Episodes 11

Episode 21

Vivian's Departure

"Vivian… Vivian!" I called out as I entered the house, my voice echoing, but there was no response. Panic gripped me. I rushed to the gate. "Jude!" I shouted. The gatekeeper ran toward me, sensing the urgency in my voice.

"Sir, I see Madam Vivian," he said, rubbing his hands on his shirt. "I asked her where she was taking her bag, and she told me today she was leaving. Said she didn't want to disturb you. So, she has gone."

I cursed under my breath, anger and frustration rising inside me. "Vivian… it just shouldn't be you." I slammed my fist into my palm, losing the button on my shirt in the process. My thoughts were a mess, and just as I was about to lose control, my phone rang.

"Elo, Inspector?" I answered quickly.

"We've caught her, sir. On our way now," the voice on the other end said.

I breathed a sigh of relief, about to grab my car keys, but the phone rang again.

"Shola," I answered, knowing the tone of the voice immediately.

"Ma, Ayobami is awake." My heart skipped a beat. I froze.

"Shola… is she okay?" I asked, unable to contain the flood of relief rushing through me.

"She's asking for you. I'm on my way."

My tears came without warning, the relief too much to handle. I grabbed my car keys and rushed out.

Hospital Scene

I rushed into the hospital, nearly running past everyone gathered around Ayobami's bed. I saw a couple there, undoubtedly Ayobami's parents. Ayo looked so much like her mother, and it was clear where Ayobami got her strength from. I walked over, greeting everyone, trying to hide the tears that kept welling up in my eyes.

"Elo, pretty," I said gently, rubbing her cheek. Ayobami gave a weak smile in response, brightening her pale face for a moment.

"Don't force it," I whispered to her as I kissed her forehead softly. Slowly, one by one, they left, leaving us alone.

"You look so rough," Ayobami whispered.

"Did I trouble you that much?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I shook my head, tears threatening to spill again. The emotions I had been holding in for days finally broke free. I had been so afraid I might lose her. I tried to control myself but couldn't, and I quietly sobbed by her bedside.

"Ayo," she said softly, her smile growing faint.

"Thank you," I whispered. "Thank you for not giving up on me."

"I thought I lost you," I said, kissing her hand. She looked at me, her eyes soft, her smile faint but genuine.

"And what do you find amusing, Miss Ayobami?" I teased, trying to lighten the moment.

"You crying," she said, the pain stopping her from laughing, though it made me chuckle instead.

Just then, a nurse approached, telling me I had to leave so Ayobami could rest. She had to sleep, the nurse explained, as she administered an injection into Ayobami's drip.

"I promise, I won't disturb," I said, but I just wanted to watch her sleep. The nurse nodded and left.

After a few minutes, Ayobami fell into a deep sleep. I sat by her side, my heart aching. "You being far away from me has already killed me. Thank you for not leaving," I whispered to her, looking at her peaceful face.

The Next Day

I woke up early and left the hospital to go home and change. The moment I was done, I drove straight to the station. I had been waiting for this moment for days, and now, finally, I would face the woman responsible for all the pain.

After what felt like an eternity, they brought Vivian in.

"Shola!" she shouted, her voice laced with feigned innocence. "This person just arrested me without cause—"

"Shut up!" I interrupted, cutting her off. "What did I ever do to you?"

Vivian scoffed. "Oh please, Shola," she said with an air of superiority. "I love you, and I just couldn't let that riff-raff take you from me. So I did what was right."

"What?" I asked, incredulous.

"Besides," she smirked, "you were about to propose to her. I couldn't just allow that. I had to stop it."

My blood ran cold. "How did you know about the proposal?" I asked, a sinking feeling in my stomach.

Vivian smiled wickedly. "Did you forget? We lived under the same roof. You told me everything."

I stood frozen, disbelief washing over me. "Vivian, you would rot in jail for this."

She shrugged dismissively. "You can't do that, Shola. My parents will get me out of here. You know that."

"Not if it's the last thing I do," I said, my voice cold and resolute.

I turned and walked out of the station, my anger still boiling inside me.

A Month Later

Simbi's Wedding

The day was finally here. Simbi and her new husband were about to leave for their honeymoon, and I was at the airport to say goodbye.

"Where are you, Ayo?" I texted as I quickly walked through the airport. "Aren't you going to say goodbye before I leave?"

"I'm on my way," she replied. "Shola insisted I wear this long gown."

I arrived at the airport, looking around for my friends and family. I spotted Simbi and her husband, Oke and her boyfriend—wait, what was Oke's boyfriend doing here? But then my eyes caught sight of something that stopped me in my tracks.

The Williams family. What were they doing here?

I stopped and turned to my mom. "What's going on?" I asked.

"Sweetheart," my mom said warmly. "The Williams called us up. They're traveling, so we came to see them off."

"Okay…" I said, still confused. Turning to Simbi, I asked, "When are you leaving?"

"Forty-five minutes from now," she said, and I groaned.

"You made me rush for this?" I asked, shaking my head.

"At least you're here," Oke teased, smiling at me.

I sighed and sat down, my heels killing me. "Shola, thank you so much," I muttered as I slipped them off.

Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted me. "If I were you, I wouldn't do that."

I looked up, a smile forming on my face. "Shola?"

"Ever since I've known you, you've always been stubborn," he said, a teasing smile on his lips. "Now, what have those shoes done to you?"

I chuckled, and then, just as I thought I couldn't be more confused, the sound of Sam Smith's Stay With Me filled the airport.

I turned to Shola, confused. Then he knelt down in front of me and pulled out a shiny red box, revealing a diamond ring.

"Ayo," he said, his voice full of emotion. "Do you remember when we came back and there were rumors about us? I asked you if you wanted to make it official. I told you I could call the media and announce we were together, but you never replied."

I was speechless.

"Miss Ayobami, I can't wait anymore. It's killing me to be apart from you. Will you say yes to becoming my wife?"

The crowd around us began cheering as cameras clicked.

I looked at my parents, then back to my friends. Overcome with emotion, I didn't even realize when the tears started to fall.

"Say yes!" they urged me.

I nodded, unable to speak. Slowly, I stretched out my hand, and he slid the ring onto my finger. Cheers erupted all around us as I kissed him deeply, overwhelmed by the love and joy I felt.

This was the beginning of our forever.