Diamond over gold

Title: Diamonds Over Gold

Genre: Romance | Drama | Comedy

By: lawal haleemah wuraola oyinkan

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Chapter One: Secrets and Snake Eyes

The problem with being the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Bello was that everyone expected Zara to be perfect.

Perfect smile. Perfect manners. Perfect grades.

But tonight? Zara Bello wanted nothing to do with perfection.

She slipped out through the back gate in her high-waisted jeans, crop top, and bucket hat pulled low. The compound's security light flickered as if unsure whether to expose her.

The streets of Ikeja buzzed with honking keke napeps, fried akara smells, and the heat of Lagos nightlife. Zara’s heart thudded not with fear—but freedom.

And because she was going to see Lenny.

Lenny with the smooth skin, golden chain, and caramel promises. Lenny who said things like “I don’t care if you’re rich—I love you for your spirit.”

He waited for her at the lounge—arms wide, cologne loud, a devil-may-care smirk on his lips.

"You came, my queen," he said, pulling her into a tight embrace.

Zara smiled. “You called. I answered.”

They sat, whispered, laughed. He made her feel seen—like she wasn’t a chess piece in her family’s plans.

But when he leaned in and whispered, “I need a little help, babe. Just 100k. A small investment. Trust me,” a tiny voice inside her flinched.

She pushed it down.

Trust was love, right?

She nodded. “I’ll send it tomorrow.”

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Zara returned home by midnight, tiptoeing up the stairs like a seasoned spy—until she opened her door and screamed.

Grandma Fola sat cross-legged on her bed like a witch in waiting.

"My dear," Grandma said, removing her glasses slowly, "do you think we were born yesterday?"

Zara froze. “I—I was with Amara.”

“Lies,” Grandma snapped. “Your lipstick is smudged, and your hair smells like small chops. You think I can’t smell puff-puff?”

Zara sighed and sat.

Grandma Fola’s voice softened. “Zara. Not every sweet tongue is sugar. Some men are mango trees with snakes curled in the branches.”

Zara rolled her eyes. “I’m not a baby, Grandma.”

But inside, something trembled.

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Chapter Two: The Husband I Didn't Order

The next morning, the Bello living room was too quiet. Zara stepped in and froze at the sight of a stranger seated on their velvet couch.

He was tall, in a crisp white kaftan, sipping tea like it was a weapon. His eyes glanced at her once—not impressed.

"Zara," her mother called sweetly. "Meet Azeem. He's here with his parents. You remember the Adekunles."

Zara stared. An arranged meeting?

She marched into the room, messy bun, socks mismatched on purpose.

"So," she said, plopping into the armchair. "You here to pick a wife like market fish?"

Azeem raised a brow. "I was hoping for catfish, but tilapia will do."

Her jaw dropped. And so the war began.

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Chapter Three: Enemy in the Guest Room

To make things worse, Azeem was staying with them for a month.

In three days, they’d argued over toothpaste, blender time, and who owned the last suya stick.

But Zara began to notice other things: how he helped her grandma with groceries, how he read old poetry books in the garden.

One evening, while trying to move a huge painting upstairs, she slipped. Azeem caught her before she hit the floor.

“Careful,” he said, looking at her like she wasn’t annoying for once.

And that was the first time her heart skipped.

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Chapter Four: Snake in the Garden

A text from Amara changed everything.

"Babe, Lenny's cheating. Proof attached."

Zara opened the video. Lenny. Kissing a girl in a club. The girl tagged him: *"My sugar baby 😘"

Zara's chest caved. Betrayal burned worse than pepper soup.

She went to confront him. Lenny didn’t even blink.

"You think you’re too good 'cause you're rich? I just used what I had."

Her silence said more than tears ever could.

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Chapter Five: Azeem's Fire

Zara sat under the baobab tree, crying.

Azeem joined her quietly.

“He was all I had,” she muttered.

Azeem took her hand. “No. You have yourself. And that’s more than enough."

They stayed there till night fell.

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Chapter Six: Dance in the Rain

Rain fell. Electricity went.

Zara and Azeem danced in the courtyard, soaked, laughing, unafraid.

He kissed her under the thunder.

It was sweet. Hot. Real.

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Chapter Seven: Love and Backlash

Their kiss reached her mother’s ears.

“You embarrass this family,” her mum hissed.

Zara ran to her room. Azeem came to her door.

“If you want me to leave, I will. But I meant every word.”

She didn’t open. But she cried behind the door.

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Chapter Eight: The Setup

Lenny returned with blackmail. Messages. Photos.

Zara panicked.

Azeem handled it. Set Lenny up with a fake job deal. Police got involved. Lenny was arrested for fraud.

Zara hugged him tightly. “Why do you keep saving me?”

He smiled. “Because I love you. Whether you believe it or not.”

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Chapter Nine: Her Choice

At her art exhibition, Azeem unveiled a rough painting of her titled *"Unmasked."

H