The 10 Million Naira Wife

Chapter 8: The Weakness

MAMA 💙`

The name on my phone screen was a grenade.

Khalil stared at it. For the first time since I met him, The Shark looked... off-balance.

"Answer it," he said again, voice rougher.

I swiped. "Mama?" My voice cracked. I was sitting on his bed. He was standing over me, unbuckling his belt.

"Zara, baby!" Her voice was weak but warm. Chemo had stolen her strength, not her light. "How's married life? Is he treating you like a queen?"

My eyes flicked to Khalil. He was watching me. His hand had stopped on his belt.

"He... yes, Mama," I lied. "He's very... attentive."

Khalil's eyebrow rose. Attentive. Sure.

"Good," Mama sighed. "Because I worry. I know you did this for me, for the hospital bills. I told you not to sell yourself, but..." She coughed. "You always were stubborn. Like your papa."

Papa. Dead 10 years. Cancer took him too.

Khalil went still. His face did something complicated.

"Don't worry about me, Mama," I said, blinking fast. "How's the treatment? Did Dr. Ayo—"

"It went well. But baby, the doctor said... they found another spot. On my liver."

The room tilted.

Another spot.

More money. More treatment. More time I didn't have.

I must have made a sound, because Khalil was suddenly kneeling in front of me. His hands, the same hands that were caging me seconds ago, were now on my knees. Steadying.

"Zara?" Mama's voice was sharp now. "What's wrong? Who's there with you?"

I couldn't speak.

"Zara's husband, ma," Khalil said.

My head snapped up. He took the phone from my limp fingers.

"Mrs...?" he prompted gently.

"Oladele," I whispered.

"Mrs. Oladele," he said into the phone, his voice nothing like The Shark I knew. It was... soft. "It's Khalil. Zara's husband. It's a pleasure to finally speak with you."

"Khalil!" Mama's voice brightened instantly. "Oh, my son! Zara told me so little. Is she eating? She forgets to eat when she codes."

Codes. Mama knew. She'd always known about Anon.

"She is now," Khalil said, eyes locked on mine. "I make sure of it. Daily."

A lie. But he said it like a vow.

"Good, good. Take care of my baby, Khalil. She's all I have left."

"I will, ma," he said. No hesitation. "You have my word."

He handed the phone back. I pressed it to my ear, shaking.

"Zara, he sounds like a good man," Mama whispered. "Maybe... maybe this marriage isn't just business, eh? Maybe God sent him."

God didn't send sharks, Mama.

"I love you," I choked out. "Get some rest. I'll call tomorrow."

"I love you too. And Zara? Thank you. For everything."

She hung up.

Silence.

I was still on his bed. He was still kneeling in front of me. The belt was forgotten.

"Another spot," I whispered. "The surgery... it won't be enough. I'll need... more."

"How much?" Khalil asked.

Flat. Business. The Shark was back.

"I don't know. Fifty? Maybe more. I have it, in NairaFlow, but if I liquidate now, the company—"

"I'll pay it."

I blinked. "What?"

"Your mother's treatment. All of it. Whatever it costs." He stood, towering over me again. "Consider it an advance on your ten million."

An advance. Not a gift. Never a gift with him.

"What's the catch?" I whispered.

His hand came up, cupped my jaw. His thumb brushed the tear I didn't know I'd shed.

"No catch," he said. "Just... the deal changes."

My heart stopped.

"You don't sleep in my bed because I force you," he said, voice low. "You sleep in my bed because you choose to. Because I'm the man paying for your mother's life. And you..." His eyes burned. "...you don't owe debts, Anon. You pay them."

He leaned down. His lips brushed my forehead. Not s****l. Almost... reverent.

"Sleep, Mrs. Adeyemi," he whispered against my skin. "We renegotiate in the morning."

He walked out. Left me alone. In his bed.

The door didn't lock this time.

But I was more trapped than ever.

Because Khal