Once upon a time in the heart of Victoria Island, there lived a woman named Naomi Adelch. She was the kind of woman people stopped to stare at when she walked into a room. Not just because she was beautiful, but because she carried herself like a queen. Tall, light-skinned, with sharp cheekbones and eyes that never smiled.
Naomi always wore designer clothes and never repeated an outfit twice. She lived in a white mansion surrounded by guards, flowers, and a tall black gate that never opened for strangers. People said she was heartless. They said she had no family, no friends, no one she trusted, just money. But that was not the case. Naomi’s world changed after her husband had died a few months ago, and they never had children.
Since then, she worked, traveled, and came home to silence. She had only one friend, Michelle, who had been her biggest supporter since their childhood. But that life was about to change. One fateful afternoon, Naomi sat in the back seat of her black Range Rover on her way back from the hospital after visiting her friend Michelle, who had just given birth.
Her driver, Matthew, was moving slowly through traffic. He glanced at the rear view mirror. Madam, should I take the lucky shortcut? This traffic might hold us till night. Naomi didn’t answer at first. She was lost in her thoughts. The thought of Michelle’s baby in her arms filled her mind, which made her remember her dream of becoming a mother. She sighed and said softly.
Go through Ozumba. I don’t care if it takes 2 hours. “Yes, Ma,” Matthew said and turned the steering wheel. Then the car stopped. A red traffic light ahead blinked. Matthew was about to comment on the jam when Naomi raised her head slightly. “What’s that?” she said, squinting through the window. Matthew looked too.
What’s what, Ma? There, near that pole. That lady Matthew turned and saw a woman dressed like a mad woman sitting by the roadside barefoot holding two small babies, one in each arm. The babies were wrapped in what looked like old faded rags. Their clothes were dirty. Their cries were faint but sharp, even through the glass.
She sat beside the road holding a piece of newspaper to try to cover the babies from the hot sun. Matthew frowned. They’re always doing this begging trick. Ma, some of them even rent babies. But Naomi wasn’t listening. Her eyes were fixed on the baby’s faces. Something about them made her chest feel tight.
She leaned forward as if getting a closer look would explain what her brain couldn’t. She whispered, “Those eyes.” The left twin lifted his face briefly. His eyes were hazel, the same rare light brown color as her late husband’s. It couldn’t be, Naomi thought. She blinked. Maybe it was the thought of the babies she had just seen at the hospital that made her emotional or her mind playing games.
But then the second baby looked up and the same eyes stared back. Her heart jumped. “Stop the car,” Naomi said quickly. Matthew looked confused. “Now I said, stop the car now.” The driver hit the brake and parked by the curb. Naomi opened the door and stepped into the dusty street, ignoring the hot sun that hit her face, but she didn’t care.
Matthew quickly followed her with an umbrella, but Naomi was already walking fast straight toward the woman. When she reached her, the woman looked up, her face full of fear and surprise. She didn’t speak. “Who are you?” Naomi asked, her voice firm. She looked down at the babies again, then back at her. “I’m Anita.
” She crouched slightly, eyes on the twins. They’re yours. Yes, she said, tightening her grip. They are mine. Naomi raised her eyebrows. And where is their father? The woman looked away without saying a word. The air around them was heavy with dust as a car drove past. One of the babies began to cry again. They looked weak, like children suffering from malnutrition.
Naomi’s lips parted, but she didn’t know what else to say. The way Anita cradled the twins, it didn’t feel like a trick. She didn’t ask for money. She didn’t stretch her hand. She didn’t even move. Naomi took a deep breath and looked back at her car. Matthew was still holding the umbrella behind her.
She turned to him. Bring them in. Ma, I said, carry them into the car. Matthew stood frozen. Naomi snapped. Am I speaking Chinese? No, Ma. Matthew stepped forward quickly. Anita looked scared and stepped back. Please don’t take them. I am not mad. Naomi raised her hand gently. We’re not taking them from you.
You’re coming with us. I don’t want to go to the police. No police, she said, eyes soft. I promise. Anita hesitated. Then slowly, carefully, she followed her to the car. Inside the Range Rover, the air conditioner was turned on. The breeze from it kept the twins cool and they stopped crying. Anita sat stiffly, sweat dripping from her forehead, eyes darting around like a trapped animal. Matthew drove slowly.
Naomi didn’t speak much. She just stared at the babies, their hazel eyes closed now, tiny chests rising and falling. She didn’t know what this meant yet, why she felt a connection with the twins. But she knew one thing for sure. This was not a mistake. The car was quiet. Only the gentle hum of the air conditioner filled the space. Naomi sat stiffly.
her eyes glued to the two babies lying on her lap. They were asleep now. Their small faces were peaceful, but their skin was filled with dirt from lying on the street. She could still feel how weak their bodies were when she carried them into the car. Anita sat at the edge of the back seat, her hands folded, her clothes dirty and torn.
Her eyes kept bouncing around the car from the expensive leather seats to the glowing dashboard lights. She looked frightened, like a child who had entered a palace. She had no right to be in. Naomi glanced at her but said nothing. She didn’t know what to say. Her heart felt heavy but her mind was moving fast, too fast. Questions kept piling up in her head one after another.
Who was this woman? Where was she from? And most of all, why did the babies have her husband’s eyes? The car turned into her estate. The long curving driveway led to a giant white mansion surrounded by tall palm trees and a wide fence. The gate opened slowly as the security guard recognized the car. Anita’s mouth dropped slightly.
She stared at the big house like it was a movie. “You live here?” she finally asked, her voice quiet. “Naomi didn’t answer. She was still staring out the window.” When the car stopped at the entrance, two uniformed workers ran out. One of them opened Naomi’s door. Another reached to carry the babies, but she pulled back quickly.
“Don’t touch them,” she said. The worker stepped aside, confused. Naomi stepped out carefully, holding the babies to her chest, her designer dress stained from their dusty old wrappers. Anita stepped out slowly, too. She wiped her feet on the mat like she didn’t want to stain anything. Matthew stood by the door, whispering something to one of the guards.
The look on his face showed confusion and worry. Inside the house, the lights were warm. The smell of lemon polish filled the air. A giant chandelier hung above the marble floor and soft music was playing from hidden speakers. Anita stopped at the door. She looked down at her muddy feet. Naomi turned around.
What is it? She looked up. I’m dirty. Naomi stared at her for a second. Then she walked back and opened a nearby cabinet. She brought out a towel. Step in. She obeyed. Naomi handed her the towel. Wipe your feet. She bent down quickly and did as she said. Then Naomi called out, Joy. A woman in a lavender housekeeper uniform rushed in. Yes, madam.
Get a bowl of water and tell Dr. Andrew to come immediately. Joy nodded and ran off. Anita watched everything quietly. Her eyes scanned the ceiling, the painting on the wall, the gold trimmings on the staircase. She had never seen anything like this before. Naomi walked to the living room and gently placed the babies on a soft white couch.
One of them stirred and let out a small cry. Anita ran over. “Is he okay?” she asked. Naomi looked at her. “Which one is which?” she asked. “That’s James.” “The other one is Joseph.” She blinked slowly. James and Joseph,” she repeated as if testing how the names sounded in her mouth. “Lovely names.” Naomi stared at the babies again.
She didn’t know why she brought them here, but her eyes couldn’t forget what they saw. Those hazel eyes, those rare golden brown eyes. Her late husband had them, and now so did these babies. A few minutes later, a middle-aged man in a white coat walked in with a black medical bag. “Good evening, madam,” he said, bowing slightly.
Doctor, thank you for coming quickly, Naomi said standing. Please check them. They’ve been under the hot sun and their breath feels weak. The doctor bent over the babies, placed his hand gently on their foreheads, and began his checkup. Anita stood at the corner, watching silently. After 10 minutes, the doctor looked up. “They’re very weak, probably from hunger.
” “Are they safe?” Naomi asked. “They are stable for now, but they need rest, milk, and close care.” Naomi nodded. Do what you need to do. As the doctor set up a small drip bag for each child, Naomi turned to Anita. Have they been eating? She nodded slowly. I try to feed them everyday, but it’s hard. What do you give them? Sometimes pap, sometimes soaked bread.
If I get money, I buy milk, but most days I don’t get anything. She stared at her. Where do you live? Anita lowered her head. I sleep at the back of the church under the wooden shed. She blinked slowly. Just you and the babies. Yes. How long? Since James and Joseph were born. Naomi pressed her lips tightly. She didn’t like the way her chest felt.
It was tight, like someone had placed a heavy stone there. What happened to their father? Anita hesitated. He used to visit sometimes. Then one day, I heard he passed away. Naomi’s breath caught, her eyes locked on her. What did he look like? Anita pointed to the twins. Naomi didn’t answer.
She turned her face away quickly. That night, the babies were placed in one of the guest rooms in a clean, soft crib, a staff brought down from storage. They were covered with warm blankets. Anita was given a warm bath and a new change of clothes, an old outfit from Naomi’s wardrobe. She ate rice and stew like someone who hadn’t seen food in days.
Then she fell asleep on a small couch near the baby’s room. But Naomi didn’t sleep. She stood by the window in her bedroom staring at the swimming pool below. She kept thinking about Fei, her late husband. They had been married for 10 years, 10 whole years. He told her he loved her. He told her they were in this together.
He told her it didn’t matter that they couldn’t have children, that they would travel, grow old together, be happy. Could it be what I am thinking? She whispered to herself. Femi cannot betray our wedding vows. The worst part was he was not even alive to explain. At midnight, Naomi opened her drawer. She brought out an old photo album, the one she hadn’t touched in years.
She flipped through it slowly. There he was, Fei, smiling beside her at their wedding. strong, tall, handsome, with those same hazel eyes. Eyes she used to fall in love with, eyes she now saw in those twins. Her hand trembled as she closed the album. She sat down on the bed, her face buried in her palms. “I need to be sure,” she whispered.
She stood up, picked her phone, and dialed Dr. Andrew again. He answered sleepily. “Doctor, I need a DNA test.” He sat up quickly. Madam, I want you to run a DNA test on those babies. Compare them with Femi’s sample in the records, the one we submitted when doing his autopsy. Okay. Yes, I remember. We have it on file. Good. Start tomorrow. All right.
Ma, are you okay? She didn’t answer. She ended the call and stood still in the dark. She had just taken the first step, one she was not prepared for. The house was quiet. a calm kind of quiet that made you feel like something big was coming. Naomi sat alone at the long dining table. She wasn’t eating. A plate of untouched toast and scrambled eggs sat in front of her.
Her fingers were locked together tightly. Her phone was beside her, face down. She kept staring at the table, but her mind was far away. Last night, she had ordered a DNA test. This morning, she was waiting for the doctor to collect the samples. She hadn’t told anyone. She wanted to be sure first. She needed proof before she even allowed her heart to feel anything.
But the truth was her heart had already started to feel things and that scared her. Footsteps came from the hallway. She looked up. Anita entered the dining room holding a baby in each arm. She was barefoot, still wearing a pair of jeans and a beige t-shirt slightly oversized, which Naomi had given her last night. The twins looked much better, clean and quiet.
One of them was sucking his thumb. The other had his head resting on Anita’s shoulder. “Good morning, Ma,” she said softly. Naomi gave a small nod. “Sit,” she said. She moved slowly and sat at the far end of the table. She didn’t reach for the food. “You can eat,” Naomi said, her voice low. “There’s more in the kitchen,” she looked unsure. “Go ahead,” Naomi added.
Anita placed the babies on a blanket on the floor beside her chair and began eating slowly, not rushing like before. She was learning to behave like she didn’t expect the food to disappear. Naomi watched her closely. She ate with both hands, breaking the bread into small bits before putting it in her mouth.
She fed one of the babies a few drops of water from a spoon. She didn’t speak unless spoken to, but she didn’t look scared anymore either. “Are they always this calm?” Naomi asked after a moment. She nodded. Yes. If I feed them and hold them close, they don’t cry. She looked at her carefully. You said their names are James and Joseph, right? Yes, Ma. How old are they? 9 months.
Naomi paused. There was silence between them. Then Naomi stood. Finish eating. Dr. Andrew will be here soon. I want him to check the twins again. She nodded but didn’t look up. An hour later, Dr. Andrew arrived with a small black case. He greeted Naomi politely and walked to the guest room where the babies had been moved.
He wore gloves, took swabs from the baby’s cheeks, and placed them in labeled containers. Naomi stood by the door watching. “Will it take long?” she asked. “Two days,” he said. “Maybe less.” “Good, Dr. Andrew packed his things.” “Why do you need a DNA test, madam?” She didn’t reply. As he left, Naomi turned to the twins and stood beside them.
They were lying quietly in the crib, looking up at the ceiling with big, curious eyes. Those same eyes again, hazel, light brown, almost golden in sunlight, just like his. Her fingers touched the edge of the crib. “Who are you?” she whispered. That evening, Naomi went to her late husband’s old study. It was the only room she hadn’t touched since he died.
She had locked it up and left everything the way he liked it. books on the shelf, photos on the desk, his suits in the closet. She stood by the door for a long time before opening it. The room smelled of dust, and something else, something old and quiet. She walked to the desk and sat. She opened the drawers one by one. Old bank statements, pens, a half-finished cross word puzzle.
Then she found a small wooden box. Inside it were letters, love letters. Not from her, from someone else. She opened one. Femi, thank you for coming last weekend. I wish you could stay longer. I understand your life is complicated, but I want you to know I don’t expect anything. Just come when you can. Love, your baby Naomi’s eyes widened with shock, her chest tightened. Another letter.
My love, I don’t think I can continue hiding this pregnancy. It’s becoming obvious and people are asking questions. But Fei, sometimes I wish you would just tell her. Tell your wife the truth. Naomi closed the box. Her hands were shaking. She stood up and walked out of the room. She didn’t cry.
She just walked straight to her bedroom and locked the door. The next morning, Naomi walked downstairs and saw Anita on the rug with the twins laughing. Real happy laughter. Something about that sound made her stop and stare. She hadn’t heard baby laughter in her house before. Anita noticed her and stood up quickly. Good morning, Ma.
She nodded. They are better today, she said, smiling a little. They slept well. She looked at them and nodded again. The next day, the DNA results arrived. Dr. Andrew handed her the envelope in her office. She didn’t open it immediately. She waited until he left. She sat alone, staring at the brown envelope with her name written neatly on the front.
Her hands were cold. Finally, she opened it. She read the first line. DNA match confirmed. Probability of paternity 99.98%. Her eyes froze. Her breath stopped. She dropped the paper and stood up. She paced the room, her hands on her head. They are his, she whispered. They are really his.
The twins were her husband’s sons. He had a whole secret family. He had lied for years. She remembered all the hospital tests, the IVF treatments, the tears, the shame. He always said it wasn’t her fault, that maybe they were both the problem. But all this time, he was the one with children outside. Tears rolled down her face.
She didn’t wipe them. Later that night, she sat with Anita on the couch. The babies were asleep in the crib beside them. She didn’t speak at first. Neither did Anita. Then she turned to her. Anita. She looked at her. Who is their father? How long were you married to the father of your twins? She bowed her head like one ashamed to speak. Then she nodded.
No, he had another life somewhere else. I met him when I was in 200 level. I never knew he was married. He acted all sweet and gentle at first. Then when I became pregnant, I told him about it and he came just once to see me. Ever since then, he disappeared. I wrote letters but got no replies.
I heard he has a wife, but it was already too late for me. I had fallen in love with his deceits. He abandoned me to suffer. Because of the shame and pain, I dropped out of school. What was his name? Femi. Naomi closed her eyes briefly. Do you have any pictures? Anita reached into a small plastic bag beside her and pulled out a folded photo.
Naomi took it with shaky fingers. It was old, slightly faded, but there he was. Femi. Her hand dropped. She looked away. Then she stood up and walked to the window. Outside the sky was clear, but inside a storm had started. Naomi couldn’t sleep. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her body still, but her mind racing like a car without breaks. The DNA test was real.
The babies were Femy’s children, and Anita was his mistress. Her late husband, the same man who told her they were in everything together, had built a secret life right under her nose. Her chest hurt. But it wasn’t from anger alone. It was from the betrayal, the shame, and the fact that now the truth was staring her in the face, and she didn’t know what to do with it.
Anita spent the morning reading a story book to the twins. Naomi stood at the staircase and watched from above. She didn’t know what she felt anymore. Pity? No, it was deeper than that. Anger, maybe, but it was mixed with guilt. She kept remembering the nights she cried herself to sleep, thinking she was the one who couldn’t carry a child.
And Fei, he had been cheating all along. He looked her in the eyes every day and said they were a team. She blinked slowly and turned away. Later that afternoon, Naomi closed her eyes. She imagined it now, an orphan, barely 24, sleeping on the streets with newborn babies and no one to help her. Impregnated by a man almost twice her age, deceived and abandoned to face the world alone. Naomi swallowed hard.
That evening, Naomi found Anita in the garden. She was trying to rock one of the twins to sleep. The other one was chewing on a plastic toy. Can we talk? Naomi said. She stood up quickly. Yes, Ma. Naomi sat on the garden bench and tapped the space beside her. She sat. Remember when you said the father of your twins had another life? Anita nodded. I am that other life.
I am Femy’s wife. Anita’s eyes opened in shock. Ma, you’re your Femy’s wife? Yes. Naomi responded. Fear gripped her. Ripped. Immediately she went on her knees, tears rolling down her eyes. Omar, please forgive me,” she cried. “I never knew he was a married man. I was naive and greedy. I saw he was a rich man and allowed myself to be fooled.
At first, I never knew he was a married man, but when I got pregnant, it was already too late. That was when I found out he was a married man. I told him to tell you about me for the sake of his children, but I never heard from him. Not until I heard he had passed away. Please forgive me. I didn’t mean to break your marriage.
Tears rolled down Naomi’s cheeks, but she quickly wiped them off. It’s not your fault, she said. You’re not the one who broke our marriage vows, nor these innocent children. I forgive you. You’ve struggled begging for food. You slept in churches, dropped out of school. You did everything you could to save these children.
You were naive, but life has taught you a lesson. She looked at the baby in her arms. Joseph yawned, his small mouth wide open, his tiny hand rested on Anita’s shoulder. Naomi placed her hand gently on the baby’s back. “You won’t suffer anymore,” she said. Later that night, Naomi stood in front of her mirror. She looked at herself.
For years, she had lived like a statue, strong, polished, cold. But now, she felt like her chest had cracked open. The guilt she carried for not having a child left her heart. She remembered how she used to pray for a child. How she blamed herself for being empty. She had even thought of adoption once, but Fei said, “No child we didn’t make will feel like ours.
Now here she was in a house full of children, his children and mistress.” The next morning, Naomi went into the twins room and found Anita already awake, changing their clothes. “You’re always up early,” she said. “I don’t sleep much. I can tell.” She sat on the bed and watched her button James’ shirt. “Anita,” she said.
“How would you feel if I made sure you never had to sleep on the streets again?” She looked at her confused. “You mean stay here forever?” “Not just stay,” she said. “Live here. Go back to school. Be safe. Give the twins a better future and a name.” She blinked. “You You want us to live here? If you want to?” She didn’t reply.
Then suddenly she burst into tears. She cried remembering all the struggles she had passed through. She dropped on her knees and covered her face. Naomi didn’t move for a few seconds. Then she got up, walked over. Get up, she said. I am doing this because of the children. I have nothing against them or you. I’m sure you’ve learned from your mistakes.
The news didn’t stay quiet for long. In a house like the Adelkis, everything speaks. the guards, the drivers, even the housekeepers. And once the first whisper left the mansion gates, it spread like fire. By the next morning, her name was being spoken in hushed voices across the high streets of Ecoy and the loud corners of gossip tables in Banana Island. She brought in a street girl.
They say the twins are her husband’s children. Did Fei really cheat on her all those years? The rumors rolled and twisted like a storm. And Naomi knew it wouldn’t be long before the people who mattered most would come knocking. Not out of care, but out of fear. Fear that she was about to change the balance of power in the Adela Empire.
And she was right. They came on a Sunday afternoon. Three black SUVs rolled into her compound like kings arriving at war. Her head of security called her immediately. Madam, it’s Chief Whale Adelke with two of his cousins. She stood up from the reading chair in her private lounge and placed her cup of tea on the table.
“Let them in,” she said simply. Downstairs, the front door opened. Chief Whale was Femy’s elder brother, a bulky man with a sharp voice and a habit of speaking like the whole world owed him something. He walked in with his chest out, followed by two younger men in abadas who wore dark glasses indoors.
Naomi didn’t stand when they entered the living room. She only crossed her legs and looked at them. Good afternoon, she said. Chief Whale didn’t smile. We need to talk. I assume that’s why you’re here. The youngest of the men hissed slightly. So, it’s true. Naomi looked at him. What exactly is true? Chief Whale didn’t sit. He walked slowly around the room like he owned it.
You brought a mad woman into this house with her babies. Babies that people are saying belong to Femi Naomi said nothing. Chief Whale’s eyes narrowed. Is it true? She reached for a file on the table and slid it toward him. Read for yourself. He picked it up, opened the first page, and read the DNA report.
His face didn’t change, but his fingers tightened on the file. Where did you find them? He asked. In the streets, begging for food. He slammed the file shut. And you brought them into this house. Just like that. They are Femy’s children. He pointed at her. That doesn’t mean they’re yours. Naomi stood. They carry the same blood that runs through his veins.
That means they carry part of mine, too. The other man stepped forward. Madame Naomi, with all due respect, we understand you’re hurting, but this is a very serious matter. I know exactly how serious it is, she said, her voice low. Chief Whale dropped into a chair finally. Do you know what people are saying? That you’ve lost your mind.
That you want to hand over everything to strangers? They are not strangers, Naomi snapped. They are his children. The ones he hid from me. The ones none of you cared to find after his death. The room was quiet. Then Chief Whale leaned forward. You’re about to destroy everything. The board is already asking questions.
The shareholders are restless, bringing in children from nowhere. That’s not how things are done in our family. Naomi folded her arms. What you mean is you were planning to take everything. He didn’t deny it. You have no children, he said plainly. No way. That means the family takes over. It’s how things are done. Not anymore, she replied.
The youngest cousin raised his voice. So you want to name the boys as heirs. A mad woman’s children. Anita is not a mad woman, she said firmly. She is Femy’s mistress, the mother of his sons, which he abandoned before he died, which makes them more of an heir than any of you. The cousin laughed bitterly. They don’t even know how to hold a spoon. You’re making a mistake.
Naomi took a step closer. I made one before. I trusted Fei. I let him lead everything while I played the quiet wife. Not anymore. He pointed at her one last time. You’ll regret this. She raised her chin. No, you’ll regret underestimating me. After they left, Naomi sat back down and took a deep breath.
She was shaking slightly, not from fear, but from fury, the nerve, the boldness. The way they walked into her house like she was the one who needed permission. She heard footsteps and turned. Anita was standing at the hallway entrance. She had heard everything. Her face was tight. Her hands were clenched. I can go if you want, she said softly.
Naomi stood up slowly. Go away, she shrugged. Anywhere. I don’t want to cause trouble. Naomi walked to her and placed both hands on her shoulders. You’re not going anywhere. But they’re angry. They’ve always been angry. They were angry when I married Fei. They were angry when I took over the company. Now they’re angry because your sons exist.
She looked into her eyes. I’m not trying to take anything from them. I know. I just want them. She looked down the hallway where the twins were playing in their crib. She wanted them to have a future. Naomi nodded. And they will. I will become legal guardian to the twins so they can have my last name.
That way their future is secured and nobody can take their inheritance. That evening the house was tense. Even the staff were quiet, but Naomi didn’t care. She called her lawyer. draw up the paperwork, she said. For what? I want guardianship over the children. Are you sure, Ma? This will trigger war. I’m not starting war, she said. I’m finishing it.
The next day, the press came knocking. A headline had already gone out. Widow of late Femi Adele takes in a mad woman’s children. Claims they are her late husband’s secret heirs. Photographers camped near the gate. Reporters shouted questions when Naomi’s car drove out. Her board members started calling. One of them, Mr.
Roland, finally said what others were thinking. Madam, this will affect the company. Investors are nervous. The media won’t let it go. Maybe, maybe it’s best you take a break. A break from my own company. Just for a while, until this storm passes. Naomi smiled and ended the call. Days later, Naomi began to feel ill. She wasn’t her usual self.
She stopped going to the office. Every little thing made her weak. She began sleeping all the time. She thought maybe it was the stress of the court case or the new reality that had just dawned on her about the man she once trusted with her life. But what Naomi didn’t know was that Anita secretly had a plan of her own.
That evening, she managed to get up from her bed to get water. As she slowly walked downstairs toward the kitchen, she overheard Anita laughing in the twins room. She thought Anita was playing with the twins. As she stepped closer, she stopped at the door. That was when she heard Anita say, “She’ll be gone soon. The pills are slowly doing the job.
She won’t make it to the day of court. It’s only a matter of days now. Once she’s dead, everything will be ours. Just make sure you keep giving her the pill before that day.” Immediately, fear gripped Naomi. She could not believe what she had just heard. Her whole body froze. She felt her blood turn cold. Her fingers shook. Tears filled her eyes.
She pressed her ear closer to the door, hoping she had heard wrong. But then came a man’s voice. Soft, familiar. Don’t worry, the man said, “When she dies, you will know what it means to be treated like a queen. I know Femi disappointed you, but not me. Right from the day I saw you, I knew we were meant to be together.” Anita laughed again.
She thinks I am a fool, but I will show her that I am 10 times smarter than her. She wants to take my children from me, all in the name of giving them a last name. As if I was the one who asked her to be Baron. When we get married, I will also be called Mrs. Adelc. She laughed. Good, the voice said. Hope you’ve already started picking your wedding dress.
Naomi could not believe all she had just heard. Anita planning with someone from her late husband’s family to kill her. But who exactly? She knew not. The same person she was trying to help had been the reason for her sudden illness. It was the poison in her system that had been making her feel weak lately. It was Anita who had been slowly poisoning her.
She turned and ran downstairs, holding her chest. She didn’t know where to go. Her head was spinning. As she struggled to breathe, her vision became blurry. She whispered to herself, “God, please don’t let me die.” She struggled to reach the boy’s quarters where Matthew, her driver, was, and she asked him to quickly drive her to the hospital.
Her heart was pounding hard, the poisoning slowly shutting down her system. As the car entered the hospital gate, Matthew jumped out, shouting at the top of his voice, “Help! Please, somebody help me! She is running out of breath!” Doctors and nurses rushed out immediately with a stretcher.
They opened the car door and gently lifted Naomi out. Please, doctor, save her, Matthew said, his voice trembling in fear. Don’t worry, Ma. You will not die in Jesus Christ’s name, one of the nurses said as they rushed her into the emergency room. Matthew sat in the waiting area with both hands on his head. Minutes felt like hours. He wondered what could have happened to her. A few hours later, Dr.
Andrew opened the door. Matthew rushed toward him. How is she doing, doctor? She is fine, he said, but her condition is very bad. Her heart is weak. Her breathing is slow. The poison had gone down into her system. Poison? Matthew shouted. Who would do such a thing to Madame Naomi? We will find out, Dr. Andrew said.
For now, let’s pray she recovers. After hours on the drip, Naomi’s fingers twitched again. Then her eyelids moved, her eyes opened slowly, tears rolled down her face. She tried to speak, her lips dry and weak. Please, she whispered softly to a nurse. Call Dr. Andrew. When he entered the room, he moved closer and sat beside her bed, worry written all over his face. Madam, he said softly.
Talk to me. What really happened? Naomi sat up slowly. She was still weak, but her mind was clear. Her eyes were red and filled with pain. Doctor, she began in a trembling voice. Someone is trying to kill me. Andrew’s eyes widened. Kill you? Who would do that? Naomi looked away, her hands shaking.
It’s Anita, she whispered. The same girl I saved from the streets with her babies. Conniving with someone in Femy’s family to kill me so they can take over the company and properties. Dr. Andrew froze. Anita, he asked in shock. Are you sure? Naomi nodded slowly. I heard her with my own ears, she said weekly.
She was on a call with a man. Anita has been poisoning my tea every morning before I come down for breakfast. Madame Naomi, he said quietly. You’re telling me this is a planned murder. Naomi nodded again, her voice breaking. Yes, Dr. Andrew, it’s a plan, but I can’t prove it yet. I need evidence. I need to know who else is part of it.
For a moment, silence filled the room. The only sound was the slow beeping of the heart monitor beside her bed. Then a wild idea crossed Naomi’s mind, one that could cost her everything. She turned to Dr. Andrew and whispered, “Doctor, help me fake my death.” Dr. Andrew stared at her shocked. “What, madam?” “That’s dangerous. I know,” she said calmly.
“But it’s the only way. If they think I’m dead, they’ll relax. They’ll expose themselves. I’ll finally see the faces behind my pain. Her eyes glistened with tears, but there was fire in them, too. The fire of a woman determined to fight back. Dr. Andrew sat there quietly, thinking deeply.
He looked at her again and slowly nodded. If that’s what you really want, then we’ll do it right, he said softly. And that was the beginning of a plan that would shake everyone to the core. Naomi would die, but only on paper. The world would believe she was gone and the truth would finally come out.
Naomi lay on the bed staring at the ceiling. Her heart was pounding fast. “Am I really doing this?” she thought. “Am I truly about to fake my own death?” Beside her, Dr. Andrew and her driver, Matthew, stood quietly in the corner, holding a small bottle filled with clear liquid. “His face was serious. This medicine will slow down your heartbeat,” he said gently.
It will make your body cold, your skin pale. Your breathing will almost stop. You’ll look dead, but you’ll still be alive.” Naomi nodded slowly. She didn’t flinch. She had already made up her mind. All her life she had trusted and given love to people who only used and betrayed her. “First it was Fei, now Anita.” Tears rolled down Naomi’s cheeks, but her voice remained firm.
“Do it doctor,” she whispered. Dr. Andrew gave her one last look, then slowly pushed the needle into her arm. The cold liquid flowed into her veins. Her vision became blurry. Her body started to feel numb. Her heartbeat slowed slower and slower until it almost stopped. “Lie down,” the doctor said softly. He laid her gently on the bed.
Her lips turned pale. Her chest barely moved. Her body was as cold as marble. He placed ice packs under her arms and at her feet to make her temperature drop even more. Then Dr. Andrew told Matthew to go home and inform everyone at the mansion that Madame Naomi had passed away.
Within 1 hour, the news spread everywhere. Her mansion filled up with reporters, her workers crying. Anita rushed to the hospital crying. She shouted, “Oh, the enemy has succeeded.” She cried the loudest. One would think she was a saint. acting as if she was in great pain. But when you looked closely, one could see a hidden smirk on her face. She tried to bury.
A few moments later, Dr. Andrew stepped out of the room. Immediately, she called the man. Congratulations, darling. It is done. Everything is ours. Akin Naomi could hear their voices, her heart beating fast, though her body remained still. “Finally,” Anita whispered, leaning closer to her. “Finally, we can have everything.” She smiled.
I can’t believe it,” she said softly. “We don’t have to hide anymore.” Naomi wanted to scream, but she couldn’t. Anita leaned close to her face, to the face of the woman she betrayed, and whispered, “The pills work perfectly.” “I told you it would,” Akin said. Tears rolled down Naomi’s cheeks under the white sheet.
Her heart shattered into pieces. “It was Femi’s cousin, Akin, that was behind it, and the same woman she had saved from the streets. Both of them were monsters in disguise. “I can’t wait for you to finally move into the mansion.” Anita giggled. “It’s funny, isn’t it?” Naomi was such a fool. Always kind, always giving. She never saw it coming.
Akin laughed. She was too soft. And now she’s gone. Under the sheet, Naomi’s fists clenched tight, her eyes burned with fire. Now she had seen the truth for herself. All along she thought Anita had changed, but greed and jealousy was still buried in her heart. When they left, Dr. Andrew and her driver Matthew walked in and tapped her.
Then she woke up. “Did you get everything on the clips?” Naomi asked. “Yes, madam.” “Good,” she said. “I thought she was an innocent girl. I never knew she was a snake. I willed my entire share of property to her children so they could have a better future and never sleep on the streets again. But in return, she planned with my late husband’s cousin to kill me.
They turned my goodness into weakness. “You have all the evidence you need now. What next?” Dr. Andrew asked. Matthew, I want you to call my lawyer, Barrista Fesus. It’s time to set things straight. A week later, inside Naomi’s mansion, Akin and Anita were living their best life. They removed all the portraits of Naomi and placed theirs.
We’re in charge now, they celebrated. The courtroom was packed on the day of the hearing. Anita entered in a stylish red dress, heels clicking on the floor. Her head was held high. Behind her was Aken. The plan was to dismiss the case since Naomi had died and the properties were already willed to her children.
The judge entered. The courtroom rose. When it was time to speak, Naomi’s lawyer stood. My Lord, before we proceed with the hearing, I would like to call in a witness.” And there she was, Naomi, alive, and radiant. She walked in looking strong, confident, and composed. She smiled coldly. The room was quiet. The judge looked from one side to the other.
“Is this not Naomi Adeleke? Or is it a ghost?” a spectator said. “Yes, it is me. I am alive.” Anita’s breath cut short in fear. She could not believe her eyes. No, it can’t be. She said it’s a ghost, everyone. I saw her dead body lying in the hospital. Yes, Naomi said. That’s what you thought. But I only took an injection that slowed my breathing, which made you think I was dead.
I know everything now. How you planned with Achin to poison me after all I did for you. First it was my husband. Now you want to kill me to take over my properties. The entire courtroom froze in shock. The same woman she had saved in the street with her twin babies was the same person who wanted to kill her. Then Naomi’s lawyer stepped forward.
My lord, here with me is CCTV video evidence of Anita and Aen’s confession at the hospital. The IT officer pressed the button. The courtroom watched as Anita admitted with the help of Aken to poisoning Naomi. Akin had promised to marry her into the Adela family and make her a shareholder in the Adelch empire. The courtroom exploded in chaos.
Reporters scribbled furiously. Spectators shouted and Akin sat frozen in shame. The judge struck his gavl. Bang! Bang! Bang! Order! This is still my court. Silence fell again. The judge’s voice boomed. “Akin Adeleke, step forward. Did you conspire with Anita Okapor to poison Mrs. Naomi Adeleke?” For a moment, he looked like he might lie.
Then Anita broke into tears. Yes, my lord, we did it. He told me not to trust Madame Naomi, that she was using me to keep their brother’s properties. He said if I married him instead, since I had children for their late brother, I would be in charge of the entire property. Murmurss swirled in the courtroom. Some gasped, others cursed under their breath.
Naomi’s knees weakened. She nearly fell, but her lawyer held her up. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She wasn’t sure if she cried from relief that the truth was finally coming out. The judge’s voice shook the room. This court finds Anita Okafor and Akin Adela guilty of conspiracy to commit murder. Both of you are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole.
And as for the twins, Mrs. Naomi Adelch will remain their legal guardian as they’re her late husband’s children. The gavvel struck, bang, bang, bang. The gallery exploded in cheers. Some wept, others shouted praises. Naomi fell to her knees, sobbing with relief. When she got back to the mansion, she walked straight to the twins room. The air felt heavy.
Her heart had been broken all her life. She had been betrayed by those she loved. She sat down quietly, lost in thoughts about how she had just escaped death. That was when one of the twins, Joseph, woke up. His hazel eyes stared at her, reminding her of the betrayal Femi had done to her and the pain their mother, Anita, had caused her.
Then suddenly, he stretched out his hands, his eyes calling her to carry him. But Naomi looked away. “I can’t do it. I can’t. It’s just too painful,” she whispered. Then she looked at him again, and pity gripped her heart. “Oh, God,” she said. Forgive me. I have allowed bitterness to blind my heart. Then she rushed and carried him in her arms.
You’re not Fei, nor your mother. You’re just an innocent child. I will not allow hatred to be planted in my heart against you children. I don’t have a child of my own, but God has made our paths cross, and I promise to raise you boys like my own children. One afternoon, 3 years after, as Naomi was driving home from picking the twins from school, she stopped in the middle of the street.
It was the same spot where she had first seen Anita and the twins. She paused, her eyes focused on that place where she once stood with them, watching the traffic go by. One of the twins sitting in the back seat tapped her. “Mom,” it was James’s voice. “What are you staring at?” he asked in his soft little voice.
Naomi smiled warmly, touching his cheeks. My boy, she said, this was the street that brought you wonderful boys to me, she said, tickling him. Then she drove off. Evil may succeed for a while, but truth will always win in the end. Be kind, but never let love make you blind to people’s true intentions.
God always fights for the innocent, even when everyone turns against them. What would you have done if you were Naomi? Should Naomi have sent the twins to an orphanage after all their mother did to her? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section. If this story touched your heart, please like this video, share it with your friends and family, and don’t forget to subscribe to this channel for more emotional, amazing stories that touch the heart and teach real life lessons.
