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We gat chu👍💪💯 @tbm, you're the man ⚡👏

EPISODE 35 — Suspicion In Soft Voice?

Tiffany’s eyes were burning through me, but I acted like i didn't care. At this stage of her anger, even saying something as little as “sorry” could lead to World War Three.
Her eyes followed me like CCTV, but I ignored her with my full chest. Talking to her in that mood is how people enter caskets they never planned for and as for me, I didn’t come to this house to die young.
Methuselah's record is the goal.

So I quietly moved toward the guest room…
But as my fingers touched the door handle, her voice cut through the air.

“Darous.”

That voice was cold and firm. The kind of tone that tells you the conversation you’ve been avoiding has finally found you.

My hand paused immediately.

“Yes, baby?” I replied, trying to sound normal… even though my heart was already looking for relocation plans out of my chest.

She stood there with her arms folded, eyes sharp and steady.

“What just happened?” she asked.

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

She didn’t smile — Tiffany never smiles when she’s angry. Her face just resets to that seriousness of someone that wants to play a last minute penalty that could determine the outcome of the entire football season .

“Why did Detective Kalu leave like that?"

" Like how?" I asked, still feigning my innocence.

" For someone that was calm before I left here a few minutes ago, and coming back to see him leave like that?. What did you say to him?”

“Me? Nothing,” I said, shaking my head like someone rehearsing his words carefully before saying them. “We were watching ball. He got an emergency call on his radio. That’s it. That's all I know...”

She stared at me like someone trying to decide if I was lying or just naturally dumb.

“That’s what you’re going with?” she asked quietly. “You must really think I’m stupid because I've been quiet all these while? Ignoring the signs....not asking the right questions...me playing the good girl that doesn't want to cause wahala for her boyfriend....thats why you think I'm a fool...right....?”

“No baby, you’re not stupid…you are not a fool.” I tried to calm her. “You’re many things, but stupid? fool? not among at all..." I paused then continued. The aim is to use sweet words to make her calm down so I can control the tempo of the impending discussion. " You’re beautiful, funny, brilliant and lov—”

“Will you shut up?” she cut in sharply. Her face tightened. “You think you can use sweet words to find your way around this? Mr. Man, look here — it won’t work.”

That was when I knew I was in trouble.
Once your babe switches from calling you Baby to Mr. Man, forget it — you’ve officially entered the danger zone.

“That man didn’t even have a phone on him. Or a radio.” Tiffany snapped again, her brows tightening like they were arguing with each other.

Toyosi, who had been watching us quietly, finally spoke. “And how do you know that?”

Tiffany turned to her immediately.
“Toy, I know what I’m saying. He brought me home from the station, remember? I saw everything he had on him. He even told me he lost his phone today.”

The veins in her neck were starting to show — that’s how you know the anger is no longer on demo mode.

Toyosi placed a calming hand on her arm. “Tiff, relax…”

“Darous,” Tiffany said, turning back to me, voice shaking but deadly steady. “Please answer my questions. What did you tell that man? I don’t want this to get to a place we’ll both regret.”

I folded my arms, staring at her.
Maybe… maybe telling her the truth was the best option. Maybe—

“Answer me,” she pressed into my thoughts, taking a step toward me. “You can’t play dumb out of this. I can bet my life on that.”

Before I could open my mouth, Toyosi cut in quickly.

“Tiff, calm down. You just came back home since yesterday and you never rest well. Don't kill yourself abeg..…”

No.” Tiffany snapped, not even glancing at Toyosi. “I know when this guy is lying. And I can bet my life he’s hiding something big right now.”

My throat tightened instantly. The whole room felt like someone increased the tension with a remote.

Toyosi pulled her into a soft hug, rubbing her shoulder gently, muttering "just calm ..just breathe..." And honestly… it worked a little. Tiffany took one small breath, just one… but her eyes were still spelling pure anger.

Then she turned to me.

“Baby,” she said with a small, suspicious smile, pointing at the couch, “come and sit down. We really need to talk about this.”

I scratched my head slowly, pretending not to notice the command welded inside her tone.
“I’m sorry,” she continued when she noticed my reluctance. Her voice was softer now. “I apologise for reacting harshly. But you know how much I love you… and I don’t want us to ruin what we have because of something as silly as keeping secrets. Please come and sit. Let’s talk it out.”

Her tone was warm and calm.

If this were during my younger ages, I would have followed her instantly like a lost puppy.
But now?
I know better. A lot better.

I learned the hard way from trusting my late father back then, when he would use those same voice to assure me all is well after I'd commited an offense only to unleash his full beating skills on me at midnight.

And you see that tone she just used—that’s the same trap tone.

She knows it.
I know it.
And every cell in my body knows it.

It’s the kind of voice someone uses to lead you into a bakery and then use heat to turn your flour to bread.

Not today.

I’d already told myself:

I’m not saying a single thing.
I’ll just find a way to cool her down.
Whatever she thinks she knows, she definitely doesn’t know everything.

She walked closer and wrapped her hand around mine like she wanted to pull me toward the couch. I gently slipped my hand out of hers. The way her face tightened… you could practically hear the anger charging up again.

“Baby, let me just take a quick shower,” I said quietly. “I’ll come back—”

“No.”
She cut me off instantly. Her voice sharp and deadly calm.
“When Kalu was here and I told you to go shower, you didn’t move an inch. So why is your body suddenly desperate for the bathroom now? Sit. Down. Let’s talk while I’m still being reasonable.”

I swallowed. Hard. The kind of swallow you feel in your spine.

Toyosi tried again. “Tiff, please, just—”

“Toy, please,” Tiffany snapped, eyes still glued to mine. “Let me handle this.”

Her gaze didn’t shift. Not even for a second.

I sighed, knowing I had reached that stage where escape was no longer an option.

Time to face her.
But whatever she asked…
I would deny it till my last breath.

And as I slowly walked toward the couch, I could swear the room felt hotter.

Not because the AC was on low but because Tiffany was about to start asking questions I planned to dodge like a criminal avoiding the law.

To be continued.

Your reactions are very important. It's very important. Don't just read and pass.

@tbm I just love the way you play with words🤗🤗🤗like your heart looking for new location in your chest😂😂HAHAHA,you really know how to touch my mumu button 🤣🤣even with the tensed atmosphere,your humor was so comfy 🤗🤗🤗
I know Tiffany is a smart girl, couple with what the detective would have told her, damn I don't envy Darous right now 🤔 but na street guy 🤠 he'll always find a way around it💯
Good job baba TBM,more grace and abundant inspiration 🙏😍

I for just wait small make updates plenty’.
Now this genius son of thunder wan use suspense kee me

dawno2008:
@tbm I just love the way you play with words🤗🤗🤗like your heart looking for new location in your chest😂😂HAHAHA,you really know how to touch my mumu button 🤣🤣even with the tensed atmosphere,your humor was so comfy 🤗🤗🤗
I know Tiffany is a smart girl, couple with what the detective would have told her, damn I don't envy Darous right now 🤔 but na street guy 🤠 he'll always find a way around it💯
Good job baba TBM,more grace and abundant inspiration 🙏😍

I remain but humble my loyal fan... 😂😂

hatchetman:
I for just wait small make updates plenty’.
Now this genius son of thunder wan use suspense kee me

even the suspense wan kee me too😂😂😂

EPISODE 36— Ashes Of The Ledger.


I sank slowly into the couch. Tiffany sat directly opposite me — legs crossed, arms folded, eyes fixed on me like an invigilator monitoring the only student most likely to cheat in the exam hall.

The ceramic centre table between us felt like a patient judge, the same calm you see in those court updates about Nnamdi Kanu everyone keeps analysing on social media.
And the untouched food on top looked like one silent culprit waiting for its own sentencing: “Eat me or dismiss me — just decide.”

Tiffany picked the remote and switched off the TV.

Toyosi took one look at our faces and instantly understood what was about to happen.

“Ehm… I’ll just be inside. But Tiff, please calm down, okay?” she murmured, gave Tiffany a soft kiss on the forehead, and started backing away carefully — like someone trying to avoid a crossfire.

She slipped into her room quietly, and the moment she left, the entire sitting room thickened with a breeze of silence.

The tension sitting with us was like a third person — breathing, watching, and waiting.

It felt exactly like that moment when the only teacher who could reduce your punishment stepping out…
and leaves you alone with the principal in his office.

But still, I’m going to stand by my decision. So whatever tactics she’s planning to use to make me talk will be as useless as someone posting their own phone number on their WhatsApp status for others to contact them.

Tiffany leaned back and let out that slow, dangerous breath women do — the one that says, ‘I’ve connected all the dots, now I’m just waiting for you to just try and lie."

“Darous,” she started softly while she stared directly into my eyes. “You know my life has not been smooth.”
I nodded, even though I already knew this story she was about to tell.
But she wasn’t telling it to just inform me. No.
She was telling it as a warning, so I braced myself for impact.

“My mother and my father separated after she had me, like I told you before. His life went downhill seven years ago. Those wicked people he worked for — they sent him to jail. Spoiled his name, ruined our family, and eventually killed him.”
She paused to gauge my reaction. I just sat there unmoving, because I knew I wasn’t going to say a damn thing to confirm her suspicions. If she liked, she could tell the story of her life like Taraji P. in Tyler Perry’s Straw— I would not be swayed into saying something that might later put her life in danger.

“The only thing he left me was one ledger he said I should guard with every fibre of my brain. And the location of that ledger…”
Her voice thinned a little.
“…is the only secret I’m going to keep for the rest of my life.”

Her voice cracked slightly, but she held it together.

“Okay, so you also have a secret?” I chipped in quietly, staring into her eyes. “You have yours, I have mine. Let’s call it a draw and share the points…and save ourselves all these talks jare....because I'm....”

“Darous, Darous… Darous…” she warned gently. “I beg you, do not make a joke out of this.”

“Okay o, mo ti gbo o..… continue then.”

She stared at the POP ceiling and sighed deeply before continuing.

“And my father’s brother… my uncle… he has been looking for every way to get that ledger from me for a long time.”

“Wait… why does he want the ledger? For what exactly?” I asked.

“I don’t know… but that’s not the point I’m trying to establish here. The point is… after he took everything and left me with nothing, he still wants to collect the only thing my father left behind and told me to keep safe. If not for Toyosi and God…”
She sighed.
“I don’t even know where I would be.”

I kept quiet. At that moment, I knew talking would only light the fire she was just trying to calm down.

“And after all that?” She shook her head slowly. “I met one guy. I loved him so much to the extent I even let him take my virginity.”

I flinched at the sound of that. My spirit flinched.
Why was that detail necessary?
But I kept a straight face, like it didn’t matter at that moment.

She continued.

“The same guy will collect money from me. Still lie to me. Will still cheat on me. And to cap it all, still used my money to marry another woman. Since then, I swore never to love again. Because it felt as if love was never for me. I swore that was the end for me and anything called relationship.”

Her eyes softened for the first time.

At that moment in my mind, I just smiled. So one man broke your heart and you shut down the entire company? Come on now. Some people’s hearts scatter every year like government budget, but once love calls, they’ll still show up with fresh ID card to give it another trial.

“Then you came.”

The way she said those words hit my chest gently, but the tone wasn’t romantic at all. It was more like: This is why I won’t tolerate rubbish from you this time.

“You made me feel loved again,” she continued quietly. “I decided to try again because of you. But lying to me… keeping secrets… those are the only things that can destroy all this.”

I swallowed, pretending not to feel the heat rising up my neck.

She leaned forward.

“And I’ve been noticing things.” She paused and sniffed.

"And what are these things you noticed?" I inqured with a questioning look.

“First of all,” she said calmly, “where did you get the money you used to rent a G‑Wagon?”

I sat up sharply. “Baby, I appreciate you pouring your heart out and all....but ..but.., what kind of insulting question is that? I’m 35, for God’s sake. I’m not a child Tiffany.”

She didn’t even blink.

“Don’t you try to gaslight me. Just answer the damn question Darous....”

“Tiffany, abeg. Don’t start—”

“No.” Her voice was hard. “Tell me the truth, or this will get really beyond our control....”

“Control? You dare talk about control?" I scoffed. " You've always be the one controlling our relationship from the onset. I do as you say and that's all that matters to you. You don't care if it sits well with me or not..." I lashed out pretending to be annoyed. Because I thought the only way to tilt this whole issue over is by trying to manipulate her into feeling guilty. But the next thing she said made me to start looking for another plan

" Say what ever..." She said with a straight face. " I'm still going to insist you answer the damn question. Where did you get the money you used to rent that...."

" Wait first." I quickly cut in, to try another tactics. "Is it because I looked poor when we met that you think I can’t afford small 400k to rent a G‑Wagon?”

“Mr man, you don’t look poor… I know you are poor.”

“Oh… and how do you know that? We’ve barely known each other for how many months now, and you already want to be the financial auditor of my life? Abeg… don’t look down on me. I may look poor outside, but I'm a rich guy inside... I just don't like the flamboyant lifestyle that's all...” I'd finished saying all that before I realised I wasn't even making any sense. I guess this is one of the side effects of being too smart.

“So you’re not going to tell me how you came by the money you used to rent that car?”

Why won't she just drop this? Ah...this girl is stubborn.
I sighed and bit my lip, contemplating what next to say so I wouldn’t add another nail to my own coffin.

"I told you about the woman I worked for… that rich client whose party we attended…"

"Mrs. Adeoye?" She asked with a questioning look.

"Yes… I told you about her… she gave me this big contract and paid heavily for that small job I did for her at her house..… so…"

"How heavy?"

"Two million naira heavy," I said without blinking, even though the total cost of the renovation, including materials, was only one million two hundred thousand naira. I had spent more than nine hundred thousand on the job ganself.

"And if I call Mrs. Adeoye right now…" she said, "she would confirm this?"

I scoffed with a dry smile.

" Call her?"

"Yes ..." She answered with a firm and determined tone that made me flinch a bit.

"And why would you do such a thing?Besides, in what capacity would you be calling her? A Concerned parent? or as my guardian?"

"A concerned girlfriend!" She roared at the top of her voice. "If she confirms that she truly gave you two million naira for that small job, and you show me the invoice of all the things you bought, and I truly see you even have up to five hundred thousand naira as profit, then I’d let it be. In fact, I'd apologise right now."

I thought briefly about her proposal. I think I can use this to my advantage, a perfect idea entering my brain in the process.

"Okay…" I finally said after giving it a considerable thought. "We’ll call her tomorrow. It’s late now." I dropped my hands by my sides in resignation sign.

She took a cursory glance at the wall clock and saw the time: some minutes to eight.

"It’s not even eight o’clock yet… we’ll call her now. If she can verify your claim, I’ll let it be…"

"You’re bluffing, right?"

"Look at my face and tell me if I’m bluffing," she said, pointing at her own face.

"Okay. Let me get my phone…" I said, making my way toward the guest room where my phone was. The plan was simple: quickly save one of my previously used numbers—long lost—as 'Mrs. Adeoye' and call it in front of her. I hope she will drop this issue once the call refuses to go through

"I’ll call her for you, and you’ll sha hear what you want to hear and let me have a little peace of mind. Madam concerned girlfriend. " I said as I headed toward the guest room.

"Don’t bother." Her voice stopped me mid-step. "I have her contact with me."

"What....! How? How did you—"

"Don’t worry about that…" she said, bringing out her phone and dropping it on the center table.

I opened my mouth wide as my whole plan flew out the window.

“Hey Siri… call Mrs Adeoye,” she said. And just like that, the iPhone lit up, the call icon blinking with Mrs Adeoye boldly sitting above it.

“You’re really going to bother this woman with our nonsense…” I said, trying one more time to stop her. Truth is, I wasn’t ready for this level of drama at all.
“Tiffany, that woman doesn’t play with call disturbances o. Don’t let us escalate this issue by dragging a third party into it…”

All my attempts to get her to not call Mrs Adeoye proved abortive. The dial tone kept ringing through the loudspeaker.

“Tiffany? It’s insulting enough that you don’t even trust me. What’s the meaning of all this? Not everything you don’t know is a secret or a lie… some things are just for your own safety.”

She still didn’t listen. The call kept ringing, and Mrs. Adeoye wasn’t picking.

“You see, maybe she’s asleep. She’s a very busy woman. She told me she sleeps from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m., so she’s probably in the dreamland right now…” I tried, hoping it would help in changing her mind.

“Then why didn’t she doze off on that chair the night we stayed at her house? We stayed up late remember…?” Tiffany fired back.

I swallowed hard. Her words hit me like a truck. “I… I…” I tried to answer, but she cut me off again.

“Hey Siri… call Mrs. Adeoye again.”

“Siri, please don't mind her…” I muttered, but even Siri seemed to be against me that night.

The dial tone kept bouncing around the room, and I prayed Mrs Adeoye wouldn’t pick. But, as the gods would spread my a*ss and ram their corks deep into it,… she picked at the last dial tone of the ring.

Then Tiffany spoke.

“Good evening, ma…” Her voice was calm, but it felt like she was enjoying every second of my panic.

“Hello… who is this?” Mrs. Adeoye’s soft voice came from the other end.

“It’s me… Tif—” Tiffany hadn’t even finished when I snatched the phone from the table.

“Good evening, ma. It’s Darous… the engineer,” I said, heart hammering hard against my ribcage.

“Oh… Darous? Whose number is this?”

“Err… it’s my girlfriend’s phone. I saw your message this afternoon, but I didn’t have data… so I’m using her phone to call you, ma, about the work you said you want to show me...” I said quickly, not daring to even look at Tiffany.

“Okay… even though I don’t buy the data excuse, call me tomorrow. We’ll talk. Good night.”

I hung up and turned to face Tiffany.

And she… just smiled. No shouting, no drama. Just that irritating, slow smile. Then she said:

“Darous… where did you get that money? I know this woman had nothing to do with it… you’re just trying to lie your way out. And trust me ..it's not going to wor.......” She was still saying when it suddenly felt like a lightbulb went off in her head, she leaned closer and whispered, “Wait…why am I even bothering myself.... it’s clear you’re not going to tell me the truth. But maybe I should just tell you what I already know… so you can see there’s no way you can play your way out of this.”

"And what do you think you know? hun?" I said with confidence, putting her phone gently on the table. "Aside the fact that I'm your boyfriend and I love you from..." I was still saying when she dropped the bomb.

“You’re working with one devilish organisation,” she said, eyes narrowing. “Probably the same kind that killed my father. Now the same people want to kill that detective’s wife and children because you won’t help him or speak the truth.”

The words hit me like a thunder. Then I tried to hide it by laughing it off loud.

“Tiffany...you are funny... who told you all these nonsense and jargons?"

" That Detective told me everything. including where you were today. all that happened in that house. And I know you are in a very big trouble..."

Baby… everything he told you is a lie. Trust me. You can even ask him if you want.”

She stood up instantly, I could see her anger rising again.

“I don’t need to ask anybody to know when you’re lying to me!”

The room felt like it moved at the sound of that.
Or maybe it was just my heart looking for the nearest exit out of my body.

“And it’s painful… and I hate...I hate...I really hate that you’re doing this to us.”
Her voice was shaking, but she held the tears back.

I felt very disturbed at that moment.
I sat down slowly and covered my face with my hands. My mind became a battle ground for all series of thoughts.

'Tell her the truth and be free'… one small voice said.

'The truth will get her killed'… another one replied and it continued like that.

For a while, the room was silent except for her quiet sobbing.
Then she spoke again.

“Darous.”

I looked up.

Her voice was breaking, but her eyes were still sharp.

“If you don’t tell me the truth right now… just consider this relationship over.”

My heart dropped straight to my stomach.

“You don’t mean that, baby…”

She didn’t even blink.
“You have no idea. We’re over. I’m breaking up with you — and that’s final. Unless you can at least show me some respect and stop lying straight to my face.”

That moment… ehn, it was one of the saddest moments of my life.
For a second, I almost told her the truth. Everything.

But the question is how would she handle it?

The truth would drag her into a darkness she wouldn't be able to handle.
Knowing it would destroy her life faster than any breakup ever could.

I took a breath to gather my thoughts.

“Tiffany… you know I—”

“If the next thing that comes out of your mouth is not the truth, you won’t like the outcome,” she cut in. “This is your final chance.”
Her eyes were red — not crying-red… angry-red.

I took another breath. A necessary one.
Trying to think of how to calm her down without accidentally pouring petrol on the raging inferno.

Then slowly, I began, watching her carefully as she also watched my lips begin to move.

“Babe… you know I’ll never do anything to hurt you. You know how much I care about you. You know I love you more than anything in the world—”

But instead of calming her, those small small sweet words I downloaded from my cunning play store only upgraded her anger to the latest iOS version.
Update complete. Phone restarted. New rage features activated.

“Get out,” she said instantly. “Go inside, pack your things, and leave this house right now.”

I froze.

“Baby please—”

“I said leeeeeeeaaaaaaveeeee. you this preening little sh1t of a human being!....”

I stood there like someone slapped by the breeze as she continued to pour out hurtful words at me.

“Please, Tiffany… don’t do this. I’m not hiding anything. I don’t want to leave. Let’s talk. I’m begging you, please. You know I love you. Please calm down.”

She still didn’t care. All those words felt like telling a terrorist to drop the gun and pick up the bible.

I tried to hold her by the arms… but the next thing she did almost rearranged my destiny.

She landed a slap on my face so heavy that my brain had to buffer before it could understand what just happened.

“If you don’t leave right now,” she said, breathing hard, “one of us will join our late fathers in heaven. So just pack your bags… and go!”

I stared deep into her eyes and saw not even a single crack in her rising anger.
She was gone. Whatever feelings she had for me are now gone.
Far gone.

So I turned slowly and walked into the guest room.

My hands felt heavy packing my few clothes and shoes into the small travelling box.
Every zip felt like a heartbreak.

I returned to the sitting room.

“Tiffany… I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “Whatever you believe… just know I never meant to hurt you.”

She just stared straight ahead at the door.

I realised there was nothing left to say aside the truth she wants to hear.

I dragged my box toward the door, each step feeling like it was pulling part of my chest with it.

My hand touched the doorknob.

And that was when I heard a voice behind me.

“Darous… where are you going?”

It was Toyosi.



To be continued.

God damn it😍😍😍😍 it's like watching moon lighting the very best of Bruce Willis 🤗🤗🤗I love the scene,the tension and lover's fight🤭🤭most importantly i like the fact that Darous stayed grounded 👏💯 that's what real men do🤠 it's for her safety, you know ladies act irrational and it could be one big mistake telling her the truth 😔 it's that loud mouth detective, running his pipe just to get revenge,not thinking through the consequences 🤕"Mr man,you don't look poor,I know you're poor" I love this quote die🤣🤣🤣🤣
God bless you @tbm for making my night a blissful one😍🤗🙏and for coming through,when our country is burning 🥺you sure give succour, thanks so much,more inspiration bro💯💪⚡🔥

Dammmnnnnnn...
Shit just hit the fan. I don't blame her cos she doesn't know what's going on and that it is for her safety..
But wait, she slapped him

dawno2008:
Walahi I love how Darous is torturing this nasty obsessive dect👏 he's so bent on revenge that he doesn't care who he throws under the bus😕 he knows the circle are ruthless and deadly,and he's planning to use a new rookie to do his dirty job😰I love how Darous handled him🤗 it's getting dirtier 🤕

He deserves every torture n I have said this before that Toyosi is a member of the circle

Best storyteller on nairaland past and present.
Oya take ur award

ghettochild:
Best storyteller on nairaland past and present.
Oya take ur award

humbled boss... 😄😄😄

ghettochild:
He deserves every torture n I have said this before that Toyosi is a member of the circle

Next episode would shed more light on this your assumption. We'll know if you are right or only close to the truth or totally off track 😄😄😄😄

Stay tuned

TheBlessedMAN:
Next episode would shed more light on this your assumption. We'll know if you are right or only close to the truth or totally off track 😄😄😄😄

Ok na… bring it on

Episode 37 - The Breaking Point.

I remained standing there like someone who just lost his entire life savings to sportybet.

I didn’t answer. I was done with people questioning the hell out of my life that day.
From Kalu at the filling station, to Aristotle and his mansion drama, to the kicks, the torture—now I’m back in this house again and it’s still questions flying up and down. I was tired.

Toyosi’s question kept hanging in the air, begging for a response I wasn't ready to give.

“Darous, where exactly are you going by this time?” she asked again, softer now, almost like she was begging my mouth to move.

I stayed silent.

Then Tiffany’s voice cut in sharply from behind her.

“Toyosi, just let him go… He can’t stay here anymore. His stay is—”

Toyosi spun around. “But Tiff, don’t take it too far now. Things don’t get solved this way.”

Tiffany folded her arms, her face was hard like she’d locked her emotions in a safe and swallowed the key.”

“No, you don’t understand. This guy is nothing but a pure a**hole and a lying piece of sh*t… he must leave this house now and I mean it. He must leave.”

Her words hit me clean in the chest, but I still didn’t talk. Talking at that moment would have only poured more petrol on a burning fire.

Toyosi sighed and stepped closer to her. Grabbed her shoulders and began speaking calmly.
“Every relationship has issues. You can't just throw what you shared away because of one small fight. I’ve grown fond of him, you know that. I like having a man around the house. It brought some...some kind of balance to this house…”

Tiffany scoffed lightly. “Balance? Toy, please don’t be sentimental right now.”

“I’m not being sentimental,” Toyosi said, shaking her head. “I’m being reasonable. You can’t just wake up and start chasing someone you brought into this house away like that na, haba — especially over a small misunderstanding like this. It’s not just right.”

I could see Tiffany’s jaw tightened the moment she said those words.
“And it’s like you’re forgetting that I brought him here. I’m the one that brought him. So I get to say when it’s enough.”

“But this is not enough,” Toyosi pushed back gently. “You’re acting out of anger. Sit down, breathe small. And talk things out. Thats how it's supposed to be done.”

Tiffany looked at her like she had just insulted her whole bloodline.
“Talk? With who? Someone who has been lying to my face?”

Toyosi’s voice went soft.
“Tiff, people lie. You’ve lied before too. And whatever his reason is for keeping things from you… maybe the time just isn’t right. Maybe he’s scared. Maybe he’s not ready. Just give it time. That’s how adults do it.”

Tiffany released a dry laugh.
“Wow. So now you’re a relationship counsellor? If you are such an expert , why are you still single? eh...?Because it feels like only yesterday when you threw C.K out of this same house… now you’re preaching against me doing the same?”

The words hit something inside Toyosi.
Something deep.
Her eyes changed instantly.

“Wow… wow… that’s low. Even for you,” Toyosi said quietly, her voice carrying that kind of pain people don’t usually say out loud. “I’ve been wondering how long you’ve been waiting to remind me of that unfortunate day.”

“I’m sorry…” Tiffany reached for her hand, but Toyosi moved back slightly. She tried again, same result.
Then, out of frustration, she turned sharply to me.

“Now see what you’ve caused? I hope you’re happy.”

Toyosi’s eyes narrowed. “T, don’t do that. You brought C.K up yourself—even though you know how much that guy destroyed me.”

“I know… I know. I shouldn’t have mentioned him.” Tiffany wiped her eyes. “I just want you to see why this guy”—she pointed at me—“needs to leave this house. We’ve both been hurt by men who lied to us. What Amos did to me is almost the same thing Clark did to you… and now this one is moving in that same direction.”

Her voice broke. “You, of all people, should understand why I can’t go through that kind of pain again. Not another heartbreak. Not again.”

“No, I understand,” Toyosi said, voice steady and firm. “I’m your friend. That’s exactly why I’m trying to stop you from doing something you’ll later regret because I know you too well.”

“Trust me, I can’t regret staying away from a liar…”

“You can’t be so sure,” Toyosi shot back. “This one is not your solo decision."

" What do you mean it's not my solo decision?"

" Yes...okay...What if he leaves now and something happens to him on the road? What if he gets kidnapped? You know how mad the security situation in this country has become. If anything happens to him, will you be able to forgive yourself? Eh?”

“I don’t care whatever happens to him again,” Tiffany fired back. “To me, he stopped existing the moment he chose lies over what we had.”

Toyosi scoffed softly. “Oh please. Just like you ‘didn’t care’ that night before we watched The Herd. You said the same thing over and over… yet you were already crying before the movie even reached half.”

Tiffany’s eyes flashed. That one entered her chest.

The tension in the room tightened instantly — like the air itself was holding its breath. I could feel both of them slipping into a place where one wrong word would scatter everything.

Before it got to that stage, I felt I needed to do something fast, so I finally stepped forward.

“Toyosi… it’s fine. Let me just give her space. She’ll calm—”

Tiffany spun at me immediately, like she had been waiting for my mouth to enter the matter.

“You must be very stupid,” she snapped. “You think space will fix dishonesty? You think we will ever get back together if you can’t even afford something as simple as saying the truth?”

The words slapped me clean across the heart. The insult burned, but the painful part wasn’t the name she called me — it was the fact that she truly believed I deserved it.

Right there, I quietly decided it was better to leave the house. I dropped my shoulders and turned around slowly.

But before I even took one step, Toyosi suddenly rushed to the door and blocked it. Her back pressed against the wood like someone guarding a bank vault.

“This is my house,” she said firmly, “and I get to decide who stays and who leaves.”

The moment Toyosi said those words, regret flashed in her eyes.
She knew she had crossed a line.
Her lips trembled slightly like she wanted to swallow the words back.

Tiffany’s face changed slowly—like she was absorbing a slap in slow motion.
Her voice came out in a low tone.

“Alright. If he can’t leave… then I will.”

“Tiff, wait—” Toyosi reached out.

But Tiffany was already gone, storming into her room.
We heard drawers banging, zippers dragging, hangers crashing.
Moments later she came back with a similar box to the one I was carrying, footsteps hitting the floor like a soldier marching towards the enemy camp.

When she reached the door, Toyosi was still standing there.

Tiffany shot her one dangerous look.
Toyosi got the signal and stepped aside slowly… then grabbed Tiffany's hand gently.

“Where are you going by this time…?”

“Anywhere but here.”
She yanked her hand free and stepped out.

“When will you come back?” Toyosi called out, voice raised as Tiffany began loading her things into the car.

“When that lying piece of sh1t is out of the house,” Tiffany replied from behind the steering wheel.

Then the compound gate shook a little from the speed she used to escape that house.

And I just stood there…
Watching everything fall apart in front of me.

You think she'll be alright?" I asked Toyosi as we both watched the car lights fade into the distance.

"She’s a big girl. She can handle herself. And it’s not even the first time she’ll storm out like that," she said, a calmness slowly returning to her face.
Then her eyes travelled from my head down to my hand gripping the box handle.

"Now please go and drop your bag back inside," Toyosi added, pushing me gently forward.

I hesitated. Then I realised it was better I just slept there that night.
It was already late. My body was weak. And with this estate’s nonsense rule of “no bikes allowed,” I couldn’t even try that trekking I did in the morning again.

I reached the door of the guest room and looked back at her.

“Thank you…” I said quietly.

“Don’t thank me,” she replied immediately. “I didn’t do it for you… I did it for me.”

The words needed about three full seconds to land.
When they finally did, my eyes opened wide.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Toyosi didn’t answer. She just dropped into the big cushion, picked the remote, and started pressing it like nothing happened.

“Go and take a shower first,” she said calmly. “Then come back. Let’s have proper talks.”

Her words bothered me more than I expected.
My mind went straight to the previous night—how she said she was scared about something, how she wanted to talk… then suddenly changed her mind.

I shook my head.

“Wo, I can’t kill myself jare. Omo kan o le wa pa mi,” I muttered to myself the way my mother would say it.

Then I entered the guest room. Once the door closed behind me, the weight of the whole day finally settled on my chest. Maybe this was my breaking point… or maybe it was just the beginning.



To be continued. Let's keep the energy up. Abeg o

I like Tiffany's resolve. She stood her ground immediately she noticed foul play.

Stubborn gal Tiffany 🤭🤭 she'll understand later,now the adults want to discuss/open up🤓 very soon everybody go dey ok jawe🤣🤣🤣I only pray his father,porn watching pale shouldn't be to busy to guide his prodigal son😂😂😂😂

Weldon @tbm baba,more tuale for ya🤚✋two hands up baba🤗💯
Abeg make update no too late🍻

[b][/b]thanks tbm for this new phase

dawno2008:
Stubborn gal Tiffany 🤭🤭 she'll understand later,now the adults want to discuss/open up🤓 very soon everybody go dey ok jawe🤣🤣🤣I only pray his father,porn watching pale shouldn't be to busy to guide his prodigal son😂😂😂😂

Weldon @tbm baba,more tuale for ya🤚✋two hands up baba🤗💯
Abeg make update no too late🍻

No update till further notice... Abeg... What a sad night....

@tbm ya barca don turn efulefu for chelshit 🤣🤣🤣see better whipping 😂😂walahi,e don over red 🔥for barca😅even their over hyped yamal no see road 🤣🤣🤣

Abeg no let barca affect our updates,🤭🤭🤭🤭

dawno2008:
@tbm ya barca don turn efulefu for chelshit 🤣🤣🤣see better whipping 😂😂walahi,e don over red 🔥for barca😅even their over hyped yamal no see road 🤣🤣🤣

Abeg no let barca affect our updates,🤭🤭🤭🤭

he don affect am already o. Till further notice my boss. Good night 😴

TheBlessedMAN:
he don affect am already o. Till further notice my boss. Good night 😴

I just dey see am 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

dawno2008:
I just dey see am 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

but I don wise up jare... After one puna... I don dey type again... I owe you guys that

TheBlessedMAN:
but I don wise up jare... After one puna... I don dey type again... I owe you guys that

Nice one baba nla
You too much

Commenting the second time, really love what your doing, a great piece and I hope the guy should have little affair with toyosi

I blew AWOL on you boss because of your busy schedule and also your late replies( update).

But I know for sure that it's not easy ooo.

Thanks alot boss

Hey readers, how do you want the episodes?

Long? Short? Or moderate?

TheBlessedMAN:
Hey readers, how do you want the episodes?

Long? Short? Or moderate?

Very long sir