MUMMY'S LOVE

chapter 6

Emmanuel’s girlfriend asked him for money, and honestly, he had no idea what to do. So, he went to Joy—his baby mama—for help. “I need some cash,” he told her. But Joy just looked at him and said, “I gave you money two days ago. What happened to it?” Emmanuel shrugged. “I’ve already used it.”

Every time Emmanuel asked Joy for money and she refused, he’d threaten to leave her. Joy was scared. She worried about her age and wondered if she’d ever find another man like him, so she’d usually give in. But not this time.

That day, Joy really didn’t have any money. She was building a house for her dad back in the village, and every penny she had was tied up in the project. Emmanuel didn’t care—he yelled at her and threatened to walk out.

Joy couldn’t take it. She went inside and started crying. Emmanuel stormed out, pretending to be furious. Then, he met up with some guys outside and started plotting. “Let’s kidnap her and get some money out of her,” he suggested. He promised them a cut, and the guys seemed ready to go along with it.

They planned to grab Joy when she left the house that morning. Emmanuel was on the phone, setting things up. Meanwhile, Chioma—the housemaid—was sweeping and mopping, but she overheard everything. She heard Emmanuel say, “As soon as she steps outside, pick her up and take her away. Don’t let her go until she pays.”

Chioma panicked. She begged her boss not to leave the house. “Madam, please, don’t go out today. I’m begging you.” But Joy was annoyed. She told Chioma, “I have an important meeting this morning. Don’t bother me.”

Chioma wouldn’t stop. “Madam, please, listen to me. Don’t go out. I know what I’m saying.”

Joy snapped, “What’s wrong with you, Chioma? If I miss this meeting, you’ll lose your job.”

Chioma looked her in the eye. “It’s better for me to lose my job than for you to lose your life.”

Joy just stared at her. “What do you mean?” she asked.

They argued for a long time. In the end, Joy stayed home.

Emmanuel’s crew waited for hours, but Joy never came out. They called Emmanuel, confused. “Your madam hasn’t left the house. Are you sure she went out?” Emmanuel checked the time—it was already 11:00 a.m., and she was supposed to leave at 8:00. He told the guys it was over and sent them home.

Chioma never told Joy what she’d overheard. She figured her boss wouldn’t believe her anyway, no matter how hard she tried to explain.

Emmanuel ran out of options. Next, he thought about kidnapping his own daughter with Joy. But Chioma got to Amaka first. She picked her up from school and took her to her own house, where her sister lived. Amaka stayed there for two days. Emmanuel’s plan fell apart, and eventually, Amaka returned home to her mom.

Meanwhile, Joy’s father was getting old. She decided to bring him to live with her in the city. The first day he moved in, he took one look at Emmanuel and pulled Joy aside. “Who’s that young man? He looks like trouble.”

“Daddy, stop. That’s my man. I care about him,” Joy replied.

Her father shook his head. “No, Joy, this guy isn’t right for you. He’s just here to take what he can and leave. There are better men out there.”

Joy rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, Daddy. Emmanuel’s a good guy.” Whenever Joy’s dad was around, Emmanuel acted sweet—like the perfect boyfriend. But he never worked. He just spent the money Joy gave him, wasted it on other women, and always came back begging for more.

One evening, Joy came home from work. Emmanuel greeted her, and they all sat in the living room. As soon as Joy’s father came downstairs, Emmanuel jumped up and rushed upstairs.

Joy’s dad pulled her aside. “You see? That man is a criminal. Why does he run away whenever he sees me? I don’t trust him.”

Joy just shook her head. “Leave him alone, Daddy. He’s fine.”

Life went on. Then one night, Joy’s dad got up and caught Emmanuel sneaking into the house with another woman. He stopped them, called Joy, and she was furious. She threatened to kick Emmanuel out. Later, Emmanuel apologized. Joy forgave him, and things went back to normal, but her father was shocked. He kept quiet after that, though. “Let whatever happens, happen,” he thought.

Amaka was bright—her grandfather adored her. “My only granddaughter! She’s beautiful, just like her mother,” he’d say. But Joy often made Amaka cry, calling her an unwanted child. Amaka never understood why her mother kept saying that; Joy never told her the real story.

Whenever Amaka asked about her dad, Joy would lie and say he died in an accident. One afternoon, Amaka came home from school and found her grandpa sitting outside.

“Grandpa, can you tell me about my dad?” she asked.

His grandfather asked, “Did your mom ever tell you about your dad?”

Amaka replied, “My mom always says he died in an accident.”

Her grandpa nodded. “She’s telling you the truth.”

He asked because he already knew the whole story how his daughter Joy ended up pregnant. It all happened because he and his wife didn’t give Joy enough love or protection. He blamed himself for how things turned out.