MY LIFE AS A STEPMOM🖤✅|COMPLETED

54-FIFTY FOUR💔

ASMAU

"Mummy, your birthday is next week, right?" Noorie asked, snapping me away from my thoughts.

It had been three days, and there was still no news about Iman or Ya Salma's whereabouts. Abubakar had hired some security for us around the house because he was concerned they might come to harm one of us. I wasn't really scared, but I was consumed by anger, mostly at myself for not realizing everything sooner. I also didn't know how I would react when I faced Ya Salma. She had caused so much trouble for us, and I had burning questions that needed answers.

Why did she do this to me?
Why did she join forces with Iman to bring me down?
What had I ever done to her to deserve her hatred? If it was because of Abubakar, I thought she was the one who had refused to marry him when she found out he had kids.

So, all this time she had been acting so nice to me, was it all just an act?

"Yes, baby, my birthday is next week. How did you remember?" I asked, surprised because, even as the birthday girl, I had almost forgotten about it with everything going on in my life.

"Why would I forget my Mummy's birthday?" She asked and sat down on my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck and resting her head on my chest.

"Awww, my baby," I cooed and placed a loving kiss on her forehead.

"Maamaa," Afeena pouted and scampered down from the couch where she sat with Safeeya. She toddled over to us.

"What's the matter, Afeena?" I asked as she tried to clamber onto the couch, managing it with some effort. Once up, she tugged at Noorie, attempting to pull her away from my lap.

"Afeena, let go," Noorie said, struggling to release from her grasp.

"Afeena, stop it," I scolded, my eyes wide in sternness.

"It seems like someone's jealous," Safeeya chimed in, teasingly.

Noorie, who was still on my lap, shifted slightly. Afeena took this as an invitation and settled down beside her, nestling her head on my chest.

"Are you feeling jealous, Afeena?" I asked, playfully tickling her.

She looked up at me, "Mama, Mama, Ya Noorie tayii sauka," she replied in her unique Hausa accent, her little face sporting an adorable pout. Ignoring Noorie's presence, she nudged her again.

"Afeena, I'm not going anywhere. You should get down," Noorie replied.

"Afeena, you're stirring up trouble," I warned.

"Mamaaaaa!!!" Afeena suddenly cried out, her voice echoing through the room. She began swatting Noorie with her small hands, but Noorie refrained from retaliating.

If I tell you Afeena is a bully believe me

"Aishaa!" I chided her, giving her a gentle tap on the arm. "Why are you being such a troublemaker!?"

Afeena paused her assault on Noorie and gazed at me bursting into tears.

"Be careful with me," I cautioned Afeena, pointing my finger at her in a playful warning.

"Feenaa, it's okay, come here," Safeeya called her, her voice soothing. Afeena rushed over to her, climbed onto her lap, and hugged her tightly, continuing to cry softly. Safeeya patted her back, trying to comfort her. "Hush, don't mind Mummy and Noorie," she said.

"Who touched my baby?" Abubakar's voice suddenly cut through the room. He emerged from his room, dressed in a jallabiya and wearing a tired expression. It was clear that he had probably been napping, given the stressful efforts to locate Iman and Ya Salma.