Chapter 11: The Man They Chose For Ruth
1437 Words
The car finally entered Ugonoba shortly before midnight.
Vanessa looked through the window at the quiet village. Most of the houses were dark, and only a few lanterns shone outside the buildings. The familiar smell of firewood and damp earth filled the air.
She wrinkled her nose.
"I still don't understand how people can live in a place like this," she complained.
Mama Nosa turned towards her.
"Keep your voice down. We didn't come here to discuss the village. We came here because of Ruth."
Vanessa folded her arms.
"I just hope this plan works. I'm tired of seeing that girl around David."
"It will work," Mama Nosa replied confidently. "Ruth may be staying in a mansion today, but she is still the same girl I knew. I know what makes her weak."
The driver stopped near a small compound, and the two women stepped out.
An elderly woman sitting outside a neighbouring house recognized Mama Nosa.
"Mama Nosa? Na you be this? Wetin bring you come village this time of night?"
Mama Nosa forced a smile.
"We came to see somebody. We don't want to disturb anybody."
The woman looked at Vanessa, then back at Mama Nosa.
"Hmm. I hope say no be trouble una bring come."
"Trouble? Why would we bring trouble?" Mama Nosa answered quickly.
She grabbed Vanessa's arm and led her towards a narrow path.
Vanessa leaned closer to her mother.
"Who are we going to meet first?"
"The man I told you about," Mama Nosa whispered. "He has money, and he has been looking for a young wife. If we convince him that Ruth will make a suitable wife, he may help us get what we want."
Vanessa stopped walking.
"But does he even know Ruth?"
"He knows of her. Many people in this village know her story. We only need to make him believe she will agree."
"And if she refuses?"
Mama Nosa gave her a cold look.
"That is why we must make the arrangement before she hears about it."
They continued walking until they reached a large compound with a high gate. Mama Nosa knocked several times.
After a while, a young man opened the gate and recognized her.
"Good evening, Mama Nosa. You no tell us say you dey come."
"We had something important to discuss with Chief," she replied. "Is he inside?"
The young man nodded and allowed them in.
A few minutes later, they were sitting in a spacious sitting room opposite an elderly, wealthy man. Mama Nosa explained that they had come to discuss a possible marriage arrangement involving Ruth.
The man listened carefully.
"Ruth? The same Ruth wey leave this village some months ago?"
"Yes, Chief," Mama Nosa answered. "She is living and working in Benin now."
The man leaned back in his chair.
"I hear say the girl don start working for a rich man. Why she go leave that kind opportunity come marry me?"
Vanessa quickly joined the conversation.
"Because she is still a village girl, Chief. She may be living in a fine house now, but she hasn't forgotten where she came from. If the right people speak to her, she may listen."
The man looked at Vanessa with suspicion.
"And why are you people interested in her marriage?"
Mama Nosa exchanged a quick glance with her daughter.
"We only want what is best for her," she said.
The man chuckled.
"If na wetin good for her una want, make una ask her first. I no want woman wey go enter my house by force."
Mama Nosa forced another smile.
"Of course, Chief. We will speak to her. We only came to find out if you were still interested."
The man nodded slowly.
"I am interested in getting married, but I will not pay anybody to force a woman to marry me. If Ruth agrees to meet me, we can talk. If she refuses, that is the end of it."
Vanessa's smile faded.
They had expected the man to be more willing to help them.
Mama Nosa quickly stood.
"We understand, Chief. We will speak to her and get back to you."
As they left the compound, Vanessa grabbed her mother's hand.
"How can you say this plan will work when the man himself refuses to force her?"
Mama Nosa looked annoyed.
"Did you expect him to announce that he wanted a wife who would hate him? We have only started. We will find another way to make Ruth listen."
Vanessa shook her head.
"You better make sure of that. I won't allow Ruth to take David from me."
Mama Nosa said nothing. Her mind was already working on another way to put pressure on Ruth.
---
The following morning, Ruth woke up at the mansion without knowing what had happened in Ugonoba.
She bathed, dressed, and went downstairs for breakfast. Aunty Kate was already in the kitchen, giving instructions to the other maids.
"Ruth, after breakfast, go to Oga's study. He said he wants you to help arrange some documents."
"Okay, ma."
Ruth ate quickly and went to David's study.
David was seated behind his desk with his laptop open. Several files were spread across the table.
"Good morning, sir," Ruth greeted.
"Good morning. Come in."
She entered and stood beside the desk.
"I want you to look through these files and arrange them according to their dates. Don't worry if you don't understand everything. Ask me if you need help."
Ruth nodded eagerly.
"Yes, sir."
She began arranging the documents. Whenever she encountered something she did not understand, David explained it patiently.
For Ruth, every little lesson felt like another door opening.
After some time, David noticed that she was struggling to read a document on the laptop.
"Have you used a computer before you came here?"
"Not properly, sir. I only started learning recently."
"Then we'll have to give you more practice."
Ruth smiled.
"I will learn, sir. I don't want to remain ignorant."
David looked at her with quiet admiration.
"That's a good attitude."
For a brief moment, Ruth forgot her worries. She was beginning to believe that she could build a future for herself.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen and froze.
It was a call from Ugonoba.
She answered immediately.
"Hello?"
A familiar voice came through the phone.
"Ruth, how you dey? You don forget your village people?"
Ruth recognized the voice of an elderly woman from her village.
"No, ma. I haven't forgotten anybody. How is everybody?"
The woman hesitated.
"Your stepmother come village last night with one fine woman. I no know wetin dem come do, but dem enter Chief's compound late at night."
Ruth's smile disappeared.
"Mama Nosa came to Ugonoba?"
"Yes, my daughter. I think say you suppose know."
Ruth thanked the woman and ended the call.
David noticed the change in her expression.
"Ruth, what happened?"
She looked at him, worried.
"Sir, Mama Nosa went to Ugonoba last night with somebody. I don't know why she went there."
David closed his laptop.
"Did she contact you?"
"No, sir. Somebody from my village just called to tell me."
David thought for a moment.
"Don't panic. Let's find out why she went there before assuming the worst."
Ruth nodded, but her heart was beating faster.
She knew Mama Nosa too well to believe that the visit was harmless.
Back in Ugonoba, Vanessa and Mama Nosa were preparing to return to Benin. Their first attempt had not gone exactly as planned, but neither woman intended to give up.
Vanessa looked at her mother.
"If Ruth finds out what we're planning, she may refuse to come anywhere near us."
Mama Nosa picked up her handbag.
"Then we must make sure she hears about it from us first. And when she does, we will give her a reason to return to Ugonoba."
The two women left the compound, determined to continue their plan.
At the mansion, Ruth stood beside the window, looking out at the morning sky.
She had spent years trying to escape the life Mama Nosa had forced upon her. Now, just when she had begun to believe that her future could be different, her stepmother had appeared again.
Ruth turned towards David.
"Sir, I don't want to go back to that life."
David's expression became serious.
"You don't have to give up your future because someone from your past has returned."
Ruth held those words close to her heart.
But neither of them knew what Mama Nosa would do next.
And this time, her plan involved more than making Ruth suffer.
She wanted to decide Ruth's future for her.
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