The House of Many Faces

The Return of Halima

Chapter Eight: The Return of Halima

The Adeyemi mansion was still reeling from Yasmin’s disgrace when the next bombshell dropped.

Halima was alive. And she wasn’t coming back quietly.

---

Solomon’s Shock

The call came at midnight. Solomon, still nursing the wounds of Yasmin’s betrayal, answered with a tired sigh.

"Sir," the voice on the line said, hesitant. "We found her."

Solomon straightened. "Where?"

"Abuja. But… there’s something else."

A pause.

"She’s pregnant, sir. And she’s talking to the press."

Solomon’s grip on his phone tightened. The room around him blurred as anger, fear, and disbelief crashed into him.

First the leaks about his affair. Then Yasmin’s treachery. Now, Halima—the woman he had tried to keep hidden—was about to become a public scandal.

He clenched his jaw.

"Where is she now?"

"At a secure location. But she’s being watched. She knows people are after her."

Solomon exhaled slowly. "Bring her to Lagos. Quietly. And make sure she’s safe."

"Understood, sir."

Solomon ended the call, his mind already calculating his next move.

This wasn’t just about damage control anymore.

This was about survival.

---

Adanna’s Next Move

Adanna had expected Solomon to be furious about Yasmin, but the news of Halima’s return changed everything.

Sitting in her study, she scrolled through her phone, reading the whispers circulating online. The news hadn’t broken fully, but there were already murmurs:

Who is Halima Hassan? Is she carrying the heir to the Adeyemi fortune?

Adanna tapped her nails against the desk, thinking.

A new child meant a new power struggle. If Halima gave birth to a son, Solomon would do everything to secure him. And if that happened, Adanna’s position—her children’s inheritance—would be at risk.

She picked up her phone and dialed Desmond.

"Find out everything about Halima. I need to know who she’s working with. What her weaknesses are."

Desmond hesitated. "Are you thinking of—"

Adanna smiled coldly. "Not yet. But I need options."

She ended the call, already planning her next move.

---

Teni’s Warning

Teni had expected drama, but Halima’s return complicated things.

She met with her lawyer the next morning, sipping espresso as they reviewed her financial security. "I need to make sure my assets are untouchable," she said.

The lawyer nodded. "Your accounts are secure. But Solomon could still rewrite his will."

Teni exhaled, eyes narrowing. "Then I need to make sure he won’t."

She pulled out her phone and dialed Solomon directly.

He answered on the second ring. "What do you want, Teni?"

"To help you," she said smoothly. "I know you’re bringing Halima back to Lagos. That’s a mistake."

There was silence. Then, "Why?"

Teni smirked. "Because she’s not the naive little girl you think she is. If you let her in, she’ll destroy you."

Solomon exhaled sharply. "You think I don’t know that?"

"Then handle it," Teni said, her voice low. "Before she handles you."

She ended the call, knowing she had planted the seed of doubt.

Now, she just had to wait.

---

Halima’s Arrival

By the time Halima arrived in Lagos, the city was already buzzing with rumors.

She stepped off the private jet with quiet confidence, her small baby bump barely visible beneath her designer dress.

A black SUV waited for her, and inside sat Solomon.

For a long moment, they simply stared at each other.

Then, Solomon spoke. "You’re putting me in a difficult position, Halima."

Halima smiled, her eyes sharp. "Good. Now you know how I felt."

She slid into the car, and as the door shut, one thing became clear.

Halima wasn’t here to beg.

She was here to win.

---