My Father Left My Mum Because She Gave Birth to Seven Girls

Part 13

The moment I stepped downstairs, my eyes met Doctor Dickson.

He was already seated at the dining table. Chioma was hovering around him, adjusting plates, making sure everything was perfect. Mum was doing the same. It looked peaceful. Too peaceful.

The moment Dickson saw me, something shifted in his eyes. It was as if he suddenly forgot how to speak. Maybe it was the tension from the police station earlier. Maybe it was everything that had happened.

Mum and Chioma followed his gaze.

Their eyes landed on me.

Shock.

I was fully dressed. Ready to step out.

Mum gave me that look. The one that said, “Not after everything I told you.”

I didn’t slow down. I was already heading toward the door when I spoke calmly.

“Welcome, Doctor Dickson. Do well to have a lovely evening ahead of you.”

He nodded slightly. “Thank you, Officer Chinelo.”

I was almost out when Mum’s voice stopped me.

“Are you not going to eat, nwa m?”

“Mum, this is no time for food. I need to sort things out.”

I heard Chioma say softly behind me, “Mum, please don’t get worried about Chinelo now. You know who she is.”

I didn’t stay to hear more.

Right now, my family was my priority.

If we had a man in this house, a father figure, even a brother, they would have been the ones handling this. But our house is filled with women. And women are not always equipped to protect themselves from certain kinds of danger.

I stepped outside.

And immediately, my heart skipped.

The car was gone.

I walked around the premises, scanning every corner. I didn’t go too far. I couldn’t afford to. What if they came back while I was away? What if something happened while I was not there?

I would never forgive myself.

After a few tense minutes, I walked back toward the house. But I couldn’t step in immediately.

This was not the time to pretend I could handle everything alone.

The situation with Sharon had already taught me that lesson.

I needed help.

I made a few quick calls and asked for backup. A few policemen to safeguard the house temporarily until we could dig deeper into what was really going on.

Sharon might be in prison. But only God knows how many of her men were still out there, still loyal, still watching.

Within minutes, the officers arrived and positioned themselves strategically around the compound.

Only then did I step back inside.

I knew I had to say something. Not everything. Just enough so Mum wouldn’t start developing high blood pressure from anxiety.

But the moment I walked in, Chioma didn’t give me the chance.

“Sis, why are those policemen outside our building?” she asked, arms crossed.

I scratched my hair slightly, buying time, searching for words that wouldn’t spark fear.

“Ehmmm…”

Before I could complete a sentence, she cut in.

“Wait a second. Don’t tell me it is because my fiancé came around that you sent your armed men to lurk around our house?”

I froze.

She was already shaking her head in frustration.

“My man is not a rapist and he would never be. He has never involved himself in anything illegal. Why do you always want to prove you’re some police woman who wants nothing but to lock every man in jail? You even caught the culprit today. You have your evidence. Yet you’re still holding something against my man. Doctor Justice was right after all. What is wrong with you is pride.”

That did it.

“Watch how you talk to me, Chioma. Don’t push me.”

My voice was controlled, but anger simmered beneath it.

I glanced at Mum.

The disappointment in her eyes cut deeper than Chioma’s words.

Doctor Dickson gripped his fork tightly, glancing between us. I wondered what he was thinking. Maybe he already saw me as the worst future sister-in-law.

This was not how I wanted their evening to go.

I might not believe in love the way others do, but ruining their dinner was never part of my plan.

For a split second, I wanted to slap Chioma. My fingers twitched.

But not in front of Dickson.

Not on her dinner night.

We stared at each other in silence, emotions swelling, unsaid words hanging in the air like smoke.

Mum finally spoke.

“Chioma, please come and sit down. Don’t allow this to ruin your evening.”

“It is already ruined, Mum. How can I stay in my own home and constantly deal with a police woman’s face that is always mean to everyone? Now we have policemen littering around the premises, all because of Chinelo’s pride.

Was Chinelo the only person Dad threw out with you? Was she the only one who went through Dad’s bitterness and torture?

No.

Everyone has moved on except her.” She hit her hands on the cushion.

Tears streamed down her face.

Doctor Dickson stood up, held her hand, and guided her back to her seat.

I said nothing.

I simply turned and walked upstairs.

I heard footsteps behind me, but I didn’t check.

All I had ever done was put this family first.

And somehow, it was never enough.

The moment I entered my room, the door opened again.

“But Chinelo, how could you? I pleaded with you to try and be lively today. Yet you still showed your true colour.” It was Mum.

That was when something inside me cracked.

“Why does everyone always see me as the black sheep, Mum?”

“No one sees you that way, nwa m. You’re just…”

I cut her off.

“I came back and noticed a car followed Chioma and her fiancé into this compound. They even used a drone to scan the entire place. I had to rush out with my gun to keep this family safe.”

As I said it, I brought out the gun to show her.

Her hands flew up immediately.

“Biko, nwa m, put it down. Biko.”

She hated guns. Dad had threatened her with one too many times when we lived under his roof.

Unfortunately, her hands were still raised when Chioma walked in.

She gasped.

“What the hell has gone wrong with you? Do you now want to shoot Mum? Put the gun down, Chinelo. You must not boss people around this way.”

That was it.

I snapped.

I pointed the gun at her.

“Will you shut the f*ck up!”

She screamed, “Jesus!” Her body stiffened. She couldn’t even look at me.

I lowered the gun almost immediately, but the fear had already settled in her eyes.

Mum kept pleading for calm.

I looked at Chioma.

“Did you know you were being followed when you and your lover came back? Did you know Sharon said we are not the target but you?”

That was when the shock truly hit her.

“Me?”

Her fear changed into confusion.

“Do you know I had to call the police because I cannot afford to lose any of you? The house you are all living in is a police quarter given to me. I could have chosen to live alone and enjoy my life if I was selfish. But I accommodated everyone.

Yet I am the rotten egg.

Is it by force to get married? Is it by force to be in a relationship?

Yes, I may hold grudges against Dad and men. But never for once have I put my needs above this family. Not once.”

A tear slipped down my face.

I wiped it off quickly.

I hated being vulnerable.

“I have always been the strong one. The one everyone assumes will sort herself out. The one nobody checks on because she is ‘fine’. Yet you all resent even the space you share with me.”

Silence filled the room.

Mum’s eyes softened.

“I’m sorry, Chinelo.”

Chioma swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, Sis. I thought you wanted to smear my man. I didn’t know…”

I sensed movement in the corridor.

Doctor Dickson.

He was listening.

Then suddenly

Three resounding gunshots echoed outside.

Mum screamed, “Jesus! Jesus lekwa m o!”

Chioma ran toward me. Doct

or Dickson rushed fully into the room.

Everything shifted in one second.

Instinct took over.

I grabbed my gun properly this time.

I had to keep them safe.

Without another word, I rushed out to see what was happening.