CHAPTER NINE

**DAMIAN'S P.O.V.**

*Ayomide's Mansion*

At 7 o'clock, dinner was ready. Everyone was present except—

"Sorry, I'm late." I was about to say Dayo until he showed up, sitting across from me.

"I had to double-check some files I brought home from the office," he explained without anyone asking.

"And that explains the soap foam on your earlobe?"

Everyone's eyes followed where mom pointed.

I hate it when I come out of the bathroom with soap foam stuck in my earlobe.

Dayo wiped it off nonchalantly without saying a word.

After dad blessed the food, I scanned the dishes on the table.

We're Catholic, by the way.

Yam, fried eggs, chicken broth, noodles, stew, ewedu soup, amala, parboiled white basmati rice, grilled cow tail, catfish, pepper soup, and ogbono soup (also called doughnut soup).

Fruits included watermelons, bananas, and grapes.

Drinks?

Cranberry juice for Sharon and red wine for the rest of us.

Countless times I've told Adesua that making so much food for one meal is wasteful.

They'll just end up being thrown out. We don't do leftovers here; in this mansion, we have one rule...

DUMP IT IN THE TRASH.

Unless a dish is freshly cooked, mom insists it goes straight into the fridge.

Who will eat all this food in one night? My grandfather in his grave?

"Adesua," Dad called just as I was deciding between amala and white rice. My fork almost slipped from my hand.

Another reason I hate sitting next to him at dinner—he doesn't control his voice.

Adesua responded from somewhere far away, but she wasn't in the dining room yet.

"Bring the salt on your way," Dad specified.

Before he finished, "I'll get it," my grumpy, arrogant yet handsome younger brother Darin stood up to fetch the salt from the kitchen and handed it to Dad. I smelled something burning but wasn't sure what it was.

Dad stared at Darin for a good five seconds as if he didn't recognize him.

To clear the awkwardness, Darin forced a smile.

"Here," Darin opened the lid, "Or I'll just sprinkle a bit for you." And he added some to the soup.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't shocked. Dad looked stunned, his eyes and mouth wide open.

For goodness sake, this is the son who doesn't care about anyone. He only focuses on his career and clubbing. He rarely greets his elders, but today he's different. Completely different.

Adesua finally arrived a few minutes after the shock had worn off. "Chief," she bowed slightly with another jar of salt.

All eyes were on her now.

"What took you so long, Adesua?"

Instead of eating, I joined the others in watching the scene.

"You should have just died where you were rather than let my son do your duties," Dad added.

"Dad—" Darin interrupted, trying to save Adesua.

"You haven't explained this sudden change of yours," Dad continued, "The dishes look good, but they taste terrible."

Ouch!

I know my father is harsh, but my mom is harsher. Dad is barely like this towards her, maybe he had a bad day today. I thought mom might defend Adesua, but it seemed both parents were against her.

I focused on my plate, just like Sharon and my eldest brother Dayo.

Dinner ended awkwardly.

I needed to know why Darin defended Adesua. So, I went to his room.

Maybe I was being nosy.

After a few knocks, he finally said, "Come in."

I entered quietly, closing the door behind me.

He had changed into his sweatpants pajamas, shirtless, and was busy on his phone.

He didn't seem to want to be disturbed, but here I was. He didn't even look up.

This isn't my room, but— "Can I sit?"

After two seconds, he said, "Yeah," then sat up as if ready for business.

I sat at the edge of the bed. We were almost wearing the same pajamas but in different colors. I wasn't shirtless, though. I hate being shirtless sometimes.

I thought he'd put his phone aside, but I knew he'd listen.

"You shouldn't have done that," I began. "It only triggered Dad's anger." I paused, rethinking my words.

Interesting, I guess.

He put his phone aside and clasped his fingers. "I don't like how Dad, Mom, and everyone treats Adesua. I don't approve of it." His face tightened in a deep frown.

I stared at him for a moment. "When did you become this defensive?" I couldn't believe my brother was defending a woman. The same Darin I knew.

Can someone find my real brother?

"What do you mean?" His brows furrowed.

I shrugged. "We saw it at dinner. You defended Adesua and took her place for a minute. Do you have feelings for her or you're just trying to impress Dad?"

Did I hit the nail on the head?

Darin stood up, scowling. "No! Are you kidding me, Damian? She's just a—"

Beep! Beep!

His phone interrupted us. After checking the caller ID, we stared at each other in silence.

The phone rang twice.

The first call was from a woman named Thandeka, whom I didn't recognize. The second call was from someone I knew well, which spoiled my mood and made me walk out grumpily.