She Was Forced To Marry A Poor Village Farmer Unaware He Is The Richest Man Alive

Not pain.

Distance.

“I thought we already settled this,” she said. “I told you to act as if you never had me.”

“Blood is blood,” Mr. Obiora muttered.

“Blood did not matter when you stood in front of me and chose Kemi again.”

Kemi hissed. “Are you still holding on to that?”

“Still?” Chika repeated softly.

Kemi leaned forward. “Whatever happened, we are here now. You are rich. Your husband is rich. Help us and stop acting proud.”

Chika shook her head.

“No.”

Both of them stared.

“No?” her father repeated.

“No.”

Kemi stood suddenly. “This should have been my life!” She pointed around the room. “This marriage should have been mine. I should have married Obinna, not you. I am the one who deserves to be the wife of the richest man.”

And then Mr. Obiora made it worse.

“To be honest,” he said heavily, “that is what I wanted too in the end. I wanted Kemi to have the better match.”

Even now.

Even after everything.

He said it openly.

But this time the pain did not destroy Chika. She had grown past the place where their opinions could decide her worth.

Then Obinna entered.

He had heard enough.

He walked to Chika and stood beside her. Calm. Certain.

“I chose Chika,” he said. “I chose her then, and I choose her now. Nobody is taking her place.”

Kemi laughed bitterly. “That is because you do not know everything.”

“I know enough.”

Then, in one final attempt to wound Chika where she had always bled, Kemi said sharply, “She cannot even give you a child. No matter how much money you have or how much you defend her, she cannot give you an heir. I am still the better match.”

The room froze.

Chika went completely still.

And then Obinna said, “You are wrong.”

Everyone looked at him.

“There is something none of you know,” he continued.

He turned slightly toward Chika. “Years ago, before any of this, I met you.”

She frowned. “Met me?”

“Yes. You were still a teenager. I was going through one of the worst times of my life. My father was ill. Business was crushing me. I had stopped by the roadside near your school and I sat there too long, looking like my life was ending.”

A memory stirred.