Chapter 38 Chapter Thirty-Eight
Charity woke up smiling.
It was the same smile she’d worn every morning for the past week—the soft, satisfied kind that came before her eyes even opened. Her fingers moved before her thoughts did, drifting instinctively to her left hand.
The ring caught the light immediately.
Even in the quiet of her bedroom, it sparkled like it had something to prove.
She lifted her hand higher, turning it slowly, admiring the way the stone sat perfectly against her skin. A week since the contracts were signed. A week since the families sealed everything with smiles and signatures and silent expectations. And yet, the thrill still rushed through her like it was brand new.
Mine, she thought.
She pushed herself upright on the bed, still staring at the ring like it might disappear if she blinked too long. Everything felt lighter now. Safer. Locked in.
Leon was hers.
Legally. Publicly. Permanently.
She exhaled in contentment and stretched, already planning her day—outfits, calls, maybe another shoot for her engagement updates. Appearances mattered more than ever now.
Leon woke up with dread sitting heavy on his chest.
The ceiling above him felt unfamiliar, even though it was his own. The sheets were tangled around his legs. His phone lay face-down beside him, silent in a way that felt accusatory.
A week.
It had been a full week since he signed his life away.
The thought settled into him slowly, painfully, like a truth his body still hadn’t accepted. Everything felt trapped now—his choices, his name, his future. Even his emotions felt regulated by contracts and expectations he never wanted.
He sat up and ran a hand down his face.
If I’m going to be stuck here… then what’s the point?
The question echoed.
He had tried to change. Tried to quiet the recklessness. Tried to be better—for Felicity. For himself. But now? That future was gone. Blocked by family decisions, by lies, by silence he wasn’t allowed to break.
His chest tightened at the thought of Felicity.
He still couldn’t text her.
Not yet.
It was all too fresh. Too loud in his head. Too shameful.
So instead, he unlocked his phone and went for the version of his life that never demanded accountability.
Mark.
Deji.
Leon:
You guys down to go shopping today? Ashluxe. Then food. Drinks.
The reply came almost immediately.
Mark:
Now you’re talking like your old self.
Deji:
Finally! I thought married life had started for you already.
Leon smirked faintly.
Leon:
Not that kind of married.
The phone buzzed again—another incoming call.
Tomiwa.
He stared at the name for a long moment.
She’d been calling for weeks. He’d ignored every single one. Avoiding her had felt necessary back when he still believed he could build something clean with Felicity.
But now?
Now he exhaled slowly and answered.
“Tomiwa.”
There was a beat of silence on the other end.
“Wow,” she said. “So you’re alive.”
He huffed weakly. “It’s been a lot.”
“I figured. You disappeared like a married man who suddenly found morals.”
He didn’t laugh—but his voice softened. “I don’t think I found anything. I think I just lost a lot.”
Her tone shifted. “You sound… off.”
He leaned back against the headboard. “Yeah. I am.”
There was a pause—then she lowered her voice deliberately. “Do you want me to come over?”
He hesitated.
For a second, Felicity’s face flashed in his mind.
Then the weight of the ring, the contracts, the silence, the absence of choice returned.
What does it matter now?
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “You can come.”
Her smile was audible. “I’ll be there.”
When the call ended, his phone buzzed again.
Mark:
Shopping in thirty?
Deji:
Don’t chicken out again.
Leon typed:
Leon:
Let’s reschedule. I’ve got… plans.
There was a brief pause.
Mark:
What kind of plans make you ditch us this fast?
Leon’s lips curved slightly.
Leon:
The kind you don’t turn down twice.
Deji:
AYOOO.
So you’ve returned?
Leon chuckled for the first time in days.
Leon:
Guess the old me never really left.
Their laughter filled the chat.
And in that laughter, something inside him cracked.
Charity was in her sitting room when the doorbell rang.
She wasn’t expecting anyone.
When she opened the door and saw Leon’s mother holding a bouquet of white flowers, her breath hitched in surprise.
“Ma!”
Leon’s mother smiled warmly. “I hope I’m not intruding.”
“Not at all,” Charity said quickly, stepping aside. “Please come in.”
The older woman handed her the flowers. “These are for you.”
Charity accepted them with both hands, genuinely touched. “Thank you so much.”
They settled into the living room, polite warmth filling the space. Leon’s mother looked around with approving eyes.
“You’ve always felt like family,” she said gently. “But now, I want you to truly feel it.”
Charity’s smile widened. “I do, ma. I really do.”
There was a pause.
Then Leon’s mother shifted slightly.
“And the baby,” she added softly. “One day soon, we’ll take you to all the right places. The best doctors. The best care.”
Charity’s stomach twisted.
The word baby now carried weight it hadn’t before.
She forced a laugh. “Oh—there’s still time for all that.”
Leon’s mother chuckled. “Of course. But it’s never too early to prepare.”
Charity nodded quickly, gripping the flowers a little tighter.
Her mind raced.
What if she asks questions?
What if she wants proof?
What if today becomes too real?
She stood abruptly. “Can I get you tea, ma?”
Leon’s mother smiled. “Of course.”
As Charity walked into the kitchen, her breath came out shaky.
The lie no longer felt playful.
It felt dangerous.
Back at Leon’s apartment, the doorbell rang.
Tomiwa stepped in minutes later, perfume trailing behind her, eyes bright with interest.
She looked at him closely. “You really do look stressed.”
He forced a grin. “You always did like rescuing broken men.”
She laughed softly and closed the door behind her.