Flashback
Many Years Earlier
"Why did you call me here?"Lydia whispered, anger laced in her tone as she stared at the masked man in front of her.
She was in the bush and she hated every minute she spent here.The scorching sun gave her skin blisters and burns coupled with the incessant noise of insects here and there. She felt so irritated by everything.Lydia deeply wished nobody saw her as she stared angrily at the man in front of her."I want my balance"he replied abruptly in his deep voice.
Lydia hissed at him and untied a folded part of her wrapper, bringing out some naira notes.
"Here take and never come to this town again. YouThe smirk on Lydia's face immediately disappeared replaced by a menacing glare."Old woman you better keep your mouth shut or else"Lydia threatened as she raised a finger at Nne.Nne wasn't petrified by her threat. She knew Lydia was dangerous but she had made up her mind. She couldn't take Amara's suffering any longer."Or else what? I can't keep this within me any longer. I told chinenye about it but chinenye being a woman with a heart of gold refused to report you to her husband and Francis. All she wanted was peace to reign but i can see all you want is to inflict pains on Amara.Lydia I'll definitely expose this secret today""Lydia I know that you also lied to Ada about Amarachi and told her Ogechi is the better seamstress. All your lies are becoming too much. I'll expose them one by one"Lydia was getting annoyed and agitated by Nne's words.She stepped forward and stared at Nne with a piercing evil grin plastered on her face.
AMARACHI It's been three weeks since Nne left us. Today is her burial.It all felt like a dream to me. She was fine that day so how did she just die?I stared blankly at the sky as if the answer was written on it. The environment and atmosphere made me want to gag.People were wailing and crying."Amarachi o!"aunty Lydia suddenly cried out as she came over to me with some weeping women behind her, trying to restrain her.She hugged me so tightly as she kept on calling my name.I just sat on my spot as she kept on crying onto my shoulders. "Nne is no more o! Who will look after Amara o?!"aunty Lydia cried out as she held onto me.The women behind her kept on trying to restrain her."She was like a mother to me o! A mother to Amarachi o!" I sat on the spot, emotionless as aunty Lydia kept on crying
AMARACHII screamed immediately the hot water touched my skin. I tried removing my hands at that moment but aunty Lydia held my wrist tight.I screamed some more in pains as I could feel my skin peeling off then at once she let go of my wrist.I quickly removed my hands out of the bowl and stared at my blistered hands.My hands were literally shaking and I was quivering in fear and shock."Aunty!"i screamed at aunty Lydia."Why are you so wicked!?"I added in screams of agony and pains.She just smirked at me and watched as my hands kept on quivering."This will serve as a lesson to you"aunty Lydia replied maliciously.The gate suddenly whirled open and Nonso walked inside.He quickened his pace once he spotted how my hands were quivering."Amara what is this?"he asked in concern once he got to me.He brought my hand
Ogechi immediately casted her gaze downwards as the fear and embarrassment struck her immediately she realised the mistake she made."Goodmorning"Jordan greeted with a smile.He immediately recognised Ogechi but kept his cool. He also wondered if Lydia couldn't recognise him since they had run into each other a couple of times when he was with Amarachi.His mother motioned for him to come sit by her. "Meet my son Jordan"Mrs justice remarked with a soft smile as she put her hands over his shoulders.Lydia was oblivious of the discomfort Ogechi was going through . She was too deep in excitement of the fact that her daughter was meeting Jordan that she didn't realise that she herself had met Jordan a couple of times when he was with Amarachi.She kept on grinning from ear to ear as if she had won a lottery. "Ogechi say hi to Jordan"Lydia nudged at ogechi without even glancing at her.Ogechi kept on averting he
AMARACHI "Yes I want to snatch your husband away from you Rebecca!"I added."What will you do about it?"I furrowed my brows at her.Becca stared at me with her parted lips and placed her hands on her chest."My own husband amarachi?"she mouthed."Everytime Amara is a husband snatcher, Amara is this, Amara is that"I mimicked her tone as a smirk curved on the side of my lips."I'll snatch your husband away from you since that is what you want Rebecca and you won't be able to do a thing about it"I threatened."Amara!"Rebecca screamed at me as she immediately tried to slap me but I held her hand in mid air.I gave Becca a menacing look and pushed her away."I have endured all these your rubbish for too long Rebecca. Don't ever in your life try to raise these your filthy hands at me if not I'll make sure I design your fac
Ogechi gasped whilst using her hand to cover her mouth. She looked at her mum intently with her mouth agape.It felt as if the air had been sucked away from Ogechi's lungs. She sat transfixed for a moment, staring at her mother."Mama why now?"Ogechi cried out.Lydia's eyebrow drew to a worried look. She gave Ogechi an angry glare."What do you mean "why"?" Lydia asked, anger laced in her tone.Ogechi crumbled in tears."You shouldn't have done that now. Nne...she was my grandmother too. She wasn't only Amarachi's grandmother. I still loved her. Besides Amarachi is my cousin. Nne loved her more than me and I accepted it. I wasn't bothered. Mama you shouldn't have done that now" Ogechi cried out in a loud wailing. Lydia quickly used her hands to cover Ogechi's mouth which made Ogechi released muffled screams as she tried to free herself from her mother's grip."Are you crazy!? Do you want ever
AMARACHI I stared at kaima with utmost shock. My lips were parted and I couldn't believe what he said."Are you really serious?"I asked astonished by his gift.He nodded his head with a hearty smile on his face. "Kaima this is too much...ummm...why..how..why..You actually bought this for me?"I stuttered unable to bring out the words from my mouth.He laughed and leaned closer, grasping my free hand."Yes i did buy it for you and it's not too much. I'll do more for you Amarachi"I gazed into his eyes and hugged him immediately. I was even shocked by my own actions but he got me a phone so I guess he deserves the hug."Thank you kaima. You are so nice to me. Thank you so much"I was so grateful to him for everything he had done."It's nothing amara"he said with a shrug of shoulders.
Francis turned on his bed and yawned lazily as he slept soundly. He could hear far distant echoes of someone murmuring which disturbed his slumber. His eyes fluttered open and his gaze landed on Lydia who was deeply lost in her thoughts. He was surprised to see her still awake and he noticed she looked so agitated as she was murmuring some incoherent words whilst shaking her head rigorously. It didn't seem like she noticed he was awake."You are still awake?"Francis asked puzzled which cut through Lydia's soliloquy."Yes I'm awake!"Lydia snapped back which startled Francis."I'm awake. While you are busy snoring and sleeping, I am here thinking of our daughter"Francis rolled his eyes and lazily sat up straight, facing Lydia."What did Ogechi do this time?is she pregnant?"Lydia shot him a baleful glare,"Francis are you alright?""Well you