Chapter 11 - A Mother Becomes the EnemyThe accusation spread before dawn.

By sunrise, Chioma was no longer the abandoned wife from the village.

She was a murder suspect.

Donald had released photographs of her arguing with Kelvin three years earlier.

He claimed Chioma had threatened his brother.

Then he produced a witness.

Ebere.

A video was broadcast online.

Ebere sat before a camera, crying.

“I saw Chioma arguing with Kelvin.”

Chioma stared at the screen.

“No.”

Ebere continued:

“She was angry. She said she would make him regret betraying her.”

Chioma nearly dropped the phone.

“She lied.”

Emeka looked at her.

“Yes.”

“But why?”

“Donald forced her.”

Chioma shook her head.

“She could have refused.”

“She is afraid.”

“She keeps choosing fear.”

Silence.

That sentence stayed in the room.

Then Chioma made a decision.

“I am going back.”

“To your mother?”

“Yes.”

Ebere was sitting alone in the parlor when Chioma entered.

She looked exhausted.

“Mama.”

Ebere looked up.

“I know why you came.”

“Did Donald threaten you?”

“Yes.”

“With what?”

“Dubem.”

Chioma froze.

“What happened to Dubem?”

“He disappeared last night.”

Her blood turned cold.

“What?”

“They took him.”

Ebere's voice broke.

“Donald said he would release him if I testified.”

Chioma clenched her fists.

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“Because I was told they would kill him.”

Chioma looked at the floor.

Then she noticed something.

Mud.

Fresh mud on her mother's shoes.

“Mama…”

“What?”

“You left the house last night.”

Ebere stared.

“Where did you go?”

“I…”

“Where?”

“I went to meet someone.”

“Who?”

Ebere looked toward the window.

“Donald.”

Chioma's eyes hardened.

“Why?”

“He gave me an ultimatum.”

“Which was?”

“Bring you to the old warehouse.”

Chioma went still.

“Why?”

“He said Dubem is there.”

Emeka entered.

“This is a trap.”

“I know.”

Chioma looked at him.

“But we have to go.”

“No.”

“My brother is there.”

“I'll get him.”

“You won't know where to look.”

Amaka stepped forward.

“We go together.”

That night, they drove toward the warehouse district.

The building was enormous.

Abandoned.

Dark.

They entered through a broken side door.

A voice echoed from the upper floor.

“Chioma.”

Donald.

She climbed the stairs.

At the top, she saw Dubem tied to a chair.

He was bruised but alive.

“Mama!” he shouted.

Ebere began crying.

Donald stood beside him.

“You came.”

Chioma looked around.

“Let him go.”

“You still don't understand.”

“What do you want?”

“The land.”

“You already forged the documents.”

“And I need the real signature.”

“You will never get it.”

Donald smiled.

“Then watch.”

He raised his gun toward Dubem.

Ebere screamed.

“No!”

Chioma stepped forward.

“Stop!”

Donald smiled.

“Sign.”

Chioma looked at the contract.

Then at her brother.

Then at Emeka.

Emeka shook his head.

“Don't.”

Donald cocked the gun.

Chioma picked up the pen.

She placed it on the paper.

Then she smiled.

“What?”

Donald frowned.

“You forgot something.”

“What?”

“This isn't the real contract.”

Donald froze.

Amaka held up her phone.

“We replaced it.”

The lights suddenly exploded on.

Police officers stormed the warehouse.

Donald turned.

“What?”

Amaka smiled.

“The entire conversation was recorded.”

Donald fired.

Chaos erupted.

Dubem fell sideways.

Emeka tackled Donald.

Chioma ran to her brother.

And just as she untied him, she heard a scream behind her.

Ebere.

Chioma turned.

Her mother was holding her chest.

Blood spread across her wrapper.

Donald had fired once before being restrained.

Ebere collapsed.

“Mama!”

Chioma caught her.

Ebere looked at her daughter.

“I am sorry.”

Then she whispered:

“Your father never died naturally.”

Chioma froze.

“What?”

Ebere struggled to breathe.

“Donald…”

Her eyes closed.

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Chioma screamed for help.

But her mother's final words had already opened another grave.