Title: Bound by Blood, Broken by Pride
*Chapter 29 - Coming Home*
The air inside the car was quiet, but I could feel Marita's heart racing beside me. She sat with her hands clasped tightly, her eyes focused out the window as we drove to my little apartment in the slums of Lagos. She had refused to let anyone else come with us - not even a driver from the mansion. Instead, she told her personal driver to bring only the two of us.
As we entered my street, I saw Charles in front of the shop. He was handing something to a customer, but his eyes were on the approaching car. His expression changed the moment he recognized the vehicle. Was it jealousy? Fear? Regret? I couldn't tell.
I stepped down first. His eyes were still on the car. And then, the passenger door opened - and his mother stepped out.
"Charles!" she called, almost choking on the word as she rushed toward him.
He froze.
He was wearing faded, short knickers and a rough, wrinkled shirt - looking nothing like the Charles of before. No chains, no wristwatch, not even a clean shave. Just a shadow of himself.
Marita reached him, pulled him into her arms, and held him tightly. She was touching his face, inspecting him like a long-lost treasure. And then the tears came - silently, slowly.
Charles didn't say a word. He only hugged her back and used his palms to wipe the tears off her cheeks.
We locked the shop and went inside. She looked around our little room - the narrow bed, the small stove, the cracked ceiling. Then she turned to us with a soft smile and said, "I've come to take you both home."
Charles blinked. "What… what about Dad?"
"He's in support," she replied. "You've suffered enough, my son. It's time to come home."
We quickly packed a few things. I called Blessing to come take over the shop. When she arrived, her eyes darted between me, Charles, and Marita.
"Who is this?" she asked, shocked.
I chuckled and wisppered. "That's Charles. The guy that got me pregnant. And this is his mother."
Her jaw dropped. "Chioma! he's handsome. You're going to marry into a rich family!" She hugged me. "Congratulations, my friend."
We laughed, said our goodbyes, and got into the car.
When we arrived at the mansion, everything looked the same - but felt different. Sir Frederick was in the sitting room when we entered. He stood up immediately and walked toward me.
"Welcome," he said with a gentle tap on my back.
Charles approached him slowly and dropped to his knees. "I'm sorry, Dad. Please forgive me."
Sir Frederick helped him up. "You've been forgiven," he said. "The past is gone. What matters is what you do from here."
Then Charles confessed. "The money... I gave it to Princess Soma. She introduced me to a business. She said it would triple in weeks."
Sir Frederick's face hardened at her name. "Princess Soma… we'll find her. And we'll get every kobo back."
Marita told us to freshen up and rest. The maid had taken over my former room, so they gave me another - and Marita made sure it was special. "She is a special person," she said with pride, and the maid quickly got to work, decorating and setting things right.
Later, Sir Frederick and Marita were on a video call with Ekene and his wife Nancy in Dubai. There were smiles and laughter on both ends.
"Charles is back home," Sir Frederick announced. "And Choma is pregnant for him."
"Are you serious?" Nancy clapped, laughing. "Congratulations!"
"he gave the money to that girl called Princess Soma," Marita added. "We'll find her."
They talked and joked, then Sir Frederick asked, "How are the babies?" Ekene turned the camera to show the twins. Everyone smiled at the screen, the room filled with joy.
Then came the moment I wasn't expecting.
Sir Frederick called Charles and I back into the sitting room. Marita was there, looking at both of us with hope in her eyes.
"Charles," his father said. "It's time to start making preparations. You're going to see Chioma's people. You'll marry her immediately."
I glanced at Charles. His face changed - just for a second. But then, he smiled. His father had returned everything to him - his phone, his cards, even his respect. He was a "big boy" again. No longer my houseboy.
But deep down, I knew the truth. He didn't love me. He was only doing this because he had no choice. If he misbehaved, everything could be taken again. He was like a puppet… a mummy's boy.
Still, when they asked him, "Do you love her?" - he hesitated, then said softly, "Yes."
Days later, we traveled to the East to meet my people.
We went to the home I had run away from - the home where I was treated like a slave. The same uncle who had beaten me now stood as my guardian. He welcomed them and gave them the traditional list.
And not long after, the traditional marriage ceremony took place.
It was real. It was happening.
I was going from maid… to madam.
Let me know when you're ready for Chapter 30.