DECEPTION

Ch. 4: Secrets and Scandals.

December had arrived, and our household was abuzz with excitement as we prepared to celebrate Christmas before departing for Nigeria. My mother's pregnancy was progressing, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at her radiant glow. Despite being six months pregnant, she looked as youthful and vibrant as ever, and I found myself wishing I would age as gracefully as she did.

On Christmas afternoon, our home was transformed into a flurry of activity as my mother, Miss Faith, and our relatives worked together to decorate every nook and cranny. I excused myself to use the restroom, and my mother reminded me to be careful. Miss Faith offered to accompany me, and we made our way together. However, upon arriving, she mentioned needing to retrieve something from the fridge and left me alone for a moment.

As I finished using the restroom and prepared to return to the festivities, I stumbled upon a heated conversation coming from a nearby room. My heart racing, I cautiously approached the open door and peeked inside. To my dismay, I saw two men confronting my father, their voices raised in anger. One of them slammed a stack of papers onto the table, and I felt a surge of disappointment and confusion. One of the men was a colleague of my father's from the company he worked for, and I couldn't comprehend why they would treat him with such disrespect.

The scene before me was chaotic and unsettling, and I felt a sense of unease wash over me. I wondered what could have led to this confrontation and what the consequences might be. As I stood there, frozen in uncertainty, I knew I had to process what I had just witnessed and find a way to support my father through this challenging time.

Miss Faith's gaze fell upon me, and she said she had been searching for me. I hastily apologized, fabricating a reason for my absence, claiming I needed to retrieve something from my room. However, Miss Faith's keen intuition saw through my deception, and she realized I had witnessed the heated exchange between the men.

We returned downstairs, but my mind remained preoccupied with the confrontation I had just seen. Memories of a similar incident flooded my thoughts - the morning my father received a distressing call from work, which left him visibly upset. He had attempted to conceal his emotions from me, but I sensed his distress. He instructed a driver to take me to school, citing an urgent meeting, and promised to drive me himself another day.

Since then, I had been wondering what challenges my father faced, but I held onto the hope that everything would work out for the better someday. The recollection of that morning and the current confrontation only strengthened my resolve to support my father through these trying times.

That night, our home was filled with guests, but the celebration quickly turned into a confrontation. Everyone, including Miss Faith, stood against my father, their voices raised in anger. I overheard snippets of conversation - accusations that my father had done something that could damage the reputation of the company and lead to its downfall.

As the tension escalated, an article was uploaded about my father on the internet, and the room fell silent as everyone read the shocking news. My mother quickly ushered my siblings and me into our room, instructing the security to ensure our safety. As she left, I clung to her dress, seeking reassurance, but she forced a smile and departed.

Miss Faith, my mother, and my father retreated to a private room, their voices hushed but intense. Miss Faith's words cut deep, blaming my father for his stubbornness, claiming he had brought shame upon their family. My father, Mr. Wellington, stood firm, insisting he had no choice but to stand up for the truth, even if it meant tarnishing the company's reputation.

Miss Faith's anger boiled over, her words laced with venom.

"The truth you speak of, did you consider us? Our future? Why are you always so selfish?"