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Chapter 28
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2025-04-27 02:56:02
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The reluctant vow Chapter 29
The morning sun barely warmed Zara as she sat by her window, staring out blankly at the street below.She hadn’t slept much the night before — every time she closed her eyes, flashes of her conversation with Regan haunted her.The words repeated themselves in her mind, over and over:“I’m sorry. I don’t want you to think it meant anything serious.”Her heart ached with humiliation.No matter how much she tried to act tough, the truth was she felt discarded, like a fool.Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.She glanced at it — a message from Kemi.Kemi: You awake? Should I come over?Zara thought for a moment, then replied:Zara: Give me like two hours. I’ll come to yours instead. I need a change of environment.Kemi replied with a string of heart emojis. Zara forced a smile.At least she still had friends who genuinely cared.Dragging herself up, she got dressed in jeans and a loose T-shirt, tied her braids into a messy bun, and slipped out quietly.Her parents were downstairs — her fa
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-27The reluctant vow Chapter 30
The morning sun crept lazily through Regan’s window, but there was nothing bright about the day for him.He sat at the edge of his bed, staring down at his phone as if it could change the situation. His thumb hovered over Zara’s number for a full minute before he finally pressed it.It rang twice before she answered.“Hello?” Zara’s voice was soft, hopeful even.Regan swallowed hard. He hated what he was about to say.“Zara… I’m sorry, but I can’t make it today. Something urgent came up,” he forced out.There was a long pause.He could almost hear her heartbeat through the silence.When she finally spoke, her voice was icy.“You know what, Regan? Don’t ever call me again to invite me anywhere,” she said sharply. “Don’t ever bother. Just stay in your lane. Stay there until our parents are ready to throw me into your family like some unwanted thing!”“Zara, please just listen—” he began desperately.But she wasn’t having it.“I don’t want to hear it!” she snapped. “I don’t care what you
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-27The reluctant vow Chapter 31
The morning sun poured weakly through the blinds, casting long slanted shadows across the room. Regan sat at the edge of his bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands tangled in his hair. He had barely slept a wink, haunted by everything that had unfolded the previous day — Zara’s angry words, Imani’s blackmail, and the mess his life was spiraling into.His phone vibrated on the nightstand.A new message.He grabbed it, already expecting the worst.But it was from Zara.“I’m less angry now. If you still want to talk, I’m free this evening.”Regan let out a slow breath. Relief and guilt warred inside him.She was giving him another chance.But he wasn’t sure he deserved it.Just then, his phone buzzed. A message from Imani.“See you today. Same time as last. 1 PM. Room 305. Don’t be late. Or don’t bother calling this child yours when he or she is born.”Regan read the message twice, his jaw tightening.He sighed and typed back,“lol I would love that tho.”It didn’t take Imani tw
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-27The reluctant vow Chapter 32
Regan slammed the car door harder than he meant to when he got home.The house was silent, peaceful — a sharp contrast to the war raging inside him.He hated himself.He hated that despite all his promises to be better, despite knowing how much was at stake, he had once again let his weakness control him.One moment of stupidity.One careless night.And now guilt was chewing him alive.Zara.He thought of her, her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she laughed.He had been making progress with her — tiny, beautiful steps forward.Now he had thrown it all away for a few minutes of reckless lust.He was still brooding in the living room when his father, Chief Kareem, walked in, wearing his usual intimidating air of authority.“Regan,” Chief Kareem said briskly, not wasting a second. “Family announcement dinner is this Friday evening. Be there. We’ll be officially announcing the date of your wedding to Zara.”Regan froze.Wedding.He was getting married.To the one girl he had been betr
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-27The reluctant vow Chapter 33
Zara hadn’t planned to walk into Regan’s office that afternoon. She told herself she would be calm, professional. She told herself she was done letting him get under her skin.But after the show Imani pulled earlier with the gift delivery — the flowers, the note — her blood was boiling too fiercely for calmness.Without knocking, she pushed his office door open.Regan, who had been reviewing documents for the upcoming family dinner, looked up sharply.The second his eyes met hers, he tensed.There was fire in her gaze — raw, unforgiving.“Zara,” he said, standing up slowly. “What’s wrong?”“What’s wrong?” she repeated, her voice sharp with disbelief. “You’re seriously asking me that?”He frowned. “Zara, what happened?”She threw the small card onto his desk. The one that came attached to Imani’s flowers and gifts.“From Regan Kareem to my darling Imani.”Regan stared at it like it was a snake about to bite him.“What the hell is this?” he asked, genuinely confused.“You tell me!” Zara
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-27The reluctant vow Chapter 34
Zara pushed open the front door and walked in, her heels clicking softly against the marble floors.The house smelled faintly of jollof rice and fried plantains, but even that couldn’t lift the heavy weight sitting on her chest.She was exhausted — physically, emotionally, everything in between.Her father’s voice boomed from the living room before she even made it past the hallway.“Zara, your wedding announcement dinner is tomorrow at 5 p.m.,” he said, not even looking up from his newspaper. “Just have it at the back of your mind.”Zara dropped her bag on the console table and kicked off her shoes.“I knew that already,” she replied dryly, her voice flat. “Mr. Kareem already sent me the invitation.”She didn’t miss the sharp glance her father threw her way.“It’s not an invitation,” he barked. “It’s our family announcement. You’re not a guest — you’re the reason everyone is gathering.”Zara rolled her eyes slightly.“Yeah, I know. I’m the one you’re all about to give out like a part
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-27The reluctant vow Chapter 35
Zara’s heels clicked sharply against the marble floors, each step punctuating the growing unease in her chest. The dinner had been a spectacle — a lavish affair with far too many smiles that felt fake and far too many eyes that seemed to follow her every move. As Zara mingled with the guests, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of her situation pressing down on her. The engagement was official now, the date set, and nothing about it felt genuine.She could feel Imani’s gaze on her from across the room. The woman was lingering far too close for comfort, always within Zara’s line of sight, her smirk never wavering. Zara tried to ignore it, pushing down the discomfort gnawing at her. Imani wanted attention, and Zara was determined not to give her the satisfaction of acknowledging it.Kemi, however, had a different idea. Zara turned toward her best friend just as Kemi spotted Imani. Without hesitation, Kemi marched across the room, her stance filled with determination. Zara watched as h
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-27The reluctant vow Chapter 36
Later that evening, Zara found herself in her room, sitting on the bed, her thoughts racing. She couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that there was more to Regan’s behavior than he was letting on. It wasn’t just the coldness between them now, or the gifts from Imani that still made her stomach turn; it was everything. The way he avoided answering her questions, the way he acted like everything was fine when she could see the cracks forming around him.Just then, the door creaked open, and Kemi stepped inside, looking every bit the comforting friend Zara needed at that moment. She glanced at Zara’s furrowed brow and knew immediately that something was bothering her.“You okay?” Kemi asked, sitting next to her on the bed.Zara let out a sigh, leaning back against the headboard. “No, I’m not. Everything is just… complicated. I don’t even know where to start.”Kemi raised an eyebrow. “Well, why don’t you start with Regan? You’ve been avoiding him all night.”Zara shook her head. “I’m not a
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-27
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The reluctant vow Chapter 44
The ride to the hospital was uneventful, though Kemi kept glancing at her phone like she was expecting a message. They didn’t talk much—both of them were still unsettled from the strange Imani encounter the last time.As they walked through the hospital doors, the scent of antiseptic hit them instantly. Zara wrinkled her nose while Kemi headed straight for the nurse’s desk to check in. After confirming the appointment, they were told to wait.The hallway was quiet except for the occasional beeping of machines and the echo of nurses’ footsteps. Zara sat beside Kemi, eyes drifting lazily over the faded posters on the wall.Ten minutes later, a nurse stepped out and called, “Miss Kemi Adebayo?”“That’s me,” Kemi stood, brushing invisible dust from her jeans. “You’re coming in with me, right?”“Of course,” Zara replied.Inside the dimly lit scan room, the doctor motioned for Kemi to lie down. Zara stood at her side as the technician prepared the gel and equipment. The whirring of the mach
The reluctant vow Chapter 43
Zara didn’t even finish brushing her hair that morning. She just tossed it into a bun, slipped on a hoodie, grabbed the flash drive, and dashed out. Her heart thumped the whole way to Kemi’s house, the mysterious note echoing in her head: He’s not who you think he is.Kemi’s mother opened the door with a warm smile, still in her satin wrapper and a shower cap.“Zara! Long time, my dear.”Zara curtsied lightly, breathless but polite. “Good morning, ma. It’s been a while.”“You and Kemi don’t visit like you used to,” the woman teased as she opened the door wider.“We’ve just been swamped with… stuff,” Zara replied, trying not to seem too anxious. “Is Daddy home?”“No, he’s gone for a business trip. Traveled late last night. You just missed him.”“Oh, okay,” Zara nodded, thankful. That meant fewer eyes watching her every move.She climbed the familiar stairs and pushed open Kemi’s door to find the room empty but the bathroom light on. The sound of running water echoed faintly.“Kemi!” sh
The reluctant vow Chapter 42
The morning sun broke gently through Zara’s bedroom window, but its warmth did little to thaw the cold, tight feeling in her chest. She was back at her father’s house now—just as planned—but something about it felt off. Foreign. Like she had left a part of herself behind at the Kareem mansion.Her mother’s knock came soft but insistent.“Zara, are you awake?”Zara sat up slowly, pressing a hand to her forehead. “Yeah,” she called back, though her voice barely rose above a whisper.The door cracked open, and her mother peeked in. Her eyes immediately scanned Zara’s face. “You look pale. Did you sleep at all?”“I’m fine,” Zara replied quickly, swinging her legs off the bed. “Just… tired.”Mrs. Tunde stepped in fully, her brows drawing close with concern. “You’ve been looking tired a lot lately. Is this about the wedding?”Zara gave a small, rehearsed smile. “Just nerves, I guess.”Her mother didn’t look convinced, but she nodded. “Well, breakfast is ready.”“Okay. I’ll be down in a minu
The reluctant vow Chapter 41
The atmosphere inside the Kareem mansion was different that night—tense, quiet, final. Tomorrow, Zara would return to her father’s house. The wedding was drawing near, yet everything felt off balance.Zara sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the clock. It was almost midnight. She couldn’t sleep with the weight of uncertainty pressing against her chest. The stalker’s message still haunted her, and Regan’s growing distance gnawed at her thoughts.She stood up abruptly, her bare feet padding quietly down the hallway to Regan’s room. This couldn’t wait.He was still awake, seated on the couch near his window, a glass of something dark in his hand. The moment she walked in, he looked up.“We need to talk,” Zara said, closing the door behind her.Regan leaned back slightly, eyebrows raised. “About what?”Zara took a breath. “About us. About… everything. Look, this is our last night here. After this, I go back to my father’s house. We’re getting married soon, Regan. And if we’re going to
The reluctant vow Chapter 40
Zara barely registered the drive back to Kareem’s Mansion. Her mind buzzed with everything she had witnessed tonight. Every corner, every sharp turn Regan had taken, every shadowy figure he had met with—Imani, whoever she was, seemed like a piece of a puzzle Zara didn’t yet have the full picture of. The night air was thick with tension, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was getting closer to something dangerous.As she pulled into the driveway, Zara quickly shut off the engine and climbed out of her car. She glanced around, ensuring no one was watching, before heading to the front door. The mansion was eerily quiet at this hour, and Zara was grateful for the silence. Her steps were steady, but her mind raced.As she reached for the door, the cold handle greeting her with a sense of finality, she froze. The last thing she expected was to bump into Regan.He stood there, looking at her with a raised eyebrow, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his coat.“Did you go out?” Reg
The reluctant vow Chapter 39
Zara hadn’t planned on making it a habit. But each night, as the house fell silent, she couldn’t help herself. The urge to follow Regan, to figure out just what the hell was going on, gnawed at her.It wasn’t like she was obsessed… well, maybe she was. Just a little.She would tell herself it was nothing, just curiosity, just needing to understand the pieces of the puzzle that were Regan’s life — the pieces he kept locked away. But each night, as he slipped out for another mysterious errand, she found herself slipping behind him again.It had started as an occasional thing, but now it was becoming routine. Every night, she donned the same hoodie, flattened her chest, and turned her mind off to any risk of getting caught. She had already followed him twice this week, each time more daring than the last. But tonight, she could feel the tension in her bones. Tonight, it felt different.She leaned against her window, watching as Regan prepared to leave. The same strange feeling settled in
The reluctant vow Chapter 38
The house was unusually quiet that evening, the kind of quiet that made every creak of the floorboards echo louder than necessary. Zara wandered aimlessly down the long hallway leading to the private cinema room, intending to grab the sweater she had left there earlier. She wasn’t thinking much about Regan — at least not until she approached the corner near his bedroom.That’s when she heard it.Muffled voices leaked from his slightly open door. She froze, instincts sharpening.It was Regan’s voice. And he was on the phone.Curiosity tugged at her, rooting her to the spot. She knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but something about the urgency in his tone made her inch closer, her back pressed against the cool marble wall.“…you need what?” Regan’s voice was low but irritated. car for what now?”Zara’s brows knitted together, but she kept listening.There was a pause, then Regan spoke again, his frustration barely masked.“You’re demanding for a car because of a baby that’s still in the w
The reluctant vow Chapter 37
The morning light spilled softly into Zara’s room at the Kareem mansion, but she had barely slept. She turned onto her side, staring blankly at the elegant curtains, her mind still replaying the conversation with Kemi the night before. Her father’s warning echoed louder with every passing hour.A light knock came at the door before it creaked open. Kemi’s head popped in, her hair wrapped messily in a scarf.“Rise and shine, bride-to-be,” she said teasingly, stepping inside with two mugs of coffee in her hands.Zara sat up, forcing a small smile. “Thanks. God knows I need it.”Kemi sat beside her on the bed and handed her a mug. “You look like you’ve been wrestling demons all night.”Zara laughed dryly. “I feel like it.”For a few minutes, they sipped quietly, the comfort of friendship filling the silence.Then, Kemi’s voice turned serious. “Zara, what are you going to do? About all this?” She gestured vaguely around the luxurious room.Zara stared into her coffee. “I don’t know. I fee
The reluctant vow Chapter 36
Later that evening, Zara found herself in her room, sitting on the bed, her thoughts racing. She couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that there was more to Regan’s behavior than he was letting on. It wasn’t just the coldness between them now, or the gifts from Imani that still made her stomach turn; it was everything. The way he avoided answering her questions, the way he acted like everything was fine when she could see the cracks forming around him.Just then, the door creaked open, and Kemi stepped inside, looking every bit the comforting friend Zara needed at that moment. She glanced at Zara’s furrowed brow and knew immediately that something was bothering her.“You okay?” Kemi asked, sitting next to her on the bed.Zara let out a sigh, leaning back against the headboard. “No, I’m not. Everything is just… complicated. I don’t even know where to start.”Kemi raised an eyebrow. “Well, why don’t you start with Regan? You’ve been avoiding him all night.”Zara shook her head. “I’m not a
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