But before they could even celebrate, another mountain appeared on the horizon, college.
And this time, Olaedo knew the truth she couldn't run from: it was impossible.
She had already made up her mind. School was over. It was time to face reality, to build something, to work, to help her family survive.
But convincing her mother? That was a different kind of test.
That night, after dinner, when her brothers had gone off to do their homework, she took a deep breath and called softly, "Mom, there's something I need to tell you."
Mrs. Anozie straightened in her chair, noticing the serious look on her daughter's face. "What is it, dear?"
Olaedo hesitated, her palms damp as she tried to steady her voice. "Mom… I don't want to go to university. I'd rather work for a year and start a company when I turn eighteen. That way, I can take care of the boys, and you. I'll make sure they all go to college."
Her mother's eyes widened in disbelief, anger flashing like lightning. "I disagree! That will never happen. We would never ask you to sacrifice your education for us."
"Mom, please," Olaedo said quickly, her tone firm but respectful. "You're not asking me to. This is my decision. I've thought about it for a long time."
But Mrs. Anozie's voice rose, sharp and trembling. "No! I won't allow it, Olaedo. Even if I have to crawl from one house to another, begging, take up a hundred side jobs, I will find a way. God will make a way. I don't want to hear this again, do you understand?"
She was shaking, half from exhaustion, half from fear. Education was everything to her, the one weapon she believed could free her children from the chains of poverty.
As a single mother raising four kids, she had given up her own dreams, working jobs she once thought were beneath her. To hear her eldest, the brightest of them all, say she wanted to quit… it broke something inside her.
The argument stretched on for weeks. Sometimes quiet. Sometimes fiery. At one point, Mrs. Anozie refused to speak to her at all, the silent treatment heavy enough to crush the air in their small home.
Normally, Olaedo would have apologized just to end it. But this time, she didn't bend. She couldn't.
Eventually, they reached a fragile compromise: Olaedo promised that once her company was stable, she would return to university.
---
Five years later
Life had changed, but not the way she imagined.
Olaedo's family was better now, at least compared to before. The boys were in school. There was food on the table, and her mother smiled more often. But deep inside, that ache of what if never went away.
She had never made it to college.
And now, sitting in a luxurious washroom with her phone clutched tightly in her hand, she was on the verge of signing something far worse, a fake marriage contract, just to survive another storm.
When her mother finally picked up, Olaedo's throat tightened.
"Mom?" Her voice came out softer than she intended. "How are you?"
The sound of her mother's warm, cheerful tone cracked her composure. "Yes, honey? I'm fine. Are you okay?"
For a moment, Olaedo almost broke. She swallowed hard and forced a small laugh. "Yes, Mom, I'm okay. It's good that you're fine too. Do you guys need anything? I can send more money if you do."
Mrs. Anozie sighed softly, shaking her head with a helpless smile. Olaedo had worked herself to the bone since starting her business, making sure they never lacked a thing.
"Dear, we're fine," she said warmly. "If there's anything we need, it's to see you. You haven't visited in over a week. I know you're busy, but we still need to know that you're eating well and sleeping as you should."
Olaedo smiled faintly, guilt brushing through her chest. "I know, Mom. Don't worry. There's… something I need to ask you."
Her tone was calm, but her heart was pounding. She knew she had already kept Chibuzor waiting too long.
Mrs. Anozie sensed the tension immediately. "Go on, dear. Ask."
Olaedo drew in a quiet breath. "Mom, I was having a discussion with a friend today, and she mentioned that someone she knows is considering marriage for practical reasons, not love. It made me wonder… do you think it's ever okay to marry someone purely for financial stability or as part of a mutual agreement, even if love isn't involved?"
There was a short silence on the line.
What kind of question is that? Mrs. Anozie frowned, her mother's instincts flaring. Who is this friend? Or is Olaedo trying to tell me something without saying it?
"Olaedo," she said slowly, "who is this friend of yours?"
Olaedo winced, glancing at her reflection in the mirror. She looked too composed for someone seconds away from losing her mind. "Mom, you don't know her," she replied quickly. "Could you please just answer the question?"
Mrs. Anozie exhaled, deciding to let the matter rest, for now. She would ask again when her daughter came home. "Alright, but we'll talk about this friend later. As for your question, marriage is meant to be a one time thing, till death do us part. That's why your friend needs to get it right from the start."
Her voice softened, growing thoughtful. "Financial stability is part of a healthy marriage, yes. But mutual understanding, that's even more important. It holds a home together longer than money or even romantic love in some cases."
Olaedo blinked, surprised. "Really? Why do you say that?"
"Because most marriages fail not from lack of love, but from lack of communication," her mother said gently. "People speak, but they don't communicate. And that's what builds trust, understanding, and real connection. It's what keeps respect alive, even when the feelings fade. A couple that communicates well can stand the test of time, no matter what comes."