nsion was unu

ss marble floors. No music playing in the background.

stood alone in

h sleepless nights. The chaos online had become impossible to contain - and the letter

now lay open i

ad it

I don't need the world. Just your name for our dau

ed into

he whi

d through his m

asn't his problem. That shutting the d

mera, a voice, and a face t

orld was

-

Close

foot of the stairs, arms

s happening in less than 24 hours. Bu

as nothing to lose," s

n quietly fro

harply. "Where

t answer r

this confrontat

ope you're not still playin

rl," Muna said softl

at her side, like sh

he di

her voice

away. Your name. Your protec

in. "No. I'm choos

flicker of something that looked lik

arned. "And when she does,

h. "I never ran t

anding alone in her designer he

-

untry

nference was aired on national

zed. Offices paused meetings. Lagos traffic ev

leek media hall downtown.

ed up to the podium, everyo

ked...

billionaire. Not the

t a

his throa

-

Conf

s and gentlemen. I wil

sions in my life - so

ace one th

zor. She was strong. Kind. She was not my wif

child t

me is

illed t

chose silence over responsibility. And that sil

er do it. A

ud of the ma

acknowledge

that Adanna Uzor is m

was dea

camera flashes and

raised h

ness. Not acceptance. This is not a

s abou

for once, I

-

erm

exploded wi

nna trende

es, interviews -

n't a rumo

was

-

na W

ed the press conferenc

mpletely silent

slowly towa

amn," she

didn'

sion was u

feel?" Zinny

nked. "I d

ed to the windo

oon breeze swept

this moment," she said. "

d. "It feel

led softly.

-

nvit

ening, an env

t from t

n't a

handw

ar A

lling, I woul

. No press

things I

ation is

e Ik

ared at t

lded it

eady," she

houlder. "You don't have to be. He

ought gray skies an

A bowl of cereal sat untouched in front of her. Zinny was watchi

meet him?" Zin

n't answer

so long. I practiced speeches in the mirror. Angry ones

. "It soften

handwriting was neat. Measured. Like someone

sound like in a private room. No c

lso knew

k into his world

meet, it would

-

age fr

hone

oice note

saw the press conference. I cried watching it, an

e after the speech. He didn't go out celebrating. He l

you meet him or not, just know -

d to the messa

mfort a girl she'd never m

blood. But

ped a

. No drivers. No housekeepers.

plied i

et me plan it. I wan

-

Grace Los

dark, in her priv

lass sat on the side table beside her. The TV was on

usband's mouth mo

ew tha

y lie it

e... it had

Grace whispered bitterly

was t

red her name. Even Amaka, her loyal assi

ow. The silence was a slap

number she hadn'

fi

own for solving "fam

ered, his vo

s the

he screen, paused

irl. But make it look lik

-

Me

ited at a small, rustic c

re and a tailor's shop - hidden

jeans. Her braids were pulled bac

una wa

stood

long moment - eyes locking, mi

aughed, almost s

c embrace. It wasn'

soft.

wn and orde

-

ou're My

red her i

my chin,

ebrow. "You have my

oth la

d tension that had

never talked about his past. He told me everything a

il I turned ten. My mom never spoke badly of him. She just.

wly. "He loved

yes narrow

't kno

ears. In a box marked 'Private.' And I saw how he looked a

't respond

did love her... he still chos

ss the table and

im. I just want you to know I see you. I

back the burn b

u," she w

-

akes H

nna and Zinny returned

n expected. They'd even taken a few picture

was watching from a black s

a

Wrote notes. Tra

ade a cal

r area. Easy target. You want

e was cold a

ion. Remind her what happens to gi

smi

der it

gos in shadows and f

old photos on her phone. Most were of her mother - laughing in th

he fan buzzed lazily overhead. It was the kind of quiet moment

danger had al

-

Brea

ont doorknob turned

dn't

was no

f the lock slidi

it at first. The fa

sharp as ev

ze mid-

the door?" s

ned. "Of co

ped her pe

door sw

the room, face shadowed by a cap. His eyes sca

't here

scre

y, but the man lunged forward, slamming the rod in

split inst

d a chair i

abbed the pepper spray she kept t

and sprayed wi

in pain, clut

. "He's not alone! I

didn'

tchen backdoor and sprinte

-

for Th

eets we

girls in pajamas running throu

ed on something sharp. "G

road," Adanna panted. "Whe

locks before finally reachi

nter. "Please! Please call the pol

a scarf wrapped around her h

said quickly. "Y

ran down the street towa

-

Afte

ed, the apartment had

the lingering smell of pepper

officer said, though hi

are. She wasn't

w what

a ro

ra

s a w

ed her scare

, it did th

somethin

-

ext M

at herself i

ot. Her hair a mess.

t want pi

anted

hone

u

to pick you. Pack your things. You're

a hes

n she r

t, I want to meet

-

to

was arrang

ree of them - Eze, Muna, and Adanna

she felt no fear. J

tood when sh

he looked te

s mouth, the

both a nod and

across from

nally

pect you to

t," she

nod

ward in private. I ignored your mother. I erased you. And

didn'

you want

quickly. "I want

head. "Then g

exh

- threatened to ruin everything if I claimed you. He said no daughter outsid

jaw. "So I was you

n't de

ched you rise, I felt pride and shame. You di

"I don't need your emp

he world knows who you are - not fo

silence fo

o help? Then make sure your w

arpened. "D

proof. I know fear when I see it. And

dded

le Grace.

-

e's

Grace receiv

d. No stamp.

mply

ill burn every bridge I built for you. Starting with

my da

I will no

and tore the

was t

losing e

en the staff - stoo

-

Begi

return to the

tment downtown. Quiet. Safe. Paid

offers starte

Endorsements

- but because she was Adanna Uzor - the

ose ca

ained g

whispered her mothe

, mama. They