The kitchen felt suffocatingly small as Simi faced her mother, Abosede, the weight of the revelation weighing on them like a thick fog. The warmth that had enveloped them moments before had dissipated, leaving behind a chill that seeped into Simi's bones. She could not believe what she would just discovered: her entire life had been built on a foundation of secrets. "How do I trust you?" Simi asked bitterly, her voice trembling with anger and hurt. "You have kept this from me my entire life! "How do I know you will not keep any more secrets?" Abosede's eyes widened with a mix of shock and sadness. "I did not want to hurt you," she explained softly. "Hurt me? Simi repeated, her anger rising. "You have stripped me of my identity! You raised me to believe I was someone I am not!" Tears welled in Abosede's eyes, but she stood firm. "I was afraid of what your father would do if he found out." "What do you mean?" Simi pressed on, fighting through disbelief and hurt. "How could something as simple as this be a secret?" Abosede stepped back from the sink, her hands trembling slightly as she dried them with a dish towel. "When I was pregnant with you, your father was not the person he is now. He was ambitious, motivated by power and status. I was afraid that if he discovered your true parentage, he would react violently. Simi felt like the ground beneath her feet had shifted. "What is my true parentage? "What exactly are you talking about?" Abosede paused, her voice trembling as she spoke. "You were born out of a relationship I had before meeting your father. Your biological father was someone Gbolahan despised. Simi felt a wave of confusion sweep over her. "What? Why did not you tell me? "Who exactly is he?" "I was afraid," Abosede admitted, her eyes welling up with tears as she remembered the past. "I believed I could protect you by keeping it a secret. I wanted you to live a stable life with Gbolahan. "But it is not fair!" Simi exclaimed, her pain bubbling over. "You made this decision for me without asking! You let me grow up believing I was someone I am not!" "I figured it was for the best!" Abosede cried, her voice breaking and tears streaming down her cheeks. "I wanted to protect you from the pain of knowing that your presence could tear our family apart." Simi was torn between resentment towards Abosede for keeping such a monumental secret and sadness for the fear that had motivated her mother to do so. "So Gbolahan had no idea all along?" "No," Abosede stated firmly, wiping away her tears with determination. "I let him believe you were his daughter because I thought it would keep us safe." "But how about now?" Simi enquired, her voice filled with urgency. "What would happen if he found out? What if the men he is dealing with find out the truth? Abosede looked at Simi with a mix of fear and determination in her eyes. "That is why we have to be careful. We cannot let anyone else find out, especially Gbolahan." Simi shook her head vehemently; she did not want pity or apologies—she wanted understanding and support in the midst of the chaos that was currently surrounding them. "This is no longer about secrets; it is about trust! You should have trusted me enough to inform me!" As they stood there facing each other, Simi realised how fragile their relationship had become as a result of unspoken secrets. She wished for understanding but felt lost in the midst of betrayal. Itunu then entered the kitchen, having overheard some of their heated conversation. She smiled slyly as she took in the scene, the tension crackling like electricity in the air. "What is happening here?" "What is going on here?""It is none of your business, Itunu." "Oh, but it is," Itunu said calmly, a gleam of mischief in her eyes. "I could not help but overhear your brief discussion of family secrets." Abosede turned sharply towards Itunu, her expression darkening. "It is a private matter." "It is only private if you keep it that way," Itunu replied, a smirk on her lips. "But secrets have a way of getting out, do not they?" Simi felt trapped between two powerful forces: her mother, who had always protected her, and Itunu, who thrived on manipulation and deception. The gap between her and Abosede grew wider with each passing moment. "How could we trust you?" Simi asked Abosede again, softer but still hurtful. Abosede's eyes welled with tears as she struggled to find the right words. "Simi, I never wanted to hurt you. "I thought keeping this secret would keep our family safe." "But look where we are today!" Simi exclaimed, a wave of frustration rushing over her. "You have created a chasm between us that seems impossible to bridge." Itunu watched the exchange with keen interest, a predator lurking in the chaos she had created. She leaned closer, sensing another opportunity to exploit their vulnerability. "You know," she said casually, "if Gbolahan found out about your true parentage, he might not react kindly." Simi felt a shiver down her spine at the thought. "Stop it!" she exclaimed, fighting back tears that threatened to spill over once more. But Itunu persisted, a gleam in her eye indicating she was enjoying every moment. "What if he decides you are no longer a member of his family?" What if he considers you a threat? Abosede took a step forward, fury etched on her face. "You would not dare to use this against us!" "It is not threatening if it is the truth," Itunu said calmly, a smile on her lips as she shrivelled in their discomfort. Simi was torn between anger at Itunu and heartbreak over Abosede's secret. "Mom," she said softly, trying not to sound vulnerable. "I need you to be honest with me right now." Abosede looked at Simi with tears of regret and love in her eyes. "I apologise for keeping this from you," she said quietly. "I thought I was keeping you safe from pain." "But it only made the pain worse," Simi said softly, her tone tinged with sadness. "I need to know everything now; no more secrets." As they stood there facing each other, Simi realised how fragile their relationship had become as a result of unspoken secrets. She wished for understanding but felt lost in the midst of betrayal. Itunu observed them closely, sensing a shift in the dynamics between mother and daughter. She could see cracks forming in their bond and realised this was an opportunity for manipulation. "I believe it is time for some honesty all around," Itunu stated calmly, a calculating glint in her eye. "If we want to move forward as a family, we need to lay everything out on the table." Simi turned away from Itunu and focused on Abosede instead. "What should we do now?" Abosede took a deep breath, a look of determination replacing sorrow in her eyes. "We face this together—no more hiding." As they stood together against Itunu's looming presence, Simi felt a spark of hope ignite within her; perhaps they could mend what had been broken after all. But even as they resolved to face their challenges together, Simi could not shake the feeling that danger was just beyond their door, waiting for an opportunity to strike.