ORNAMENTS✅

Chapter Twenty

Dasuki State, Nigeria
2022

It seemed like Zainab had been waiting for him to land in Dasuki. As soon as he started driving, her call came through. At first, he didn’t want to pick up, but then he thought maybe it was something important, since he hadn’t talked to her in a while.

"Thank God I reached you today. I'll go straight to the point—Umaimah is giving birth, and Asad is drunk. Nobody else is home.” Her Voice Cackled “I wanted to call Yazid, but I decided to try, maybe—just maybe—this time your number would be reachable..."

He didn’t wait to hear more and hung up, immediately steering the car toward the Yabo residence. Umaimah was giving birth at home, alone? There was a serious problem here, and unfortunately, he wasn’t a doctor.

He pulled up to the house, knocking down all the guards who tried to stop him then drugged them so they wouldn't be able to stand up. Zizi was there, and she led him to Asad’s apartment. But just as they reached her, Umaimah collapsed. He made sure to turn his face, avoiding the surveillance cameras.

The scene inside was horrific. Blood everywhere. Umaimah, drenched in it, was a mess. He handed the lifeless baby to Zizi, then scooped Umaimah into his arms and rushed to the car with Zizi following behind him.

He glanced at Asad one last time, giving him a ‘we’ll meet again’ look, then drove off.

Alhaji Yabo surveyed the bloodstained living room, the wasted form of Asad sprawled on the floor, and the foul stench in the air. It was clear Umaimah had given birth there, but the question was, where is she?

He kicked his son to rouse him, and Asad jolted awake, groaning and clutching his head. "What’s this smell?" Asad asked, still disoriented. His eyes scanned the room, trying to remember what happened. The realization hit him—Umaimah had given birth here.

"Where is your wife, Asad?" Alhaji Yabo demanded, his gaze never leaving his son. "Last time I checked, you were here since yesterday evening. WHERE IS YOUR WIFE AND CHILD?"

"I don’t know," Asad replied, sounding as clueless as he felt. He was still trying to piece together the events of the night before.

Alhaji Yabo’s expression darkened. "She’s been kidnapped," he muttered more to himself than to Asad. "Right under your useless, drunk body. When did you start drinking like this?"

He scanned the place again. "Who would come here and steal a mother and her child?" he wondered aloud, still struggling to understand the situation.

"I’m sorry, Baba," Asad said, his voice filled with guilt. "I passed out. I don’t know who came in or what happened."

---

Nabeel had instructed Zizi to leave, not wanting her involved, as he quietly sat and watched over Umaimah. She looked pale—nothing like the woman he had seen months ago with Asma. Speaking of Asma, he had been avoiding her since leaving Dasuki.

Now, he had more than enough reasons to take revenge on the Yabo family. He planned to take Umaimah, regardless of the circumstances and consequences. He pulled out his phone and dialed Asma’s number, but it went unanswered as he had expected. Looking at the lifeless baby next to him, he remembered the doctor’s words: She didn’t make it.

“She’s such a beautiful thing,” he muttered, despite his hatred for Asad. The combination of Umaimah and Asad’s genes—anyone could tell their daughter could have won a pageant today.

How would Umaimah react when she woke up to the news of her dead baby? Didn’t Asad want this child? So why had she delivered at home alone?

For now, Nabeel wasn’t planning on revealing Umaimah to anyone. He had a clear plan to bring Alhaji Yabo down. He wouldn’t rest until that was accomplished.