That evening, Precious sat in the kitchen beside her mother.
The warm light from the cooking fire flickered across the walls.
Her mother stirred a pot slowly.
"You like David," she said calmly.
Precious blushed slightly. "Yes."
Her mother smiled. "He is a good man."
"But?" Precious asked.
"There is always a 'but' in life," her mother replied softly.
She placed the wooden spoon aside and looked directly at her daughter.
"Love is not only about feelings. It is about responsibility." Precious nodded. "I know."
Her mother sighed.
"But your sister does not understand that yet."
Precious looked down.
"Kenty has always been different."
"Yes," her mother said.
"And different paths sometimes lead to dangerous places."
Outside, thunder rolled faintly across the distant sky.
PART III: THE FAMILY SECRET
Chapter 9
Sonko's Secret
(Perspective: Sonko)
Sonko walked down the dusty road away from the compound, his fists clenched tightly.
"Old man," he muttered angrily.
He kicked a stone across the road.
The humiliation burned inside him.
He pulled out his phone and called someone.
The call connected.
"I need money," he said bluntly.
A voice answered on the other end.
"You still owe us."
"I'll get it," Sonko snapped.
"How?"
Sonko looked back toward the compound walls in the distance.
"I know someone with a rich past," he said slowly.
"And families with rich pasts always have secrets."
Chapter 10
Under the Stars
(Narrated by David)
Night arrived quietly over the compound.
The sky stretched endlessly above us, filled with stars.
Precious and I sat beneath the neem tree again.
The tension from earlier still lingered in the air.
"I'm sorry about today," she said softly.
"You didn't do anything wrong," I replied.
She looked toward the house.
"My father worries about Kenty."
"And you?"
"I worry too."
The breeze moved gently through the branches above us.
After a long silence, I reached into my bag.
The small golden box rested inside.
My heart began to race.
Precious noticed.
"What is it?"
I opened the box slowly.
The ring glimmered under the starlight.
Her eyes widened.
"David…"
I took her hand.
"I know life is uncertain," I said quietly.
"But one thing I am certain about… is you."
Tears filled her eyes.
Before she could answer, a sudden shout came from the road outside the compound.
It was Kenty.
And she sounded terrified.