Susanne, weary of her husband’s antics, hastened to the guesthouse upon her return home, only to discover it was empty. With her fingerprints granting access to every apartment, she swiftly changed her attire and indulged in a sip of alcohol as the door unexpectedly glitched open.

“Hey, sis,” Grace greeted upon entering the room, a smile illuminating her face as she set down the books she was carrying.

“You’re here today?” Grace inquired.

“Yes, just dropped by to say hello,” Susanne replied cheerfully, though her tone belied a hint of sadness, her red eyes betraying her emotions.

“How was your first day on the job?” Susanne asked, genuinely interested.

“It went well,” Grace replied with a soft chuckle. “The kids and I hit it off quickly. But I can’t help missing the classroom—the joy of teaching, introducing new topics, and being a child’s confidant. Teaching means the world to me! Hmm... I’m parched. I’ll fetch a bottle of water.”

As Grace busied herself, Susanne’s gaze fell upon a newspaper with Michael’s image on it. Slowly, she picked it up, her lips parting in disbelief as she scanned the headlines with furrowed brows.

“Is this the newspaper you bought?” Grace inquired.

“Yes, I picked it up on Thursday morning, wanting to learn more about Michael beyond what you told me. I needed to gauge public opinion about him. I hope you don’t mind,” Susanne replied, though she seemed preoccupied. As she read through the headlines, her shoulders slumped, and a sadness washed over her.

Noticing her sister’s change in demeanor, Grace approached her with concern. “Is everything alright? What happened, Susanne? Are you unwell? Did Micheal mistreat you again? That arrogant man!” she exclaimed, her frustration crystal clear.

“I can’t!” Susanne interjected before Grace could finish her sentence.

Grace was stunned by Susanne’s defense of Michael in his absence. “Why can’t you let go of him? Is it because of your wedding vows?”

“It’s not just that. Michael is kind to me,” Susanne countered.

“Stop lying, sis! Do you think he abuses you?” Grace pressed, her concerns obvious.

“I never said that,” Susanne frowned. “Why do you harbor such animosity towards Micheal?”

“He told me the other day at the hospital to gain weight. What loving husband would say that?” Grace retorted.

Susanne blushed slightly. “It was a joke. Michael has a peculiar sense of humor. Despite his harsh words, he is kind-hearted and gentle. Not everyone sees that side of him.”

“Really?” Grace’s eyes narrowed skeptically as she took another sip of water.

“Micheal struggles to express his emotions, that’s all.”

“Whatever! It’s your life,” Grace muttered. “As long as you can handle him, good for you.”

Susanne smiled at her sister’s words while Grace finished her water. “You seem exhausted,” Susanne observed.

“Yes, I am,” Grace confirmed with a smile. “The principal and I had a lengthy discussion today, and she agreed to let me move into the staff quarters by month’s end. And the best part is—” Grace sat up eagerly, “only 5% of my salary will be deducted annually. Isn’t that great?”

Susanne’s expression betrayed her inner turmoil. “What? Are you leaving soon? Don’t you enjoy staying here?” She looked into Grace’s eyes, searching for fast answers.

“No, it’s not that,” Grace explained, facing her sister directly. “I love being here, but I don’t want to cause you any more trouble, especially with the Balogun family. If Cryst finds out about me living here secretly, Michael may take issue with it. I need to build my life. I can’t depend on you forever. I have a job, and I need to provide for myself, save money, and work towards my future goals. I plan to register for JAMB and apply for admission at Uni-Abuja.”

Susanne’s lips were pale despite that, devoid of any emotion. The numbness on her face was palpable. Grace placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as they locked eyes.

“Don’t worry. I’ll visit you every weekend, and we’ll stay in touch.”

“Okay, fine. Just don’t get too caught up with teaching and studying,” Susanne blushed. Grace went outside to wash a pile of clothes.

“Didn’t I show you how to use the washing machine? Why are you washing by hand? It’s much faster,” Susanne raised a brow, surprised to see Grace washing clothes manually.

“I’m more comfortable washing by hand, and it saves water and soap. Don’t let me get too accustomed to this lifestyle,” Grace replied with a playful chuckle.

Susanne chuckled along, wondering if Grace would ever change.

Fatigued from his fruitless search, Ore pondered Adanna’s warning deeply. Just as he was preparing to depart for home, a call interrupted his thoughts. Glancing at his phone screen, he noted the unfamiliar number with a hint of suspicion.

“Hello?” Ore answered, annoyance evident in his voice as he cradled the phone to his ear.

“Is this Oreoluwa Clifford?”

“Yes, who is this?” His frown deepened with each passing moment.

“Do you truly wish to locate Grace? Head to Zone 4 and you’ll find her at Creative Minds Academy.” The words sent a jolt through Ore, his heart skipping a beat. “What? How do you know she’s there?”

Before he could extract more information, the caller cut off the call, leaving Ore bewildered yet determined. “Don’t disappoint me, Ore,” Susanne’s voice echoed in her mind.

Arriving at the school, Ore hurried to the security officers, urgently requesting directions to the Principal’s office. Emotions surged within him at the prospect of reuniting with Grace. Upon reaching the office, Ore greeted the receptionist courteously and presented a photograph capturing the moment he proposed to Grace, his eyes brimming with anticipation.

“I’m Oreoluwa Clifford, ma,” he introduced himself. “I’m searching for this lady.”

“Could you tell me your relationship with her?” the principal inquired.

“I’m her fiancé. We disagreed, and she mentioned needing some time apart. It would mean a great deal to me if you could direct me to her classroom, ma’am.”

“Miss Grace just stepped out moments ago. She requested permission, citing an issue with her bank account that needed attention.”

“Quite the coincidence,” Ore muttered, a lump forming in his throat. A bead of sweat trickled down his neck, casting doubt in the principal’s mind. She withdrew slightly, resuming her seat. Ore approached her with urgency as if seeking solace from a maternal figure.

“Please, ma’am,” he pleaded. “Why would she avoid me? Or perhaps you’re avoiding me to prevent me from seeing Grace? I assure you, my interaction with her will be brief.”

The principal chuckled softly at his words. “I’m unsure why you believe I’m avoiding facilitating a meeting between you two, but it would be preferable if you returned tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow feels so distant,” he insisted. “Could you disclose her current residence? And perhaps assist me in obtaining her phone number?”

Mrs. scrutinized him, her gaze sweeping from head to toe. “Are you not her fiancé? Why do you lack her contact information?”

“An incident occurred at the primary school where Grace was employed,” he explained earnestly. “She subsequently changed her phone number, address, and all other contact details. I could not reach her.”

The principal’s mind raced as she pondered Ore’s words, a sense of unease settling in. “Please, enlighten me. What truly transpired at Grace’s former workplace? Was there misconduct on her part?”

As realization dawned upon him, Ore’s lips curled into a tight smile, acknowledging the slip of information he had just made.

***

Dear readers, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to every one of you who has read, shared, and commented on this novel. Whether you're a passerby or a silent reader, your support means the world to me. Achieving a quarter of the goal I set for this novel feels incredible, and the fact that we've already covered over 50,000 words in just four months is truly amazing. But our journey is far from over. Let's continue this adventure together. Keep reading and enjoying!