My husband never knew I was the anonymous billionaire behind the company he was celebrating that night.
To him, I was just his “plain and tired” wife, the one who had “ruined her body” after giving birth to twins.
At his promotion gala, I was standing there holding the babies when he shoved me toward the exit.
“You’re bloated. You’re ruining my image. Disappear,” he told me.
I didn’t raise my voice. I didn’t cry. I walked away from the party… and from him.
Hours later, my phone lit up.
“My cards aren’t working. Why won’t the door open?”
“What is wrong with you?” Chidi hissed with rage, gripping my arm tightly as he dragged me toward the dark space near the emergency exit.
The stench of trash from the alley in Victoria Island mingled with the scent of champagne and perfume.
“I’m throwing up, Chidi. It’s the baby. You could help.”
“Help?” Chidi mocked, looking at me as if I were garbage.
“I’m the CEO, Nneka. I don’t clean up vomit. That’s your job. And you’re failing at it.”
He tugged at my messy hair.
“Look at Ifeoma from Finance. One kid and she still runs marathons.
She knows how to stay presentable. And you… four months later and you still look bloated and sloppy.”
My chest tightened.
“I take care of two babies all by myself. I don’t have night nurses or personal trainers.”
“That’s your excuse,” he interrupted. “Or your laziness. You smell like sour milk, your dress barely fits, and you’re embarrassing me.
I’m trying to impress the Owner, build something real, and here you are, proving every mistake I’ve ever made.”
He pointed to the door with a finger.
“Leave. Now. Don’t let anyone see you with me again. You’re a burden. An ugly, useless one.”
Something between us snapped. I looked at the man I once loved.
The man I had silently pulled out of the shadows.
He had no idea that the “Owner” he feared was standing right in front of him.
“Am I going home?” I asked quietly.
“Yes. And use the back exit. Don’t dirty up the lobby.”
I didn’t shed a single tear. I pushed the stroller into the cold harmattan night.
But I didn’t go to the house in Ikoyi Chidi believed was his.
I drove to the hotel I owned in Banana Island, settled the twins, and opened my laptop.
While Chidi toasted to his success at the rooftop lounge, I opened my smart home app.
Main door. Biometric access updated.
User “Chidi” deleted.
Next, the Mercedes app.
Remote access revoked.
Finally, I logged into the HR system of Vertex Dynamics Limited and opened the profile labeled:
Chief Executive Officer. Chidi Okeke.
My cursor hovered over the button.
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