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The tall figure turned around, facing the young boy he had known for years now. His long dread hair was tinted into gold all through. The spider tattoo on his arm clearly visible as a result of the harmless he was putting on. His piercing ears had long, dropping earrings, specially made for women. His crazy jeans wasn't looking like a normal one with how his two thighs were visible. The extent the jean material was ripped was too much. The moment Sholly saw the figure who turned, he became excited, starting to greet with one of his hands up and the other one holding a bottle of star. "Bro for life! Why didn't you come in and have something. Are you giving up on this life."

Mark was too serious to reply him the way he would have. He looked at Sholly. "I thought you received a call from someone to come out?"

The hand Sholly held up came down. "Something like that, but no one is here anyways."

"Shhhhhh!" Mark whispered with his right index finger on his mouth. "I'm here."

Sholly wasn't really surprised. He seemed to have been ready for everything Mark was about to say. When Mark looked away for some seconds, Sholly turned his head towards a dark corner and smiled a little. He looked prepared, which Mark didn't seem to notice.

"How would you get out if you were accused of a crime you didn't commit?" Mark asked. "Is your father a king who will save you no matter what? Or your father is an influential man who will give you any amount to settle your debt? Or your father is the junior brother to the governor of a state who will help his brother with anything whatsoever it will cost?" Mark smirked. "No Sholly. Your father is a retired teacher who has no connection with the upper hands who can save his son at a snap of his fingers." Mark paused and lifted up a black bag. "Sholly, this is why I want to give you this two million naira just to set Ire up as the murderer."

"What!" Sholly stepped back upon hearing that. He tried his best not to shout. He took a quick look at Mark wondering if he had gone insane. Shocked written all over his face. He looked directly at Mark. "I thought he's a brother to you. Why? Why would you do that to him?"

"Because mistakenly, a girl took an overdose from my cocaine and now she's dead. How is that my fault? She killed herself, and the only person whose father can save me is Ire's father. Make Ire the victim and his so called protective father will bring him out of  the mess in a twinkle of an eye." Mark said, very sure of his statement. He stared at Sholly who stood completely lost. "Hey, are you doing it or I should find myself someone else? I need to get out of here as soon as possible. Take this." Mark stretched the bag of money towards Sholly who stood dumbfounded for some seconds.

"All you have to do is, make sure he is dead drunk. Out of this world, and drugged. Make him be with a lady tonight. All you need to get and do for me are the clothes the lady puts on. It will be replaced as the dead girl's own, who will be thrown inside a pool. And for the lady Ire would be with, there won't be any traces of her leaving his room. Just leave that for me. Exactly one in the morning when you guys set to leave, the death of the lady will be announced. And remember, whoever Ire would be with, people must see her with him so that when the clothes are replaced on the dead girl, he would be accused of killing. Make sure he creates a scene. A fair girl to be precised. Should I trust you?"

Sholly collected the bag of money and stepped back. He nodded and assured Mark he would do so as planned. But then, Sholly spotted a lady who seemed to have taken in some of the things they said because of how she immediately reacted after being spotted by Sholly. Very fair, and extremely beautiful. Sholly kept quiet and watched how she looked away and immediately made her presence known, walking towards Mark. "Have been looking for you babe," she kissed his cheeks, acting like nothing happened, but a little bit scared. She looked in between them. "Hope all is well?"

Mark smiled at her. "Very well babe. Ewa do me a favour and return back into the car. I will join you in a minute please." He politely said. Looking in between the two of them, Sholly watched as the lady left with the curiosity evident on her face. Immediately she left, Mark turned to Sholly again. "Make that stupid boy the murderer. And trust me, there is another two million naira waiting for you. Deal."

"Why?" Sholly asked. "Why did it have to be Ire? You could choose anyone else. Inside that place, there are sons of influential people. Who by the snap of their parents' fingers, they will also be saved in a twinkle of an eye."

Mark laughed. "Are you trying to pity someone who will gladly fall into this trap. You think that boy has a mind? He's bitter! He's lost! A foolish boy! And I will take advantage of it cause I hate him. If your father could afford to give you a bentley at nineteen, would you intentionally drive it just to kill yourself cause he wasn't present to do what!" Mark's voice was becoming a bit high. His face completely swallowed by anger. He seemed to be sweating profusely all of a sudden. He smirked and chuckled with a hint of hatred. "I wish I have the kind of life he has at his age. Since he's consistently trying to kill himself and obviously tired of this life, I should help him. Who do you think deserve to be frame instead? Do we have a deal or not?"

"Deal." Sholly approved. The two men stared at each other. The smoke coming out of Mark's mouth covered Sholly's face, but he seemed not to care.  After some minutes which Mark had gone, Sholly carried the bag of money, walked straight into the dark corner and the video was stopped.

"I'm guessing that was your sister?" Prince Ire turned towards Aramade who nodded in reply. Watching the video really brought back some bad memories for Prince Ire. He was ashamed watching it with Aramade, but noticed Aramade was completely lost in thoughts. Her eyes were soaked, ready to give birth to tears. Her mind was far away from him. After some seconds, Aramade noticed Prince Ire was staring at her and managed to smile like she was fine, but at that moment, a tear escaped from her wet eyes. She blinked her eyes to stop others but they eventually came down. She chuckled a bit between her tears. "I'm sorry. Don't mind me please." She said, looking up at Prince Ire, but ended up spoiling her mouth and burst into heavy tears. "God, I miss her so much. I miss her. She could still be alive you know." Aramade cried, looking away from Prince Ire. "She could still be alive if she had never gotten involved with him again." She slowly wiped her face and turned back to Prince Ire who had moved really close to her.

She stared at him. He stared back at her. The two staring at each other with so much admiration. The sudden change in atmosphere brought them close together even more. They could only listen to the heartbeat of their hearts. Unable to stop the sudden feeling they felt, the two ended up snatching their mouths together. He kissed her so hard. She returned, very hungry for more. Prince Ire felt like it been a year he kissed her. Her lips so soft, succulent and intoxicating. Prince Ire moved back and touched her cheek with his hand. "Cry if you want to. You are free to miss your sister. It's only for a while."

Aramade smiled at him. She was no longer having that feeling of crying anymore. She decided to touch his cheek too. "Where would I be right now if I never entered the palace though."

"With me."

Aramade looked at Prince Ire confused. "I said if I didn't enter the palace."

Prince Ire nodded. "Yes. With me. We would have met somewhere else. And you will end up with just me over and over again."

Aramade finally got that and laughed. Her laughter can be contagious, which resulted into Prince Ire making little house underground. She was sitting on his laps already, holding his neck with her hands. "That's a lie cause you didn't even want to approach me or be with me. I still remember those words you told me that night."

Prince Ire shook his head. "That very day you are talking about. I did all my best to be noticed by you, but you just didn't. You were so focused on Ayoola. I have a feeling you still have a thing for him."

Aramade burst out laughing. She really missed laughing at things in just how many hours. Huh! There is nothing like a stress free life. She thought to herself and laughed for some seconds before finally having the strength to reply Prince Ire. "How can a hot boy like you, six packs collection, money loaded, sexy god like you be jealous when you have me here already." Ara remembered something and laughed. "Oh, you've always been jealous anyways." She remembered a one time scene that happened at the palace when she was still working for him and laughed so hard.

Prince Ire stared at her and smiled a little. He dragged her closer to stop her from laughing and she did. "What?" She said.

"What?" Prince Ire mimicked her and she laughed at him. The two ended up laughing at each other.

After she was done laughing, Prince Ire got back her attention. The two were back being serious again. "Thank you so much for staying by me."

"That's because I love you. You are too handsome to suffer heartbreak." Ara joked.

Prince Ire smiled. "With you, I don't think I will ever be bored in my life."

Aramade chuckled. "You are in good hands. Trust me."

The two smiled at each other and kissed for the last time. Prince Ire excused himself. "Come here, have got something for you," he said. Aramade got up from his bed and went to meet him. She collected the brown envelope from him, giving Prince Ire the look of his life before she finally brought out the white paper in it. Aramade looked up at him again before returning her eyes back to what was in her hand. She unwrapped it and was met with the shock of her life. Suddenly, she screamed, stopped, and looked at the paper again to be sure of what she was screaming for. She stared at Prince Ire, wondering if it was real. She looked down at the paper again, and finally, she raised her head with a drop of tear which made it down on the brown envelope. The excitement that consumed her was beyond what she could explain. She looked straight at Prince and said. "Are you for real?"

Prince Ire could only smile, watching the drama Aramade was displaying.

But she screamed with laughter instead. "Haha! Sorry I'm acting like a bush girl. Since when have you been doing this?"

Prince Ire couldn't help the smile. "Since I knew I won't be staying here in Nigeria anymore." Prince Ire replied her. "I just didn't know how you will feel about it. It has always been your dream to study French overseas."

"Awwn..." Ara smiled really big. So excited. She couldn't contain her joy. This was the biggest surprise she had ever received. "If I say no to this, you have to take me to the mountain for my father's enemies to die. They can only be the one behind it Ire." She moved closer to him and hugged him so tight. She couldn't believe her dream finally came true through him. He was working her admission and planned to take her with him. While hugging him, Aramade smiled. "I thought you wanted to start over here in Nigeria?"

Prince Ire laughed. The two gave themselves space. "After all these drama." He laughed again. "Please, I've had enough. I want to go back."

Aramade smiled, but she remembered something crucial. "But what about this case? You know how long it can take them to finally judge this case."

Prince Ire shook his head. "It's been on ground since eight years ago. Now all the evidence is pointing at Mark. But before then..."

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Guys😄 it's 2in1 update because I love you guys so much😭😭😭 I really want to make up for the days I let you down with updates 🙏 thank you for loving me despite 😄 everything. I appreciate your wishes for me once again. God bless you all for me ijn.