Chapter 12 - THE DAUGHTER NOBODY WANTEDMaryjane sat beside her baby's incubator, watching the tiny girl sleep.
She had decided to name her Ada.
The name meant something precious to her.
For the first time since entering Chief Benedict's mansion, Maryjane wasn't thinking about jewelry, expensive cars, or inheritance.
She was thinking about how to keep her daughter safe.
Ada had been born early and needed extra hospital care, but the doctors were cautiously optimistic.
Every day, Maryjane visited the nursery and spoke softly to her.
"Hello, my beautiful girl."
Sometimes the baby opened her eyes.
Other times she slept peacefully.
Maryjane would sit beside her and imagine the future.
She imagined teaching Ada to walk.
Watching her start school.
Buying her first birthday cake.
Holding her hand when she was frightened.
And then she remembered Benedict's reaction.
A girl?
The disgust in his voice haunted her.
Maryjane wiped a tear away.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart."
She leaned closer.
"I thought I needed a rich man to give you a good life. But I brought you into a home where love depended on who you were born to be."
A nurse approached.
"Mrs. Benedict, you have a visitor."
Maryjane looked up.
"Who?"
"Miss Rita."
Maryjane was surprised.
Rita entered carrying a small bag.
"Hello."
Maryjane sat upright.
"Rita."
Rita placed the bag on a chair.
"My mother bought a few things for Ada."
Maryjane opened it.
Inside were soft blankets, baby clothes, and a tiny knitted hat.
She began crying.
"Why would your mother do this?"
Rita pulled up a chair.
"Because Ada hasn't done anything wrong."
Maryjane covered her face.
"I don't deserve your kindness."
Rita looked at her.
"I'm not here because you've earned forgiveness."
Maryjane lowered her hands.
"I'm here because your daughter needs people who care about her."
Maryjane nodded.
For a while, they watched Ada sleeping.
Then Maryjane spoke.
"Rita, I owe you an apology."
"You've already apologized."
"Not properly."
She turned toward Rita.
"I humiliated you because I was afraid you would take away the life I thought I'd finally secured. I insulted your mother because I wanted to believe I was better than her."
Rita listened quietly.
"I had no right to strike you."
"No," Rita said. "You didn't."
"I was wrong."
Rita looked down.
For weeks, she had imagined hearing those words.
Now that they had come, she didn't feel the satisfaction she expected.
She simply felt tired.
"Maryjane, I need time."
"I understand."
"And I won't accept you treating me or my mother that way again."
"You have my word."
Rita looked toward Ada.
"Then start by becoming the kind of mother who would never let someone treat her daughter the way you treated me."
Maryjane began crying again.
"I will."
A few days later, the hospital arranged the necessary procedures for determining Ada's parentage after Maryjane disclosed the uncertainty.
With appropriate legal consent and professional guidance, testing was organized.
Maryjane informed Daniel.
He agreed to cooperate.
Chief Benedict's lawyer was also notified.
Benedict sent a curt response.
He wanted proof before discussing any responsibility.
Maryjane read the message and placed her phone aside.
For the first time, she realized she no longer wanted to return to his mansion.
Even if he turned out to be Ada's biological father, she couldn't raise her daughter in a home where being female was treated as a disappointment.
Meanwhile, Rita brought Amanda's legal documents to Barrister Adebayo.
The lawyer examined them with growing interest.
"This is significant."
Rita leaned forward.
"Does it mean Amanda is wealthy?"
"It means she may have a valuable inheritance claim. We need the original agreements, probate records, company filings, and evidence of what happened after her father's death."
"Can you help?"
"Yes, if Amanda wants us to pursue it."
Rita nodded.
"She deserves to know."
The lawyer studied the papers again.
"Rita, did your father know Amanda's family?"
"I think so."
"Then we need to find out why he never told her mother about the ownership interest."
Rita swallowed.
She had suspected her father could be cruel.
But discovering that he might have taken advantage of a widow and her child made her feel ashamed.
Still, Barrister Adebayo's next words gave her courage.
"Rita, you are not responsible for what your father did."
Rita looked up.
"But I benefited from his money."
"Then what matters now is how you respond to what you've learned."
That evening, Rita visited Ngozika's roadside shop.
The older woman was surprised to see her.
"Rita! My daughter, welcome."
Rita embraced her.
"Mama Amanda, there's something important we need to discuss."
Ngozika offered her a stool.
"What happened? Is Amanda okay?"
"She's safe."
Ngozika sighed with relief.
"Thank God."
Rita took out a photograph of Emmanuel Okorie.
"Do you recognize this man?"
Ngozika stared at the picture.
Then her hands began trembling.
"Where did you get this?"
"From an old company record."
Ngozika touched the photograph.
Tears filled her eyes.
"This is my husband."
Rita swallowed.
"Mama Amanda, did he ever tell you about his business partnership with Chief Benedict?"
Ngozika's face changed.
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
"He told me they were building something that would secure Amanda's future."
Rita leaned forward.
"Do you have any papers from that time?"
Ngozika became quiet.
Then she slowly stood.
"Follow me."
She led Rita into the small room behind her shop.
Beneath an old bed was a metal trunk.
Ngozika knelt and opened it.
Inside were photographs, faded clothes, certificates, and letters wrapped in plastic.
She searched carefully.
Then she lifted a brown envelope.
"My husband told me never to throw this away."
Rita took it.
"What is it?"
Ngozika wiped her eyes.
"I don't know. I never understood the papers."
Rita opened the envelope.
Inside was an original share agreement bearing Emmanuel's signature.
Beneath it lay a handwritten letter.
Rita unfolded the page.
May you like
The first sentence made her heart pound.
If anything happens to me, Ngozika, do not trust Benedict with our daughter's inheritance.
Related Stories
