ORNAMENTS✅

Chapter Twenty Six.

Dasuki State, Nigeria.
2022.

Alhaji Yabo, upon hearing Asad's words, concluded that there was no choice. Nabeel had to die. A person of his status couldn't afford to be caught in drug dealings, and if Alhaji Yabo hadn't been certain before, he was now. He promptly instructed Bello to ensure that Nabeel was dead by the following day.

"Find that man, what was his name again?" he tried to recall the name of the man who introduced himself as Umaimah's biological father. "Bello." He finally stated after recalling.

Asad, though initially reluctant, now fully agreed with the decision. Nabeel had grown far too bold.

"Baba," Asad began, "I haven't heard anything about my baby. We can't sit idly right? Even if they claim Umaimah is theirs, what about the child? He's mine."

"Don't worry," Alhaji Yabo reassured him. "Even Umaimah is ours. Don't forget she's still your wife. But we need to take things step by step. I'll handle everything."

"Still my wife?" Asad mused inwardly. No one knew about the divorce, and even if the video and divorce note leaked, he'd claim they were fabricated. But first, he needed to silence Zizi and get her back on his side. He hadn't agreed with eliminating Nabeel at first, but now, it seemed necessary. He needed to act quickly, find Bello, and by God's grace, Nabeel would be gone by tomorrow.

But first, he had to contact Zizi. Since the scandal with Nabeel, she had been unusually quiet.

As Asad exited Alhaji Yabo's living room, he ran into Asma, who was standing nearby, visibly shivering and in tears. "Who is going to die?" she asked, having overheard their conversation.

"Oh, shit!" Asad muttered, laughing it off. "You wouldn't understand. These are just terms we use in the business world. What are you doing here? Why didn't you go inside?"

"Nothing," she replied, wiping her eyes as she walked in while Asad walked out.

Alhaji Shamaki sighed as he looked at Nabeel. His son had pulled off a stunt without consulting them, hoping to prevent further conflict between their families. He called Nabeel and Yazid into his living room to talk.

"Nabeel," he began, his voice heavy with disappointment, "you didn't have to do this. We're family. Let's face things together next time."

"Yes, Abba," Nabeel responded, his eyes cast downward.

"But there was no need for this," Alhaji Shamaki continued. "In the end, here she is, isn't she?"

"Yes, Abba. But now we've gotten her divorced from him, and he can't marry her again. Also, I found out from my mother about Alhaji Yabo's criminal activities," Nabeel paused.

"She told me everything before she passed away."

Alhaji Shamaki dismissed this with a sigh. "Forget about it. Don't get involved with that man."

"But Abba, you once gathered evidence against him. We could expose him again. Catch him, send him to prison," Nabeel pressed.

Alhaji Shamaki laughed softly. "Nabeel, abinda babba ya hango yaro ko ya hau kan dutse ba dole ya gani ba. Let things be as they are please, that was in the past. May your mother's soul rest in peace."

"Ameen," Nabeel replied, still torn by the unanswered questions about his mother's past. He hesitated, but finally, he turned to Yazid. "Please, I want to speak to Abba alone." Yazid nodded and exited the room.

"Abba, am I really the grandchild of a prostitute? Where's she? My mum must've had sisters. Why did she leave her hometown and come here with an adoptive mother and a false identity?"