Uninvited love

The mother i have

Episode two

Narrator's pov

Night had fallen when Leslie boarded the plane to Nigeria.

Once she landed at the airport, she felt an unexpected sense of calm wash over her. For a brief moment, everything felt still. Since her assistant was still in Korea trying to manage the chaos surrounding her divorce, her fancy chauffeur was unavailable. So, for the first time in years, Leslie boarded a regular cab.

Already agitated by the thought of going home to answer endless, intrusive questions, she barely noticed how lost in thought she was until—

“Hiiink!”

The sharp blare of a horn jerked her back to reality.

Accustomed to her polished abroad lifestyle, she had momentarily forgotten where she was. She turned toward the window only to realize she was stuck in Lagos traffic.

Of course.

A wave of frustration washed over her. What did she expect? Taking a cab instead of waiting for her personal driver? Now she was trapped in unmoving traffic.

The heat was unbearable. Even the weak air conditioning in the poorly maintained vehicle did little to ease her discomfort. When she rolled down the window for air, street hustlers immediately crowded the car, shoving goods toward her face, shouting prices over one another.

“Ugh,” she muttered under her breath, overwhelmed.

Three long, excruciating hours later, she finally arrived at her family home.

But instead of peace, she was met with noise.

A crowd had gathered outside the house. Decorations hung across the gate. It looked like a celebration.

“What?” Leslie whispered in disbelief.

Then she saw the banner stretched boldly across the entrance:

OUR DAUGHTER HAS ESCAPED THE CLUTCHES OF THE WHITE MERMAN AND FINALLY RETURNED HOME.

Leslie froze.

Is that what Mommy has been telling everyone? she thought.

The driver stepped out to retrieve her luggage from the boot just as her mother rushed toward her with open arms, glowing with excitement.

“My daughter!” her mother exclaimed, wrapping her tightly in a hug.

Leslie didn’t hug her back.

Instead, she pulled away slightly and asked in a low voice, “Mommy… what is all this?”

Her mother beamed. “Oh, my child! It’s a celebration! You’ve come home from that useless marriage. I always knew it wouldn’t last.”

“Mommy!” Leslie snapped, her voice trembling. “Do you know that I am more heartbroken by your actions right now than by my ex-husband’s betrayal?”

The yard grew awkwardly quiet around them.

“I’m not in the mood for this,” Leslie continued. “Please pay the driver. Let the servants take my luggage upstairs. And kindly ask your friends to lower the noise. I need to sleep. Fifteen hours on a plane and three hours in traffic — I don’t have the strength for anything else.”

Her mother’s smile faded. Feeling unappreciated and embarrassed, she muttered sharply, “Well, it’s not me who told you to go and marry a gigolo, did I?”

The words struck like a slap.

Leslie felt something shatter inside her. Tears welled in her eyes as she stared at her mother in disbelief. It was then her mother realized she had crossed a line — deeply.

But before she could apologize, Leslie quickly wiped her tears, forced a smile onto her face, and turned toward the guests.

She greeted everyone politely.

She smiled.

She nodded.

Then she disappeared into the house.

Inside her room, she shut the door quietly behind her. She took off her coat. Slipped off her shoes. Removed her makeup with slow, mechanical movements.

Then she collapsed onto her bed.

And she cried.

She cried and cried and cried until exhaustion finally dragged her into sleep.