"Mommy, what if I want to go home?" Little Zayn asked, staring at his mother with those tear filled eyes.

She smiled, leaning down to ruffle his hair. "Why would you want to go home?" She asked.

He simply shrugged. It was his first day in his new school, and he's about to start his primary three. His parents changed school for him, for reasons only known to them. But he didn't like it. He was never one to be conversant with others. He enjoyed his company, and that of the ones closest to him and no one else.

Opening up wasn't something he wanted to do. And being in a new school, he is obviously expected to open up and interact with others. But he hated it. So much.

He would much rather curl back into his room and stay there away from everyone else. It wasn't that evident then, but that was his SPD slowly resurfacing. Yet no one noticed it.

Then, his mother wasn't neglecting him. No, that started in the later years. If anything, he was mommy's little boy.

He was close to Kulsum then, but he was closer to his mother. Come to think of it, amongst the three siblings, she had always loved Ahmed more. Maybe, it's because the boy was the light that came to her at her darkest days, and so, she gave most of her love to him.

She sighed, when she saw him look down with a frown etched on his face. She didn't understand why he was feeling that way just about being in a school. "If you want to go home, just let your teacher know and she'll hit me up"

"But you don't pick up your calls Mommy"

She chuckled, shaking her head knowing though the boy is young, he's smart and right. At that moment, her husband was starting to indulge himself in politics and being the supportive wife she is, she indulged in it too. As such, she barely picks her calls and allows her PA to do so instead. And even then, she doesn't bother to get a follow up on who called and what message was left.

She thought about his words, then nodded; snapping her gaze to him. "Well then, I want you to memorize this okay? If you feel like coming home, just tell your teacher to call that number and I promise, I'll pick up and be there" She stated the eleven digits to him; making him repeat it a couple of times to make sure he gets it.

She was being honest when she said she will pick it up. That's her personal number that no one knows about, not even her husband. She has it with her and was hoping to use it only on special occasions.

But Zayn is the precious child she was willing to let in on that, even if he doesn't understand the importance of it.

He stated the numbers, grinning widely when he got it right.

Sh grinned back, her facial expression mirroring his. She then rose her hand up for a high five. "That's my boy" She muttered, when he clapped his small hand with hers. "Now tell me, who do you love the most?"

Zayn's grin was still plastered right across his face as if he was given candy. "You!" He exclaimed. "I love Mommy the most"

She then opened her arms, then pulled him into an embrace. "And Mommy loves you more. Always remember that Ahmed. Mommy loves you more than anything"

Lies. Lies. And more lies.

Zayn shook his head, tossing the phone on the table between him and Kamal as he stood up. "That's impossible" He muttered; eyes glaring at Kamal. "How can you even insinuate that? Do you even hear yourself? We're talking about Mama here, my mother...Kulsum's mother!" He hissed under his breath.

Kamala let out a slow breath. He was expecting Zayn's reaction, if not more. "I understand how you feel Zayn"

"No you don't" Zayn was quick to cut him off, still shaking his head as if to get rid of Kamal's words. "You don't and will never understand how I feel because you don't have anyone accusing your loved ones of something so absurd!" His voice rose slightly as he started to pace in the living room.

"I'm not accusing her" Somehoe Kamal managed to stay calm. Maybe, it's because he knew that being hot headed won't get them anywhere. And also, it's because he knew that Zayn must've be overhwhelmed by everything. "I know it's her"

"WATCH YOUR WORDS KAMAL!" Zayn finally snapped, yelling at his so called friend with his index finger pointing at him; eyes narrowed in slits.

Even though Kamal anticipated anger from Zayn, he didn't expect him to yell because had never done that to him before. Not even when they were kids and Kamal would annoying him to no ends.

The truth must be taking a toll on him.

That was excatly what Alhaji Danbatta had been hoping to avoid happening. But of course, Zayn wanted to find the truth, in the process hurting himself and the people around him.

Kamal swallowed thickly. "You can deny this all you want Zayn but you can't turn a blind eye to the truth right there in front of you" He kept his voice calm and composed. "The number is obviously hers, you remember it well, don't you?"

Zayn scoffed. "That was years ago. She had probably misplaced it long ago" He stated, asif it's the most obvious thing in the world.

Kamal didn't argue with him on that, despite knowing he's the one that's right between them, "And how was it that I got attacked and almost beaten to death a couple of hours after I had gotten the phone form your father yesteday?"

Zayn snickered at Kamal's words. "Sorry to burst your detection bubble but she was with me yesterday" If Kamal wanted to accuse his mother then the best he could do was come up with something reasonable.

"When?"

"Around 2 to 3"

"I was attacked around five, just when I left my home to have the phone decoded and report to you"

Zayn was tempted to roll his eyes like how people tend to do when they are tired of doing the same thing over and over again. But he didn't. Instead, he stopped pacing and threw a bored look at Kamal. "Anyone could've done that. And what are you trying to prove? That she beat you up herself or what?"

Kamal let out another deep breath. Zayn truly is stubborn but he knew if he was in his shoes, then he would be just as stubborn. If not, more. So, he slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out another phone and a couple of pictures.

He placed the pictures first in front of Zayn, and it did nothing but infuriate the man more, "Those could've been facbricated! How do I know that it wasn't photoshopped?"

"Zayn those pictures were gotten from the cameras in Salma's house which showed your mother going in and out. It wasn't photoshopped" He kept his gaze on Zayn, hoping he would seee the unwavering look on his face.

He wasn't kidding about a word he says.

Zayn simply scoffed, then turned around. Honestly he would'nt believe it one bit. Anyone else, it could've been anyone else and he'll have no doubts but not his mother. She couldn't have done those hideous things.

She couldn't have done it.

Kamal turned on the other phone that had been delivered to him ealier that day all the way from Duste. It belongs to Salma and somehow, they found evidence on it. He doesn't know how she managed to do it but the woman somehow recorded her conversation with Zayn's mother.

"Mama...so you..."

The woman's chuckle came, and it sounded nothing like the sweet laughter Zayn had gotten used to hearing from her all the time.

"Yes. Me. The person behind it all, how many times do I have to repeat it to you?" There was this edge in her voice. She was clearly annoyed by how Salma was still unable to digest that simple truth. Something must've happened before she scoffed. "Don't give me that look, you're no saint either"

"How could you do this?"

"That's none of your business" The woman cut her off, her voice cold. Everything about her tone sounded completely opposite to what everyone knows regarding her. "Now, I came here for this because I know Zayn would come looking for it. And I can't have him snooping this deep and finding out thr truth right?"

Salma's heavy breath came. "Take it. But please give me my daughter"

"Aw" The woman cooed, "See this, this is the love that exists mother and a child. I'm sure you can understand how I feel" She kept her voice low, but Salma still heard it and it came out in the recording. "Your daughter is safe, since you did play a part in ruining Kulsum's life which saved me from having that much dirt on my hands"

"You used me"

She scoffed louldy. "Oh dear, you are the devil's sister. I didn't use you one bit. You are soley responsible for everything you did and because of that, I will leave your child alive...for now"

That had a sob leaving Salma's parted lips. "Please don't hurt my daughter. I beg of you"

"I won't hurt her, if you do as I say"

"What do you want? I promise, I'll do anything"

"If you tell anyone about me, then I swear I'll kill your child just like I did to Kulsum's child"

That was where the recording ended. Both men knew something happened afterwards but there was no way of finding out.

"Tell me Zayn" Kamal spoke up, his voice hard. "Was it also a coincidence that your father, who gave me the phone your mother has been trying so hard to keep you from finding out its secrets, got a heart attack after I had been attacked?"

Zayn was still having a hard time agree to what Kamal told him and honestly, Kamal was starting to run out of proofs. He had laid everything he had gotten right in front of the man and no matter what, he was sure that Zayn's mother is behind it all. Her reasons for that? Zayn has to be the one to ask her himself since he was yet to find out too.

The only person that could've maybe have a hint about the reason was Alhaji Danbatta, but he is unconcious.

Zayn didn't comment on Kamal's words though it was eating him up to do so. He thought about it but he was still in denial. How could he just accept that his mother is such a bad person? How could anyone accept that? It was so bitter and he wasn't planning on believing it any time soon.

No. It couldn't be her.

Just as he was about to do so, his phone rang and after much hesitation, he pulled it out.

The caller ID was the only reason why he answered the call. And that made his heart thump right behind his ribcage, threatening to jump out.

He swallowed hard, then brought it to his ear. "Hello" His voice came out raspy.

"Hello Zayn. It's your father..."