I couldn't stop thinking about the story Ren's dad narrated to me that I went straight to my dad after racing down home. I entered his study after a knock on the door.

"Hey, boy," He greets me in his swivel chair. "How was your exam?"

"Fine," I answer as I made my way to sit in front of him. "And I also checked on Mr. Ademola at the prison,"

"What the hell were you thinking," He chid at me, raising his brows in shock and I scoff a little.

"Are you upset that he told me everything that happened?" I reply sarcastically, furrowing my brows at him and he tries to calm himself.

"I was upset that you should be focusing on your next paper, not this," He shrugs.

"I would have if you had told me the truth, but he explained everything to me,"

"Why are you even interested in this, it's my past." He argues, frowning at me.

"Really? And you are sure it's not trying to hunt you down with the fucking photo you have in the vase," I am saying and I slip my eyeballs to the vase to see it's not there anymore. "I overheard you and Jeffrey on Saturday," I add to play along based on what Maria eavesdropped.

My point is if he had nothing to do with the crime, why would he even be restless about Karen working for him?

He slams a fist on his table, probably thinking that I knew everything he and Jeff discussed. I should keep playing along till I find out the truth from him.

"I'm not a kid for whom you can just form a story. Were you responsible for the crime and framed Mr. Ademola for it?" I inquire, looking more serious than ever while he pours some wine into his glass. "I want you to be honest this time Dad," I say boldly, looking into his eyes,"

"It wasn't only me," He says calmly, and my heart begins to race.

"You and who?"

"Chuks, one of the sales agents," He answers and sips some wine. The fact that he admitted he was responsible for the crime made me feel so ashamed of him.

"Why would you think of doing that?"

"He was careless with the keys,"

"And he was being punished for what he didn't commit,"

"That is how life is Mike, you have no idea how I suffered, and agreeing to that was the only opportunity that could change my life forever," He defends and I give him a death stare, trying hard not to lose my mind.

"Where is this Chuks guy or man?"

"He is dead," He says and I chuckle in disbelief.

"So you betrayed and murdered him?"

"Do not put words in my mouth boy," He raises his voice at me.

"How am I supposed to believe my dad is also not a murderer," I interjected.

"Because you asked me to be honest with you and I'm trying my very best to be," He retorts. "I didn't have anything to do with Chuks death,"

I take a deep breath. If he was sincere, then let's face the real issue I'm more concerned about.

"So what about the photo, I know there is something behind it for you to bring it out,"

"Well, there is someone who knows my secret and he is blackmailing me with it, wanting to make me lose the election, so I was just figuring out what to do,"

He is still talking about the election, thanks for reminding me of that. I get to my feet, leaning my palms on the table between us.

"Unfortunately for you, it's my turn to blackmail you and even threaten you," I state. "First, you must return the money to Mr. Ademola, and secondly, you have to step down from the governorship election,"

"What!" He exclaims in shock.

"You do drugs, and now your past? You do not deserve to be the next governor of Lagos state and do not dare me, Dad," I respond and start walking out on him.

"Mike!" He calls but I keep ignoring him.

I later stop at the door as something else comes to my mind. I turn around to him and say.

"If you have laid low and not thought of firing Karen nor trying to ridicule her in the presence of Olivia and me, maybe I wouldn't have found out. This implies that nothing must happen to Karen and her dad, you will be responsible for it," I made it clear to him before bouncing out of his study.

I can't believe he is claiming to be who is not. I feel so much pain to learn about this and I promise to make things right.

*****

I spent the rest of the week at Scott's hostel studying together for our exam and now I'm done with three out of seven papers, including the ones I carried over. On Saturday evening, I came back home to do some stuff.

Despite threatening Daddy on the phone about what we have discussed, he insisted on having face to face conversation with me but asked me to focus on my exam first.

I got to his study to see he is not around, I even tried to break in but he has never made the mistake of not locking his study when going out.

I make my way to my room, texting Ren that I'm back. We barely see this week and I could admit that I missed us so much. I couldn't also stop thinking about what happened between our parents.

She deserves to know the truth but I dare not tell her. I told Scott everything and the advice he gave was to hide it from her, it's best not to hurt her feelings.

I was already in my athletic shorts after freshening up when I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in," I say, guessing it's Ren who is at the door. The door is opened and as expected, she walks into my room, in her Ankara short shirt dress, her natural hair is now styled in cornrows and her brown skin keeps glowing as she is forever gorgeous.

"Hey, beautiful," I greet her with a soft smile.

"Hey, handsome," She replies with a pleased smile in return, making her  way to sit on the bed "Did you tell your sister about us?" She inquires and I furrow my brows in confusion, nodding no.

"She asked me if we are dating,"

"What!" I exclaim and she nods yes.

Why would Olivia ask that? Probably because she found out that Ren lied to Dad. "Do not mind her, she is just jealous of me," I play along.

"Why would she be jealous of you?"

"Well, she was mad at me that I was taking dad's side who doesn't approve of her and Jeff...and dad had his enough reason for that,"

"Oh!" She reacts.

"So what did you tell her?"

"I told her the truth that there is nothing serious between us," She answers and I nod okay.

"I have missed you, how have you been?" I ask as I veer to sit beside her, wrapping my arm around her shoulder.

"You mean after this stressful week?" She grimaces and I chuckle a little.

"We still have one week left,"

"Do not remind me of that Mickey," She pouts her lips and I couldn't stop grinning. "I still need relief from this week," She adds.

"I might have an antidote for you then," I tease and she looks at me.

"What is that?" She asks in confusion and I reach for her hand.

"You just give me the order to go on," I say and she chuckles a little.

"Go on doctor," She responds calmly and I bite my lips, looking deeply into her eyes which meet her gaze.

I slip my eyeballs to her lips, it feels so lonely likewise mine and as I can't hold back anymore, I pull her close with my arm around her shoulder and I passionately kissed her.

She must have witchcraft in her soft lips for me to always thirst for more after kissing her. I start to gently nibble and suck her lower lips while she veers to jump on me, wrapping her arms around me with our bodies pressed heatedly against each other.

I gently grab her face to kiss her jawline, and from there nuzzle her ear as I keep going wherever my damn mouth takes me while we are both moaning.

"Are you sure you wanna do this with me, Ren?" I whisper deeply in her ear as I am yearning to unbutton her damn shirt gown.

"I want every taste of you, hottie," She tries to whisper back, breathing fast.

She kissed the back of my neck and I feel so alive to finish what we have started.