from." Simi felt frozen in place, her mind racing as she tried to process what was happening. "Just tell me!" she urged desperately. Abosede took a deep breath, fighting against tears threatening to spill over. "Your biological father… he wasn't who we thought he was." "What do you mean?" Simi asked again, a sense of dread creeping into her heart. "He was involved in things… dangerous things," Abosede continued slowly, a mixture of sadness and regret filling her voice. "I thought it best to keep you away from those truths." Gbolahan nodded solemnly, fingers clenched tightly into fists as he struggled against the emotions swirling within him. Simi could see the pain etched across his features—an acknowledgement perhaps of burdens carried over years spent navigating family dynamics filled with secrets waiting patiently beneath the surface, waiting for an opportunity to arise once more. "What does this have to do with me?" Simi finally asked, a mixture of anger and confusion filling her. "It means that you are part of a legacy that comes with its challenges," Gbolahan said firmly, a hint of authority returning to his tone as he spoke about family responsibilities once more. "I don't care about legacy!" Simi exclaimed defiantly, fighting against tears threatening to spill over her cheeks once again, feeling overwhelmed by everything happening around them right now. "You should care!" Gbolahan shouted back, hurt flashing across his face despite anger bubbling beneath the surface, waiting patiently for the opportunity to arise once more. Abosede stepped forward again, fingers trembling slightly as she reached out toward Gbolahan, trying to bridge the gap formed between them; both were filled only by tension lingering heavily around them. "This isn't helping anyone," she said quietly but firmly. Gbolahan turned away from both women, standing there facing the storms brewing around them, filled with unresolved conflicts, waiting patiently beneath the surface for the opportunity to arise once more. "I'm doing this because I love you both," he said, finally breaking the silence surrounding them, filled only by sounds echoing from nearby streets bustling alive under stars twinkling overhead, illuminating the path ahead leading toward an uncertain future waiting just beyond the horizon. Simi felt torn between anger and sorrow; how could love justify control? How could love justify secrets? "I just want to be happy," she whispered, finally breaking the silence around them, filled only by sounds echoing from nearby streets bustling alive under stars twinkling overhead, illuminating the path ahead, leading toward the uncertain future waiting just beyond the horizon. Abosede stepped closer, wrapping her arms around her daughter, offering comfort against the uncertainties looming ahead, knowing full well that whatever lay before them would require strength and resilience built upon the love shared between them—an unbreakable bond forged through trials faced along the long journey ahead. "I love you too," Abosede said softly, holding onto Simi tightly, reminding everyone present how important love remained amidst trials faced along the journey ahead. Despite everything happening around them, they embraced tightly, surrounded by warmth radiating invitingly against the cool evening breeze greeting their skin; reminding them how much life existed beyond the walls surrounding them right now. Simi knew deep down that no matter what challenges lay ahead, together they could face anything life threw their way.