THE LAST PROMISE
FINALE
The knock on Mary’s door came just as the sun was setting, casting long shadows across her small living room. She knew who it was before she even looked through the peephole—Aunty Biola. The woman who had been like a second mother to her. The woman who had betrayed her.
Mary took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around the phone in her hand—the same phone that held the damning messages between Kelvin, Andre, and Aunty Biola. She had read them over and over, each word cutting deeper than the last.
She opened the door.
Aunty Biola stood there, her face pale, her hands clutching her handbag like a lifeline. She opened her mouth to speak, but Mary cut her off.
"Come inside," Mary said coldly. "We need to talk."
Aunty Biola stepped into the house, her eyes darting nervously around the room. She froze when she saw Andre tied to the chair, his face bruised, his clothes disheveled. His head hung low, but he looked up when he heard her gasp.
"Aunty Biola…" Andre whispered, his voice hoarse.
Mary ignored him. She turned to Aunty Biola, her eyes burning with fury.
"You knew," Mary said, her voice shaking. "You knew Kelvin paid Andre to pretend to love me. You were part of this… this scheme!"
Aunty Biola’s hands trembled. "Mary, my daughter, please—"
"DON’T CALL ME THAT!" Mary screamed, slamming her hand down on the table. "You are not my mother! A real mother would never do this to her child!"
Aunty Biola flinched, tears filling her eyes. "Mary, Kelvin was dying. He was desperate. He didn’t want you to be alone—"
"HE PAID A MAN TO LIE TO ME!" Mary roared. "AND YOU HELPED HIM!"
Aunty Biola swallowed hard. "I… I only agreed to check if you were happy. Kelvin gave me the money to give to Andre—only if I saw that you were truly smiling again. That’s all!"
Mary’s chest heaved. "And what about this*?" She grabbed Andre’s chin, forcing him to look at her. "Did Kelvin pay you to sleep with me too? Was that part of the deal?"
Aunty Biola gasped. "No! Mary, no! Kelvin would never—"
"But he did!" Mary pointed at Andre, her voice breaking. "He made me believe he loved me! He made me fall for him! And you knew!"
Aunty Biola fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "Forgive me, Mary. I never thought it would go this far. Kelvin just wanted you to be happy. He didn’t tell Andre to—to do that."
Mary turned away, her vision blurring. She couldn’t even look at them anymore.
After a long silence, Mary spoke again, her voice icy.
"Transfer the remaining 2.5 million to my account. Now."
Aunty Biola looked up, shocked. "What?"
"You heard me," Mary said. "That money was meant for my happiness, right? Then it’s mine. Transfer it. Now."
Aunty Biola hesitated, but the look in Mary’s eyes made her pull out her phone with shaking hands. A few taps later, Mary’s phone buzzed—a notification confirming the transfer.
Andre, still tied to the chair, lifted his head weakly. "Mary…"
She turned to him, her face unreadable.
"I know I was paid," he said, his voice raw."But somewhere along the way… I did fall in love with you. It wasn’t part of the plan, but it happened. I swear it."
Mary stared at him, her heart pounding. She wanted to believe him. She *wanted* to. But how could she? After everything?
"Get out," she whispered.
Andre blinked. "What?"
"I said GET OUT!" she screamed, grabbing a knife from the kitchen and cutting the ropes binding him. "BOTH OF YOU! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"
Aunty Biola scrambled to her feet, helping Andre stand. He swayed, his body bruised and weak, but he didn’t argue.
At the door, Aunty Biola turned back, her face pleading. "Mary, please—"
"GO!
The door slammed shut behind them.
Mary sank to the floor, her body shaking with sobs. The house was silent again. Empty. Just like her heart.
She had the money now. She had the truth.
But what did she really have?
A love that was bought. A trust that was broken. A future that was built on lies.
She wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and stood up.
She would find her own happiness. Real happiness.
And this time, no one would decide it for her.
If you were in Mary’s shoes, could you ever forgive Kelvin, Andre, and Aunty Biola?
- Kelvin thought he was helping, but he paid a man to manipulate her emotions.
- Andre claims he fell in love, but he lied to her for money first.
- Aunty Biola kept the secret, watching as Mary fell deeper into the lie.
Comment below—what would YOU do?
The End.