You dated again, got married, ignored every tradition, and now her family's furious because you didn't show respect. They've basically confiscated your wife, and you're here to recruit us to fix your mistake?"
Her bluntness hit harder than she realized. Every word landed like a slap.
Chibuzor gave a small, sheepish nod, a rare crack in his icy composure. "That's… about right."
The room exploded.
Voices overlapped, disbelief, scolding, sighs of exasperation, all merging into one storm of family outrage. Even Chukwudubem, who usually found everything amusing, was too stunned to laugh.
Then, all at once, the Old Madam rose.
Her cane struck the floor with a sharp thud as she marched up to him. Before he could brace himself, her hand landed squarely on his shoulder, not out of affection, but as punishment. "You're lucky they didn't throw you out!" she snapped, her eyes blazing. "If it were me, I would have tossed you both before you even opened your mouths!"
"Grandma, you—"
