INICIAR SESIÓNThe police siren got louder.Everybody in Villa Literno square turned. A white Hilux with "NPF" written on it was struggling on the mud road, kicking up red dust. Behind it was a black Toyota Camry.Sophia smiled. A wicked smile."My father sent them! My father is a commissioner! I called him! He sent police to arrest this old man for kidnapping my husband!" she shouted, pointing at Jacob. She was filming again on Instagram Live."Guys, look! Police is coming to save my husband from this village!"The village women started panicking. "Police! Police don come!"Jacob did not move. He sat on his stool under the mango tree, calm. Chief Alao stood beside him, also calm, sipping palm wine like he was waiting for this.The Hilux stopped. Two policemen with guns came out. A fat man in agbada came out of the Camry — Sophia's father, Commissioner Adeyemi."Where is my son-in-law? Who is holding my son-in-law hostage?" the Commissioner shouted.David stood up from the farm, mud on his legs, cut
Sophia Adeyemi had never entered a village in her life.She was born in Ikoyi. Raised in London for secondary school. Her  was full of Dubai, Lekki, and Banana Island brunches. The worst place she had ever been was Ajegunle for a music video shoot, and she wore a nose mask the whole time.So when her driver stopped at the entrance to Villa Literno and said, "Madam, car cannot enter again, road too bad," she almost fainted."What? What do you mean car cannot enter? Do you know how much this shoe cost?" she screamed, wearing white designer sneakers that cost N150,000.The driver pointed at the red mud road, full of potholes and goats."Madam, if we enter, we will get stuck. You have to walk. Or take okada."Sophia looked at the okada — a dirty motorcycle with two chickens tied to it.She almost turned back. But then she remembered why she came.Her husband, David Okon, the billionaire CEO, had been in this bush for 3 days. Her Instagram followers were dropping. Her friends were laughin
The morning David Okonkwo returned to Villa Literno as a farmer, the entire village came out to watch.No suit. No Rolex. No Benz.David wore a faded singlet that his father gave him, old trousers rolled to the knee, and bare feet in the red mud. In his hands, he held a cutlass — the same cutlass his father had used for forty years.His hands, which used to sign million-dollar cheques and hold wine glasses, were already shaking."From today, you are not CEO," Jacob said, standing in front of his small, broken hut. His voice was firm, but not wicked. Like a teacher. "From today, you are my son again. And my son knows how to farm."David looked at the farm. It was not like his mansion in Lekki. There was no marble tile. The land was dry. The sun was brutal. The yams were small.This was the land his father sold half of to pay his school fees.Sophia called him on video. He answered, sweating."David! Where are you? Your  is blowing up! People saw the village video! They are calling you
The next morning, the village square in Villa Literno had never seen such a crowd.Old men with walking sticks. Market women with babies on their backs. Youths who had returned from Lagos for Christmas. Everyone was there.In the middle of the square, on a low wooden stool, sat Jacob Okonkwo. He wore a clean white agbada, given to him by Chief Alao. His face was calm, but his eyes were tired.Beside him stood Chief Emeka Alao, the billionaire, in his white agbada and red cap. Two policemen and three of Chief Alao's bodyguards stood behind them.And in front of Jacob, kneeling on the red sand, was David Okon.Not David Okon the CEO. Not David Okon in Armani suit. Just David, in a simple faded shirt and trousers, no shoes, his hands dirty. The same way he was twenty years ago when he left the village.The village head, Igwe Okoro, spoke loudly, his voice shaking with anger."David Okonkwo! Is it true you threw your own father into the gutter in Lagos? Is it true you told security to bea
David Okon stood frozen at the door of Chief Alao's mansion. His Armani suit, his expensive wine shattered on the floor, his  watch — all suddenly meant nothing. Because in front of him, sitting on a golden chair, was the father he threw into the gutter yesterday. Jacob was clean now. He wore a white native dress, like a king. His wound was treated. He held a cup of tea. But his eyes were not happy. They were sad and disappointed . Chief Alao stood up slowly. He was a big man, tall and powerful. His voice filled the entire living room. "David Okon, you told my secretary you are a self-made man. You told everyone your parents died in a fire. You told  that you rose from nothing." Chief Alao pointed at Jacob. "Is this nothing? Is this man nothing?" David's legs shook. He fell to his knees. The tears came, real tears this time. "Papa... Papa, please..." Jacob stood up. He walked slowly to his son. Every step was heavy. He remembered the goats he sold. The land he sold. The ni
David Okon could not sleep that night. For the first time in ten years, his mansion felt cold.His wife Sophia was live on Instagram again, but this time she was crying."Guys, like, this old man came to our gate claiming to be my husband's father. My husband is an orphan! It's so embarrassing! What if my friends think I married a poor man?"Comments were flying: "Is your husband lying about being self-made?" "Is that man really his father?"David grabbed her phone and threw it against the wall. It shattered."Shut up! Shut up! It was not my father! It was a scammer! A scammer!"But his hands were shaking badly. He poured whiskey but spilled it.He knew the truth. That old man in the gutter, with the brown slippers held together with wire, was his father. His real father. Jacob Okonkwo. The man who sold his land to pay his school fees.He remembered the day he left the village. He promised, "Papa, I will build you a big house."He built a big house. But he locked his father out of it.







