Atinuke couldn't believe her ears. She always suspected something of this sort but then again how weird would it have been to confront her husband about that kind of matter.

She had seen Dele touching Tamilore a little bit inappropriately but she always waves it off; reminding herself that Dele loves Tamilore like a daughter.

Like some single mothers in Nigeria, Atinuke married Dele to give her children a father figure. Dekunle-her first child was already going astray and Tamilore had the idea that families only involved a mother and her children and she didn't want her own predicament to affect her children's upbringing.

Dele seemed like the perfect image for a father. Hardworking to a fault and Tamilore loved him instantly. Of course; shower a young girl with gifts and ice cream and watch her fall in love. After all little girls are made of sugar, spice and everything nice.

Things were good for a few years but after the roses, came the thorns. Late night drinking, Intimacy came every leap year whenever Dele felt like and Atinuke had the feeling that Dele loved somebody else. It wasn't lust or the desire to chase women that was in his eyes no. Everything got a little bit better again and they started sleeping in the same room but even at that, his touch still seemed distant, cold like it wasn't meant for her.

And now, she dreaded that all the while he was touching her, Dele actually had Tamilore in mind.

Was her husband really a paedophile?

"Dele answer me now o. You better answer me." Atinuke shook him furiously to wake him from his sleep but he refused to budge- well aware of the fact that he was already caught.

"Dele if you don't wake up now, I will order Wura to pour a nice bucket of cold water on you." She yelled at him.

"Woman what's your problem?" Dele feigned a sleepy voice.

"You're my problem o Dele, you're my problem." He moved away from him and drags herself to the extreme end of the bed. "What did I just hear you say now? Answer me o. You better answer me."

"Stop yelling woman." He cautioned her but she hisses in response. "Don't forget I'm still the husband."

"What kind of husband talks about his daughter in a sultry manner from his sleep?"

"Atinuke calm down." Dele said- his voice cool, calm and collected. He knew what he was doing perfectly and he had her in his hands. "You're just worried about Tammy that's why you heard wrong. Baby don't get agitated." He moved closer to her and wraps his hands around her shoulders. She had the urge to move away but any attempt at that, she would land face first on the ground.

"I love our dear daughter and I want her back too so stay calm honey." He assured her.

"You're right. I'm sorry about it. I didn't mean to." She wanted to get off the topic as fast as possible but of course, she wasn't satisfied yet.

Dele pulled her gently away from the edge bed and started stroking her cheek and arm to coarse intimacy but she stays stiff.

"Dele not now." She pushed him away. Clutching her chests tightly. She knew something real was wrong and something really bad was going to happen- she has always had a nose for that kind of stuff.

"My sugar, Atty baby." He tried again, this time aiming directly for her chest; his eyes filled with raw desire and lust.

Atinuke shoves him as hard as she can and stands up abruptly from the bed with shaky hands clutching her chest in the same manner.

"Sugar koor stick sweet Ni." She commented bitterly- dragging her night robe together as if it offered some sort of protection.

"Don't forget I'm still your husband." He said darkly.

"No. I remember perfectly. I remember you forcing me to be with you even though I didn't want to over and over again," She wiped her glassy eyes. She didn't want to look weak in front of him but he knew too well he had done something to the woman. "I remember you blackmailing me with the fact that I'm running for deputy governor. I remember you treating me anyhow in public but being so indifferent behind close doors." Tears already started pouring down.

"I'll be sleeping in Tamilore's room this night." She declares weakly. Dele stood up from the bed and Atinuke suddenly thought that Dele would wrap her in his hands and stroke her head lovingly like he used to do.

"Atinuke you're not going anywhere." He said with a particular look in his eyes she couldn't quite decipher. She felt so stupid for thinking he would have a change of heart. He was still Dele. Devilish, pretentious Dele.

"Just come back to bed with me and perform your wifely duties afterall what are you worth? you petty whore."
Atinuke had enough of his insults. Without thinking about the consequences of her ctions at all, Atinuke slapped him hard across his cheek.

Immediately she did it, she started shaking furiously. "De... De... Dele... I'm so... S... so sorry." She stammered, completely intimidated by his presence.

She stretched her hands to touch the affected part but instead, he returns the painful gift with a slap that sends her straight to the floor- making a loud thud.

Atinuke grabbed her now red and injured cheeks, shivering like a wounded animal.

"Don't you ever. I repeat. Ever raise your hand on me woman. And if you try to tell anybody, I would expose your little secret. Goodnight baby. " He said, mocking her.

All she could do was pray silently to God to deliver her from the devil himself that she lived with everyday.

****
"Good morning everybody, I'm detective Folorunsho Gbadebo." A heavily bearded man with small eyes greeted the entire members of the Adenuga Villa including the guests and Mama Benita.

"Chief Dele invited me to investigate his daughter's sudden disappearance." Atinuke cringed at the thought of him calling Dele Tamilore's father. She had to put make up on this morning and she wondered what kind of mother the family members would've thought she was. Getting so heavily made up after her daughters disappearance. Especially that Aunty Sara.

"Anyway, he briefed me on the situation this morning and I did I little assignment before getting here." He picked his Samsung phone from the table, his long think nails looking so unkempt.

"Please will Tamilore be find, are we still gotten the money?" Aunty Sara questioned the detective as the tied and untied her brown lace wrapper at quick intervals. For someone that spoke that kind of English, she looked so serious when she said it.

"Well I'm still the custodian of the inheritance and I'm supposed to hand it over to Tamilore immediately she turns eighteen and since she's not here I guess-" He stopped immediately as he realized what he was about to say. Fadeke fought back the urge to smile. She could'nt help but laugh at the fact that these things were happening. After what that girl did to her.

"But I'm her Father, I think I'm the best person to handle the wealth in her absence." Dele added as he took Atinuke's hands in his to show they were a couple grieving for their child.

"Dele I don't think so, you're not even out legit father abi. I should be the one to help Tammy." Dekunle quickly jumped into the conversation hoping his mother would back him up. "I mean mom already has enough of her own fortune to deal with, Dad has his job in the party and I'm her brother."
He looked at his mum for back up but she stayed mute.

Demilade sat beside Ifeoluwa basically lifeless. She was in a state of shock and nobody noticed. Nobody could help her. Dekunle's voice constantly filling the air reminded her over and over of the incident. All the could think of was how he repeatedly shoved into her like she was nothing- all because she was poor and she had nobody to defend her. He stole her virginity and now, she felt like nothing- completely useless.

"Can you people stop talking about my daughter like she's dead? She probably just ran off with her boyfriend or something." She yelled at them. "Mama Benita, please listen clearfully and fill me in with whatever the detective says." The elderly woman nods and Atinuke left the room with Wura. Before leaving with her boss, she sends Fadeke a knowing look- the real boss smiling in return.

"So, can we get back to the discussion at hand?" Moses nodded and Folorunsho continued. "It's still too early to declare Tamilore a missing person but I was able to get the address of the boy in question and I paid them a visit before coming here.

"With everything they-"

"Oga, Oga, Oga. Come see I swear this thing e bad." Musa burst into the living room where the meeting with the detective was being held.
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Hey y'all, what do you think Musa has to say? Hahahahaha Cliffhanger. ik ik short ass chapter but the chapter needed to end here. Also we all know a book has filler chapters.
I hope you people are having nice dreams sha. You see? Me I'm up on night making sure to get something good so show me lots of love by voting and commenting ❤

I hope you enjoyed
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