MasukShare
Chapter 3
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-04-17 07:37:39The living room buzzed with stifled tension. Chief Kareem’s deep voice floated in and out of Zara’s consciousness as he discussed “family values” and “merging legacies” with her father. Regan sat across from her, back stiff, eyes occasionally glancing her way, unreadable as always.
Zara’s fingers twitched in her lap. She couldn’t breathe in here—couldn’t think straight. With a polite smile that barely masked her frustration, she excused herself. “Excuse me, I need to get something upstairs,” she muttered, not waiting for permission. Once in her room, she locked the door behind her, slumped onto the bed, and grabbed her phone. Her heart beat faster as she pulled up her messages, scrolling until she saw the email again—the one that had flipped her world upside down just hours ago. Congratulations Zara Tunde, you have been shortlisted as one of the finalists for the House of Aramé Model Search. The final selection will take place in three months. Prepare to bring your A-game. She stared at it again, letting the words soak in. This was real. She had a shot. A real shot. Her thumb hovered over Kemi’s contact. She tapped it. “Kemi,” she whispered once the call connected. “Zara? What’s up? You sound like you just ran a marathon.” Zara didn’t waste time. “Kemi, you remember the modeling competition I applied for?” “The House of Aramé one?” Kemi said quickly. “Yeah, of course I remember! You’ve been obsessed with them since forever.” “They picked me,” Zara said, voice trembling. “I got an email. I’m one of the finalists!” There was a pause—and then a shriek so loud Zara had to yank the phone away from her ear. “Zara! Oh my God! Are you serious right now?!” “Yes!” Zara laughed, her first real laugh in days. “It’s happening, Kemi. I just don’t know how I’m going to pull this off with all this marriage drama. You should see my house right now. Regan is here. With his father. My parents are practically planning the wedding already.” “Wait—what?” Kemi sounded horrified. “The Regan? He’s there? As in your future husband that you didn’t even pick?” Zara sighed. “Exactly. They’re all downstairs talking about legacies and alliances and all that crap. Like I’m some pawn on a chessboard.” Kemi hissed. “This is insane. But listen, you got that email for a reason. You can’t just drop your dreams because they want you to play house with some random rich boy.” “I’m not dropping anything,” Zara said, her voice hardening. “In fact, I want us to start putting things in motion now.” “What kind of things?” “Photoshoots. A portfolio. Maybe an I*******m page that looks clean and professional. I want them to see I’m serious.” “Say less,” Kemi replied. “I’ll speak to Lola—she has that camera, right? We’ll start this weekend.” A knock sounded at the door. Zara’s breath hitched. “Someone’s at the door. I need to go.” “Okay, but Zara?” Kemi’s voice softened. “You’ve got this. We’ll figure it out.” Zara ended the call, slid the phone under her pillow, and walked to the door, calming her breath. She expected her mother—or maybe even her father, coming to drag her back to the parlor. But when she opened it, she was met with an entirely different face. Regan. Tall, composed, his expression unreadable as usual. But there was something different in his eyes this time—something sharper. Amusement? Curiosity? His eyes flicked to her phone on the bed, then back to her face. “I was just coming to check if you were alright,” he said smoothly. Then, after a beat, he added with a slight smirk, “Modeling, huh?” Zara froze. Her stomach twisted. He heard. Before she could respond, Regan gave a casual shrug and turned, his voice floating down the hallway as he walked away. “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me… for now.” Zara is left stunned. She doesn’t know what Regan intends to do with what he heard—or if he’ll use it against her. The power dynamic between them just tilted, and now, she’s not sure which side he’s really on.
Bab terkait
The reluctant vow Chapter 4
Zara blinked, her steps faltering as she entered the kitchen and caught sight of Regan—bare-chested, sweatpants hanging low on his waist, his muscular frame bent over the water dispenser as he filled a glass. The silver jug shimmered beneath the fluorescent light, but all she could focus on was the stranger in her house. Again.He looked up briefly, their eyes locking for half a second before he turned away, cool and unbothered. Not a single word. Not even a nod. Just silence.Zara’s brows furrowed in confusion and mild irritation as she backed away and turned down the corridor, storming toward her mother’s room.“Mummy,” she called, pushing open the half-closed door. “Why is Regan in our kitchen?”Mrs. Tunde looked up from where she was folding a wrapper. “Because he’s staying here, Zara.”Zara blinked. “Staying? As in… sleeping over?”Her mother sighed. “Yes. The Kareems are spending the weekend here. Both families agreed. We’re going to start planning the engagement, and this will
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-17The reluctant vow Chapter 5
Zara didn’t expect peace when she came downstairs, but she also didn’t expect the bomb her father was about to drop. The living room was filled with cheerful voices—Chief Kareem’s deep laugh, her mother’s polite chuckles, and her father’s barely hidden pride. Everyone was drinking tea like it was a regular Sunday morning.Until her father cleared his throat and said, “We’ve decided the wedding will be next month. Just enough time for proper preparations.”Zara froze.Kemi’s voice in her head whispered breathe, but it was already too late.“Excuse me?” she said aloud, blinking like she’d misheard.Her father didn’t even look at her. “You heard me. It’s final.”She stood, heart pounding. “And I don’t get a say? You’re just going to marry me off like—like some business deal?”Chief Tunde’s eyes snapped to hers, hard and warning. “Zara. Sit down.”“No,” she said louder now. “You can’t just decide my future without me!”Chief Kareem’s smile stiffened. Mrs. Tunde looked away, pretending to
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-17The reluctant vow Chapter 6
Zara paced the length of her room, her fingers trembling with excitement as she stared at the message on her screen. “Your shoot is confirmed for today at 6 PM. Location: VI. Don’t be late.” She could almost hear Kemi’s voice squealing in her head. It was finally happening.This shoot wasn’t just any shoot—it was a potential launchpad. The kind of opportunity that could change everything.She quickly changed into something casual but sleek, just enough to make it seem like she was going out for something ordinary. If she played this right, she’d be back before dinner. No one would even notice.But her plans shattered the moment her mother’s voice echoed up the stairs.“Zara! Be downstairs in twenty minutes. We’re going to dinner with the Kareems.”Zara froze. “Dinner again?” she muttered under her breath. Her brows furrowed. “Why? We’ve had breakfast, lunch, dinner… brunch… more food than conversation.”Still, she descended the stairs slowly, calculating what excuse to give. Maybe she
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-17The reluctant vow Chapter 7
The evening carried a strange weight—like the end of something, though Zara couldn’t quite place what.Dinner was awkward, tense. Regan sat across from her, his fork barely moving, his face unreadable as ever. Her parents pretended to enjoy the meal, but even her mother kept glancing at the door, as if expecting someone.The someone came fifteen minutes later.Chief Kareem.He entered the house in his usual regal stride, his voice booming as he greeted Mr. and Mrs. Tunde. He kissed the air beside her mother’s cheek and clapped her father on the shoulder like an old friend. Then he turned to Regan and nodded.“Time to head home, son.”Zara blinked. That was it?So, he was finally leaving.It struck her with an odd wave of relief. Since that awkward night in the kitchen and his cryptic “You’re not the only one who feels trapped, Zara,” he had kept to himself. Their interactions had been shallow—safe, surface-level.Now, the visit was over.Apparently, this dinner was Kareem’s version of
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-17The reluctant vow Chapter 8
The morning after the engagement ceremony came too soon. Sunlight spilled across Zara’s room like an unwelcome guest—golden and soft, but to her, it felt harsh, exposing. She lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as the events of the previous day replayed in her mind like a cruel movie on repeat. The music, the forced smiles, the weight of tradition, and—most hauntingly—the muffled conversation she’d overheard between her father and Chief Kareem.She didn’t want to think about it.She didn’t want to remember her father’s voice trembling—not with fear, but with unease—as he whispered, “You promised this would never come back to us.”Zara squeezed her eyes shut, as if that could force the memory out. She didn’t know what they were hiding, and deep down, she feared the answer. But fear wasn’t something she could afford right now. Not when her dreams were dangling by a thread and her freedom was on a timer.Pushing herself off the bed, she reached for her phone. The one person wh
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-26The reluctant vow Chapter 9
The night had settled in like a heavy blanket, silent and still, yet the Tunde household was far from peaceful.In the living room, the air was thick with unspoken words. Mr. Tunde sat in his armchair, his posture rigid, hands clasped tightly together as he stared at the muted television. The glow from the screen reflected in his tired eyes, but his mind wasn’t watching the news.Mrs. Tunde entered quietly, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel. She studied her husband for a moment before walking over to sit beside him. The silence between them stretched long enough to become uncomfortable.“She’s not eating,” she said softly, glancing toward the hallway that led to Zara’s room.Mr. Tunde didn’t look at her. “Let her starve, if that’s what she wants.”“Must you always be this harsh?” Her voice was calm but carried a thread of hurt.His jaw tightened. “She’s too stubborn. I won’t reward that kind of defiance.”“She’s not defiant. She’s just… a dreamer. Like you were once.”His eyes snapp
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-26The reluctant vow Chapter 10
Zara adjusted the strap of her bag and peeked into the mirror one last time. Her outfit was simple, stylish—perfect for a casual photoshoot. Kemi had already sent a text: “Outside your gate, babe. Let’s kill this shoot!”Zara smiled faintly, then exhaled. Modeling again felt like breathing fresh air after months of suffocation. For a few hours today, she would get to be herself. Just Zara. Not someone’s fiancée, not someone trapped in family politics, not the confused girl who overheard her father discussing secrets he shouldn’t have been.She slipped out the back door, her steps light and hurried. She met Kemi in the car and the girls shared an excited squeal before they drove off.“I got this really cool photographer,” Kemi said, eyes sparkling. “And the location? Girl, you’ll love it. Think vintage café meets street style.”Zara nodded eagerly. “I just wanna feel alive again.”The shoot was magic. Zara changed into two outfits, posed under dusky light and cobblestone alleyways, the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-26The reluctant vow Chapter 11
Zara flopped on her bed the moment she got home. The shoot with Kemi had gone surprisingly well, but the unexpected appearance of Regan and Imani at the eatery still rattled her. She couldn’t stop replaying the image of them sitting together, laughing—so familiar, so easy. The sight of them hadn’t been a coincidence. It couldn’t have been.She hadn’t heard anything they said, of course. She and Kemi had quickly paid for their takeout and left. But the sight alone had stirred something in her chest that she couldn’t quite name. Was it jealousy? Annoyance? Or just confusion?Kemi’s voice interrupted her thoughts.“You can’t tell me that didn’t shake you a little,” Kemi said, dropping her bag on the floor and climbing onto Zara’s bed without permission.“It didn’t,” Zara lied, scrolling through her phone like she hadn’t been thinking about it all the way home. “They probably just bumped into each other, like we did.”“Oh please. The way they were seated? That wasn’t a coincidence. They w
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-26
Bab terbaru
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
The 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
The 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
The 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
