Pretend I'm Your's

Chapter 12 The Last Move

We got the letter on Tuesday.

*HIGH COURT OF THE FCT*

Okoro Holdings vs Cole Holdings & Adeyemi & Cole Events

Charges: Fraud, Misrepresentation, Damages: 500 Million Naira

Tunde read it twice. Then crumpled it.

“He’s desperate,” he said. “The land deal fell through. This is all he has left.”

My hands were shaking. “He had the contract. Signed. With dates.”

“I know,” Tunde said. He pulled me to the couch in our tiny office. “But we have the truth. And we have each other.”

Court Day

The courtroom was cold. Cameras outside.

David in a 3-piece suit. Smug. Chiamaka next to him, taking notes for the blogs.

Our lawyer was young. Tired. “The truth is on our side,” she whispered. “Just tell it.”

David’s lawyer went first.

“Your honor, this was a business transaction disguised as romance. Miss Adeyemi was paid to deceive investors. Here is the contract.”

He held it up. My signature. Tunde’s signature. 50,000,000.

The judge frowned.

Then it was Tunde’s turn.

He stood. No notes. Just him.

“Your honor, yes. We signed that contract,” he said. Clear. “We were scared. We were in business. We thought we could control love with rules and money.”

He looked at me.

“But we were wrong.”

He told them everything. The humiliation at the bridal fair. The kiss at the gala. The night of the storm. The real proposal. Walking away from the land deal.

“Fraud is lying for gain,” Tunde said. “We lost everything for telling the truth. So no, this is not fraud. These are two people who made a mistake... and chose to fix it.”

The room was quiet.

Then it was my turn.

I stood. Knees shaking.

“I signed that paper because I was broke and proud,” I said. “And I was tired of being the girl who got left behind.”

I looked at David. “You taught me that love could be used against me.”

I looked at Tunde. “He taught me it couldn’t.”

“I’m not proud of how we started,” I said. “But I am proud of how we’re finishing. No contract. No payment. Just us. Building something real.”

I sat down. My heart was pounding out of my chest.

The Verdict

The judge was quiet for a long time.

“Fraud requires intent to deceive for financial gain,” she said finally. “From the evidence and testimony, it is clear the financial gain was lost. What remains is... a relationship.”

She banged the gavel.

“Case dismissed. No damages awarded.”

Gasps.

David stood up so fast his chair fell. “This is ridiculous!”

“Next case,” the bailiff said.

Outside, reporters swarmed.

Tunde grabbed my hand and pulled me through them.

“Are you okay?” he asked in the car.

I nodded. Crying and laughing. “We won.”

“No,” he said. He wiped my tears with his thumb. “We survived.”

One Month Later

*ADEYEMI & COLE EVENTS* had 4 weddings booked.

Small. Real. Paid in installments.

We were in the office, eating meatpie from downstairs.

Nneka burst in. “Oga! Madam! You’re trending again!”

“Bad or good?” I asked.

She turned her phone.

Video: Tunde and I, dancing at the last wedding. No choreography. Just us. Laughing.

Caption: _“They started with a lie. They stayed for love. #RealCouple” _

Comments: _“I’m crying.” “This is what I want.” “Forget David.” _

Tunde looked at me. “What do you think?”

“I think,” I said, “Rule 6 is officially broken.”

_Rule 6: No falling._

He grinned. Pulled me into his lap. “Good. Because I fell months ago.”

He kissed me. Slow. Sure. No cameras. No contract.

Just us.

My phone buzzed. Amaka: _So... when’s the REAL wedding?_

Tunde heard me read it. He leaned his forehead to mine.

“Whenever you’re ready, Zara. No rush. No contract. Just ask.”

I smiled. “Soon.”

Outside, Abuja was a golden hour.

Inside, we were finally home.