Desmond followed Mark to the house Kike’s father had bought for them, and honestly, it exceeded every expectation he already had.
The mansion was massive.
Elegant.
The kind of house people slowed down to admire from outside the gate.
He stepped out of the car slowly, staring around like someone who had accidentally entered another person’s life.
So this would belong to him?
A slow smile spread across his face.
At that moment, it became even harder to walk away from everything.
Immediately, he pulled out his phone and called his friends, asking if they would all be free by Friday evening.
It was finally time to tell them he was getting married.
Years ago, the four of them had created a ridiculous agreement together.
None of them openly chased women, or at least they pretended not to. So they bought expensive shares together and made a stupid bet:
Whoever married last would inherit the entire investment.
That was one of the major reasons Desmond had hidden Feire from them all this time.
None of them openly discussed their relationships because everybody secretly wanted to win the money.
But now?
That money suddenly looked small compared to what Kike’s father was handing him already.
As he drove home later that evening, Feire’s face kept crossing his mind.
Should he just tell her everything?
Should he intentionally provoke a fight and use it as an escape route?
Or should he quietly disappear into marriage and let her hate him forever?
Every option sounded terrible.
He still loved her.
But at that point, it genuinely felt like he had crossed a line he could no longer return from.
If he abandoned Kike now, her father would destroy him completely.
So he pushed the thoughts away again.
He convinced himself he would explain later.
Maybe after the wedding.
Maybe after everything settled.
Maybe.
Instead of going home directly, he drove toward Kike’s office.
Still, he refused to enter the building because he didn’t want Mosun seeing him there.
So he parked outside and called Kike to come out instead.
A few minutes past seven that evening, Feire placed water on the fire to prepare amala when somebody knocked on the door.
Immediately, she assumed it was Desmond.
But when she opened the door, it was Mosun.
And from the handbag she carried and the relaxed way she entered, Feire already knew this wasn’t a short visit.
“I’m here to stay for as long as possible,” Mosun announced dramatically as she dropped her bag and collapsed onto the sofa.
Feire folded her arms immediately.
“This is not weekend, Mosun.”
“You know I’m mentally unstable. How would I know what day it is?” she replied.
Feire laughed despite herself.
“Have you eaten?”
Mosun shook her head.
“Please cook for me. I need to shower first. I’ve been bleeding for four days straight. My period is flowing like River Niger.”
Feire burst into laughter.
“Something you just started recently, you’ll soon start swimming inside it.”
“It’s your problem,” Mosun hissed playfully before disappearing into the room.
But beneath the playful mood, she was tense.
Very tense.
She still hadn’t figured out how to tell Feire what she suspected about Desmond and Kike.
And honestly?
She feared the damage it could cause.
By the time she returned from the bathroom wearing shorts and a camisole, Feire had already served food on the dining table.
“Thank you, babe.”
Feire narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“There’s definitely something wrong. You wouldn’t just carry your load and appear here randomly.”
Mosun chuckled nervously.
“Let’s finish eating first.”
“Desmond and Kike?” Feire asked immediately.
Mosun looked away briefly.
“Let’s just eat first.”
“I knew you didn’t come here for ordinary visit.”
They continued eating while discussing random movies and gossip.
Mosun only wanted to ensure Feire had eaten properly before dropping the bomb.
Finally, after dinner—
“So what exactly do you want to say?” Feire asked.
Mosun inhaled slowly.
“It’s about Desmond and Kike.”
Feire sighed immediately.
“What about them again?”
Carefully, Mosun began explaining everything she overheard at Kike’s office.
She tried softening the explanation where she could, but the disappointment in her voice remained obvious.
Feire simply sat there listening quietly.
The entire thing sounded impossible.
“So you think he wants to marry her?” she finally asked.
Mosun nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Feire laughed immediately.
“That’s impossible.”
“Feire—”
“No, seriously. Even if Desmond cheats, it can’t reach the level of secretly planning marriage while still dating me.”
“Don’t trust men too much,” Mosun replied sharply. “I’m not saying I’m hundred percent correct, but all the signs are there.”
Feire continued laughing softly, though the laughter no longer sounded confident.
“What if it’s actually true?” she muttered eventually.
“I didn’t come here to discuss what if,” Mosun replied firmly. “I came so we can investigate properly.”
“What exactly do you suggest?”
“You know his house already.”
Feire nodded.
“Good. Then monitor him. Watch his movement. Find out where he goes and who he’s meeting.”
Feire stared at her.
“So I should become CID officer?”
“I don’t know another option,” Mosun replied helplessly.
Feire tapped her fingers lightly on the table while thinking deeply.
Then suddenly—
“Do you have Kike’s number?”
Mosun blinked.
“Of course. She’s my boss.”
“Let’s threaten her.”
Mosun nearly choked.
“Threaten her? Are you okay?”
“I don’t mean physically,” Feire explained quickly. “Let’s call anonymously and tell her we know about the wedding.”
Mosun’s eyes widened slowly.
Then another thought crossed her mind.
“Wait…”
She leaned forward.
“What if she’s pregnant?”
Feire frowned instantly.
“Who?”
“Kike.”
Silence.
For the first time that night, Feire stopped laughing completely.
Suddenly, the entire situation felt darker.
Still…
She refused to fully believe it.
No matter how suspicious things looked, she couldn’t imagine Desmond hurting her this deeply.
“What do we even do now?” she whispered.
“Confront him?” Mosun suggested.
Feire shook her head immediately.
“I’m not stupid. I can’t accuse someone without evidence.”
Then she added quietly:
“And even if everything turns out true… I still don’t think I can confront him aggressively.”
Mosun stared at her in disbelief.
“You’re too calm for this situation.”
Feire laughed weakly.
“If all this eventually becomes true, I’ll just trend on blogs.”
Mosun hissed loudly.
“Forget blogs. I’ll beat Kike first.”
Feire burst into laughter again.
“Don’t forget she’s your boss.”
“So?” Mosun shrugged. “I’ll resign.”
Then she looked at Feire carefully.
“You still don’t fully believe me, do you?”
Feire shook her head slowly.
“Honestly? I don’t.”
Meanwhile, Kike sat close to Desmond later that night and stared directly into his eyes.
“Do you love me?”
Desmond smiled faintly.
“Why the sudden question?”
“I just want to know whether you’re marrying me out of pity.”
Desmond exhaled slowly.
“I can’t completely deny that pity played a role initially.”
Her face fell slightly.
“But somewhere along the line,” he continued softly, “everything started feeling real.”
Then he held her hand gently.
“I think this is the life I was running away from.”
Kike swallowed slowly.
“Will you truly love this child like your own?”
Desmond nodded immediately.
“The child brought us together. Why would I hate him?”
She looked away quietly.
Fear still lived inside her.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“What if Uche shows up someday and tries claiming the child?”
Desmond chuckled softly.
“Who told him there’s a child?”
“What if he eventually finds out?”
“How exactly would he know?”
Silence stretched briefly between them before Desmond squeezed her hand gently.
“If you don’t talk, I won’t know what’s bothering you.”
Kike smiled faintly.
“I’m scared you’ll wake up one day and decide you don’t want me anymore.”
Desmond held her more firmly.
“I won’t do that.”
“The wedding is getting close.”
“Yeah.” He smiled softly. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Me too.”
Then she winked playfully.
Back at the apartment, Feire paced around the dining area restlessly while Mosun pressed her phone absentmindedly.
“Did Kike leave the office with her car today?” Feire suddenly asked.
Mosun paused.
Then realization struck her immediately.
“No…”
Feire looked up sharply.
“She didn’t drive out herself.”
Mosun sat upright immediately.
“She probably left with Desmond.”
“Mosun!” Feire snapped instantly.
“I’m serious!” Mosun defended herself. “People don’t usually carry two cars on dates.”
“It’s possible.”
“But it’s more likely she followed somebody else.”
Feire sighed deeply.
Everything suddenly felt exhausting.
“I think we should calm down first,” she said quietly. “Observe properly before jumping to conclusions.”
Mosun nodded reluctantly.
“Fine. I’ll watch Kike closely at work. You monitor Desmond too.”
Feire forced a smile.
“I honestly pray none of this is true.”
Mosun hissed loudly.
“Prepare your heart, babe.”
Then she pointed dramatically.
“But if it turns out true, that Kike eh… I’ll beat her spiritually and physically.”
Feire burst into laughter again.
Still—
deep down—
fear had already started growing quietly inside her.