Chapter 4

Anita returned home with her parents, who had rushed to her school to witness her graduation ceremony.

Her mother beamed joyfully, while her father maintained his usual stoic expression as he drove them home.

He admired Anita for not letting her beauty affect her success in life, but he was puzzled as to why she stood out as the most beautiful among his daughters.

Despite his wife not giving him a son, he seemed unfazed by it, as their tradition allowed a woman to inherit her father's property even if she was already married to someone else. However, he still pondered whether he was Anita's biological father.

He breathed a sigh of relief as he headed home since the university was conveniently located closer to their city residence. Upon returning home, he pulled into their modest compound and parked. Their residence was a humble bungalow featuring 4 bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and 5 bathrooms. 

Mr. Joshua Baker owned the house, having acquired it directly from the previous landowners. Anita and her mother followed suit and stepped down before him. Anita's sisters Flora, Esther, Favour, Lisa, and Glory were all inside, yet none bothered to come out and greet them upon their arrival home. 

Mrs. Tonia swiftly entered the living room, with Anita close behind, struggling to carry her boxes, as her father stayed in his car, engrossed in a phone call.

"Mom!" Esther and Favour eagerly approached their mother first while Lisa and Glory followed closely behind.

Each of them had separate rooms that they shared. Anita and Flora shared one room, while Esther and Favour shared another. Lisa and Glory shared the last room, which was occasionally used as a guest room.

"Welcome back, Mom. How did the event turn out?" Favour, an 18-year-old girl, consulted her mother first.

"Sure, why don't you consult Anita for more information? She was recognized with two prestigious awards for her exceptional achievements - one for being the top graduating student overall, and another for her outstanding performance in her department," Mrs. Tonia responded promptly with a faint smile, while Favour expressed her disinterest and replied, "Who cares, Mom?"

"Be quiet. Beloved, playful girl. She's your older sister, and showing her some respect is essential!" Mrs. Tonia cautioned Favour as Esther swiftly retorted, "We're not concerned, Mom!"

"Esther!" Mrs. Tonia also warned Esther, who responded by rolling her eyes and standing by the middle door entrance, holding the curtain.

"It's alright, Mom." Anita approached their mom and gently tapped her shoulder, only to receive a blaming response from Mrs. Tonia: "All of this was caused by your father." Mrs. Tonia was on the verge of tears, but her emotions were interrupted when Mr. Joshua entered the living room and inquired, "What happened?"

Mrs. Tonia hastily brushed away her tears and responded, "Nothing. I was just discussing something trivial."

Mrs. Tonia hurriedly walked away into the kitchen as Mr. Joshua's gaze narrowed at Anita, who gave him a faint smile. Despite not being an albino, her beauty was undeniably captivating. Just gazing at her dimples and chubby cheeks made her appear angelic.

"Sure, go ahead and take all these bags inside. By the way, where are your sisters? Flora, Favour!" Mr. Joshua promptly called them out, and they promptly responded, "Yes, Papa! Evening, Dad. Welcome back home."

Flora swiftly passed by Anita, who was struggling with her boxes, and approached their father to warmly embrace him.

"Assist your sister and take that luggage to your rooms," Mr. Joshua instructed Flora after giving her a warm hug. She bit her lip in frustration and finally helped Anita carry her second box to their shared room.

Anita remained silent as Flora swiftly carried her box to the room. However, as Flora prepared to depart, Anita mustered a brief expression of gratitude. Regrettably, Flora did not acknowledge the gesture. Instead, she returned to the living room where her father awaited, leisurely removing his shoes from the couch.

"How's your day going, Flora?" Mr. Joshua finally asked Flora, and the rest of his daughters emerged at that moment.

"Father, do you still recall our agreement about visiting a private university?" Esther inquired.

"Yes, I recall, but you have yet to pass your Jamb exams despite attempting them alongside your younger sister, Favour, multiple times. Why don't you both take a lesson from your older sister, Anita?"

"No, father...." Esther and Favour both responded, leaving their father astonished and speechless.

"What's gotten into you ladies? If you continue struggling to pass your exams this year, consider alternative paths, such as learning a trade or acquiring practical skills. I can only afford to support you both at a private university if you can meet the requirements for a government university. Now, please depart from my presence, quiet youngsters. Please take a moment to learn from your elder sister, Anita. Can't you appreciate her impressive grades, even though she is more attractive than all of you?"

"Father....." Flora, Esther, Favour, and Lisa all expressed their disappointment.

"Quiet down and do not bother me. I have been a caring and devoted father to all of you, yet I feel disappointed by the lack of reciprocation in our relationship. Fail your exams again this year and witness a different side of me!" Mr. Joshua cautioned, rising from the couch. At that moment, his wife emerged from the kitchen and gazed at him and their five daughters in the living room, while Anita remained in her room.

"Excuse me!" Mr. Joshua swiftly passed his daughters and entered the room he shared with his wife, fully aware of his responsibility. He now deeply regrets how he treated his eldest daughter, Anita, and how he made her feel like an outcast compared to her sisters.

Additionally, he's currently dealing with challenges at his office, as discrepancies were found in some transactions under his records. If the error isn't corrected, he could potentially lose his job as a banker in a government-owned bank. His brows creased as his wife entered their room shortly after.

"Are you not being too harsh on our daughters today?" Mrs. Tonia inquired, but Mr. Joshua simply glanced at his wife, choosing not to respond as he gazed into the distance.

He loosened his necktie with a sense of urgency and swiftly removed his long-sleeve shirt.

"I'm getting dinner ready; it's getting late already." Mrs. Tonia tried to inform him, but he continued to be unresponsive, even managing to misplace his trouser belt.

"Honey, why are you not responding?" Mrs. Tonia wasted no time asking him, to which he responded, "What do you expect me to say to you? Can't you see that I am occupied with other tasks?"

Mr. Joshua swiftly walked past his wife and entered the bathroom to freshen up while Mrs. Tonia sighed and shook her head with a tinge of sadness. She knows something is off with him, as his behavior has been unusual lately. He even seemed happier when Anita was announced as the winner of two prestigious awards. However, his joy quickly turned to disappointment when he noticed Anita's approach. Anita seemed to believe that he despised her and was not proud of her accomplishment, as she did not smile upon approaching.

Mrs. Tonia reminisced, a faint smile gracing her face as she recalled her husband's reaction to their daughter's victories. Despite the modest rewards offered by the school, consisting of cash and medals, Mrs. Tonia firmly believes that her daughter's certificate will pave the way for a lucrative career in their country.

Mrs. Tonia swiftly exited the room she shared with her husband, who was indulging in a refreshing bath.

She swiftly entered the kitchen, finding the okra soup she was preparing already warmed. With efficiency, she carefully portioned it into separate soup plates.

At that moment, Glory entered the kitchen to help and brought the food to the dining room, which was next to their living room.

Glory is a 14-year-old girl. Her children are close in age, with only a two-year gap between them. Glory is currently in Junior Secondary School 3.

"Mom, I want to become a business administrator like my big sister, Anita," Glory said, holding the tray of soup carefully as she looked up at their mother.

"That's not an issue, Glory. You should also put in effort and dedicate time to studying. I'm here to provide you with guidance and support, like Anita," Mrs. Tonia beams at her youngest child.

"Hey, mom, is big sis planning to tie the knot anytime soon?" "Chika told me about her big sister's situation, as she mentioned that she won't be returning home since she's pregnant and expecting a child with her fiance," Glory inquired.

"No Glory!. I don't have all the details; Anita's priority is finding employment before establishing a more permanent lifestyle. Your big sister is focused on her goals and values her independence, not wanting to depend on a man for money," Mrs. Tonia replied.

"Oh, Mom, you rely on our father for financial support?" Glory asked, catching her mother off guard.

"No Glory!. Alright, let's wrap up this conversation. Hurry and bring the soup out immediately to prevent it from getting cold. Wow, Anita is already here to help us." Mrs. Tonia's smile was barely noticeable as Glory shifted her attention to Anita standing near the kitchen door.

Anita caught wind of their conversation, and a subtle smile also graced her face. 

"Why are you just standing there and staring at us? Join us in helping to serve the dinner promptly. I'm sure your father will be at the dining soon," Mrs. Tonia said. However, Anita's smile vanished as she heard her father's name; she held negative feelings towards him.