This is the LSPD (Lagos State Police Department) 👮‍♂️🚓🚓👮‍♂️👮‍♂️🚓🚔🚨

*clicks gun* 🔫🔫

. . . .ghost readers, freeze🔫

repent for today's judgement day👮‍♂️🔫

this chapter shall remaineth blanketh, until you all maketh yourselves knowneth 😎🔪

*dancing tshwala bam*

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I'm here guys🤧
I'll post the chapter because of my active readers. y'all don't deserve to suffer because of the ghosts reading this book😒❤️

                      T Y L E R

I almost collapsed when I received a SMS message from Jennifer that read:

'Your father is back home.'

The only thing that was on my mind as I stared at my phone, was that he was back. Why was he back?

Why was he back?

Why was he back?

Why was he back?

He has always been a control freak, controlling me and telling me what to do. How to be more like him. But I'd rather die than become a devil's incarnate!

"Tyler."

I stopped staring at my phone, and I turned to see David, sitting on the other side, next to Yemisi. Seeing him with Yemisi made my blood boil, but I had bigger things to worry about. I didn't want to snob him, so I just gave him a nod and faced my phone again.

"Guys! Guys!" Felix yelled, walking over to us. "Hey guys!"

I ignored Felix because I really don't know why he acts the way he acts sometimes. Honestly, I don't know why my friends act the way they act. Makes me wonder just how much I know about them.

I typed a message to my mom, asking her if everything was alright, if everything was fine. But there was no reply, and the message only showed one tick. She was offline.

My heart sank.

"Oh, David."

I looked up from my phone to see Felix looking at me, Yemisi, and David. He then came to sit beside me, making me in the middle of him and Yemisi.

"Yo!" Felix whispered to me, as I tried calling my mom.

I was worried.

I knew what was coming.

"Do you have any plan in mind to help me grow closer to Yemisi?" Felix asked, and I had to control myself. "You haven't really been helping matters at all. You haven't told me anything about her likes and dislikes, and you're supposed to be helping me with that. Just look, David is growing closer to her even more than I am. I can't just seem to bond with her naturally, almost like she doesn't like me. But we have to do something. If you consider me a friend, then you must hel-"

"Can you just stop it?!" I snapped at Felix angrily, before I could stop myself. I just couldn't take it! I stood up and walked away from him so I could breathe properly.

I had bigger things to worry about, and all Felix could think of instead of asking if I was alright, was how to win Yemisi over.

Are my friends even my friends?

I walked out of Gloria's house and sat down on the pavement to catch my breath, then I dialed my mom's number again. She still didn't reply. I tried calling Jennifer, but her line was switched off.

Completely useless girl!

"Tyler, what are you doing outside?"

I glanced up and saw Gabriel, my classmate and teammate, watching me with a confused expression.

"Are you okay?" he asked, sitting down beside me, but I stood up.

He did the same and placed a hand on my shoulder. "It's fine if you don't want to talk about it, but at least let's go back inside. Games are about to start."

Do I look like I give a fuck about games?

He took my hand and against my will, I walked back in with him. Gabriel is this kind of person who acts silly and entertaining, but he was always looking out for others. He didn't have friends and wasn't in any clique, but he went along with everyone. We aren't exactly friends, but we talked most times. Especially on the field.

I still wasn't myself when I entered, and I sat down back next to Felix, who still looked upset about my earlier gesture. Before I could apologize to him, my phone vibrated in my hand. I looked down at the screen to see a call from the devil himself.

I'd rather talk with anyone but him, so I declined the call. I knew he was probably calling me so he could order me around, as per usual.

Whenever he returned from business trips, he was always angry. I still don't know why, but he's been like that since I was a kid. And whenever you don't do what he wants, he. . .

"Let's start with truth or dare," Gloria squealed, cutting through my thoughts.

"Truth or dare is a game that doesn't really end well oo," Timini said.

"Whatever," Gloria waved her hands. "It's not like we're kids. Any truth that comes out won't be judged, because we listen, we don't judge."

They arranged everything and everyone sat in a circle, but I remained where I was, because I was already part of the circle, initially.

"So, truth or dare?" George asked Rita.

"Truth."

"What do you have against Riele?"

Rita turned to look at Riele who sat next to Liam. "I don't like her because she acts like she's the finest girl in class when she's not."

Is that even a reason not to like someone? I feel like we humans just hate on others for absolutely no reason. Makes me wonder why I used to hate Yemisi.

"Reverend father, truth or dare?" David asked Liam, and some people laughed.

Didn't find it funny.

"Truth," Liam replied.

"Have you done it before?" David asked, wiggling his brows at Liam. Everyone turned their attention to Liam, who was staring at David unamusingly.

"Done what?"

"You know what I mean."

"No, I don't."

David hissed and almost everyone else did the same. Trust David to always bring bad things into games.

"Since you want me to say the word, then fine. Have you had sex before?"

Liam's eyes almost popped out of its sockets, and he stood up immediately. "Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Never! God forbid bad thing. Blood of Jesus. What kind of question is that? I'm not playing again."

Who asked you to play before?

"Truth or Dare?" Temitope asked Riele.

"Dare."

"I dare you to give Tyler a lap dance."

Eh?!

I looked at Riele with the plainest expression I've ever had, and she was looking at me with a hesitant expression. Good, she knows her place.

"Don't come near me."

That was my simple response, and it was enough to make Temitope change her dare.

My phone started vibrating again, and it was a call from my mother. I hurriedly stood up and went outside to take the call.

"Mom?"

There was a dead silence at first, before I heard someone speak up. And it wasn't my mom.

"Home. Now."

That deep gruff voice that I'd recognize even in my sleep, said to me and I froze on the spot. There was no response from the other end for a long time, and I started to think he forgot to hang up.

Suddenly, I heard the shattering of glass and a loud shriek. A shriek that sounded like my mother's.

My mother!

My mother!

"H-hello?" I sputtered, trying to convince myself that what I heard was my imagination. "Mom?"

There was no reply, and it was confirmed that something bad was happening. Again.

I rushed to the car and smacked the driver's door, where my sluggish driver was sleeping and snoring loudly.

I should've just driven to this place by myself! Because I really can't put up with this fat ass driver!

"Benedict!" I yelled his name and he jolted upright instantly, looking around with a confused expression on his face.

I got into the backseat and shouted, "Drive!"

Benedict didn't think twice because of the tone of my voice. He started the engine and zoomed out of Gloria's compound.

I couldn't think straight as Benedict drove me home. My brain was numb and my thoughts were just clouded with all the wrong things that could go wrong. Everything has been ruined because he's back again. Whenever he wasn't around, I always felt so peaceful and at ease. I wouldn't think about my mom's safety, or anything else, because I knew he was absent.

But now. . .

Oh my goodness! Kai!

Kai is at home and I can imagine what he must be going through by now. Just the thought of Kai's innocent eyes witnessing the horrors that I had grown up with, scared me to the core. Kai's fragile mind being scarred by the sight of the devil's violence towards our mother, was enough to make my heart skip several beats.

I have always been there to make sure he doesn't witness that act, but at this point, I wasn't there to take him to his room. I wasn't there to protect his innocent mind. I wasn't there to make sure he doesn't go through what I've gone through all my life.

The trauma.

The pain.

The fear.

The nightmares.

He was still so young, so pure, and I had always tried to shield him from the reality of our home life. But now, with his return, I feared that Kai's childhood would be forever tainted by the trauma of witnessing domestic abuse. I couldn't let that happen.

The car screeched to a halt, and Benedict's voice cut through my thoughts. "We're here, sir."

I leapt out of the car, and ran into the house like my life depended on it. I walked into the living room, taking in the sight of a broken vase and the pieces were scattered on the floor. Even the plant in the vase, was currently on the ground with some sand.

"Welcome home, Milord," Reginald said to me, but I paid no heed. He bent down to pick up the broken pieces of the vase.

I looked around nervously, and sprinted up the stairs to Kai's room first. I pushed the door open with force and uttered, "Kai, are you-"

I trailed off when I saw him staring at me with furrowed brows and innocent eyes. He sat on his bed, surrounded with drawing books and crayons, and Jennifer was sitting beside him.

"Hey, Tyler!" Kai chirped and sauntered off the bed to hug me. "Daddy's home!"

I wasn't even thinking straight at that time, so I didn't reciprocate the little boy's hug. He hugged my left leg tightly and looked up at me with a toothy grin.

Such innocent eyes.

I glanced at Jennifer, who stood silently with her hands behind her back, wearing her maid uniform.

"Thank you." Was all I could mutter to her, and she nodded slowly with a smile on her face.

Even she understood the current situation, because she has been with us for some years now. Apparently, all the workers were aware.

I bent down to Kai's level and planted a kiss on his forehead, before leaving his room. Next, I headed to the lion's den.

My parents room.

For a moment, I stood dumbly in front of the door. I wanted to go in for my mom, but at the same time I didn't want to go in there and witness everything all over again. I didn't want to deal with more trauma. The trauma I've been trying to forget. Despite all the facades I put on, I still found it hard to escape my reality.

Why?

Minutes later, I gathered the courage I needed and turned the door knob. Before I even took a glimpse of the room's condition, I felt my heart jump out of my chest and up my throat.

I stepped in, and saw alot of clothes all over the floor, bed, chair, dresser. . .they were scattered all over the place. I walked in further, wondering why the room was oddly quite. Not until I heard a silent whimpering, and I only realized it was my mother's when I saw her on the floor, resting her back on the bed's leg, her face bruised and tear-stained, her eyes cast downward in a mixture of pain and defeat.

I stumbled backwards, and held onto the chair that was close to me to prevent me from collapsing. I slowly inched forward, and she didn't seem to notice my presence, until I stood right in front of her.

She glanced up at me in shock, and her face morphed from pain to embarrassment, as she tried to hide the torn parts of her clothes. This wasn't the first time I've seen her in this condition, and it was definitely embarrassing for her. A whole Nollywood diva. Who would've thought that behind the scenes, Maria Ogbe underwent abuse?

Outside, she seemed normal, happy, and she seemed to have everything going great for her in life. The spotlight that shone brightly on her stage presence had blinded everyone to the reality of her life.

She was like a mask, beautifully crafted to conceal the pain beneath. But the mask is slowly cracking, and the truth is seeping out.

I knelt down beside her, and she looked away, ashamed. I gently took her hand, and she flinched, as if expecting another blow. My heart ached at that gesture of hers, and I didn't know when my fist clenched at my sides.

That devil must have gone overboard!

She looked up at me, with tears streaming down her face. "Tyler, I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sor-"

"Don't."

She recoiled at the tone of my voice, and even I surprised myself by my harsh tone.

"T-Tyler. .." she trailed off, and tears fell out of her eyes even more.

There was nothing I could say, so I just gently arranged her disheveled hair. She was shaking with sobs and I watched her, cradling her cheeks softly. She was so fragile. Like an egg.

Our moment was interrupted when the bathroom door swung open. She looked behind me with fear filled eyes, and she slowly backed away. I turned my neck, wishing I would see anyone else but him.

The devil himself!

No such luck, and he was looking back at me with this remorseful look in his eyes. I took in his appearance, noticing his wet face, - like he just splashed water on it - his dangling belt on his trouser, and his unbuttoned shirt.

"Son," he muttered, and took a step forward, forcing a smile on his lips. I stood up to face him properly, and he had the guts to reach for my hand. He tried to touch me!

The audacity!

I retreated back of course, from his satanic touch. I couldn't risk him touching me, because I didn't want to inherit his character.

I can't even imagine hitting Yemisi!

Yemisi. . .

Yemisi!!

Am I forgetting something?!

"It was the work of the devil, my child. I swear, I won't do it again. I don't know what got into me, but I give you my word this time. I won't ever try it ag-"

"Drop the act," I said, cutting him off rudely. "It dosen't suit you."

"My child-"

I laughed bitterly and threw my head back. "I don't know what makes you think I'm your child. Like, where's the idea even coming from? If you think I'd ever want to be related to an absuer, then I'm sorry to say but you're very foolish."

He rushed forward and grabbed my shoulders. "No, no, no. Don't say that my child. You're my son, a replica of-"

"I WILL NEVER BE LIKE YOU!" I yelled angrily, pushing him back and he landed on his buttocks. I had no idea I applied so much force.

My mom gasped audibly, covering her mouth with both hands.

The demon stood up hastily with an angry look on his face. "Is this the manners you've instilled in your son?" he thundered at my mom, who was shivering.

My fists were starting to hurt, because they were both clenched for too long.

His neck snapped to me, and he had a really angry look in his eyes. "You will have to be like me someday! Someday, you'll also hit your wife, but then you'd understand it all. It's part of love, it's part of marriage, it's part of being a man!"

I slowly shook my head in disgust. "You're sick."

My mother, who had been watching the exchange in horror, suddenly found her voice. "Stop it, Edward! Just stop it."

But he ignored her and came closer to my face. "You'll see that I'm right. You'll learn to control your wife, to keep her in line."

Control? Keep her in line? Was he kidding me? I looked at my mother, and saw the fear and shame in her eyes, as she lowered her head.

How did they even end up getting married?

"See, we love each other," he said, walking to my mom and pulling her into his arms, and she shuddered in fear. "It's all part of our partnership, and we'll-"

I couldn't take it anymore, and I didn't want to slap him, so I walked out of the room. It was best to leave.

I entered my room and shut the door with the key. I slowly slid down the door, my back against it, and landed on the floor with my knees bent and my elbows resting on them.

My mind began to wander back to all the times I'd witnessed the devil's abuse. The memories I'd tried to bury deep within me began to resurface, like a festering wound that refused to heal. My mother was suffering in silence, and there was nothing I could do about that.

Nothing.

"You will have to be like me someday! Someday, you'll also hit your wife, but then you'd understand it all. It's part of love, it's part of marriage, it's part of being a man!"

I rocked back and forth, trying to comfort myself, but it was no use. The pain and trauma I'd experienced growing up in a broken home had left its mark on me. I felt like I was living in a constant state of hypervigilance, always on edge, waiting for the next explosion.

The life I live.

Kai. . .

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I thought about Kai, about the innocence and joy that still lingered in his eyes. He really looked up to his father, so just imagine. . .

I swallowed back the huge lump in my throat.

I knew that I had to protect him, to shield him from the toxic environment that the devil created. But how? How could I keep him safe when I couldn't. . .I couldn't even keep myself safe?

There was a knock on my room door, and I knew it was my mom. "Dear. . ."

I didn't want to see her, I didn't want to see anyone.

"Please leave."

There was a fraught silence, and after sometime, I heard her sniffle and the faint sound of footsteps followed.

I wasn't one to cry, but the state I was in propelled me to.

And I did just that.

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A/N

My heart is breaking 😭😭💔
I can't even begin to imagine what he must be going through. And he always appeared so put together, meanwhile. . .😔

Can y'all now see why he left without telling Yemi 😔💔?

It's so painful! Like, what people are going through behind closed doors, but outside they always seem okay and vibrant.

Please, check on someone today because you'll never know what someone's going through 😪💔

SAY NO TO VIOLENCE!!!

Don't be afraid to speak up, okay? Because this shit hurts like hell! It hurts.

Thanks for reading! I'm already heartbroken, so pls don't break my heart further. Just VOTE😔🔪

CiCi 🌹