We need to figure this out.” “David, if you don’t go, she’ll know something’s wrong. She’ll come looking. She’ll His phone rang again. Same number. She never calls twice,” David said slowly. “Unless she already knows.” Amara looked around the lobby, at the hotel staff, at the guests. And then she saw her standing near the entrance in a cream colored designer suit, gold jewelry dripping from her neck. Chief Mrs.
Gloria Achebe staring directly at Amara. Her face was calm, pleasant, completely controlled, but her eyes her eyes were murderous. David,” Amara whispered. David followed her gaze, saw his mother. Gloria started walking toward them, each step deliberate, elegant, deadly. The twins pressed closer to their parents. “David, darling,” Gloria called out, her voice warm, and sweet for the audience around them. “I thought I’d find you here.
The gala preparations are behind schedule. We need you at the venue.” She stopped 3 ft away. Her eyes moved to the twins, to their faces, David’s face. Something flickered behind her mask just for a second. Then she smiled. And who are these adorable children? David stepped forward.
Don’t Don’t What, darling? I’m simply asking. These are my children, David said. Zara and Zion. They’re 5 years old and they exist because you lied to me. The mask didn’t slip. Not exactly. But something behind Gloria’s eyes went cold, calculating. David, I don’t know what this woman has told you, but she told me the truth. That you paid her to leave.
That you told her I didn’t want the baby. That you fabricated evidence to make me think she was a gold digger. Darling, that’s absurd. I would never. You would. You did. David’s voice was rising. People were staring. I have been mourning a woman I thought betrayed me for 6 years. I have been living 5 miles from my children for 5 years because of you.
Gloria’s smile never wavered, but her voice dropped low. Dangerous. Perhaps we should discuss this privately. Family business shouldn’t be aired in hotel lobbies. I’m not going anywhere with you, David said. I’m staying with my family. My real family. Gloria’s eyes moved to Amara. cold, hateful. You, she said softly. I told you to disappear.
I did, Amara replied. Her voice was steady. She was surprised by how steady. But you can’t make truth disappear forever. Gloria laughed. That same cold laugh from 6 years ago. You think this changes anything? You’re still nobody. A caterer. A single mother with debt and a falling apart car. David isn’t a ch.
