CHAPTER 18

In the small but cozy Markcus family apartment, peace hung in the air. A pot of soup bubbled faintly in the kitchen, and the sound of a TV show echoed through the sitting room.

Aunty Caro sat on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, peeling oranges with full focus.

Maria sprawled on the rug, flipping through her phone.

Nelly's mother, Ada, was folding clothes quietly beside the TV stand.

> "This girl in the film, she too stubborn," Aunty Caro muttered.

Suddenly, the TV show cut off.

> BREAKING NEWS

The bright red banner flashed, and the three women froze.

> "This just in: a student has been shot during a school competition at Roseview High School. The victim, identified as Jimmy Benson, was rushed to the hospital minutes ago…"

A sharp gasp escaped Ada's mouth.

The screen then showed a blurry picture of Jimmy lying on a stretcher — blood on his shirt — followed by another image…

> Nelly Adaku — arrested on the scene.

Maria screamed. "Jesus! That's Nelly!"

> "She is currently in police custody after a report was filed by Anthony Benson — the father of the victim. Investigations are ongoing."

Aunty Caro jumped up, orange slices spilling. "They've arrested Nelly?! What kind of madness is this?!"

Ada's face turned pale as she slowly lowered herself into the chair, whispering: "They said our Nelly… with a gun?"

Maria grabbed the remote and turned up the volume.

> "No way! This is wrong — Nelly would never do something like that!"

Aunty Caro was already tying her wrapper tightly. "We're going to that station. I don't care who filed what — that Benson man is a devil!"

Ada nodded, trying to steady her breathing, tears forming in her eyes.

> "We have to find her. She needs us now."

Maria stood by the door, fists clenched.

> "We all failed her once. We won't do it again."

---

Silenced Again

Ada reached for her handbag, her chest rising with shaky breaths. "I'm going to Lagos. My daughter is in jail, and I won't stand here doing nothing."

But before she could take a step, Mr. Mark's voice turned sharp.

> "Ada, I'm warning you. If you step one foot outside this house, don't bother coming back."

The room froze.

Maria's eyes widened. Aunty Caro slowly turned, her face hardening.

> "What did you just say?" Ada whispered.

Mark stood tall, arms folded. "I said what I said. This is not your fight anymore. Let Mr. Benson handle it. He promised to sort it."

Ada took a slow step forward, her voice trembling with rage.

> "Sort it? You mean the same man who got her arrested?! You'd rather trust him than your own child?"

Mark looked away, jaw clenched.

> "We don't even know where she is, Ada. We don't have the address. Mr. Benson refused to give it to me."

Maria stepped closer, her voice shaking.

> "Wait… you mean—we can't even reach her?"

Mark nodded slowly, regret in his eyes, but not enough to change his decision.

> "She's somewhere in Lagos. But Benson said it's best we don't interfere. He said the more noise we make, the worse it'll look."

Ada stared at him, stunned.

> "So you're telling me… that the girl you all abandoned, the one you all took money to silence… is now alone in a city where no one can reach her, and we should just wait quietly?!"

Aunty Caro hissed loudly. "God will judge all of you."

Ada's voice broke as she sat down on the armrest of the chair, holding her chest.

> "My child is out there… suffering. And we don't even know where to find her."

The room was boiling with tension.

Ada stood still, trembling. Aunty Caro paced furiously. And Mr. Mark tried to act like he still had control of the storm he created.

But then Maria — quiet, tearful Maria — snapped.

> "All of you disgust me!"

Her voice cut through the air like a knife.

> "You sold your own daughter for five million naira! Five million! That's what Nelly's life was worth to you?!"

Mark turned sharply, eyes burning. "Maria, shut your mouth!"

But she stepped forward, tears streaming. "No! I won't shut up! You let them frame her. You let them throw her away like trash—just because you wanted money."

> "You betrayed your own child! You're not even a father—you're a coward with a price tag!"

Before anyone could stop him, Mark raised his hand—

SLAP!!

The sound rang out loud and sharp.

Maria staggered backward, one hand on her cheek, stunned.

Ada screamed, "MARK!"

Aunty Caro flew forward, pushing him away.

> "Have you gone mad?! You want to kill your own daughter too?!"

Mark, breathing hard, turned away, fists shaking.

Aunty Caro wrapped her arms around Maria quickly and pulled her toward the hallway.

> "Oya, come. Come inside before this madman kills someone."

She dragged Maria into her bedroom and slammed the door shut, locking it from inside.

Outside, Ada sat down slowly, hands in her lap, silently weeping.

Mr. Mark stood by the window, breathing heavily — but even he could no longer defend himself.

There was nothing left to say.

Just silence.

And guilt.