THE TEST
770 Words
*Chapter 6: THE TEST*
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*Chapter 6: THE TEST*
The private wing of St. Nicholas smelled like antiseptic + money.
“Team Fight,” Amara Jr whispered, squeezing Chioma’s hand. Her IV line snaked into the bed.
Chioma forced a smile. “Team Fight always.” But her eyes were on Daniel. _I choose her_, she’d said. Now she had to prove it.
“Blood tests first,” Dr. Adebayo said. He was old, kind eyes, tired hands. “If blood type + tissue match, we do full compatibility. If not…” He didn’t finish. He didn’t need to.
A nurse led Chioma to a small room. Needle in. Blood drawn. 5 vials. Each one felt like she was giving away a piece of herself.
Daniel waited outside. No phone. No laptop. Just standing there. Hands in pockets. For a billionaire who owned buildings, he looked small.
“You didn’t have to come in,” he said when she came out. Cotton ball taped to her arm.
“Yes I did,” Chioma said. “Clause 2 is dead, remember? No more hiding.”
Before he could answer, heels clicked down the hall. Fast. Angry.
“Daniel Okoye. What is this I’m hearing?”
A woman. Tall. Designer dress. Red lips. Rage in her eyes. She looked like money + old grudges.
Daniel’s jaw tightened. “Victoria. What are you doing here?”
Victoria. The ex. The one staff whispered about. The one who left when Amara got sick. “Too much drama,” she’d said.
Victoria’s eyes slid to Chioma. Up and down. Like she was pricing cattle.
“So this is the nurse wife. The ₦50 million charity case.” She laughed. Cold. “You’re really going through with it? Giving your kidney to his sister’s mistake?”
Chioma stepped forward before Daniel could speak. Nurse mode off. Woman mode on.
“Mistake?” Chioma’s voice was quiet. Dangerous. “That 11-year-old girl in there is fighting dialysis 3 times a week. What were you fighting for when you left?”
Victoria flinched. Then recovered. Smiled sharp.
“I was fighting for my life. Something you’ll understand when the surgery goes wrong and you’re dead on Daniel’s conscience.” She turned to him. “You can’t buy love, Daniel. And you can’t buy a donor who actually loves the child. She’ll resent Amara Jr forever.”
Daniel moved between them. Finally. “Victoria, leave.”
“Or what?” Victoria tossed her hair. “You’ll have security drag me out? In front of your new wife?” She leaned close to Chioma. “He did this to me too, you know. Bought me gifts. Bought me silence. When I got tired, he let me go. He’ll let you go too. After he takes what he wants.”
The door to Room 12 opened. Amara Jr, wheeling her IV stand herself. Brave little fighter.
“Uncle D? Who’s the shouting lady?”
Silence.
Victoria’s face changed. For 1 second, something soft crossed it. Then the mask came back.
“No one, princess,” she said, voice suddenly sweet. Fake sweet. “Auntie Victoria just came to say hi.”
Amara Jr stared at her. Then at Chioma. Then took Chioma’s hand.
“Auntie Chioma is staying,” the girl announced. “We’re Team Fight. You’re not Team Fight.”
Victoria’s smile cracked. She looked at Daniel. “You chose her over me. Over your own family. I hope she’s worth it when she walks out after the surgery.”
She clicked away down the hall. Red dress. Red anger.
Dr. Adebayo came out then. Holding a folder. Face serious.
“Results are preliminary,” he said. “Blood type: match. Tissue type: 5 out of 6 markers match. That’s… extremely rare, Mrs. Okoye.”
Chioma’s knees went weak. It was real. She was the match.
Daniel didn’t look relieved. He looked terrified. He looked at Chioma like she was about to sign her death warrant.
“Final test tomorrow,” Dr. Adebayo said. “Crossmatch + psych eval. If you pass, surgery can be scheduled.”
Chioma nodded. Then looked at Amara Jr. The girl was drawing on a sketchpad. A picture: 3 stick figures. Labeled “Me. Uncle D. Auntie Chioma. Team Fight.”
Chioma bent down. Kissed the girl’s forehead.
“Tomorrow,” she whispered. “We fight.”
Daniel watched her. And for the first time, he didn’t look like a billionaire who bought a wife.
He looked like a man praying the woman he paid would choose to stay.
*End of Chapter 6*
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- Writer
