"Onyi ....I need to tell you something"

Onyedikachi had seemed contented enough seated beside Obanma as they stared at the setting sun from the balcony before they headed to his car. She had led her mother into the room they were supposed to share while he waited outside.

The visit to Arinze's seemed disappointing at first but their last moments with him convinced her otherwise.

"Don't tell me you want to call off our engagement" Onyedikachi harped feigning a heartbreak.

Obanma chuckled lightly reaching out to hold the hand which he placed on his supposedly aching heart.

"I don't think I can get rid of you that easily"

Onyedikachi placed a chaste kiss on her lips as he pulled her face to his.

"What is it Mma?" He enquired with concern laced in his eyes.

"I...I saw Obinna yesterday"

Onyedikachi couldn't help the rising panic he felt even as the words left her lips.

"I think I need to really fix things with Mr. Obidike"

"Mma...don't sound like that.. fix things with Mr. Obidike, it's not like you're leaving. What did he want?"

"He said sacrifice is saving "

"What sacrifice? I hope he's not talking about you?"

Obanma could only stare at Onyedikachi as concern began to bud slowly on his features.

"Onyi I don't know what it means, I'm rather scared to think of what it implies .."

"I won't let him take you" Onyedikachi bellowed angrily.

"Onyi we can get help, pray about it "

Onyedikachi rubbed his temple angrily, reflecting on the times as a young boy he was ruled by the thought of Obanma being taken by Obinna.

"That's all I have always fought against Mma... Losing you to him. Mma I won't let him take you away , I made a promise to myself to always protect you and I'd rather die a hundred times before I let him get to you "

"Onyi don't talk like that ! You're not going to die ,it won't get to that " She exhaled deeply pondering on the fears of losing him. She had tasted what life without him seemed like and she couldn't even imagine a repetition.

"Mma I love you so much and I know how much he means to you . But you have to understand things are becoming more clearer now . I used to always think the incident on the day my father died when the mad man slapped me , was the day I saved my wife from death. But now I realize that you would have never gotten there in time and it wasn't because of me .

Remember you made me stop because I had to help you tie your underwear. I didn't save you that day , you saved yourself."

Obanma's eyes narrowed as she recalled the events of that sad morning .

"Onyi I think I slowed you down instead "

Onyedikachi nodded reaching out to hold her hand.

"Exactly and now it all makes sense . I have to protect you from Obinna, he is the one who wants to take you away from me"

Obanma squeezed his palm recalling how terrified she had been from her encounter with her brother .

"I used to pray..... he'd come take me with him for a long time. I wanted to die with him but ... it's different now . I have so much more to live for ,I just didn't realize that then"

"Mma you were just a little girl back then , I don't know how you were able to deal with that kind of loss. "

Obanma gave Onyedikachi a deep kiss as the words left his lips.

"I have you to live for and I know we're worth fighting for my love"

Onyedikachi placed kisses on her forehead immediately they pulled apart . He cradled her cheek ,staring deep into her eyes he gave her another kiss, this time pouring all his fears and love into it.

"You're worth dying for" He muttered to her lips but she barely caught wind of his words as his tongue tutored hers masterfully in his kisses.

Obanma was completely breathless when they pulled apart .

"I'll take you to see Mr. Obidike tomorrow ,right after we're done with Arinze"

"You're going home?" Obanma declared with a hint of disappointment as she had hoped to also spend the night with him.

"I need to fix things at home you know and spending the night here with you would be completely disrespectful to your mother. Mma ....you know I want nothing more than to share every second of my life with you"

Obanma managed a small smile as he placed a kiss on her cheek.

He quickly stepped down to help her out of the car . He pulled her into a long warm embrace then kissed her lightly before she led her to the room where her mother was.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow, I love you "

She pulled him into a long warm embrace and whispered the same words to his ears before he left with a smile.

Onyedikachi drove to his brother's house where he met his brother playing with his daughter. Their mother had locked herself inside her room and calling out to her proved pointless.

Onyedikachi met Olivia in the kitchen biting the piece of chicken in her hand ferociously. It got him quite amused just staring at her ,he couldn't help but picture Mma the same way. Heavily pregnant with his child while she nibbled meat from his palms. Lost in his thoughts, Onyedikachi's ears seemed oblivious to the voice of his brother who had been calling his name.

Arinze finally tapped his brother who turned to smile at him .

"I'd like to believe iga Eri actually keeps your eyes off other women especially my pregnant wife "

Onyedikachi chuckled lightly as Arinze led him away while Olivia's moans as she chewed resonated in the kitchen.

"Iga eri makes me see her in every woman"

Arinze brought a bottle of the whiskey in his mini bar which he generously distributed into the glasses he brought for the two of them. It had been one of the drinks his father loved.

Onyedikachi drank slowly as he relished the taste of the liquid while his brother gulped greedily.

" It's hard to forget what happened to him" Arinze began on a sombre note, his eyes focused on the rim of the glass where his lips had branded.

" Sometimes when I remember how he fell, I get goosebumps all over my body. When I ran to him his eyes were still open and you could tell they were shocked. He never believed Iheanyị would actually pull the trigger " Onyedikachi continued fighting back the horrors of his childhood that had once haunted him everyday.

"I saw them carry his corpse away and you were there wailing with our mother. I was disappointed in myself for not being there to protect him or help him fight"

"Arinze don't beat yourself up , there's nothing anyone could have done to stop what happened to him"

"How then were you able to forgive them so quickly? " Arinze took another gulp of his drink emptying the glass which he refilled immediately.

"They had nothing to do with it , It was just Iheanyị, besides even though they did struggle with the gun , their hands were on the trigger when Obinna fell. Arinze our father grew cold at that instant, his hands were off the gun and you could tell how horrified he became. Everything happened so quickly but I could see the plea in his eyes when Iheanyi looked over at Ngozi with Obinna in her arms. I believe our father had wanted the boy to live. He gave Ngozi all that help for the children to leave only for the boy whom he had also helped in his way bring into the world to lay there lifeless because he had struggled with a maniac. We were devastated but I couldn't help but see equal pain in their eyes when they approached Obinna's dead body. It wasn't easy to forgive them but I always believed our father had made a truce with Obinna and expected us to do the same here"

Arinze stared at his younger brother with so much admiration then resumed drinking.

"She blames herself "

"Our mother?" Onyedikachi asked his eyes flirting around the doors of the corridors where her room was."I know"

"Do you think she'll make you happy Onyi? Are you certain this is what you want?"

Onyedikachi offered a small smile knowing what his brother implied with his question.

" I know what it feels like to be without her in my life, it's worse than hell. I would give my life in a beat for her Arinze, I love her that much and being married to her will make me the happiest man on earth"

Arinze took the final swig emptying his glass once more but this time he simply gathered the items including his brother's empty glass which he returned promptly to the bar after rinsing them at the sink.

"I'll call papa nnukwu and make arrangements on how to bring him here. I'll handle the Umunna while you make other preparations.

Arinze couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt as he watched his brother's smiling face. He had never acted as an older brother where Onyedikachi was concerned. Onyi had somehow learned to manage on his own , he swore deep down that this time he was going to make everything right.

Onyedikachi stood up making his way past his brother who had a smile plastered on his face. His voice halted Onyi's legs and he quickly turned to his elder brother .

"You've managed to win the war with love and kindness .Years ago , I would have pummelled you to the ground for this but now the truth has come to light" He heard his brother say

" Mba Arinze , we won this war together and it is because our father taught us well"

A loud moan erupted from the kitchen tearing the veil of silence that cascaded in the room. The pair chuckled loudly as Onyedikachi urged Arinze to rescue his wife from the slippery hands of fried chicken while he headed to his room.

He made certain that Obanma and her mother were comfortable before he turned in for the night. Onyedikachi had one thought as he slept and they were of his mother. He needed to speak with her sooner rather than later.

Onyedikachi didn't understand why he stood in the middle of the road which seemed lonely . He tried to make meaning of his presence  and how he had gotten there through a retrospective journey down memory lane but found out that he was blank.

He marched on valiantly quite hopeful that he would find out why he was left in a somewhat arid land.

Onyedikachi was stunned to see a fiery figure that blocked his path from nowhere. His eyes scanned the back of the tall figure and rested on his head which seemed to have been buried in sand. A shudder escaped his lips but he stood his ground waiting for the giant to speak.

The figure turned swiftly to stare at Onyedikachi with bloodshot eyes which seemed to fade into a familiar set of black eyes. A huge hole in his forehead seemed to put everything else into perspective. Onyedikachi gasped as the man's features softened revealing a face that he adored so much.

"Daddy " he muttered to himself not certain he believed the transformation that happened before his eyes.

"Onyedikachi what are you doing here?" He had asked with a bit of a temper that startled Onyedikachi.

" I don't know" He had promptly replied

A hand tapped Onyedikachi and he looked down to see Obinna tugging his hand. Terrified, Onyedikachi quickly withdrew his palm but the little boy marched to where his father stood and climbed into his palm.

He still didn't understand why his father appeared to be so huge .

" You've gone the wrong way " Obinna had declared

His father's next words were in aquiescence with what the boy had opined yet he felt even more confused than he had been earlier

"To quench the fire, sometimes you have to jump into it. Turn back and never stop walking till you're home"

It sounded like a command and so Onyedikachi never hesitated to obey. He kept walking till his feet hurt but when he got home he was elated to see Obanma through the glass house playing with a baby carefully tucked into her arms while she smiled radiantly.

Onyedikachi tried to pass through the door but realized that his feet couldn't move. He was stuck in the ground while Mma's laughter echoed with that of the baby's. Onyedikachi struggled to break free whilst reaching out for his brother Arinze who he noticed was blind and couldn't spot him.

His struggle to break free continued even after he had woken up. Beads of sweat clung tightly to his face while he panted like a cheatah racing after a meal.

His mother had been seated on the bed and her hand was on his lap . 

" I have been calling you" She began reaching out to hold his hand

" I was...I had a nightmare"

" Yes...I tried to wake you when you began to shake. Onyi what happened?"

Onyedikachi not certain he wanted his mother worried because of the content of his dream simply told her it was about his work.

Chidiogo breathed out and held her son's hand "Nothing will happen to you"

Onyedikachi nodded still taken aback by his nightmare. The thought of Obanma being happy without him didn't seat well with him

" Your father had finished his shower and he applied Vaseline generously on his skin. I remember how he had laughed when I told him he looked like puff puff" Chidiogo began on a sombre note while Onyedikachi held her hand.

A tear slipped out of her eyes and she quickly wiped it off.

" I made him go to their house and I didn't check on him after it took so long to return. I had assumed that he was having one of those talks with Iheanyi and I was just focused on what I was cooking. When the gunshots sounded my heart almost leapt out my chest and I felt so cold all of a sudden. I should have known that he had been taken away from me . I decided at that point that I wanted him back home .It was until they came to call me at the gate that I understood that Dozie wasn't coming back again.

Chidozie and I have been together all my life, I didn't even know I would still be breathing without him.

Onyedikachi I am not a bitter woman ...no.. I am bereaved . My husband was taken away from me ,please understand that I can't look at them the same way. I stand in the way of your wedding but don't expect me to do more than that ."

Onyedikachi wrapped his hands around his mother who sobbed into his shoulder. " It wasn't your fault, none of it was . You have to forgive yourself please "

Chidiogo wept uncontrollably while her son patted her back.

"Everything will be alright" He had whispered so many times

"When Ngozi mentioned a man , someone came to my mind. The man who stabbed Chijioke . I told him to scare the boy but he pulled out a knife and stabbed him . I had never seen such monstrous look as the one he bore.

I was so terrified and I tried pulling Chijioke up but he was too heavy until
I started calling for help. There was something so cynical about the man the day she met him that sent chills around my body.

I used to think Osisioma was the one behind all this but even he is scared of that man"

Onyedikachi held his mother while she spoke.

"That was why you got the private security. Do you think he was the one that stabbed me?"

"I think he is "

"So why haven't you reported him to the police? "

"I was involved in what happened to Chijioke"

"When I come back today we're going to do that. And we're going to get Ngozi to see this man maybe she'd remember something"

"His son Ekene came back to the village recently, I know he once claimed his father is diabolical. Nna m  don't go confronting anyone inugo"

"His father being diabolical doesn't mean justice wouldn't be served. He was the one who orchestrated everything that happened"

"Onyedikachi please just be careful,I can't lose anybody else"

When his mother left he couldn't help but wonder what his dream meant . Was it a reflection of his own fears?

Sleep left his eyes completely and he decided to put in a little work before morning since he had promised to take Obanma to Umuahia.

Onyedikachi left the same time his brother and his family had stepped out and all threw quick greetings to each other before leaving. Olivia had persuaded him to have his breakfast but he declined .

He got to the hotel and quickly dashed to the room where Mma was staying with her mother. He had discovered that Ngozi had left with Chijioke that morning on what she described as personal errands.

Obanma had still been in her nightwear when he arrived much to his delight. He sat on the bed while she prepared for their journey quickly .

It was too torturous to watch her pacing around looking so beautiful and seductive so he simply stood and followed her silently to the wardrobe where she had been dishing out her clothes.

" I'm thinking of a jumpsuit or should I just wear a ..."

Her words died down in her throat when she felt him hugging her from behind and nuzzling her neck with his lips. Obanma inhaled deeply embracing the swirling sensations that had erupted immediately. His hands trailed along her hand and rested on her breasts .

A moan escaped Obanma's lips and his lips teased and tasted her earlobes whilst his hands perfected their exploration.

She had been dying to be with him but realizing that she also shared the room with her mother a sense of reason began to tug her mind consistently albeit weakly.

"Onyi...we... can't..we ..my mom"

She didn't seem coherent enough to put up a fight and melted like butter when he turned her around to plant the most brain wrecking kiss to her lips.

Her sense of reason she realized was tossed out of the window the moment she kissed him back hungrily .

Her hands which she had placed limply by her side were now on his shirt , extracting buttons and tugging his trousers.

She chuckled lightly when he lifted her off the ground and almost protested when his lips stopped the magic they spread in her mouth.

When she felt her back against the cold and dewy wall, it dawned on her that they had left the bedroom.

Onyedikachi tugged impatiently at her nightwear which she let slide off her hands exposing her creamy breasts. She saw his eyes darken with hunger as he feasted on them sending her over the edge.

Obanma didn't understand why she felt deliriously obsessed with the feel of his body on hers but she didn't want him to stop. She could tell he wasn't as gentle as he usually was , a feeling that terrified yet excited her. Onyedikachi was never one to lose control yet he had her pinned on the wall and ripping her gown to shreds.

He kissed her like his life depended on it and even though he hated the feeling , his body felt like he needed to be with her one last time.

Maybe she didn't feel the same way but he couldn't quite understand what had overwhelmed the reign on his control.

He hadn't even peeled off his trousers and had only managed to draw them bellow his derriere with the help of her unsteady hands when he drove into her.

It felt wondrous , dangerous, satisfying yet undescribable. Obanma held onto his shoulders unable to control the motion her hands felt. Thrust after thrust, moan after moan their bodies gave and took the magic each wrought till climax descended with a brute force , leaving the pair defenseless to exhaustion.

Clinging to Onyedikachi for support Obanma hung mid air with her legs wrapped around his torso. She could still feel the tremor that racked his body and wondered if he felt the shivers that raced throughout hers .

When she finally felt the floor with her trembling feet, she looked up to see him towering over her like a warrior. Obanma's gaze wandered to his eyes which began to speak words which she could only denote as regret and somehow farewell.

Onyedikachi caressed her cheek and placed the gentlest kiss on her lips before he whispered an apology to her.

"Mma I ... I am sorry"

Stunned by his actions, Obanma captured his face in her hands.

"Why? " She managed to ask still overwhelmed by the after deal of their coming together.

"I..just..I ..Are you okay? Did I hurt you? " His eyes searched hers with such sincerity that she felt her heart begin to race.

"Onyedikachi I am fine " She declared managing a small smile. Obanma couldn't the help the chuckle that escaped her lips as she realized that she had never truly called him by his full name and enjoyed how terribly confused he was when he heard it.

"Onyedikachi?" He repeated as devastation began to set in.

Obanma's hand fell to his chest and he quickly held them firmly .

" Onyi I know that we've never made love this way and truly it was terrifying....but I have never felt as good as I do now. And it's all because of this neanderthal standing in the bathroom with me"

This time Onyedikachi was content with her words and even managed a chuckle .
"I haven't wanted this...you so much as I did today. It felt like my life depended on it"

"Onyi are you okay?"  She asked noting the concern that was beginning to cause a twinge in her heart.

"I just made love to the most amazing woman in the world who also happens to be my fiance, Mma tell me why wouldn't I be?"

"Well it sounded like you weren't"

"I am always fine Mma, as long as you are. You matter that much to me" Onyedikachi placed quick bouts of kisses on her face and nostril that got her laughing like a child.

"Thank God we didn't use the bed " She muttered to his lips.

He knew what she implied but he had already begun to make arrangements for a new room in his mind.

They left the hotel much later than they had anticipated and were delayed by Onyedikachi's detour to a boutique to fetch new trousers as the pair he had worn earlier had lost the only button it had.

Their journey to Umuahia was filled with so much anticipation that Obanma barely spoke. He often grabbed her hand to place soft kisses on them and also to reassure her that he'd be with her through it all.

She spoke with Mrs. Obiukwu who directed them as they journeyed . The woman had revealed that the whole family had been waiting patiently for her .

When Onyedikachi sounded the first horn at the gate , Obanma felt her pulse quicken and when the gates fell apart she could hear the erratic beating of her heart.

No one was outside and it had been the gate keeper who ushered them in.

Obanma urged the gatekeeper to return to his post while she led them to the house.

"It's not my first time here" She had declared answering the question that plagued Onyedikachi's heart.

"I needed to get away when you called off the engagement, I needed to breathe and they did help me especially Mrs. Obiukwu. Mr. Obidike saw me here ,I guess that's how he knew"

"Mma I am so sorry for all you went through. I thought I was protecting you"

She smiled at him then linked her hands with his .

"It's a large, complicated yet happy family. They were so accommodating and loving. They also have this weird sense of humor and Mr . Obiefune is so in love with his wife that you can tell from the way he looks at her and touches her. The children are a handful"

Onyedikachi could tell she was nervous with the way she rambled. It had been one feature he took note of the first night they kissed.

"Are you scared?" He cut the rest of her words off but she nodded slowly.

"I came here as a guest and they loved me . This time , I am here as a product of infidelity" She was truly abashed by the circumstances surrounding her birth.

"Mma please don't do this to yourself inugo! You're going to keep your head high while we speak to these people. If they don't see you as anything more than what you said then truly they're not as good as you've tagged them to be"

Obanma squeezed Onyedikachi's hand and felt grateful that she chose to come with him.

"Mr. Obidike is dying . I need to make peace with him"

The door to the living room was wide open when they entered the house . The voices that rose and fell couldn't be made out from where they stood but Obanma's presence had been noticed by Obiukwu who quickly stood up.

Obanma moved forward and away from the door when Obiukwu stood while Onyedikachi followed suit .He had barely made it past the door before a huge china ware whizzed past him and landed on the floor shattering into pieces.

An enraged elderly woman appeared in the room with more plates while the elderly man whom Onyedikachi assumed was the Mr. Obidike almost fell on top of the two identical twins seated together.

"Obioma please... don't do this now!" The man had pleaded while the woman simply turned to the occupants of the room

"I just found out that he's not dying !"

Hello everyone

How have we been ?

I know it's been ages but here's a chapter to make up for my lapse❤️

I think our next one is going to be more interesting