₦airaland Forum

Nice one op. I believe the introduction of the new character Eniola will shake things up for femi.

YoungBruzzy:
You’re welcome.

And please, you can make do with the PDF format pending when you will be able to publish it on Selar. It will even be more profitable for you if you sell pdf copies directly, instead of going through Selar cos they will remove their commission from your sales on their site.

I think I like this your idea 👍 thanks a lot

YoungBruzzy:
Now, this is a nice read cos I’m loving every bit of it.
I’ve been following this story on ghost mode, but damn it, I know I need to encourage the author of this wonderful story.
Kudos to the writer.


And please, do well to put out the pdf copy asap, I need to get a copy for myself 😊

Thanks for your comment. It's really means a lot. I hope more ghost readers will emulate you 😎


Concerning the full book, I'm having issue publishing on some of these platform like selar or Amazon. it might take some time. But maybe, I will just create the pdf version for those who prefer it directly.

Iseddy:
I wish Alex is a skillful fighter to stand the body guards and teach her a lesson

I wish so too 😂
But like they say, he who fights and run, will live to fight another day.

And this is just phrase 1 of the fight. So stay tuned

He had just two choice—be a man or be a coward. In this current situation against two hefty men, the latter seemed like the wise choice.

Quickly, he removed his eyeglasses, performed a 180-degree turn, and broke into a run, heart pounding in his chest.

The two bodyguards immediately gave chase. Their heavy footsteps echoed in the parking lot as they sprinted after him. Alex’s adrenaline surged. He didn’t waste a second and sprinted faster, his legs moving like pistons, his breath sharp and quick. The sound of his pursuers’ footsteps grew fainter as he pulled away.

Some students still hanging around the school compound, chatting or heading toward the gate, turned their heads as Alex tore past them, a blur of motion, with the two bodyguards hot on his heels. The chase was now a spectacle, one that caught the attention of anyone nearby.

The bodyguards were fast, but Alex was faster. He could feel the gap between them widening with each stride. His speed was unmatched as he outpaced them effortlessly, leaving them in the dust with no chance of catching up to him. He was giving Usain Bolt a run for his money.

Realizing they were losing ground, the bodyguards slowed their pace. After a few more seconds, they came to a halt, bending forward with their hands on their knees, trying to catch their breath. They watched Alex disappear into the distance, his form now barely visible.

"The guy’s too fast," Audu panted, his chest heaving.

Peter wiped the sweat from his brow and nodded. "Yeah. We’ll catch him next time. Let’s go back to the boss."



*******

Sarah stormed back and forth along the length of her car, her eyes blazing with fury. How dare that idiot speak to her like that? Who gave him the audacity? His words had knocked her off balance twice. No one, no one, had ever spoken to her like that before. And from a fellow student at AUST? That was unheard of.

She had never imagined that anyone would dare physically confront her, let alone shut her down. And calling her "Missy"? Like she was some little girl?

Sarah let out a mocking chuckle, shaking her head in disbelief. That jerk had no idea who he was messing with. It was clear he was blind to the consequences. She hoped her bodyguards caught up with him and dealt with him properly.

Her eyes settled on the scooter and frowned. The damage wasn’t just deliberate, it was excessive. Deep scratches carved across the frame, shattered headlights scattered on the ground, and one mirror dangled by a wire. What exactly had possessed her bodyguards to go this far? That wasn’t even what she told them to do. Absolute idiots.

As she fumed, she spotted her bodyguards jogging back toward her. Her expression shifted from fury to cold curiosity.

"Well?" she demanded, her voice sharp. "Where is he? Did you catch him?"

Audu and Peter came to a stop, both panting lightly, trying to catch their breath. "He got away, Ma'am," Audu said with regret.

"What kind of pathetic excuse is that?" Sarah snapped, her temper flaring again.

"He ran to the main gate, where the security men are posted," Peter lied smoothly. "We couldn’t follow him past that point."

Sarah glared at them, her eyes narrowing in disbelief. "So, you two just stood here, letting that idiot talk to me like that? And now you’re telling me you couldn’t catch him? And for crying out loud, why the hell did you destroy someone else’s property like that?” she snapped. “I only told you to dump it somewhere else and leave a written message or something. You’re the reason the idiot had the nerve to speak to me the way he did.”

There was a brief silence, and then Peter spoke cautiously. "We’ll get him next time, Ma'am."

Sarah rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Forget it. He’s a lucky bastard." She swung open the door of her car and climbed in, slamming it shut with a sharp motion. "Move that junk out of the way and let’s go home."

As the car engine roared to life, Sarah leaned back in her seat, her anger slowly dissipating. That jerk didn’t matter. He wasn’t worth her time. People like him were beneath her—insignificant. He was probably just another stressed-out student, taking his frustration out on her. Charming had warned her about people like him—the ones who would try to provoke her. She had bigger things to focus on.




>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Alright, that's it for now. Next update will come on Sunday. Announcement for the purchase of the full book will be dropping soon

Till then, stay tuned.

Was Alex reaction justified, or did he overreacted?
What about Sarah?

Drop your comments, questions or opinions on what you think.

Like and share. You can invite more readers👍

CHAPTER 16

Sarah moved with an almost regal air, flanked by her two bodyguards. They were both large and imposing, dressed in matching red tracksuits. Sarah, as always, exuded an aura of authority that made the entire space seem to slow down as she approached.

Alex, knowing better, averted his gaze. He had been told countless times that making direct eye contact with her could cause trouble. She was notorious for her ability to make anyone feel like a mere ant under her boot.

He just wanted her to walk by without noticing him.

But, of course, fate had other plans.

Sarah slowed her pace as she neared the Lexus SUV. She glanced briefly in Alex’s direction—just a fleeting look—and then continued toward the back of the car.

One of her bodyguards turned to Alex, his voice sharp and commanding. "Get that thing out of the way. We're leaving—now!"

Sarah reached for the rear door handle but stopped mid-motion, as if something had suddenly occurred to her. Without missing a beat, she turned around, her eyes locking onto Alex. She glanced at one of her bodyguards, and he nodded as if confirming her thoughts.

Her eyes quickly drifted back towards Alex.

"Hey, you!" Her voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding.

Alex slowly raised his eyes to meet her cold, unblinking gaze.

"So, you were the idiot who parked that junk in my spot?" she said, pointing to the scooter in front of him. Her tone was ice-cold, dripping with disdain.

Alex gave a puzzled look. She wasn't talking to him, was she? He slowly glanced over his shoulder just to be sure, and then back at her, his confusion mounting.

"Are you... talking to me?" he asked slowly, his voice calm but laced with an edge of disbelief.

"Is there something wrong with your ears?" Sarah shot back, rolling her eyes as if he were the most annoying person on the planet.

Alex's stomach churned with frustration. There was no doubt in his mind now—she was the one responsible for the damage to his scooter. But still, he needed to hear it from her.

"You were the one who did this?" he asked, his voice quieter, tinged with sadness. His scooter was a wreck, and she was standing there, acting like it was just another inconvenience for her.

"Yes, I was," she replied, her tone curt. "Why did you park in my spot?"

Alex mind reeled. She has a parking spot? He thought, incredulous. He opened his mouth to respond but was cut off before he could speak.

"Were you blind, or just too stupid to see that you parked in my spot?" Sarah snapped, her eyes narrowing.

Alex's frustration boiled over. "But I only parked on the white line!" he exclaimed, his voice rising.

"White line or not... no one parks in my spot. Ever," she retorted flatly. "You think you can just do whatever you want?" Her eyes scanned him with contempt. Then her brows raised slightly, a hint of surprise crossing her face as she noticed the severity of the damaged scooter.

"I hope you like the upgrade I gave your little scooter. Next time, maybe try using your eyes before you park your garbage."

With that, she turned on her heel, ready to return to her car, as if the whole situation was beneath her.

Alex gaze hardened. His hands balled into fists, his pulse thumping in his ears. How could she do this? He couldn’t believe the audacity of her actions, the way she just destroyed his property and then insulted him like it was nothing. She wasn’t just rude—she was a toxic combination of entitlement, arrogance, and cruelty, all wrapped up in one unapproachable package.

She had crossed the line. And he wasn’t going to let this one go that easily.

He sprang to his feet.

"What kind of a wacko are you?!" he shouted, his voice thick with anger. "Why do you have a special spot everywhere?!"

Sarah had already opened the back door of her car and was just about to climb in. She froze mid-step. Slowly, she turned around, her eyebrow arched in surprise, a mixture of disbelief and annoyance crossing her face.

"Excuse me?" she said, her tone dripping with condescension.

"You’re excused, missy," Alex shot back.

Sarah squinted at him with disbelief. "Did you just called—"

"Oh please, shut your crap?!" he interrupted, cutting her off before she could finish her sentence. His words rang out, leaving her stunned for a brief moment. "I have had enough of your princess-syndrome! How could you do something like this to my scooter and act like you’re not in the wrong? I parked on the white line. My scooter wasn’t blocking or touching your car, and even if it was, you could’ve just move it! Instead, you decided to damage it. This
just shows that you're either cruel, crazy, or both!"

Sarah’s eyes narrowed to slits as her face turned a deeper shade of red. Her lips trembled in fury. She still couldn't believe her ears. "Are you seriously talking to me like... Did... did you just shut me up?"

Alex shook his head slowly, his eyes cold with disdain. "No, sorry, I wasn’t talking to you," he said sarcastically. "I was speaking to the dead cells in your brain, because it obvious they aren’t functioning properly. They need some serious reconfiguration."

Sarah’s eyes widened, the shock of his words hitting her like a slap to the face. Her mouth hung open, her brain scrambling to process what just happened. She hadn’t expected him to fight back like this. She stood frozen for a moment, struggling to find the right words.

Finally, she managed to speak, but her voice was shaky, and her words came out in stutters, a mix of anger and disbelief. "How dar... how dare you..."

Her furious eyes flashed to her bodyguards, and she barked at them. "Are you going to stand there and let this... four-eyed slowpoke talk to me like that?!"

The two bodyguards, also in shock, exchanged confused glances. They were trying to figure out who gave this guy the nerve to speak to their boss in such a manner. But as Sarah’s furious words snapped them back to reality, they straightened up and marched toward Alex.

Sensing the danger, Alex instinctively backed away, slowly retreating. The bodyguards quickened their pace, and Alex knew the show was about to get real.

New Update:

Welcome back,

Just as always I will mention the commenters who I have seen on this thread.

yungbanks, Jupitre, Ybbjune, panpan, repogirl, aurion1, Iseddy, DeltaBachelor, iamL, anjay1212, brightspecimen, Stephen0mozzy, immanuelson, ifecodblissedboy, Echetex, nastynic, sal1974, Okeowonla

Since I was born, I had never seen so much bl00d spilled like I saw two nights after my wedding to the love of my life, my husband and bestie.

Before we got married, we were best friends.

We did everything together.

From watching the same movies, loving the same music, and even supporting the same football club.

Chelsea, of course.

In fact, at some point, people actually thought we were twins, not even a couple, because of how close we were.

We wore matching clothes, loved the same musical artistes, and even played games together.

From board games to video games, our love was inseparable and very unconditional.

I loved this quiet, gentle, and smart young man who found my drama arousing and never complained about how competitive I was.

Until two days after our wedding.

I had never seen this side of him before.

The aggression, violence, and lack of empathy.

I have always heard that marriage changed people, but I never thought I would ever experience such.

I watched my husband, and his face was different. He wasn’t smiling; he was not even looking at me as he brutal!zed me.

I had never seen so much bl00d spilled before.

He flung me like I weighed feathers, held my neck, and landed a blow right on my face.

Before I had a chance to recover from the bl0w, a ki<k landed on my head, and I saw butterflies clearly; then they disappeared.

Next thing, he lifted me up, and the moves these wrestlers usually give themselves, I saw it live and direct as he smacked me down on the hard ground.

With each blow he landed, he smiled and licked his lips.

He was actually enjoying the pain he was inflicting.

I tried to land a few punches and kicks, but I was no match for him, and even when I tried to defend myself, the beatings became worse.

I swore never to beg or plead. I wasn’t going to show weakness.

I’d die first than beg or plead with him to stop.

Bam!!!

My back hit the ground again for the third time.

While on the ground, he rushed me and started kicking me all over.

Blood was gushing everywhere from my body. He kept on kicking and kicking and kicking me all over.

And then he put his hand behind him, drew a long sword, raised it, and…

Quickly, I stood up and snatched the game pad from his hand, turned off the console and ran into the bedroom.

“I’m not playing again, joor. Let’s play football!” I screamed as I ran inside the bedroom.

He chased me inside, laughing and screaming, “Cheater!” and promising to beat me in the next round of Mortal Kombat we were playing on the new PS5 I had just got him for his birthday.

Well, he’s better at Mortal Kombat, but I’m better at FC 26. 😂😂

The End

Ajebo Writer

©️ AjeboWriter Kingdavid

*****6:02PM******

Alex left the lecture hall even though he hadn’t finished his work. Earlier, he had moved from the library to the hall when it closed at 4:00 PM. He had been making the most of the school's electricity, which was more reliable than what he had back home. Otherwise, he would have been at home by now, working in peace.

As he stepped outside, the atmosphere around him began to lose its brightness. The campus was growing quieter, and fewer students were around, especially those who lived in the school hostel. The air was beginning to cool, and the parking lot was now illuminated by solar-powered lights, casting a soft glow over the area.

He walked through the lot, noticing there were only a few cars left.

But then, his heart sank.

Where was his scooter?

Alex hurried toward the middle of the parking lot, his stomach knotting with unease. His scooter wasn’t where he had left it. The spot where the Rav4 Jeep had been parked was empty, but a black Lexus SUV was now occupying the space next to it.

His eyes quickly scanned the ground and he saw it—his scooter, in the distance, lying on the pavement like a broken toy. Parts of it were scattered a short distance away, as if some heavy vehicle had run over it. The front had been crushed, the seat was ripped off, and the gear handle was completely broken.

"No, no, no!" Alex exclaimed in frustration.

He felt a wave of nausea rise in his throat. This was pure malice. Who could have done this?

He stood frozen for a moment, taking in the full extent of the damage. His scooter, which had been his primary means of transportation, was now in pieces. He glanced around the lot, but the security guard who was usually stationed here was nowhere in sight.

Only one person came to mind—the owner of the Rav4 or... He couldn’t be sure, but Alex had a sinking feeling that whoever owned the black Lexus SUV might also have something to do with it.

He sighed heavily, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over him. He tried to drag his damaged scooter upright, attempting to push it home despite the obvious damage. But after only managing to move it a few feet, the back tire suddenly detached from the bike. The weight of the scooter shifted toward the rear, causing it to topple sideways, almost dragging Alex with it.

He jumped out of the way just in time, narrowly avoiding falling with the scooter. A sharp hiss of frustration escaped his lips as he squatted down in front of the broken machine, his annoyance palpable.

Just as he was about to give in to the mounting frustration, he heard footsteps approaching from the direction of the lecture halls. His eyes instinctively lifted to see who it was.

It was none other than the infamous Ice Queen of AUST.

Sarah.

*******

Charming strolled towards the College of Technology lecture area after parking his car. The atmosphere here felt distinctly different from that of the College of Science. The lecture halls were mostly quiet, with only the occasional echo of lecturers’ voices drifting from the classrooms. Students in the College of Technology were known for their dedication and focus in class. They took on more courses each semester, and their classes often ran longer. Many of the top-performing students at AUST came from this college, and they were seen as the institution's pride.

Charming wondered if the extra year they had to spend in school was somehow linked to their intense work ethic. He didn’t particularly care, though. His main issue was that he always had to wait around for Dominic. Otherwise, his cousin would have to make the long walk home alone, and Charming wasn’t about to let that happen.

He took a seat on a concrete slab at the entrance of the college garden, a spot where he could keep an eye on the lecture hall where Dominic’s class was taking place. From his vantage point, it seemed like a general course. The door was wide open, and he could see the lecturer still talking animatedly, gesturing toward the board. What could he possibly be going on about? The time was already 5:12 PM. Did the man plan on covering the entire course outline in one sitting? If this were the College of Science, the students would have long started grumbling or complaining by now, especially if the lecture had already stretched past its scheduled end time.

Another 20 minutes passed, and finally, the lecturer wrapped up the class and exited the hall. The students began to disperse, some following the lecturer, while others lingered around in small groups. Charming stood up, stretched, and walked toward the hall. He moved up the corridor and stood at the side, positioning himself where he could easily spot Dominic... or, more accurately, assess the various female students as they walked by.

Some students, who were familiar with him, waved or greeted him with a casual "hi," and Charming returned their greetings with a wave or thumbs-up for the guys, and for the ladies, a flashing smile, wink, or his usual subconscious rating.

His eyes landed on a female student approaching from the corridor. She was dark-skinned, about five foot six, her lower-side fade haircut perfectly complementing her oval-shaped face. A small, dotted birthmark adorned the right side of her upper lip, adding a unique touch to her features. Her physique resembled that of a fitness trainer, toned and athletic, her walking style, oddly, like that of a guy. She wore a blue loosed shirt and dark fitted trousers that hugged her form, a dark hoodie draped over her shoulders, its sleeves loosely wrapped around her neck.

Charming briefly assessed her—rating her a six—mainly because of her manly outfit and smaller bust, which he thought was slightly below average. She passed by him without sparing him a glance.

But, as the saying goes, man must be man. Charming couldn't help but glance over his shoulder to get a better look at her backside.

Damn! His rating for her immediately doubled to an eight.

Whatever she lacked in the chest area, she more than made up for in her curves. Her hips swayed with each step, and her bottom moved with a fluid grace that caught his full attention.

So caught up in his assessment, Charming didn't realize when a whistle escaped his lips. The sound was high-pitched and echoed through the hallway. Realizing his mistake, he quickly slapped his palm over his mouth, but it was already too late. The whistle had already drawn the attention of nearby students.

The lady turned, her eyes narrowing as she glared at him. Charming froze, realizing just how inappropriate his behavior had been. He quickly flashed a smile, saying, "Hi."

The lady stared at him with clear disgust, her eyes narrowing as she batted them in annoyance. She slipped the hoodie off her shoulders and secured it around her waist, hissed loudly before walking away, her pace quickening.

Charming stood there for a few seconds, eyes wide, as the ripple effect of his actions settled in. He had crossed a line, and he knew it. But instead of confronting his mistake, he shrugged it off with a casual laugh, trying to convince himself it wasn’t a big deal. His face flushed with embarrassment, but he couldn't help himself—his eyes lingered on her retreating figure.

Just then, a hand landed on his shoulder, snapping him out of his trance. It was Dominic.

"Hey, bro, sorry for the long wait," Dominic said with a grin. "That lecturer didn’t want to end his class because he came late."

Charming barely registered Dominic’s words, his mind still fixated on the lady. Who cared about the lecturer? The man could collapse from exhaustion for all he cared. His thoughts were consumed by the figure walking ahead.

Without looking up, he muttered absently, “Who is she?”

Dominic followed Charming's gaze, squinting in the direction of the young woman, who was now walking towards the parking lot. "I think that’s... Rose. She is a friend from another department. I thought you knew her already?"

"You have a friend call Rose? How?"

"Oh, I think you know her as Tommy-Rose."

Charming frowned at Dominic, his confusion evident. "Stop joking, man. That’s not Tommy-Rose."

Dominic shrugged nonchalantly. "No, I’m serious. That’s her."

Charming turned his attention back to the lady, still struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. Tommy-Rose—no way. The Tommy-Rose he knew didn’t look anything like that.

Rose, as she was known, had always been a tomboy. She was from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and had made a name for herself back in their first year. She'd trended on the campus social media because of her fierce, no-nonsense attitude. Her face was the only thing that gave away her gender. Everything else about her screamed "guy"—minimal visible feminine features, baggy clothes, loose trousers, and a reputation for hanging out and getting into fights with boys.

Charming shook his head in disbelief. "But... where did all that come from?" he said, his hands unconsciously describing the size of her curves. "She’s got a bust and a... big bumbum now?"

Dominic grinned, clearly amused by Charming's reaction. "Bro, wake up. I'm sure the last time you saw her was close to two years ago. That's enough time for anyone to change physically."

Charming’s jaw dropped. "God is truly wonderful," he muttered in awe, still trying to process the transformation.

Dominic burst into laughter, holding his stomach. "Guy, abeg, I no wan laugh, hunger dey do me. Make we dey go house!"

"Yeah, let’s go home," Charming replied, walking briskly toward the parking lot.

Dominic had to half-run to catch up. It was obvious his cousin was clearly eager to catch up with Rose.

As they reached the parking lot, Charming caught up with Rose just as she was about to walk past his car. Without missing a beat, he swooped in front of her, blocking her path. Rose stopped dead in her tracks and shot him a deadly stare.

"Eh-eh, what do you want?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, looking up at him with an unfriendly glare.

"Hmm... Hi, I’m Charming," He began, trying to sound smooth. "What direction are you heading? I can drop you off."

Rose didn’t even flinch. "And why should I accept a ride from you? Because you're... charming?" she said, emphasizing the word by making imaginary quotation marks with her fingers.

Charming immediately picked up on her attitude. "I mean no harm, I just like helping my fellow students," he said, trying to sound friendly.

"Well, thanks a lot, Mr. Charms, but I don’t need help," she responded flatly. "I want to walk. Beside, I don't know who you are."

Charming raised a brow. "I find that hard to believe. Are you sure the name "Charming" doesn't ring a bell?"

"It doesn't." She attempted to walk past him, but he moved to block her path again, flashing her his signature smile.

"C'mon, I can’t let you walk all the way," he said with a grin.

Rose turned her head, noticing Dominic walking up to them. "Hi, Dominic," she greeted him, offering a faint smile. "Is this guy your friend?"

Dominic puffed out his chest proudly. "Yeah! He’s my best buddy. He’s actually my brother."

"Oh! I see." Rose raised an eyebrow, then glanced back at Charming with a fake smile, which disappeared almost immediately into a frown. Then she turned back to Dominic. "Well, I think you should put a muzzle on him, or better yet, a chain, so he’ll leave me alone," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I don't like dogs, especially ones that bark like he does." She pushed Charming aside and continued on her way.

Dominic nearly lost it. He burst into uncontrollable laughter, his eyes tearing up from how hard he was laughing. He held on to the trunk of a nearby car to keep himself from falling, while Charming stood there, stunned by Rose’s boldness.

"Abeg o, make una no scatter my belle with laugh, I never chop," Dominic said amidst laughter. "Guy, abeg, let's go home," he added and walked over to the front passenger door of Charming’s car.

"Charming, open the car, make we dey go na."

Charming seemed lost in thought, still staring at the long-gone Rose. He had never been dismissed like that before. Most of the girls who had rejected him did so politely or with some form of grace. But Rose... she had just shut him down in the harshest way possible.

"Charming," Dominic called again.

When he didn’t respond, Dominic whistled three times, the way one would call a dog.

Charming snapped out of his trance and turned to him, his annoyance clear. "Guy, you dey mad!? Who you dey call like that? Is like you want to trek home abi?"

Dominic’s happy face faltered, turning to a frown. "What’s your problem? Was I the one who called you a dog? Please, open the car, let’s go home."

Charming hissed loudly and stomped to the driver’s side, angrily fumbling with the car door. He finally opened it and they both got inside. He started the car with a jerk and reversed harshly, still fuming. As they drove passed Rose, Charming hissed again, and Dominic couldn’t help but chuckle loudly.

"Come, stop laughing that stupid laugh," Charming said in annoyance.

Dominic shrugged, still amused. "See, forget all this your anger. It’s obvious she knows who you are. She just called you a dog in reference to what you're well known for."

Charming glared at him. "And so what? If she wasn’t interested, does she have to make it sound so insulting?"

"She tried to walk away, but you blocked her path. You’re lucky she didn’t punch you. She’s known for fighting with guys, you know." Dominic pointed out with a grin.

Charming hissed again, clearly irritated. "Someone I was just trying to help... and she’s not even that pretty. I’ve been with girls far better than her."

Dominic shook his head, unfazed. "She’s pretty," he said. "That is, if you’d admit the truth."

Charming paused, thinking for a moment.
"But, I still can’t believe that’s Tommy-Rose. If not for her face, she looks totally different. The last time I saw her, she was as flat as a frying pan." He shook his head and added, "But how come she went viral when she looked like a tomboy, and now that she’s all set and hot, no one notices?"

Dominic chuckled softly. "That’s because she still dresses like a tomboy and hangs out with guys. Come to think of it, that’s the first time I’ve seen her in tight trousers. I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t have noticed her if she was in baggy trousers or jeans. Besides, I think she’s trying to keep a low profile now—especially after that rumor spread last semester that she’s a lesbian."

"Are you serious?" Charming’s eyes flicked to Dominic, then back to the road, still processing this new information.

"Yeah, I guess the rumor didn’t spread too far since she reported the student who started it to the disciplinary committee," Dominic confirmed.

"So you think she rejected me because she’s a lesbian?" Charming asked, clearly still confused.

"I never said she is," Dominic clarified. "I just said that’s the rumor. Like I told you, it’s probably just that she’s not interested in you. Not every girl is into guys like you."

Charming hissed again, but Dominic burst into laughter.

CHAPTER 15

3:26PM
******
Alex looked up from his laptop to find Jimi staring at him. They were sitting across from each other at a table in the library. Alex had been writing code on his laptop, while Jimi had been reading through a textbook from their earlier lecture.

"You’ve got something you want to say?" Alex asked, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

"Hmmm... I was just thinking about our study location," Jimi replied, looking slightly hesitant.

Alex glanced around the library, where students were immersed in their books or scribbling notes. "You don’t like this place? Not quiet enough?"

Jimi looked a bit confused. "Well... I don’t know. It’s okay, but the environment around it is kind of noisy."

Alex chuckled, clearly understanding. "Ah, I get it. You want a place where we can freely debate and express ourselves without worrying about other students staring at you." He had noticed Jimi adjusting his glasses, a sign that he was nervous.

Jimi gave a small, sheepish smile and nodded. "Yeah, something like that."

"We could study at my place, if you want," Alex offered casually.

Jimi raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Would that be convenient for you?"

Alex leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed. "Sure, I live alone."

"Off-campus?" Jimi asked.

"Yeah."

"Where exactly?"

Alex hesitated, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "I don’t know the name of the street off the top of my head, but if I’m guessing right, it’s about a 30-minute walk from the campus gate to my place."

Jimi looked at him for a moment, then said with a grin, "Okay, that makes it roughly... 45 minutes give or take."

Alex blinked in confusion. "How do you figure that?"

"From our department andlecture hall to the school gate is 15 minutes," Jimi explained.

Alex laughed. "Well, we can cut the whole trip down to 18 or 20 minutes."

Jimi raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "How?"

Alex smiled slyly. "Are you forgetting I have a scooter? We’ll walk to the parking lot, which will take about 4 minutes, and then I’ll just scoot us there."

"Oh, okay, that’s better!" Jimi chuckled. "We can start studying there next week, right?"

"Sure, after our classes," Alex confirmed.

Jimi nodded, but then his eyes suddenly widened as he remembered something. He quickly stood up. "Alex, I think I have to go now. Sam, Kobiruo, and I pitched in for some spaghetti. They must’ve finished making it by now, and I don’t want them to eat my portion. They’re really sneaky when it comes to food."

Alex chuckled at Jimi’s urgency. "Alright, see you tomorrow then."

New Update:

Just as always I will mention the commenters who I have seen on this thread.

yungbanks, Jupitre, Ybbjune, panpan, repogirl, aurion1, Iseddy, DeltaBachelor, iamL, anjay1212, brightspecimen, immanuelson, ifecodblissedboy, Echetex, nastynic, sal1974

My ghost readers 🧐

******

Alex arrived in class and stopped at Big John’s desk.

"Big John," he called out.

"Hmmm?" Big John responded, not looking up from the paper he was writing on.

"Where's my textbook? The ones you were supposed to pick up for me from the departmental office?" Alex asked.

Big John looked up, his expression blank for a moment as he tried to recall. "Oh! Your textbook. Ehh... I went there yesterday and the day before, but the office was locked. Don’t worry, on Monday or Tuesday, you'll get it."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Why does it feel like you're lying? I'm pretty sure you just forgot about it."

Big John sighed, clearly irritated. "Oga, I don tell you say I go collect your textbook next week, abeg make you dey go."

Alex was not satisfied. "How about you go there today?"

"Oooooh God! This guy leave me na." Big John grumbled. "On Monday or Tuesday you will get your textbook. I have a lot in my mind now."

Alex resigned with a sigh and continued up the aisle. He nodded at Kobiruo and Bayo, the two guys occupying the seats before the last, then shook hands with Jimi and Sam.

Jimi and Sam were both watching something on Sam's phone. Alex didn’t need to be a psychic to guess what it was. It was the same video Lisa had tried to share with him some minutes ago. It seemed like most of the students in class were debating it, too.

In their class, Sarah was always a topic of conversation. Students were either talking about her latest outfit; usually a mix of boss-lady corporate styles or rich-spoiled-girl aesthetics, or about her most recent posts on social media. She was a special student, one who came to class whenever she felt like it, and most of the lecturers didn’t seem to mind. Even when she wasn’t in class, no one except Chinonye dared to sit in her designated seat.

"Hey, Alex, have you seen that new video trending on the school platform? It’s everywhere, even on social media," Jimi said, nudging Alex with his shoulder.

Alex shot him a hard stare, and Jimi immediately understood. "Sorry!" he quickly apologized.

Alex's gaze shifted to a guy who was about to sit down in the 14th row of the middle column. The guy was dark-skinned, about five-foot-eight, and looked matured and older than most of the students in the class. The guy smile and waved at Alex, and Alex did the same.

"Do you know that guy?" Jimi asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Yeah," Alex answered.

"A friend?"

"Not particularly. He is someone I met about a year ago under a certain situations. Just saw him again here on campus. He's a nice guy."

Jimi shook his head. "Effiong is a nice guy, yes. But he also every suspicious. He’s the oldest guy in our class—about 27, I think. Doesn’t come to class much. Has deferred his admission countless times for reasons no one really knows. Some of our current final-year students even said they met him back when they were freshers. It’s almost like he doesn’t want to leave this school.

He leaned in and whispered, "I’ve also heard some bad things about him. He’s rumored to be into illegal business activities. The police have arrested him thrice, but they couldn’t find any evidence to hold him. He’s trouble. I think you should stay away from him."

Alex chuckled softly, giving Jimi a funny look.

"Why are you laughing?" Jimi asked, puzzled. "Did I say something funny?"

"You gossip a lot for a quiet guy, you know," Alex said. "What you heard were just rumor, doesn't mean it real."

******
Sarah smiled as she saw Charming heading toward her. She was sitting inside one of the arch-shaped pavilions in the college garden, the morning sun casting a warm glow around her.

"Hi, Pretty Angel," Charming greeted as he entered the pavilion.

"Hey," Sarah replied, her smile widening.

He took a seat beside her, looking her over. "I can see you're shining this morning. Care to share the good news?"

"Who told you there’s any good news?" Sarah beamed, clearly amused.

"If there wasn't, your facial expression would be almost unreadable. So, did you visit Uncle Jason like you said you would?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sarah rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, I did. And, like I said, Jason can't stay angry with me for long. I apologized, and he apologized too. We’re good now."

"Wow! That was easy," Charming chuckled. "What about your dad? I’m sure he saw that video that’s already trending."

"He did." Sarah shrugged nonchalantly. "And he gave me the chastisement of my life last night."

Charming laughed, his amusement obvious. Sarah continued, "He kept going on about how I was ruining my brother's life, how I didn’t want him to get married, how I was embarrassing him—bla-bla-bla. I didn’t bother to listen to the details. I just left the phone on the bed, took a shower, and when I came back, he was still talking."

Charming burst into laughter, but Sarah's smile faded a little as she added, "Then he said something that really bothered me. He said this was my second strike, and I have only one more left. If another scandal about me hits the internet, I wouldn't want to see what he'd do."

Charming raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "What do you think he would do?"

Sarah shrugged, her expression indifferent. "I don’t know, but I imagine the worst. After all, he dragged me all the way to this school, even though I didn’t want to come to Nigeria. He cares more about his political image than anything else."

"What was your first strike?" Charming asked, genuinely curious.

Sarah pouted thoughtfully, then gave a nonchalant shrug. "I think it was the Mitchell incident at Stanford."

Charming nodded in understanding. "I’m glad you and Jason were able to work things out." He paused, studying her face closely. "Sarah, I think you should take your father’s threat seriously—even if he’s just worried about his image. I mean, you’re not an entertainment celebrity. You shouldn’t be drowning in scandals like this."

Sarah frowned, her brow furrowing. "Are you saying it’s my fault?"

"No, Sarah. I’m saying…" He hesitated, trying to find the right words. "You shouldn’t let people... hmm, especially annoying people... get to you, piss you off, and make you do things that put you at odds with your dad."

"Annoying people like Emily, right?" she asked, giving him a curious look.

Charming nodded, though he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the direction of the conversation. "Yeah… something like that."

"What are you doing here, anyway?" he asked, trying to change the subject. "We have class in about..." He checked his phone. "Ten minutes."

Sarah smirked, as if she’d been waiting for the question. "Yeah, I know! Jason asked me to apologize to Emily, so I called her to meet me here."

Charming gave her an awkward look. The Sarah he knew would never apologize—not even to her father. The word ‘apologize’ didn’t even exist in her vocabulary. Apart from Jason and her Aunt, Sarah had never apologized to anyone, period.

"And you’re actually going to do it?" he asked, clearly skeptical.

"Of course," she replied, her voice firm. "Though I also wanted to speak to her about something else." She paused, then glanced up as if on cue. "Oh! Speak of the devil," she added, spotting Emily walking into the college garden.

Charming’s curiosity deepened. He wondered what Sarah wanted to speak to Emily about. As Sarah stood up, her eyes locked on Emily, her expression turning cold with contempt.

"Hey, Emily. How are you doing now?" Charming greeted as Emily entered the pavilion.

"I'm fine, Charming. Thanks a lot for yesterday," Emily replied with a faint smile.

"Anytime!" Charming cheered, his bright tone trying to lift the mood.

Emily’s gaze flickered to Sarah, who was still staring at her. "Hello, Sarah. Good morning."

"You can keep your greetings to yourself," Sarah retorted, folding her arms across her chest. She sighed dramatically and continued. "I’ll just go straight to the point." Her voice was cold, but she powered through. "I can’t keep fighting you because Jason loves you so much. I care about my brother, and I don’t want to hurt him anymore, so I’ll have to accept whatever he wants—even though I hate to."

She cleared her throat, clearly preparing herself. "So... I want to apologize for what I did to you last night. It was wrong, and something worse could have happened." Her words carried no warmth, her antagonistic tone draining every atom of sincerity from them.

"Although..." Sarah paused, her lips curling with irritation. Charming rolled his eyes as he could already feel the shift in her words.

"If you had stayed away from me, like I told you, or if you weren't wearing heels, yesterday’s incident wouldn’t have happened. So, it was partly your fault too."

Emily blinked, a little taken aback, but she maintained her composure. "It’s okay, Sarah. I’ve already forgiven you. I know you didn’t do it intentionally. And, I would also like--"

"Yeah, whatever!" Sarah snapped, cutting her off. "Now let me warn you!" She took a step forward, her gaze sharpening, and Emily instinctively stepped back.

"If you take one step backward, make one wrong move or do anything to hurt my brother and break his heart, I will come after you with everything I have. I’ll make your life so unbearable that you’ll regret not drowning in that pool last night. Are we clear?"

Emily nodded, her face pale, looking like a frightened child. Sarah fluttered her fingers dismissively at her. "Now, shush off!"

Emily slowly turned and left the pavilion, her steps heavy and hesitant. Sarah watched her go with a mixture of satisfaction and annoyance.

Turning to Charming, Sarah found him watching her with a disapproving look.

"What?" she asked, her tone defensive.

"So, you only wanted to threaten her?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I just wanted her to know her place," she replied, her voice hardening. "She needs to be aware that I’m watching her every move."

Charming shook his head, his voice playful but serious. "The words you use sometimes are terrifying, you know. If you weren’t so pretty, I’d swear you were the Devil in human form."

Sarah smiled mischievously, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, the Devil’s not ugly either. Infact, the Bible describes him as one of the fairest of God’s angels. So who knows, I might just be that Devil."

"Blood of Jesus!!" Charming exclaimed, his face wide with mock horror.

Sarah giggled softly, her earlier tension melting away.

******

A sleek black Lexus SUV rolled into the parking lot, smoothly sliding into the only available spot on the left side of the carriageway. The back door opened, and Sarah stepped out, dressed casually but with an air of authority. She wore the official sky-blue Manchester City jersey, paired with black jeans and dark sneakers. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, and a waist bag rested around her waist, while her school bag hung over one shoulder.

Her two bodyguards, Peter and Audu, exited the front seats of the car. They were both dressed in matching red tracksuits, their bags slung across their chests.

As Sarah moved past the rear of the Lexus towards the lecture area, her gaze drifted over to a yellow scooter parked improperly in the space between her Lexus and a red Rav4. The scooter was almost touching her car, and she immediately scowled.

"Who parked this thing here?" she demanded, turning to look at her bodyguards.

Peter and Audu exchanged a glance, both clearly confused. They had just arrived with her, so they had no idea who the scooter belonged to.

Sarah heaved a deep breath as if trying to calm herself. Just another idiot trying to test her patience this morning. Why don't they ever learn?

"Take this nonsense out of here and trash it," she suddenly ordered, her voice cold and unyielding. "Make sure you leave a message. I want whoever owns it to come back and see their mistake. Am I clear?"

"Yes, ma'am," they both replied in unison.

She gave the scooter one last disdainful look before continuing her walk toward the lecture halls.

Audu waited until she had gone a reasonable distance before speaking. “When she said trash it, did she mean dump it somewhere else or actually vandalize it?”

“I think she meant the latter,” Peter muttered flatly.

“Are you sure?”

“She told us to leave a message. What else do you think that means?”

“What if you’re wrong?”

Peter sighed heavily. “Then the owner of the scooter is just unlucky. Better them than us. She’s already on edge after last night. You really don’t want to get on her bad side." He paused, then added. "You do the trashing, I’ll follow her."

Audu nodded and got to work, while Peter fell in step after Sarah, maintaining a watchful distance.

Audu shook his head with a mix of pity and resignation as he wheeled the scooter away and pushed it to the side. He couldn’t help but wonder who the unlucky person was that had fallen into his boss’s trap today. Normally, he would have just wheeled the scooter somewhere else without causing any damage, but he knew better than to take that risk. If Sarah somehow returned and found out her orders had been flouted, he and Peter would be the ones in trouble.

He recalled the day they were first assigned to her. Their job was simple enough; protect her and report back to her father about her daily activities. But things had changed the moment they met her. The moment Sarah laid eyes on them, she had scrutinized them with cold, calculating irritation. Without missing a beat, she had informed them that she knew they were there to spy on her, and dared them to report anything to her father.

"You two work for me now, not for him," she had said, her voice sharp and uncompromising. "Double-cross me and I will gladly ruin your careers."

She had secured their loyalty with that chilling threat, but also sweetened the deal by significantly increasing their monthly pay. Audu had learned quickly that working for Sarah wasn’t just about protection; it was about survival. And her demands were never small.

Now, as he opened the boot of the Lexus SUV, he reached inside and grabbed a hand hammer. He knew exactly what was expected of him.

CHAPTER 14

Friday — 9:37AM
*******

Alex parked his scooter in the parking lot, just as he always did: right on the white line dividing two parking spaces. A red Rav4 Jeep was parked in the left section, but the right section was empty. He observed the space carefully, making sure not to take up more than his fair share, before heading toward the lecture halls.

As he walked, he noticed a young lady approaching from the road leading to the College of Technology. She was smiling at him, and although she looked vaguely familiar, he didn’t think much of it. He simply looked away and continued walking. However, she picked up her pace and caught up with him.

"Hi," she said, stopping beside him.

"Hello, good morning," Alex greeted curtly, giving her an uninterested glance.

"You don't remember me, do you?" she asked, her smile still intact.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "I don’t think so," he replied, hoping she would take the hint and leave him alone.

"I’m the server from the CS canteen," she said, her voice light and friendly. "The food counter, remember?"

Alex’s eyes widened as his memory kicked in. She was the cheerful and friendly lady who had served him that day in the canteen. He quickly offered her a smile.

"Oh, I remember now! Well, it’s nice to see you again," he said, extending his hand. She took it, her smile widening in response.

She hesisted for a moment before saying, "I was also the one who gave you the water bottle to wash your face after that incident."

Alex's expression softened as he remembered the awkward moment. "Oh! I see," he said, his tone indifferent but appreciative. "Thanks a lot. I couldn't really see your face properly that day."

She nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, I know. I’m sorry about the humiliation you went through because of that girl. I’m sure you had no idea who she was and just wanted a seat."

Alex felt a slight relief at her understanding. Finally, someone who gets it, he thought. "That whole thing was a setup. One of the students in the hall directed me to her seat, saying it was free. I admit, I was a bit naïve."

"That’s really bad," she said, shaking her head. "Every session, the naughty students on campus are always waiting for the next JJC to fall into her trap. Most new students don’t even know who she is until they’ve experienced her firsthand." Her voice lowered slightly. "Do you know that she pushed someone into a swimming pool at a party yesterday? The person almost died."

"What?!" Alex exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock.

She pulled out her phone and started scrolling. "Let me show you."

Alex quickly raised a hand to stop her. "There’s no need for that. I don’t want to see anything related to her."

She tucked her phone back into her jeans pocket, a knowing look in her eyes. "She’s a very cruel person, one you should definitely avoid at all costs."

"Yeah, I know that, especially after finding out we’re both course mates," Alex muttered.

Her’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Wait, you’re in the same class? I thought you were… I don’t understand."

"I came to this school as a transfer student," Alex explained, his tone more matter-of-fact now.

She blinked, processing the information. "Oh! So you’re in 300 level, then?" she asked, and Alex nodded in confirmation.

"I’m in 300 level too. Department of Science Laboratory Technology. I am Monalisa by the way, or Lisa for short."

Alex gave her a warm smile. "Nice to meet you, Lisa."

"I would’ve loved to keep calling you 'Mr. Superman,' but it seems that embarrassing incident has ruined the name," Lisa teased, and chuckled.

Alex laughed, though it was a little strained. "Yeah, that was... something else. Just call me Alex."

Lisa nodded with a smile. "So, Alex, how’s your third week at AUST going?" She asked, her tone light and friendly, trying to steer the conversation to a more positive topic.

"Second actually, but It’s okay," Alex said with a shrug. "I’ve met some nice people... some rude ones, and a few funny ones too. I’d say it’s going great. Oh, and I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I say you’re the nicest student I’ve met on campus so far."

Lisa blushed, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "I think you’re being too nice with your words," she said, clearly flattered. "I haven’t seen you at the canteen since that day. I’m guessing it’s because of... you know, the incident?"

Alex nodded, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, I’ve been avoiding that place like the plague."

Lisa burst out laughing at his honesty, and Alex couldn’t help but smile. Her laugh was light and infectious.

"Oh please!" Lisa said between giggles. "You don’t have to let that incident stop you from doing what you want. It’s just one of those things."

Alex shook his head, still grinning. "I know, I know. But it’s just... well, it’s hard to get that image out of my head. Do you work there, by the way?"

"Kind of," she replied with a shrug. "My dad owns the canteen. He also runs the one at the College of Technology and the staff cafeteria."

As they reached the SLT hall, Lisa stopped at the entrance.

"Well, I guess this is where we part ways," Alex said, looking at her with a smile.

"Yeah, most of my classes are here," Lisa said, pausing for a moment. "I’ll be expecting to see you at the canteen later."

Alex gave her a nod. "I’ll keep that in mind."

Lisa grinned mischievously. "If I don’t see you, I’ll come to find you and drag you there myself."

Alex chuckled. "I’ll make sure I don’t give you the chance."

They exchanged a wave as Lisa turned to enter her class, and Alex continued on his way to his hall, feeling a little lighter than before.

New Update:

Just as always I will mention the commenters who I have seen on this thread.

yungbanks, Jupitre, Ybbjune, panpan, repogirl, aurion1, Iseddy, DeltaBachelor, iamL, anjay1212, brightspecimen, immanuelson, ifecodblissedboy, Echetex, sal1974

My ghost readers 🧐

nastynic:
Thanks for the update Tony,

Where men fit buy this book ? The suspense is killing me

The full book would be released soon. I'm just editing the last parts of it. By God's grace, it's should be ready next week to be published online.

I will make an announcement whenever it's up for sale.

The few remaining guests at the house turned to watch as Charming and Sarah made their way toward the gate, where Dominic and Sarah's bodyguards were waiting for them. Charming spotted Bisi approaching from a distance, wearing his suit jacket draped over her shoulders. She flashed a bright smile as she walked up to them.

"Hi, Charming," she greeted, her voice warm and friendly.

Sarah, without missing a beat, shot her an irritated glance and kept walking ahead, leaving the two of them to chat.

"You're still around?" Charming asked, raising an eyebrow with mild surprise.

"Yeah," Bisi replied, glancing down at the jacket. "You left this by the pool."

She began to take it off, but Charming quickly stopped her. "Please don’t. You can keep it," he said with a grin. "It suits you better."

Bisi giggled, clearly flattered. "What you did tonight was pretty heroic. I was surprised by your actions. You really have a big heart." She reached into her bag and pulled out a small piece of paper, slipping it into his palm. "Call me," she said, making a phone gesture with her hand to her ear.

Charming’s eyes widened in amusement. "Sure, of course."

"Don’t forget," she added as she turned to walk away.

"Dem no born my papa well make i forget," Charming joked, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. Bisi burst into laughter, clearly enjoying the banter before heading off to join her brother.

Charming chuckled to himself as he watched her go. It was funny how quickly things had changed. Just a while ago, she had been hesitant to give him her number or even chat with him, but after witnessing his so-called "heroic" rescue, her attitude had shifted completely. Some girls and their strange ways of thinking!

But Charming wasn’t interested in a friendship—he didn’t want the honeybee, he only wanted the honey-pie.



******11:43PM******

"Who is she?" Chinonye asked Fiona as they watched the video clip that was already trending on Twitter and Instagram.

"Her name is Emily. She was once Sarah's friend, the one who used to live here before you came..." Fiona replied, her voice trailing off.

Chinonye’s eyes widened in surprise. "The one you said Sarah chased out?"

"Yes," Fiona confirmed. "She and Sarah were very close—closer than I was to Sarah, actually. Sarah always protected and supported her. Then, out of nowhere, she secretly started dating Uncle Jason. I’m not sure what happened after that. All I know is that Sarah came home one day and just threw her things out. That was it."

Chinonye sat quietly for a moment, processing what Fiona had said. "Sarah can be really scar--"

The door suddenly burst open, interrupting her. Sarah walked in, her expression stormy. She glanced at the ladies and saw they were watching something on Fiona's phone.

"Another video, right?" Sarah asked, her voice laced with annoyance.

The ladies nodded, and Sarah hissed under her breath, heading straight for her room.

"So much for that boring party..." she muttered as she passed them.

She entered her room, slammed the door behind her, and threw her purse onto the bed. With a sigh, she pulled out her phone. Her father had been calling repeatedly during the ride home, but she had ignored it. Just as she was about to put the phone down, another call came through. Reluctantly, she swiped to accept.

"Princess, what is this I’m seeing now?" her father’s voice boomed over the line. "What is your problem? Why are you always ruining this family name? Why are you trying to destroy your brother’s relationship again? Don’t you want him to get married and..."

Sarah didn’t even let him finish. She set the phone down on the bed, undressed, and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the stress of the night.




>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Alright, that's it for now. Two more chapters will be dropping this week on Thursday, and Sunday.

Till then, stay tuned.

Don't forget to drop your comments and opinions about the story so far.

Like and share. Let's invite more readers👍

Jason’s face turned crimson with fury. “What did you say?” he thundered, his voice low and dangerous.

“Is there anything wrong with what I said?” Sarah retorted, her chin lifted defiantly.

“No, I didn’t hear you clearly. Can you please repeat it?” Jason’s voice dripped with menace as he took a step toward her, his hand raised as if to strike.

Charming, who had been physically standing between them, immediately raised his hands, trying to stop Jason from advancing. “Uncle Jason, please calm down. Let’s not do anything rash,” he said firmly.

Sarah, meanwhile, also moved to step forward, but Charming stopped her.

“Stop begging him, Charming. I’m only speaking the truth. He only dates gold—”

“SARAH!!” Charming’s voice boomed, cutting her off sharply. “That’s enough!”

"Oh, please," Sarah retorted, batting her eyes in an almost dismissive manner. "After all, the evidence is right there. And I was the one who always proved it. And I will prove it again!"

Charming sighed, turning back to Jason, who was still seething but trying to hold it together. "Uncle Jason, please, it's okay. I’ll talk to her myself," he said, attempting to de-escalate the situation.

Jason remained silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on Sarah, disappointment written all over his face.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low and strained. "I don’t know what happened to my sister, but this... this isn’t you. You disgust me right now, and I don’t want to be around you."

"Well, I don’t want to be around you either!" Sarah shot back.

Charming’s expression hardened as he turned to her, disappointed by her response.

Jason shook his head in disbelief, pity in his eyes as he turned to Charming. "Get your friend out of my house," he said, his voice cold. "I don’t want to see her again. Before I do something I’ll regret." With that, he turned and stormed toward the door, slamming it behind him with finality.

Charming stood there for a moment, letting the weight of the situation settle in. He turned back to face Sarah, his frustration evident.

"Really? You were using me as a human shield?" he asked, his tone incredulous.

Sarah shrugged nonchalantly. "Didn't you noticed he was drunk? I panicked at first."

Charming let out a deep sigh, his patience running thin. "Then why were you adding salt to the wound, babe? He's your elder brother—who is ten years older than you. You don’t treat him like that."

"Didn't you heard the things he said to me!" she snapped, her voice rising defensively. "He started it!"

Charming sighed again, tired of the same old arguments. "Sarah, must you always have the last word? Must you always win?" His voice softened.

Sarah didn’t respond. Instead, she hissed, turned away and walked back to the space behind the shelf. A moment later, she reappeared with her purse and heels, clearly preparing to leave.

Charming watched her in silence as she sat at the reading table, her movements mechanical as she bent over to put on her shoes. He couldn’t help but notice how different she seemed now. The Sarah he once knew—always smiling, always lively—was nowhere to be found. This woman before him, isolated and cold, was a stranger.

He was still processing everything Jason had said, and even more so, the way Sarah had reacted. His mind was racing, trying to make sense of it all. Jason had mentioned something about Sarah attending therapy sessions. Could it be that something deeper was going on with her? Something that had changed her so much? He couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t just a phase. This was something else entirely.

Charming couldn’t help but reflect on the past. He remembered when they were both kids—how Sarah used to have a huge crush on him. Every time their families visited each other, she would hug him and plant a kiss on his cheek, declaring to anyone who would listen that they were going to get married when they grew up. They even wore matching outfits for photo shoots, modeling for various clothing brands. Those were the days when everything felt simple and innocent.

But then, after her mother’s death, things began to change. Sarah’s character shifted, slowly but unmistakably. Her father’s remarriage to her mother’s best friend, just a year after her mother’s funeral, seemed to set off the transformation. Sarah’s reaction was intense—she made life unbearable for her new stepmother, driving her father to send her abroad to live with her Aunt.

Charming vividly recalled the day she left the country. He had escorted her to the airport, and as they said their goodbyes, Sarah had hugged him tightly and kissed him on the cheek one last time. With tears in her eyes, she had made him promise that he would wait for her—that they would marry when they met again. He was just 13 years old then, and the promise had felt like an eternity.

When Sarah returned to Nigeria seven years later, after being expelled from Stanford University, she had changed. She was undeniably more beautiful and mature, but her character had also morphed into something darker. The sweet, innocent girl he once knew was gone. In her place stood someone proud, rude, and easily irritated. She had become domineering—far more so than she had been in her younger years, where she had once been controlling in a subtle, almost playful way. Now she was harsh, quick to lash out with cruel words, and quick to belittle anyone who crossed her path.

Whatever infatuation she had once felt for him had mysteriously faded over time. He had been the one clamoring for her attention now, longing for something special with her—a commitment he had never pursued with any other woman. It took him a while to adjust to her new behavior, to accept that she wasn’t the same girl he had once known. And when he finally gathered the courage to ask her to be his girlfriend, her rejection hit him like a cold slap.

“Seriously? You want me to date someone like you? A community fish? Charming, girls are always around you like a public toilet,” she had said, her tone dismissive. “I don’t share my things with anyone. I can’t date you because I’ve known you for most of my life; so you’re like a brother. You’re even just one year older, and I don’t think you’re mature enough for me. Even if I decided to date you out of pity, it would be a one-sided thing. You’d just be loving yourself.”

Her words had stung, but it wasn’t just the rejection that bothered him. It was the sudden shift in Sarah’s attitude, the way she had distanced herself from him and grown so cold. What confused him even more now was her inexplicable hatred for Emily.

Sarah and Emily had first met during their JAMB exams, and by some twist of fate, they ran into each other again on the day of their POST UTME exams. From there, they became inseparable, despite Sarah’s initial condescension towards Emily because of her poor family background. But Sarah had taken an immediate interest in her, protecting her like a fragile egg. Many guys had felt the wrath of Sarah’s bodyguards when they tried to make advances or bully Emily.

At one point, it seemed as though Sarah might have romantic feelings for her. Charming had even noticed the closeness between them and, foolishly, had tried to make advances toward Emily himself. Sarah had quickly put an end to that, ordering him to back off. She had explained, with an air of authority, that Emily wasn't for him. And when Charming had, in a moment of misguided confidence, tried to directly make a move on Emily, Sarah had ruthlessly embarrassed him in front of everyone.

"He is sweet with words, right?" Sarah had said to Emily after Charming introduced himself in his usual charming manner. Emily had blushed and nodded, clearly flattered by his attention. Sarah, however, didn’t share the same sentiment. With a smirk, she leaned in and added, "Then that’s exactly why you should stay away from him. He’s a dog, only interested in what’s under your skirt. He’s the kind of guy mothers warn their daughters about."

Her words had been sharp, cutting, and meant to leave a mark. They were said in the presence of Dominic, his friends, and some of their coursemates, who had laughed so hard that they nearly broke their ribs at Charming’s expense. Charming had stood there, humiliated, anger bubbling under his skin. He didn’t speak to Sarah for a week after that, the hurt and embarrassment still fresh in his mind. Even when he finally gathered the courage to bring it up, she only shrugged it off with a cold, "You deserved it."

Charming could never understand why Sarah acted this way. She had a way of pushing people away, even those closest to her, and it was something that seemed to only grow more intense over time.

Sarah’s cynicism was not limited to Charming alone. She had always been distrustful of the women Jason dated, successfully ruining five of his previous relationships. It wasn’t just a casual dislike—it was something deeper, something she felt was her duty to fix. She had always believed they were after one thing: his wealth and his fame. And, for the most part, Sarah’s instincts had been right. She had been the one to expose Ezinne, Jason’s last fiancee before Emily. Everyone thought Ezinne and Jason were perfect for each other. But Sarah had dug up evidence, showing that Ezinne was only after a quick marriage to Jason, with plans to divorce him after she'd enriched herself from his fortune.

Charming couldn’t understand it. He thought Sarah had kicked Ezinne out, indirectly clearing the way for Emily. But as soon as Jason and Emily’s relationship blossomed, Sarah’s feelings shifted. Emily, who had once seemed like the best friend, suddenly became the enemy. Sarah had begun calling her a gold-digger, plotting to break them apart. But despite her efforts, Jason’s love for Emily had only grown stronger.

As Charming replayed all of this in his mind, he felt the weight of the situation settle deeper in his chest. He couldn’t help but wonder why Sarah was so determined to protect her brother from any woman who came into his life. What was she afraid of?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Sarah’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts, her frown pulling him back into the present.

Charming spoke slowly. "But Sarah, I don’t understand. I thought you always wanted Emily and Uncle Jason to end up together. You went out of your way to ruin his other relationships just to make that happen. So why do you hate her so much now?"

Sarah's eyes flashed with disdain. "When did I said such nonsense!" she blurted out, her voice sharp. "Why will I match-make my brother with a low-life like Emily."

"But back then, you were always protecting her from other guys," Charming pressed. "You even went as far as getting her a part-time job, cooking and delivering food to uncle Jason."

"I was just being a good friend! Nothing else. That was before I realized who she really is. Yes, when I first met her, I liked her. I thought she was nice, simple, intelligent—but I never for once wanted her for Jason. After I introduced them, I was happy when she told me that she saw him as just an older brother, but then she later went behind my back, seduced, and started dating him. Even after I suspected something was going on between them, she lied to my face and denied it."

Charming’s brows furrowed as he processed her words. "Well... maybe she later fell in love with him."

Sarah scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, please! Even you don’t believe in that nonsense. Love only exists between family, and even then, your own family might betray you. If she had just told me the truth when I asked her the third time I confronted her about it, I wouldn’t have gotten angry. But she lied—swore nothing was going on between them. She betrayed my trust and tried to deceive me."

Charming thought for a moment, then spoke gently, "I think she was just scared of telling you the truth. You can be... a little intimidating when you’re interrogating someone."

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Charming, please. You don't know the full story, so stop covering up for her. She waited for Ezinne to be kicked out just to secretly seduce Jason in his emotional and heartbroken state. She did what she did because she’s after my brother’s money. She knows exactly what she stands to gain from him."

"Sarah, you and I both know Emily isn’t the type of person who’s swayed by material things," Charming said, attempting to reason with her.

"I don’t care!" Sarah snapped, her voice rising again. "She betrayed my trust... just like my stepmom betrayed my mom. She cheated with my dad, and that led to my mom's death! My mom didn’t deserve that—she was just a good woman who trusted her best friend too much, and look where that got her. And to think... that... that bitch of a stepmom even... even had the guts..."

Her voice faded as her breathing quickened. She bowed her head slightly, clasping both hands against it.

Charming had seen the fury in Sarah’s eyes as she spoke about her mother, and he knew this was a sensitive subject. Quickly, he stepped in, trying to calm her down.

"Sarah, it’s okay. Just breathe. Calm down, please."

Sarah took a deep breath, visibly trying to regain control of her emotions.

There was a long silence before she spoke again, her voice tinged with anger but more measured. "You know, this is also your fault. If you hadn’t gone off chasing after that useless girl, leaving me to face Emily alone, none of this would have happened."

Charming let out a quiet laugh, though it was more out of nervousness than amusement. He raised his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. I admit it. I’m guilty as charged. Happy now?"

Sarah hissed, a sly smile spreading across her face as she stood up from the chair.

"So, what's your next move?" Charming asked, his voice laced with amusement. "Jason's still fuming, and you know there'll be a video of tonight's incident trending on social media by tomorrow morning."

Sarah shrugged, her expression unwavering. "I don't care about some stupid video. My brother's all that matters. Jason will cool off once he's sober. I'll visit him tomorrow morning at his office, before our 10:00 AM class."

As Sarah walked towards the door, Charming called out, "Want me to escort you to your car?"

She tossed a nonchantlant reply over her shoulder, "Do whatever you like."

Charming chuckled and followed her out of the room.

******
Charming walked down the long lobby of the large house, now dressed in a white T-shirt and black trousers, both generously provided by Jason. The T-shirt fit him fine, but the trousers were far too oversized, making him look slightly out of place.

The party had abruptly ended after the near-drowning incident. Jason had carried Emily to his room, and within minutes, some of the guests had started leaving, clearly unsettled by the events.

This wasn’t the first time Charming had found himself rescuing someone from a drowning situation. In fact, he’d once volunteered as a lifeguard at the beach, though he’d mostly done it to flirt with the half-naked ladies. But this time, it was different. He had been genuinely surprised to learn that Sarah had pushed Emily. Why would she do such a thing? He was still trying to wrap his head around it, as he searched for her now. She hadn’t left the compound, not with her bodyguards still around, and her SUV was still parked outside.

Charming walked past a few rooms, then stopped in front of one with the door slightly ajar. He pushed the handle down, and the door creaked open.

Inside, the room was a study. Three bookshelves lined the walls, with a reading table in the middle, a desktop computer sitting on top. The shelves were positioned on both sides of the room, but the one opposite the door was set a little away from the wall, creating a small space behind it; just big enough to accommodate a person.

Curious, Charming walked over to the opposite shelf and peered around the side.

There, sitting on the floor, was Sarah. Her knees were pulled up to her chest, her head resting on them, and her arms wrapped tightly around her legs. Her heels and purse were lying discarded beside her.

"Sarah," Charming called softly, startling her. She quickly lifted her head and shot him a sharp glare.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I could ask you the same thing," Charming replied. "Why are you hid--"

"I’m not hiding," Sarah snapped quickly, as if she had to clarify that. "I just don’t want to see anyone right now." She slowly rose to her feet and stepped out from behind the shelf.

"This is all Emily’s fault. If she had just left me alone, none of this would have happened."

Charming’s expression hardened. "Sarah, this isn’t the time to shift blame. What you did was wrong."

Her face twisted with anger. "I told her to leave me alone, but she wouldn’t listen!" she shot back, frustration evident in her voice.

Charming sighed deeply, his expression softening. "But the fact remains, Sarah—you embarrassed her, and you pushed her."

"It wasn't intentional!" Sarah shot back, her voice rising. "I just wanted her to leave me alone. How was I supposed to know she was going to fall into the pool?" Her frustration peaked as she shouted, "And why the hell was she even wearing heels? Emily never wore heels! She hates them!"

"If it wasn't intentional, then why didn’t you try to help her?" Charming pressed, his tone calm but firm. "I know you're a good swimmer."

Sarah hesitated, her anger slowly fading. She shrugged, her face tight with emotion. "For a moment, I forgot she couldn't swim. I was shocked when she started screaming, and it just... it felt like a déjà vu. It reminded me of what happened with Mitchell." Her voice faltered for a moment, the weight of the memory clearly affecting her. "She was screaming exactly the same words. I just froze. I couldn't do anything."

Charming nodded, his expression understanding. "I’m sorry if it brought back bad memories, but right now, you need to make amend, because your brother is very pissed at you. And the only way to bring the heat down is apologizing to him and... Emily"

Sarah scoffed, almost amusingly. "Did you hit your head against the floor of the pool? I should apologize to Emily?"

Charming frowned. "Babe, this isn't a jo--"

Before he could finish, the door to the study suddenly burst open, and Jason stormed in, fury written all over his face. He marched toward them, shouting Sarah’s name.

Sarah instinctively stepped behind Charming, a move that didn’t go unnoticed. Jason only used her name when he was deeply pissed.

"What the hell, Sarah?!" Jason bellowed, his voice echoing through the house.

"Uncle Jason, I think you need to calm down," Charming interjected, stepping between the two. His tone was measured, attempting to de-escalate the situation.

"I begged you, Sarah!" Jason’s voice cracked with frustration. "I pleaded with you not to spoil things for me tonight, but not only did you ruin the party, you also embarrassed and almost drowned my fiancee!"

Sarah, still standing behind Charming, shot back sharply, her voice rising in anger. "Didn’t I tell you to advise your girlfriend to stay away from me? It was all her fault, so stop putting the blame on me!"

Jason couldn’t believe his ears. It was clear his sister didn’t feel an ounce of remorse. His frustration boiled over as he spoke, his voice tinged with disbelief.

“Can you even hear yourself?” he exclaimed. “What if something worse had happened to her? Is this what you would be saying right now?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t care,” Sarah shot back. “If anything had happened to her, it would still be her fault.”

Jason shook his head, the words cutting deeper than he expected. “I don’t even know what’s wrong with you. You’re not the sister I used to know. Right now, You’re acting like a devil!” he lashed out.

“Your girlfriend is the devil here!” Sarah fired back, her eyes flashing with venom. “Can't you see she’s always trying to cause a rift between us? She doesn’t love you, she’s only after your money. I’m the only one who cares about you, if you don’t know that by now.”

“You only care about yourself!” Jason barked, his frustration reaching a breaking point. “You know what, I think you need to revisit your psychotherapy sessions... or better yet, get yourself a boyfriend so you can stop meddling in my relationships. Oh, wait, never mind... you wouldn’t be able to keep a boyfriend, would you? No guy could tolerate this devilish, and wicked attitude of yours!”

His words pierced Sarah’s heart like a spear. Her anger flared, her eyes blazing with fury.

“You’re right,” she snapped back. “I can’t keep a boyfriend, but at least I know the difference between someone who pretends to care and someone who actually loves me. You can’t even tell the difference! All the women you’ve ever dated never loved you—they were just after your wealth and influence. I may not have a boyfriend, but I’m better than you, who can’t even choose a decent woman! You’re just going after gold-diggers!”

CHAPTER 13

Charming chuckled loudly, though he didn’t find what she said funny. Bisi, the lady he had been flirting with, was a final year student at AUST, studying in the same Computer Science department. Her older brother was the DJ who had been pestering Sarah earlier. They were standing near the platform where the DJ had set up his sound system. Bisi had mentioned that her brother was a celebrity DJ and MC, mostly catering to the rich and influential.

"So, what do you think about what I asked you earlier?" Charming said, flashing his usual charming smile.

Bisi hesitated for a moment before answering. "I’m sorry, Charming, but I can’t give you my number."

Charming raised an eyebrow. "But why? Hey, I'm not asking for your BVN?"

She chuckled softly and shook her head. "No, it’s not that. I have a boyfriend."

His smile faltered slightly. "And so? I can’t be your friend because you have a boyfriend?"

"It’s not that either," She replied, her tone softening. "My boyfriend might not be too happy about me exchanging numbers with you. I’ve heard him tell his friends how much he hates you. We can say hi when we bump into each other on campus, but anything beyond that... I’m sorry, it just won’t work."

Charming felt a little taken aback, but he brushed it off. He thought she was just playing hard to get. He had already pegged her as the type to flirt without commitment; she had been giving him signs since he introduced himself.

Before he could respond, they heard a loud commotion from the pool area. Shouts and screams pierced through the music, and the crowd around them began to stir. Charming and Bisi turned in unison, both eyes widening as they saw the guests rushing toward the swimming pool.

"I think someone’s drowning," Bisi said, her voice tense with concern. But Charming was already moving, his instincts kicking in. He didn’t wait for another second.

He pushed his way through the crowd of guests, his heart racing. As he reached the edge of the pool, his eyes immediately locked onto the motionless figure floating in the middle of the water—her body barely moving. She was sinking, her face submerged beneath the surface.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Charming whipped off his suit jacket and dived into the pool with a powerful stroke. The cold water hit him like a shock, but he didn’t falter. He swam quickly to the middle, his eyes focused on the lady who was now barely visible beneath the water. Reaching her, he grabbed her lifeless form and pulled her to the surface.

With one hand firmly clutching her, he kicked and paddled his way back toward the edge of the pool. The weight of the unconscious lady in his arms made every stroke more difficult, but he pushed on, dragging her closer to safety. The crowd around the pool had fallen into stunned silence, all eyes on him as he reached the edge, panting with effort.

Two men were already waiting to assist him. They carefully lifted Emily out of the pool and placed her on the ground, farther from the edge. Charming emerged from the water, his body dripping wet, and pushed his hair back with one hand. He dropped to one knee beside Emily, now realizing it was her. One of the men, a doctor, was already performing CPR on her.

Everyone just watched in horror, and fear in their eyes of what could happen next, some of them already muttering silent prayers.

After what felt like an eternity, Emily finally gasped for air. She coughed violently, water splashing from her mouth, and struggled to breathe. The doctor quickly turned her onto her side to help clear her airways.

"Please, give her some space!" the doctor called out to the crowd of guests gathering around them. A few of them reluctantly stepped back.

"And can you please stop recording?!" Charming snapped at the people holding their phones up, their flashlights blinding in the dim light. One of them, the lady Sarah had embarrassed earlier, was among them. Charming couldn’t help but think, No wonder Sarah doesn't like her.

Jason and a few of his friends rushed out of the house, pushing through the crowd. Jason quickly knelt beside Emily, his eyes wide with concern as he gently cradled her. Charming could smell the unmistakable scent of alcohol on his breath, and it was clear from his wobbling posture that he was drunk.

"What happened?" Jason asked, his voice strained, as he held Emily up slightly. She coughed again, still breathless.

Emily gasped for air before managing to say, “I tripped and fell.”

"Your sister pushed her," a voice from the crowd spoke up, drawing everyone's attention. It was the same woman Sarah had clashed with earlier.

Jason’s expression darkened. "Sarah wouldn’t do that," he said firmly, but there was doubt in his voice. A few murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"It was your sister, Jason," one of the doctor said, his voice calm but insistent. "Everyone saw it happen."

Jason's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Sarah. "Where is she?" he demanded, his voice rising.

The guests shifted uncomfortably. No one spoke, and a few people exchanged uncertain glances.

"Where is Sarah?" Jason repeated, his voice now sharp with anger. Still, no one could answer.

Sarah was nowhere to be seen.

Update:

Just as always I will mention the commenters who I have seen on this thread.

yungbanks, Jupitre, Ybbjune, panpan, repogirl, aurion1, Iseddy, DeltaBachelor, iamL, anjay1212, brightspecimen, immanuelson, ifecodblissedboy, Echetex

My ghost readers 🧐