Desmond breathed in deeply, but the air refused to settle properly in his lungs.
His heart raced at a frightening speed.
He stood outside for what felt like eternity, though in reality it had barely been five minutes.
Kike had just written the beginning of his troubles.
Her father wanted to see him immediately.
Immediately.
How had her parents even found out about the pregnancy this quickly?
How?
He felt trapped already, like he had stepped into a boiling pot of soup with no way out and nobody willing to rescue him.
He tried calming himself, but nothing worked.
Kike’s father’s face flashed repeatedly through his mind, and each time it did, his stomach tightened harder.
What exactly was he supposed to do now?
What would happen to Feire?
Everything was moving too fast.
Far too fast.
Should he tell Feire the truth immediately?
Should he continue pretending to be the father of the unborn child?
Or should he simply go into that house and tell Kike’s parents the entire truth?
After several extra minutes outside, he finally forced himself back into the restaurant.
He told his friends he had to leave immediately because of an emergency. He barely waited for their questions before hurrying out.
Feire noticed everything.
At first, she assumed he was rushing because he had seen her with another man, but she remembered seeing him outside receiving a call earlier. She didn’t interfere because his friends were there too.
She shook Fola lightly and told him she was ready to leave as well. There was really nothing else left to discuss.
She hurried outside, even though Fola insisted on escorting her to her car.
By the time she got there, Desmond was already gone.
She stood still briefly, confused by how suddenly he had disappeared. The expression on his face before leaving unsettled her deeply.
Something definitely felt wrong.
She entered her car and hoped she would catch up with him on the road.
If not, she would call him later.
Kike paced around her room restlessly.
She wasn’t usually this kind of person.
But letting Uche father her child?
Never.
She still couldn’t fully understand how she had allowed herself get involved with him in the first place.
He raped her.
Yes, he did.
Even if it didn’t exactly look violent from the outside, she had been drunk and he took advantage of her condition to sleep with her.
And beyond that, he wasn’t remotely the kind of man she wanted around her future child. There was absolutely nothing about him worth emulating.
She wondered briefly whether hiding the real father’s identity was another mistake entirely.
But what exactly was the alternative?
Abortion?
Never.
That morning, she had struggled to hide her sickness, not realizing her mother had already been watching her closely. Once her mother suggested visiting the hospital, panic overtook her and she confessed immediately.
She had already vomited earlier and complained about feeling feverish.
When asked who was responsible, the only name that came to her lips was Desmond.
Her father had remained unusually quiet ever since, only instructing her to invite him over immediately.
She wanted to ask why he specifically wanted to see Desmond, but something told her it wasn’t to attack him.
After all, she had already made it clear that everything happened with consent. She didn’t want anyone thinking she had been assaulted.
She picked up her phone to call Desmond again, but dropped it almost immediately.
She didn’t want to pressure him too much.
And honestly, she didn’t even know what exactly to say anymore because she couldn’t predict what her father was planning.
She simply needed Desmond to help her out of this mess.
Otherwise, she might eventually have no choice but to reveal the real father’s identity.
And she absolutely did not want to end up with Uche.
Then another thought crossed her mind.
Could there actually be a part of her that wanted Desmond for herself?
She frowned slightly.
She liked him, yes.
He was handsome, intelligent, composed — exactly the kind of man she naturally admired.
But she had never consciously imagined herself marrying him or ending up with him long-term.
At least… she didn’t think she had.
Most people would probably see her as wicked for what she was doing, but she didn’t feel like she was trying to destroy Desmond.
Besides, she believed he was single.
They had never discussed relationships directly, but she assumed that if a man truly had a woman in his life, he would mention her naturally at some point.
Desmond never did.
That was why she felt he was the safest person to stand beside her through this.
A knock sounded from downstairs.
She sprang to her feet instantly.
That had to be him.
She rushed downstairs and pulled open the living room door just as Desmond entered through the gate.
He didn’t even drive his car inside the compound that day.
On his own side, the beauty of the compound had completely disappeared from his eyes. Everything looked dull beneath the weight already crushing his chest.
He saw Kike standing at the entrance and silently hoped she would somehow defend him through whatever madness was about to happen.
She motioned for him to come inside.
Desmond actually expected her to step outside first so they could speak privately before he entered and scattered everything.
Instead, she simply widened the door for him.
He entered slowly.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered immediately.
The moment he noticed her father wasn’t seated in the living room, part of his tension eased slightly.
Then he turned to her.
“Why me, Kike?” he whispered back painfully.
“There was nothing else I could do anymore, Des. They already found out and I couldn’t mention Uche.”
“But this isn’t the truth. What if this ruins my life?”
“Nothing will happen,” she replied quickly. “I believe Daddy only wants answers.”
“What if Uche eventually finds out the pregnancy is his?”
“Who knows apart from us?”
Desmond scratched his head anxiously.
“Young man, welcome.”
The deep voice made both of them straighten immediately.
Kike’s father walked into the living room.
Kike quickly pointed Desmond toward a seat before sitting beside him.
“I’ll defend us,” she whispered.
“Us,” Desmond repeated under his breath with a dry smile.
“Good morning, sir,” he said quickly, standing up.
The older man studied him quietly for a few seconds before sitting down opposite him.
“So,” he began calmly, “what is your plan now?”
Desmond glanced at Kike helplessly.
What exactly was he supposed to say?
“Sit down,” the man instructed.
Desmond obeyed immediately.
“Em… sir… plans… I…”
He was already stammering.
“Relax,” Kike’s father said. “I know my daughter well, and even though I’m disappointed in both of you, I’m not trying to destroy your life. I only need to hear one thing from you.”
Desmond swallowed hard.
“The pregnancy was a mistake, sir.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll take full responsibility for it.”
“Okay.”
Desmond glanced nervously at Kike again, wondering whether there was something more expected of him.
Kike knew exactly what her father wanted to hear, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Then suddenly, realization struck him.
He inhaled sharply.
“I love her, sir.”
“You don’t sleep with someone you hate,” the older man replied bluntly.
Desmond’s throat tightened.
Then finally—
“I’m going to marry her, sir.”
Silence.
Then—
“Good,” her father replied firmly. “The process begins immediately.”
Desmond froze.
“Her stomach must not protrude before she leaves this house. The wedding has to happen within a month.”
“Ah!”
“What?” the older man snapped immediately. “Were you planning to pound my daughter like yam and disappear?”
“No sir! I mean… I’ll marry her, sir.”
“Good. Financially, forget everything. I’ll handle it all myself. But if I ever discover that you maltreat her or don’t love her the way you claim, I won’t pity you at all, Desmond.”
“I won’t do that, sir,” he said quickly.
“So when are we expecting your parents?”
This time, it was Kike’s mother speaking as she approached them.
Desmond’s heartbeat intensified again.
“I’ll inform them immediately, ma,” he replied weakly. “They’ll come as soon as possible.”
“Good,” she replied. “Preparations begin from this moment.”
Kike lowered her head slowly.
She had dragged him into something terrible.