CHAPTER TEN
The following morning, Daniel arrived at the Williams mansion earlier than usual.
He had barely slept. His father's reaction to Robert Cole's name had troubled him, but it was Aisha he couldn't stop thinking about.
He remembered the way she had thanked him before entering her apartment.
It had been a small moment, yet it had stayed with him all night.
For the first time since their reunion, she had looked at him without anger.
He knew it didn't mean she had forgiven him, but it gave him a little hope.
When he entered the dining room, he found Vanessa sitting at the table with a cup of coffee.
"Good morning," she greeted him.
"Morning."
She studied his face.
"You look terrible."
"Thank you. That's exactly what every man wants to hear."
Vanessa laughed.
"You're welcome. Is it about Aisha?"
Daniel stopped walking.
"Why would you ask that?"
"Because you've been distracted since she returned to your life."
He pulled out a chair.
"I have a lot on my mind."
"Daniel, I've known you for years. You don't need to pretend with me."
He sighed.
"I don't know how to fix things with her."
Vanessa's expression softened.
"Perhaps you can't fix everything at once. Maybe you should start by being honest."
"I've been trying."
"Then keep trying. But remember that she's allowed to take her time."
Daniel looked at her gratefully.
"Thank you."
Vanessa smiled.
"Just don't expect me to keep giving you relationship advice for free."
He laughed for the first time that morning.
Meanwhile, Aisha sat in her office, staring at a message Daniel had sent her.
Daniel: Good morning. I hope you slept well. Please let me know when you get to work safely.
She smiled faintly before catching herself.
Why was she smiling at a simple message?
She placed her phone facedown and returned to work.
Ten minutes later, it rang again.
This time, it was her mother.
"Aisha, can you come home this evening?" Grace asked.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yes, darling. I just think we need to talk."
Aisha immediately remembered their conversation about Richard.
"Are you ready to tell me the truth?"
There was a long pause.
"I'm ready to tell you some things I should have told you years ago."
Aisha's heart quickened.
"I'll come after work."
When she arrived home that evening, she found Grace sitting on the sofa with the old photo album resting on the table.
Her mother looked nervous.
"Sit down, darling."
Aisha sat beside her.
Grace opened the album and removed a photograph from its protective sleeve.
It showed her standing beside Richard Williams. Unlike the picture Aisha had found online, this one had been taken indoors. Richard was looking at Grace with an expression so tender that Aisha immediately understood they had once shared something real.
"Mum, were you in love with him?"
Grace nodded.
"Very much."
Aisha swallowed.
"Then what happened?"
"His family never accepted me. They believed I wasn't suitable for him, and eventually, Richard began to doubt whether our relationship could survive the pressure."
"Did you break up?"
"Yes. But not because we stopped loving each other."
Grace's eyes filled with tears.
"Someone convinced him that I had betrayed him. I tried to explain, but he wouldn't listen."
Aisha felt anger rise inside her.
"Who did that?"
"Robert Cole."
The name sent a chill through her.
"Richard told us about him."
Grace looked surprised.
"You've spoken to Richard?"
"Not directly. Daniel has been helping me understand what's happening."
Grace closed her eyes briefly.
"I was afraid this would happen one day."
Aisha took her hand.
"Mum, what else are you hiding?"
Grace looked at her daughter, and for the first time, Aisha saw not only fear but deep regret.
"There is something important I need to tell you. Something about the time I left Richard."
Aisha leaned closer.
"What is it?"
Grace opened her mouth, but before she could speak, someone knocked loudly at the door.
Both women turned toward the entrance.
Aisha stood.
"Are you expecting anyone?"
Grace shook her head.
Aisha walked to the door and looked through the peephole.
A man stood outside, dressed in a dark jacket. He looked unfamiliar, but he held an envelope bearing her mother's name.
She opened the door cautiously.
"Can I help you?"
The man looked past her toward Grace.
"Is Grace Okafor here?"
"Who are you?"
He held out the envelope.
"Tell her the past has finally caught up with her."
Before Aisha could ask another question, he turned and walked away.
She shut the door and returned to the living room.
Grace was already standing.
The moment she saw the envelope, her face turned pale.
"Mum, what is this?"
Grace reached for it with trembling hands.
"I was hoping this day would never come."
Aisha watched her mother open the envelope.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
Grace read the message silently, then sank onto the sofa.
Aisha grabbed the paper.
The message contained only one sentence.
I KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED SIX YEARS AGO, AND SOON YOUR DAUGHTER WILL KNOW TOO.
Aisha stared at the words.
Six years ago.
The exact same year she and Daniel had separated.
She slowly looked at her mother.
"Mum, what happened six years ago?"
Grace's eyes filled with tears.
And this time, Aisha knew her mother could no longer hide the truth.