บททั้งหมดของ The reluctant vow: บทที่ 231 - บทที่ 240

The following days slipped by like sand through Zara’s fingers — fast, breathless, and heavy with anticipation. There was no time to second-guess anymore. Once she made the choice to see this mission through, everything became about one thing: preparation.She started small. A discreet suitcase tucked beneath her wardrobe, slowly filling up with essentials each night after Regan fell asleep. Maternity dresses that would keep her comfortable during travel. Flat shoes that wouldn’t strain her swollen feet. A slim folder packed with every single clue and printed email related to Zainab’s disappearance. And, tucked at the bottom, a weathered notebook — filled with scribbled questions, theories, and names that had haunted her since the day this search began.Every item felt like a piece of armor.Kemi handled the rest with the efficiency of someone used to secrets. She booked flight tickets under fake names — nothing too suspicious, just cautious enough to avoid drawing attention. She also

The Lagos skyline slowly faded into the distance as the car rolled onto the highway, trading skyscrapers for vast stretches of open road and fields bathed in the soft glow of the morning sun. The hum of the tires against the asphalt filled the silence inside the vehicle — a silence that was not empty, but heavy. It was the kind of silence that carried secrets, fears, and the weight of questions that had lingered for too many years.Zara sat in the back seat beside Kemi, her hand resting protectively on her belly as she gazed out the window. Towns and villages blurred into a haze of colors and motion, but her mind wasn’t here — it was wandering through memories she had tried so hard to bury. Memories of whispered conversations, unanswered questions, and the haunting name that had shaped so much of her life: Zainab.What if she was alive?What if she wasn’t?What if the truth was something she wasn’t prepared to hear?Kemi, sensing the weight of Zara’s thoughts, tried to cut through the

Zara stood barefoot on the balcony of their new hotel suite, the soft night breeze carrying the faint scent of rain and earth. The lights of Kwara town twinkled in the distance, and for a brief moment, she almost forgot why they were there. Almost.Her phone felt heavier than usual in her hand as she stared at the screen, Regan’s name glowing back at her. She had been delaying this call since they’d arrived, dreading the sound of his voice — not because she didn’t want to hear it, but because lying to him had never come naturally. And now, she was about to do it again.Finally, she pressed dial.The line rang twice before his deep, familiar voice answered, warm and teasing.“My queen,” Regan said. “I was just about to call you. Are you settled?”Zara smiled despite the tightness in her chest. “Hey, love. Yeah… we just got in.”“You sound tired,” he said, his tone softening. “Did the trip wear you out too much?”“A little,” she admitted, leaning against the balcony railing. “But the pl

The morning sun climbed lazily over the quiet streets of Ilorin as the trio packed up their belongings and prepared for the final stretch of their mission. Zara moved slowly, one hand resting protectively on her belly while the other clutched the small folder of documents they’d gathered so far. Her nerves hummed beneath her skin — this wasn’t just a road trip anymore; they were driving toward answers she’d spent a lifetime craving.Nathan loaded the last of the bags into the back of the SUV, double-checking the tires and fuel while Kemi fussed over snacks and water bottles. “You’re acting like we’re crossing the Sahara,” he teased, watching her cram yet another bottle of water into the cooler.“Please,” she shot back, shutting the lid with a dramatic sigh. “You’re the one who said we’re going to a village. I’m not about to die of dehydration in the middle of nowhere.”“You’ll survive,” Nathan said with a small grin. “I’ve seen you survive Lagos traffic on a Monday morning. A little v

Morning crept over Ajegunle-Oke in soft, golden streaks, casting a warm glow through the thin curtains of the small lodge room. The roosters had been crowing since before dawn, and the distant hum of village life was already awake — vendors setting up their stalls, goats bleating, the rhythmic clang of pots and pans echoing from nearby kitchens.Inside, however, the atmosphere was markedly different. It was sharp. Purposeful. Tense — but not just because of the mission ahead.Kemi was the first to emerge from her room, dressed in simple jeans, a loose white blouse, and sneakers — practical and ready for whatever the day might bring. She moved around the small shared sitting area with restless energy, double-checking the notes she’d scribbled in her phone about Matron Halimah and the details the PI had given them.Nathan came out a few minutes later, rolling the stiffness from his shoulders after a night of tossing and turning. He’d hardly slept — not because of nerves about the day ah