Chapter 11: Necklace of Betrayal

Actually, I no plan to collect Timi money.

Even my spirit no gree. No be so dem raise me. Marriage na marriage, no matter wetin happen.

Even if my marriage with Ifedike na just for name, I still get my own morals.

Na my pride dey save me.

But as I reach house, I see for TV say Ifedike spend ₦100 million to buy necklace for one popular actress.

As I see am, na so my hand begin shake. Na news wey fit give person stroke.

My hand dey shake as I dey watch news.

My chest tight. Na my own husband dem dey show, dey praise for generosity.

Ifedike only dey give me ₦20,000 every month, but fit spend ₦100 million for another woman.

E pain me. Inside my own marriage, na outsider dey chop better thing.

That night, for the first time, I wait for Ifedike for parlour.

I no off light. I just sit down, dey tap leg, dey count clock.

I want make he explain.

Na explanation I dey wait, nothing else.

2 a.m., he finally reach house, smell of another woman perfume full his body.

As he enter, na scent of big woman perfume hit my nose. I just bone.

He surprise as he see me. “Ifunanya, wetin you dey do here?”

His voice rough, eyes red. I no gree fear.

“I dey wait for you.”

He eyes shift. “For what?”

He dey avoid my face. Guilt dey worry am, but him pride strong.

I look am, steady. “You buy ₦100 million necklace for another person?”

I dey watch his reaction. Make I see if lie go follow mouth.

His face dark, mockery dey his eyes.

He no even try hide am. His words sharp like blade.

“Yes. ₦100 million. I don give am out. So? Na why you dey wait for me?”

If na another day, I for laugh. But this one cut deep.

My hand just dey tight.

I dey squeeze my wrapper, dey try hold myself.

“Why?”

He laugh. “Why not? Na just necklace. She be star, she no even need the money.”

He dey talk like say he buy bread for roadside.

“Ifunanya, abeg no tell me say na because I no give you the necklace you dey vex?”

His voice carry pride, eye full of scorn.

“You deserve am? You fit ever earn ₦100 million for your life? You just dey plan, dey find how to chop money.”

His words bite me like pepper for open wound.

He waka go upstairs. Before he go, he look me with pure contempt.

His eyes cold, like say I be nothing.

“I no believe say the first time you go wait for me after marriage na to ask about necklace.”

“Ifunanya, na exactly as I think you be.”

Those words dey ring for my head like bell. I fit no cry for small thing, but this one pass my power.

Truth be told, I no be person wey dey cry. Orphan life don make me strong.

But that night, I walk alone for street, tears no gree stop.

Na only God and street light see my tears. No one dey to hold me, no shoulder to lean on.

I carry the address Timi give me, go his place.

That moment, I no care again. I just need escape, anywhere better than house wey cold pass cemetery.

He shock as he see me.

He open door, eye wide. E no expect me for that kind night.

“₦100,000 no do. I no cheap like that. I want one million.”

I talk am straight. Shame no dey my eyes.

Timi no even blink. “Okay.”

He no ask question. Money no be problem.

“I want am now.”

“Send me your account. I go tell finance transfer am immediately.”

That one na big man. No time for long talk.