FAMILY EXPECTATIONS
1400 Words
Chapter 4: Family Expectations
Obinna's mother, Chief Mrs. Okoro, summoned him to her study.
"Obinna, it's time to settle down," she said, her voice firm. "I've selected suitable brides from reputable families."
Obinna's heart sank.
"Mother, I've already found someone," he said, hesitant.
Chief Mrs. Okoro's expression turned stern.
"Who is she?"
Obinna took a deep breath.
"Nneoma. She's kind, intelligent, and—"
"From a poor background, I presume?" Chief Mrs. Okoro interrupted. "Unacceptable, Obinna. Our family's legacy demands better."
Obinna's jaw clenched.
"I won't marry someone I don't love, Mother."
Chief Mrs. Okoro's eyes narrowed.
"You'll do what's best for this family, Obinna. Marry Adaku, the daughter of Senator Usman. She meets our standards."
Obinna felt trapped.
"I refuse, Mother."
Chief Mrs. Okoro's face turned cold.
"Then you'll face the consequences."
Obinna stood firm.
"I'll follow my heart, Mother."
Chief Mrs. Okoro's voice dripped with disdain.
"Fine. You'll regret this."
Obinna left the study, his heart heavy.
He knew he had to tell Nneoma about his mother's ultimatum.
But how?
---
Obinna's mother, Chief Mrs. Okoro, leaned forward, her eyes blazing.
"You'll do what's best for this family, Obinna," she said. "Marry Adaku, the daughter of Senator Usman. She meets our standards."
Obinna felt trapped.
"I refuse, Mother," he repeated.
Chief Mrs. Okoro's face turned cold.
"Then you'll face the consequences," she warned.
Obinna stood firm.
"I'll follow my heart, Mother," he said.
Chief Mrs. Okoro's expression turned ugly.
"Fine," she spat. "You'll regret this."
Obinna left the study, his heart heavy.
He knew he had to tell Nneoma about his mother's ultimatum.
But how?
As he walked into the living room, he saw Nneoma chatting with his younger brother, Ikenna.
Ikenna's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Obinna, what's going on?" he asked.
Obinna hesitated.
"I need to talk to Nneoma," he said.
Ikenna nodded and excused himself.
Obinna took a deep breath and told Nneoma about his mother's ultimatum.
Nneoma's eyes widened.
"You're not going to marry that Adaku, are you?" she asked.
Obinna's expression was resolute.
"Never," he said. "I'll follow my heart, not my mother's ambitions."
Nneoma's face softened.
"I trust you, Obinna," she said.
But little did they know, Adaku was watching them from afar.
Her eyes gleamed with determination.
"I'll get Obinna to marry me, no matter the cost," she vowed.
---
Adaku smiled sweetly as she listened to Chief Mrs. Okoro's plans.
"Marrying Obinna will secure our family's future," Chief Mrs. Okoro said.
But Adaku's thoughts were far from obedient.
"I'll use Obinna to bring down the Okoro empire," she thought.
Adaku's phone buzzed. Senator Usman's text flashed on the screen.
"Adaku, our plan is in motion. Ensure Obinna marries you."
Adaku's eyes gleamed.
"My dear senator, I'll make sure of it."
Meanwhile, Obinna confided in Nneoma about his mother's ultimatum.
Nneoma's expression turned determined.
"We won't let them control us," she said.
But Adaku's hidden agenda loomed, threatening to destroy their love.
---
Nneoma's eyes sparkled as Obinna shared his mother's ultimatum.
"We won't let them control us," she said.
But little did Obinna know, Nneoma held a secret.
"Nneoma, who are your parents?" Obinna asked.
Nneoma hesitated.
"I don't know," she said. "I was adopted."
Obinna's expression softened.
"You're still the same person I love," he said.
But Nneoma's past was about to catch up with her.
A mysterious letter arrived, addressed to Nneoma.
"Meet me at the old oak tree," it read. "Come alone."
Nneoma's heart raced.
Who could this be?
At the old oak tree, a regal woman awaited.
"Nneoma, you're the long-lost princess of the Azuka kingdom," she said.
Nneoma's eyes widened.
"What? That's impossible!"
The woman smiled.
"You're the rightful heir to the throne."
Nneoma's world turned upside down.
---
Ikenna listened intently as Obinna confided in him.
"Mother wants me to marry Adaku," Obinna said.
Ikenna's expression turned sympathetic.
"I'm with you, bro," he said.
But secretly, Ikenna was torn.
Adaku approached him later.
"Ikenna, I need your help," she whispered.
Ikenna hesitated.
"What do you need?"
Adaku's eyes gleamed.
"Convince Obinna to marry me. Your mother's legacy depends on it."
Ikenna's loyalty was tested.
Should he side with his brother or his family's legacy?
Ikenna made a decision.
"I'll do it," he said.
But at what cost?
---
Chief Mrs. Okoro's expression turned cold.
"Obinna, you'll marry Adaku, or face the consequences," she said.
But Obinna's defiance sparked a memory.
A secret Chief Mrs. Okoro had kept hidden for years.
A mistake that could destroy the Okoro family's legacy.
Flashback:
Chief Mrs. Okoro, once a young woman, had made a fatal error.
She had embezzled funds from the family business.
The consequences were catastrophic.
Many people lost their livelihoods.
Chief Mrs. Okoro's guilt consumed her.
She vowed to rebuild the family's reputation.
But at what cost?
Present:
Obinna stumbled upon an old ledger.
The truth about his mother's past mistake stared back at him.
"Mother, what have you done?" he whispered.
Chief Mrs. Okoro's eyes widened.
"Obinna, you don't understand."
Obinna's world crumbled.
His mother's actions had ruined lives.
Adaku's true intentions remained unknown.
But Obinna's focus shifted.
He would uncover the truth.
And make things right.
---
Obinna confronted his mother about her past mistake.
"Mother, how could you?" he asked.
Chief Mrs. Okoro's eyes dropped.
"I was desperate, Obinna. I did it for our family."
But Obinna's anger turned to shock.
"Mother, is there something else you're hiding?"
Chief Mrs. Okoro hesitated.
"Obinna, you have a sibling."
Obinna's eyes widened.
"What? Who?"
Chief Mrs. Okoro took a deep breath.
"Your father's illegitimate child. A daughter."
Obinna reeled.
"A sister? Where is she?"
Chief Mrs. Okoro's expression turned solemn.
"Adaku is your sister, Obinna."
Obinna's world crumbled.
The woman he was supposed to marry was his sister.
Adaku's true intentions remained unknown.
But Obinna's focus shifted.
He would protect his family's legacy.
And uncover the truth about Adaku.
---
Nneoma's royal revelation shook her core.
"You're the rightful heir to the Azuka kingdom," the regal woman said.
But Nneoma's joy was short-lived.
"A curse afflicts our family," the woman continued. "Any union with an outsider will bring destruction."
Nneoma's heart sank.
"Obinna... our love is doomed?"
The woman's expression turned solemn.
"Unless you can break the curse."
Nneoma's determination ignited.
"I'll find a way," she vowed.
Meanwhile, Obinna struggled with his own secrets.
Adaku's true identity as his sister weighed heavily.
But Nneoma's mysterious past intrigued him.
"What secrets do you hide, Nneoma?" he wondered.
As Obinna dug deeper, he uncovered a shocking truth.
Nneoma's family curse was linked to his own family's dark past.
Their love was the key to breaking the curse.
But at what cost?
---
Adaku's eyes gleamed with determination.
"I'll make Obinna marry me, no matter the cost," she vowed.
But what drove Adaku's relentless pursuit?
A tragic event from her past.
Her younger brother had died due to the Okoro family's negligence.
Adaku blamed Obinna's family for her brother's death.
Her marriage to Obinna would be revenge.
"I'll destroy the Okoro empire from within," she thought.
Meanwhile, Obinna struggled with his newfound sibling revelation.
How could he reconcile his feelings towards Adaku?
As Obinna dug deeper into Adaku's past, he discovered her motivation.
"Adaku, why do you hate my family so much?" he asked.
Adaku's expression turned cold.
"You killed my brother," she spat.
Obinna's eyes widened.
"What? That's not true!"
Adaku's tears flowed.
"My brother died because of your family's carelessness."
Obinna's heart ached.
He vowed to make things right.
But Adaku's pain ran deep.
Would she ever forgive?
---
Senator Usman's text to Adaku flashed on her phone.
"Adaku, our plan is in motion. Ensure Obinna marries you."
But what drove Senator Usman's interest in the Okoro family?
A hidden agenda.
Senator Usman sought to exploit the Okoro family's business empire.
He needed Adaku as a pawn to gain control.
Adaku's marriage to Obinna would secure Senator Usman's influence.
But Adaku's personal motivation complicated things.
Her desire for revenge against the Okoro family.
Senator Usman's true intentions remained unknown to Adaku.
He manipulated her emotions.
"Use your pain to fuel our plan," he whispered.
Meanwhile, Obinna uncovered Senator Usman's connection to Adaku.
"Adaku, what's your relationship with Senator Usman?" he asked.
Adaku hesitated.
"He's helping me achieve my goals," she said.
Obinna's eyes narrowed.
"What goals?"
Adaku's expression turned cold.
"You'll find out soon enough."
---
- Writer
