บททั้งหมดของ The reluctant vow: บทที่ 51 - บทที่ 60

Zara tossed her bag onto the bed, the weight of the day pressing into her bones. It wasn’t just the stress of work—it was the tension at home. Her father’s cold remark earlier still echoed in her mind:“Thank God you knew.”As if that alone justified everything.She had barely taken off her shoes when her eyes caught something on the dresser—something that stopped her cold.A brown envelope.Her heart skipped. Slowly, she walked toward it.No. It couldn’t be.She had trashed that thing. She had tossed the original USB envelope into her bedroom wastebasket just two nights ago in a fit of anger, not even sparing a glance at the contents. She had crushed the paper in her palm, hissed in frustration, and thrown it out. It was gone.So how was it here again?She stared at the envelope. Same look. Same size. Same weight. Same quiet threat.Her pulse picked up speed.There was a note on top again—folded neatly and taped shut.“You can ignore the truth, Zara. But it won’t stop being true. Wat

Imani sat on the edge of her bed, the quiet hum of her phone in her palm the only sound in the room. Her gaze was fixed on the alert that had just popped up. Ten million naira. It’s done, she thought to herself, a satisfied smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. She had played her cards right, and now she had exactly what she wanted. The money had arrived without any real effort on her part—Regan had folded quickly, his father too eager to avoid any further mess.She set the phone down and ran a hand through her hair, the silence in the room now almost deafening. The luxury of knowing she had the upper hand felt good, but she wasn’t done yet. She had made her move, but now it was time for Regan to understand that she wasn’t going anywhere. Not for now. Not ever.Imani grabbed her phone again and dialed Regan’s number, her fingers tapping the screen with calculated precision. The moment the call connected, she heard Regan’s voice, colder than she had ever heard it.“What do you want

The air at the dinner table was thick with the scent of fried plantains and grilled chicken, but for Zara, everything felt like smoke and mirrors. She poked at her food in silence, her mind spinning with the script she and Kemi had rehearsed over the phone for hours. The modeling agency in Abuja had reached out again with an even bigger offer—$2000 this time—for another campaign shoot. It was the kind of gig she couldn’t afford to miss, not with her career barely finding its footing. But the problem wasn’t the job. It was her parents.She cleared her throat softly, testing the waters.“Mum, Dad…” she began, her voice tentative, “I forgot to mention earlier. My office selected me for a leadership retreat. It’s in Port Harcourt this weekend.”Her mother, who had just taken a sip from her cup of zobo, raised her brows slightly but said nothing. Her father, on the other hand, paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. He looked at her, then at her mother, then back at Zara.“A leadership

Regan arrived at the Tunde residence with his usual cool confidence. Dressed in a well-fitted ash shirt and dark jeans, he exuded calm assurance as he sat across from Mr. and Mrs. Tunde in the sitting room. The mood was quiet, formal, the air thick with unspoken tension.Zara joined moments later, dressed casually, phone in hand. The moment she saw Regan seated with her parents, she took a deep breath, remembering the plan. Time to act.“Good evening,” Regan began smoothly. “Thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I came because I want to discuss something important regarding Zara and me.”Mr. Tunde leaned forward. “We’re listening.”Regan continued, “We’re just two weeks away from our wedding, and I believe it’s important we take a step toward understanding each other better before then. So, I suggested a short trip—just a few days—to Obudu Cattle Ranch. It’s not too far, still within the country. I think the time away could help us prepare mentally and emotionally for the new

Regan didn’t waste time. The moment Zara left ,he made his way back to the study where his father sat alone, calmly sipping on a glass of red wine like nothing unusual had happened just minutes ago.He closed the door behind him and leaned against it, folding his arms. “Dad, why did Imani say what she said?”Chief Kareem glanced up, unsurprised. “She said many things. Be specific.”“You know what I mean,” Regan said, stepping further in. “She didn’t reveal the real truth. Why?”His father sighed, placing the glass down on the mahogany table. “Because I asked her not to.”“You what?” Regan’s voice rose slightly. “Why would you even—?”“I gave her five million naira,” Chief Kareem interrupted coolly. “To play her role. To say just enough to get Zara back on your side, and nothing more.”Regan blinked. “Five million?” His jaw tightened. “But she already asked for ten million before—don’t tell me you gave her another five on top?”Chief Kareem leaned back in his chair, a slight smirk pull