"I don't know," She replies. "I only got it because I missed my period,"

"Then why don't you try it before you leave?"

We both meet eyes and she says, "That's because I'm scared,"

"This should only be between you and me," She continues and I avert my gaze with a sneer.

"Open the door, Sweetie". After a knock, Mom's words drew our attention. "We are running out of time."

"Please!" Olivia urged me with her beseeching gaze and I nod okay.

"My lips are sealed," I assured her.

"Thanks," She replies. "Help me with the door,"

I veer to the door to open it, wondering if my sister is pregnant or not.

Mom enters and says, "You are here."

"Of course, Mom," I reply. "I'll have to give you a ride to the airport,"

"Oh! You don't need to be concerned about that," Mom responds and I twitch my brows. "Some guy will take us to the airport,"

"Why would you hire some guy when I'm here?" I shiver with perplexity.

"It's her lover's driver who is giving us a ride." Olivia joins us and clarifies. "He needs to give the car back,"

"Oh!" I respond unexpectedly. "So that whip belongs to your lover?" I add, turning to face Mom.

"Yes, dear," She responds.

"No wonder," was all I could manage to say, despite my best efforts to avoid saying anything that may cast doubt on her romantic relationships. I don't know much about her specific partner, but as long as she is content, I shouldn't worry.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Mom asks while grabbing my hands.

"Sure Ma, besides, I haven't finished my project." I respond "I'm required to defend it.

"That's right. I overlooked," She admits. "Please, look after yourself," She adds and I nod in agreement.

"And no more drinking," Olivia sternly adds while I roll my eyes.

Mom, who appears anxious replies, "That's important, you need to reassure us."

This demonstrates how much they care about me.

"I assure you guys, trust me," I respond directly and they both smile.

I find it hard to believe they are going.

Right now, it seems like we three can carry on living here.

"Come here, you two," I call out and then I tightly embrace them while holding them close in my arms.

I continue to hold on to the hug and say, "I will miss you guys so much."

★★★

Following Mom and Olivia's departure to the airport, I went to see my father in prison because I was lonely and bored at the hotel and had nothing to do there.

He was also imprisoned in Ikoyi Prison, and I visited him on my motorbike.

I went to meet the warders when I got there and was allowed to see him. When one of the warders went out to call him, I waited at the counter.

The warder came back a little while later and asked me to go see my father in the waiting area.

Before heading to the waiting area, I muttered "thanks" to the man.

When I finally arrived, I looked around and saw other inmates enjoying themselves with their visitors.

When I see my father, who is plainly waiting for me at the table with his hands clasped and shaking in his jail uniform, my heart breaks.

Since I don't know what will happen between us, I start to approach him gently. He's either going to attack me for going on live to expose him, or he's going to listen to what I have to say, then leave my presence, without saying a word.

That is, he will give me the silent treatment, right?

Let's see what happens.

Twenty-five years is a lifetime, and I have no idea how he is going to spend it here. I'm already feeling sorry for him, I can't help it.

When I get closer to him, I clear my throat to catch his attention, and he raises his head to look at me while I gulp.

"Sure, I know you hate me. " I shrug "And you don't want to talk to me,"

"Why would I hate you?" He asks, keeping his gaze fixed on me, and I am able to crack a small smile in response.

"Sit," He says.

I take up on his offer and I plop down on the chair in front of him.

"My intention was for you kids to never know me in this way." I pay close attention to every word he says as he starts to speak.

"When you informed me you were coming here to get your bachelor's degree, things started to go awry. You weren't a kid, so I couldn't object. When you arrived, all I could do was gradually reveal my identity to you so that, in the future, when you learned it, you wouldn't give a damn. As a result, I started by making you study a course you didn't particularly enjoy since you had no other choice. I did this because I wanted you to follow in my footsteps. I figured you would love to work for me if you studied business and I could show you the dirty things I get up to. But being the Michael I've known my entire life,"

This is when he scoffs.

"You kept refusing to follow my orders, and you have no idea how much trouble this has caused me. The worst happened when Olivia moved as well, showing curiosity in my business that she is unaware of. Your mother battled with me a lot because she was afraid you guys would eventually know about my secret, but I reassured her." I sigh deeply in response to what he adds.

"But why did you decide to lead such a life?" I question. "Mom said she didn't dump you because you had nothing, and even if she did, it doesn't justify you stealing and framing someone else and also running an illegal business,"

"Of course," He responds. "I was envious when her aunt secured her a job in the UK and she made the decision to move. I thought that if I had money at the time, she wouldn't consider leaving. I was merely a security guard at the jewelry store, but I seized the chance to make money when it presented itself. Late Chuks was the one who stole the diamonds, and I only received a small percentage in exchange for lying in court and testifying against Karen's dad. I got involved in dealing drugs and politics to make more money."

That explains why he refused to give Mr. Ademola the entire 1.3 million dollars back.

I keep sighing loudly after each of his sentences.

"I'm sorry," I say while I consider the entire circumstance.

"What are you sorry for?" He asks, and as he waits for my answer, I look him in the eye.

I finally respond, "I'm sorry for you about how you make your life turn this way?"

"I thought you wanted to apologize, I would have knocked your forehead," He cracks jokes, and we both laugh.

"You have got nothing to apologize for," He tells me. "You did the right thing,"

"Yes, I know right," I concur.

"How is Olivia doing?" He asks, and I let out a sigh.

When I say, "She and Mom had left for the airport," he raises his eyebrows in surprise.

"Probably they're boarding their flight right now." I continue.

"Wow!" He exclaimed in awe, indicating that he was not anticipating that.

"It's so sad she didn't see you before she left,"

"I'm the last person she would want to see," He responds.

"Definitely you and Jeff," I say, and he chuckles slightly.

I suddenly remembered the pregnancy test I discovered in her bag and I'm tempted to tell Dad about it.

I promised her, so I dare not tell Dad, not to mention Jeff.

Aside from that, I need to know if she is pregnant or not before I can decide what to do.

"We've been talking for a few minutes now and haven't argued in between, it's been a while since this happened," He points out.

"That's so unusual," I agree, chuckling.

I suddenly stop laughing as he extended his arms to grab hold of my hands. I look at him and we make eye contact.

"Mike, I sincerely apologize for letting you and your sister down and for failing you both." He apologized profusely, his eyes welling up with tears. "I kept making money and building material things regardless of the source. I never believed this day would truly come."

I have to stand up and approach him to give him a hug.

"I'm so sorry," He says and I hug him firmly. I get so emotional that I have to close my eyes as tears well up.

"Thank you for repaying some of Mr. Ademola's debts by handing him those properties."

"Sure, I wish I could do more and I'm so sorry for costing you so much," He replies and I nod okay.

"However, I'm also happy that you are not at all like me." He continues, and I scoff loudly at that while deciding not to answer. I only want to cling to him for as long as I can.

We both looked up when someone cleared his throat, and I gently pulled away from the hug when I realized it was one of the warders.

"I apologize for interrupting you," The man adds, and I nodded, curious as to why he came here.

"I just wanted to let you know that you have to register your visitation hours with us, you can't just drop by anytime whenever you want to see how your father is doing."

"Okay, I will come to you soon for it," I reply.

The man says, "Alright," and then turns to leave.

"Are you sure you're okay coming here?" When my father asks, I smile.

"Why not?" I shrug, realizing that's one of the reasons I chose not to travel with my mother and my sister.