“Mama, did you say you have not seen Chida for over three years?” he asked quietly.
Mrs. Madara let out a deep sigh.
“My son,” she began slowly, her voice filled with sadness, “I don’t know what happened to your sister. She changed after her marriage.”
She paused, shaking her head gently.
“She has not come to see me for more than three years now,” she continued. “They even moved out of their former house, and she did not tell me.”
Okon’s brows tightened.
“It was when I went there myself to check on them that I found out they had already left,” she added softly.
Okon breathed out slowly.
“Hmm,” he murmured.
Then he spoke again.
“The reason I asked is because two years ago, I was sending her money to build a modern house,” he said, “on a piece of land I also sent her money to buy for me.”
Mrs. Madara turned to look at him, confused.
Okon brought out his phone. He opened his gallery and began scrolling.
“These are the pictures she was sending to me,” he said.
He showed her image after image, from the foundation to the rising walls to the roofing, until the building looked complete.
Mrs. Madara stared at the screen, her eyes wide.
“This…” she whispered.
Okon swallowed.
“I was on my way to that house yesterday when I saw you,” he said. “I believed you were already living there.”
Silence filled the car.
Then suddenly, Mrs. Madara broke down in tears.
“What happened to my daughter?” she cried. “How did the child I carried for nine months become so heartless toward her own mother?”
Her voice shook deeply.
“All these years, I believed you were the one suffering,” she continued. “I’ve been crying to God to bless my children.”
Tears rolled freely down her face.
“I did not know God had already answered my prayers,” she said.
Okon moved closer and held her gently.
“Mama, it’s okay,” he said softly. “It’s all over now.”
He held her hand firmly.
“I’m here now,” he added. “We are going to that place. I want to see what she did with the house I sent her money to build for you.”
The car moved forward again.
They drove for a long time, almost two hours.
Finally, they arrived at the location.
Okon stepped out of the car.
“Mama, please stay inside,” he said gently.
She nodded.
Okon looked around slowly. His eyes searched the area.
His face began to change.
He took a few steps forward, then stopped.
“This place…” he muttered under his breath.
He looked again, then again.
His heart began to beat faster.
“Is this not the land Chida bought?” he said quietly to himself.
But there was nothing there.
No building. No blocks. No sign of construction.
Just empty land covered with tall grasses.
Okon walked a little farther down the street, checking carefully. He looked at nearby houses and landmarks.
Everything matched.
This was the place.
He slowly brought out his phone again and dialed Chida’s number.
It rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
No answer.
His jaw tightened.
He stood still for a moment, then turned and walked back to the car.
He opened the door and sat beside his mother.
He let out a deep sigh.
“Mama,” he said slowly, “I don’t even know what to think right now.”
She looked at him with worried eyes.
“The land is empty,” he said. “There’s nothing there. No house. Nothing. Just grass.”
Mrs. Madara covered her mouth.
“My God!” she cried softly.
Okon gently held her shoulders.
“Mama, please don’t cry,” he said. “For your health, I don’t want your blood pressure to rise.”
She nodded slowly, trying to control herself.
“Hmm,” she murmured weakly as she wiped her tears.
Okon leaned back in his seat, his mind working fast.
Right there, he brought out his phone again and searched for a serviced apartment. Within minutes, he found a good one and made a reservation immediately.
“Mama, you will stay somewhere comfortable for now,” he said.
The driver started the car.
They drove to the apartment.
When they arrived, Okon stepped out and helped his mother inside.
The place was neat, quiet, and well arranged. Everything was already prepared. Food, a clean bed, running water, a peaceful space.
Okon turned to her.
“You will rest here,” he said gently. “Everything you need will be provided.”
Mrs. Madara looked around slowly.
Tears filled her eyes again, but this time they were softer.
“My son,” she said.
Okon held her hand.
“I am here now,” he said firmly.
But deep inside him, a storm was building.
Because now he knew one thing for sure.
This was no mistake.
Chida had something to answer for.
After many failed calls, Mr. Okon sat quietly in his hotel room.
He looked at his phone again.
Still nothing.
No reply to his messages. No call back.
Then he remembered that he had sent his sister money to register and set up her event planning business.
He shook his head slowly as an idea settled in his mind.
He placed the phone on the table and leaned back.
Then he had an idea on how to reach his sister.
A few weeks later, far away from the hotel in another part of Warri, Chida received a call in her office.
“Good afternoon, ma,” the caller said. “My boss wants to plan a big event. He was told you are the best person for the job.”
Chida sat up with interest.
“A big event?” she asked.
“Yes, ma. A very important one. He would like to meet you in person.”
“All right,” she said. “When and where?”
“There is a quiet restaurant in town. I will send you the address. He will meet you there this evening.”
Chida paused for a moment, then nodded to herself.
“Okay. I will be there,” she said.
That evening, Chida arrived at the restaurant.
It was calm and well arranged. Soft music played in the background.
She looked around and saw a man sitting at a table, dressed in a neat suit.
He stood up as she walked closer.
“Good evening, ma,” he said.
“Good evening,” Chida replied as she sat down.
“My boss will be joining us shortly,” the man said.
Chida nodded.
“All right. Let’s wait.”
They exchanged a few words about the supposed event, but after a short while, the man’s phone buzzed.
He looked at it and stood up.
“Excuse me, ma. I will be back,” he said.
“Okay,” Chida replied.
He walked away.
Chida sat alone at the table.
A few seconds passed.
Then she felt a presence behind her.
A voice spoke.
“Good evening, Chida.”
Her body froze.
That voice.
Slowly, she turned.
Her eyes met his.
Okon.
He stood there, looking straight at her.
Chida could not move. Her heart began to beat fast.
“Brother,” she said, her voice low and unsure.
Okon pulled out a chair and sat down calmly.
“Yes,” he said.
Chida looked around, confused.
Then it hit her.
It was a setup.
Okon leaned slightly forward.
“You refused to answer my calls,” he said.
Chida looked down.
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