The Homeless Widow, Episode One

Loveth was a very happy woman when her husband Jacob was alive. Jacob was not just rich, he was extremely rich.

His wealth was known by everybody. They had houses in Lagos, Port Harcourt and even in their village.

“I’m so happy I married a rich man. He gives me money to do everything I want.” Loverh used to back then.

They had companies and many businesses that gave them money every day. Loveth never lacked anything. Her children never lacked anything. Jacob was a very generous husband. He made sure Loveth was comfortable.

She was a full-time housewife and she was happy to take care of her children. She never bothered about his businesses.

“I don’t care about doing business. I don’t even want to go to work. My husband has money. He said I should not work. My own job is to sit at home, give birth to children and take care of them. I don’t even know anything about my husband’s business. I don’t even know anything about his bank accounts and I don’t know where his offices are located. But I’m happy to stay idle and enjoy.” She would say.

Her life was sweet until tragedy struck.

One day Jacob travelled to the village for a family meeting with his brothers. He was healthy when he left home. Loveth even hugged him at the gate that morning before he entered his car.

“My love, take care of yourself. Greet your people for me,” she said.

“I will greet them. Don’t worry, I will come back tomorrow,” Jacob said with a smile before leaving. But that smile was the last one Loveth saw. When Jacob returned from the meeting, he was very sick. He was rushed to the hospital immediately.

Loveth cried bitterly at the hospital when the doctors told her that her husband has been poisoned. She could not believe her ears.

“Doctor, please, save my husband. He cannot die. He promised me he will come back. Please, do something. Remove the poison,” Loveth begged in tears. But the poison had already spread in his body. Jacob was restless on the bed. His eyes were turning. His hands were cold. Loveth held him and cried.

“My husband, please don’t leave me. Think of me. Think of your children,” she cried loudly.

Minutes later, Jacob breathed his last. He died. The poison killed him. Loveth screamed and fainted. Nurses rushed to revive her. When she opened her eyes, she held her husband’s lifeless body and cried.

“Jacob! Jacob! Why did you leave me? What will I do without you? Who will take care of me and our children?” Her cries shook the hospital.

“Your brothers have poisoned you. I suspect they are the ones behind your death.” Loveth said.

Everyone in the hospital ward shed tears as they watched her pain. Her life was shattered that evening. She was confused and broken. She did not know that her greatest suffering was waiting for her at home.

As soon as the news reached Jacob’s family, everything changed. They already knew he would die after poisoning him. Jacob’s elder brother, Ndu, rushed down to Lagos with their mother. Ndu has never liked Loveth. Their mother hated her with passion.

“It’s time to go and take over what belongs to us. Jacob was very stingy. Now that he is dead, everything he worked for belong to us. His wife will see pepper.” Ndu said.

They never recognized Loveth as a wife. They always called her “that woman” instead of calling her name. They accused her of controlling Jacob. They accused her of turning Jacob away from his family. But Jacob always defended his wife. Now that he was gone, they saw it as an opportunity to deal with her. They were waiting for her at the house when she returned from the hospital.

The moment Loveth entered the compound with her two children, Ndu shouted at her.

“Murderer! Wicked woman! You have finally killed my brother!” Nduka said.

Loveth was shocked. She turned to him with tears in her eyes.

“What are you saying? How can you accuse me of killing my own husband? God forbid! I loved Jacob with all my heart.” Loveth said.

But Ndu’s mother came forward and pointed at her. “Shut up, evil woman! From the day my son married you, I knew you would destroy him. Now see what you have done. You poisoned him. You killed him!” The old woman said.

Loveth fell on her knees and begged.

“Mama, Ndu, please, I am innocent. I did not kill my husband. I loved him. He was my life. I don’t know who poisoned him. Please, don’t accuse me wrongly. My children are here, they need me. Don’t treat me like this.” Loveth begged. But her cries fell on deaf ears. Ndu shouted again.

“Pack out of this house now! This is not your house. You are no longer a wife here. You killed my brother, so you have no place in this family again.” Ndu said. Loveth trembled in fear and shock. She cried.

Before she could say another word, Ndu and his mother dragged her out of the house with force. Her two children were crying and holding her wrapper, followed her.

“Leave us alone, please! Where do you want us to go?” Loveth cried.

But they did not listen. They pushed her out and locked the door. They seized her phone, seized her ATM card, and warned her never to step inside the house again. Loveth looked at the gate helplessly. She had nothing with her. Not even clothes for the children. Not even food. Not even money. They did not allow her to enter the house and pick anything.

That night was one of the darkest nights of her life. Loveth sat on the bare floor outside the house with her children. Her little daughter cried of hunger. Her son shivered in the cold. Suddenly, rain started falling heavily.

“Rain is falling. Where will I go with my children? God please help me.” She said.

They were drenched in the rain. They hid under a tree but were not covered. Loveth removed her wrapper and used it to cover her children, but it was not enough. She wept bitterly as she held them close. Her whole body was shaking because of cold. She lifted her eyes to the sky and asked with a trembling voice, “God, why did my husband die?”

The Homeless Widow Episode 2

“I never knew I will be in this kind of situation. My life has been turned upside down.” Love said to herself.

Loveth and her two children were still on the streets, suffering like strangers.

Life had become very hard for them. Her children were no longer going to school.

“Mummy, when will we go back to school?” The children asked.

But Loveth had no answer. Her husband’s family had thrown her out and taken everything. She had no phone, no ATM card, no clothes, no food. She was living like a beggar with her children. The pain was too much. Sometimes she wished she could wake up and realize everything was only a dream.

Loveth thought of going back to her family in the village. Her parents were poor but they would welcome her and her children.

“Should I go back to my parents?” She asked herself.

She thought of running to them for comfort, but each time she remembered the shame, she changed her mind.

“How will I tell them that my husband’s family threw me out like a dog? How will I carry my children and return empty-handed to the same people who gave me out in marriage?” Loveth asked herself. She could not bear the shame. Besides, her heart refused to abandon everything Jacob had worked for. She wants to fight back.

She remembered Jacob’s words before he died. “Loveth, you are my everything. If anything happens to me, take care of our children. Protect what belongs to them. Don’t allow anybody to cheat you.”

Those words continued to ring in her head. Loveth wiped her tears and said to herself, “I will not abandon everything my husband built. My children must inherit what belongs to them. I will fight back.”

It was this decision that gave her the courage to return to her husband’s house and confront Ndu. She held her children’s hands and walked bravely.

When she got to the house, she could not believe her eyes. The place had changed. Ndu had moved in. He had repainted the house. He had brought in new furniture. He was walking around like the owner of the house.

Loveth’s heart burned with pain. “So, this man has taken everything my husband worked for?” she asked herself.

She gathered courage and walked in. Ndu’s eyes turned red the moment he saw her.

“Why are you here again? Didn’t I tell you never to step into this house again?” he shouted.

Loveth fell on her knees and pleaded.

“Brother Ndu, please, have mercy on me. I am not here to fight you. I only came to beg. Please give me my phone. Please give me my ATM card. I don’t have anything. I have been on the streets with my children. They have not eaten good food for days. They are not in school anymore. Please allow me to have access to my husband’s bank details. Give me my ATM card let me get some money from my account. Give me my husband’s bank details. It belongs to his children. I beg you in the name of God, don’t let us die of hunger,” Loveth cried bitterly.

But Ndu laughed loudly and looked at her from head to toe. “So, you still have mouth to talk? Don’t you know you are nothing without my brother? Everything here belongs to me now. If you want me to give you your phone, your ATM card and access to Jacob’s accounts, there is only one condition. One thing only. If you agree, I will give you everything.”

Loveth raised her head in confusion. “What is it? Please, tell me. I will do anything to take care of my children,” she said desperately.

Ndu moved closer to her and whispered, “You must marry me. That is the tradition. When a man dies, his brother inherits the wife. You are too beautiful to waste away. Jacob is gone. You must become my wife. If you accept to marry me, everything will be in your hands again. You and your children will not suffer. I will treat you well. But if you refuse, you will remain on the streets forever.”

Loveth was shocked. She stood up slowly. “What did you just say?” she asked.

“I said marry me. It is our custom. It is the tradition of our fathers. You have no choice. You cannot remain a widow forever. Don’t waste your beauty. Don’t waste your life. Accept me and you will live like a queen again. If you refuse, you will suffer until death. Think well, Loveth. Think of your children.” Ndu said.

Loveth shook her head in tears. “God forbid! I will never marry you. I can never marry my husband’s brother. I am not an object to be inherited. I am a human being. Don’t insult me like this!”

Her rejection made Ndu very angry. He pushed her violently and shouted, “Then get out! Get out of my house and never come back again. Since you have chosen to remain stubborn, go and continue suffering on the streets. You and your children will beg for food until you die. You will see the kind of hell I will put you through. Get out now!”

Loveth staggered out of the compound with her children. She could not believe her life had turned into this. She held her children’s hands and walked aimlessly into the streets.

Loveth found a corner on the roadside and sat down. Tears flowed freely from her eyes as she held her children tightly.

“My children, forgive me. I have failed you. I don’t even know where our next food will come from. But I will never marry that wicked man. I will never betray your father’s memory. I will fight for you. I will keep praying to God. One day, He will answer me,” she cried. That night, as her children slept on her lap, Loveth looked up to the sky and wept bitterly, “God, why me?”

The Homeless Widow — Episode 3

“What is happening to me? Have I lost my senses? Am I still normal?” Loveth asked herself.

For many days Loveth was in deep confusion. She was roaming the streets with her children, crying and begging God for help. Sometimes she would just sit down to think of her life. She was weak, hungry, confused and broken.

People who saw her whispered among themselves, “That is Jacob’s wife. See how her life has turned upside down.”

Her children were looking weak because of hunger. Loveth thought her life was finished. But one afternoon, as she was sitting under a tree, something suddenly entered her mind like a flash of light. She jumped up quickly and held her head.

She remembered that she still had money in her bank account. Jacob used to send her millions of naira every week when he was alive. He always gave her money for shopping and for personal savings.

“My God! Sorrow has made me forget that I should not actually be stranded. I can take steps to help myself and my children.” She said.

Her husband was generous in giving her money. Loveth never spent much from the money because Jacob provided everything she needed. She suddenly realized that she had saved a lot. She remembered that there was no need for her to continue begging Ndu for her phone or ATM card.

She could go directly to the bank and withdraw with a withdrawal slip.

“God, how did I forget this all along?” Loveth asked herself.

That very day, she carried her two children and walked straight to the bank. Her body was shaking as she entered the banking hall. She went to the customer service desk and spoke softly.

“Good afternoon sir, I lost my phone and ATM card. I need a new one. Please, help me.” She said.

The banker smiled and said, “No problem madam. We will block the old ATM card and give you a new one immediately.”

Loveth sat down and waited. Her heart was beating fast. After some minutes, she was asked to fill a form. Later, the banker returned and gave her a new ATM card.

“Madam, the old card has been blocked. Nobody can use it again. Here is your new ATM card,” the banker said. Loveth almost cried tears of joy. She rushed to the ATM and slotted in the new card.

When she checked her balance, she opened her mouth wide in surprise. Her account still had N25 million. These were the monies she had been saving from the gifts her husband gave her. She knelt down and thanked God.

“I’m so happy.” She said.

Immediately, Loveth withdrew N5 million. She held the cash in her hands and could not believe it.

“So, I have been suffering outside while I had all this money waiting for me. Thank you Lord for opening my eyes,” she said. With the money, she rented a very nice apartment for herself and her children. The house was beautiful and safe. For the first time since Jacob died, Loveth slept peacefully that night. Her children also slept happily on their new beds. She cooked them good food, and they ate with smiles on their faces. Loveth’s hope returned.

The very next week, Loveth enrolled her children back in school. When they wore their uniforms and carried their bags, tears of joy filled her eyes.

“Mummy, thank you for sending us back to school,” her daughter said. Loveth hugged her tightly.

“My children, I will do everything possible to give you a good life. Your father may be gone, but I will stand for you,” she said. From that moment, Loveth became a different woman. She was no longer the weak widow crying on the streets. She was now a woman ready to fight for her future. That week, she bought a new phone and retrieved her SIM card number.

One evening, as she sat down in her living room, Loveth spoke to herself.

“Now that I have settled down, I will fight Ndu to the last moment. I will not allow him to take over my husband’s wealth. I will use the money I have to fight him. I will fight for what belongs to my children.” She said.

Her eyes were red. She was no longer afraid. She knew Jacob would not want her to give up. She knew her children were too young to fight for themselves, so she had to fight on their behalf.

That night, as she lay on her bed, she suddenly remembered Jacob’s lawyer. Jacob always told her, “If you ever need anything, contact my lawyer. He knows everything about me.”

Loveth quickly stood up and searched her phone. Luckily , after she retrieved her SIM, her saved contacts returned. She found the lawyer’s number. She dialed his number and prayed he would answer.

“Hello, is this Barrister Okeke?” she asked.

“Yes, this is Barrister Okeke. Who is speaking?” a male voice replied.

“This is Loveth… Jacob’s wife.” The lawyer’s voice became calm and respectful.

“Oh madam, I am so sorry for your loss. How are you coping?” He asked.

Loveth could not hold her tears. “Barrister, I am suffering. Jacob’s family threw me out of the house. They took everything from me. Please, I need your help. Did my husband write any will before he died? Please tell me the truth,” she asked.

The lawyer was silent for a while, then he spoke.

“Yes madam, your husband wrote a will before his death. Everything was documented and signed. Do not worry. I will bring the will myself and read it at his house in the presence of everyone.” The lawyer said.

“Thank you, Barrister. Thank you so much. May God bless you. Please come quickly. My husband’s family is enjoying everything he worked for. They want to destroy my life and that of my children. Please come and help me.” She said.

“Don’t be afraid, madam. The law is on your side. I will come to the house and read the will. Then we will see who is the rightful owner of Jacob’s wealth.”

The Homeless Widow — Episode Four

The day of the meeting finally came. Loveth dressed simply but neatly. It is time to read the will. She carried her two children and followed the lawyer to her husband’s house.

Loveth was afraid of what Ndu and his mother would do, but the lawyer encouraged her to stay calm.

“Madam, don’t fear. The will is a legal document. Nobody can change what your husband has written. Stand strong.” The lawyer said.

Loveth nodded and wiped her tears. She prayed silently.

“God, fight for me today. Let the truth speak louder than lies.” She said.

At the same time, Ndu was already restless inside the house. He was shocked when he heard that his brother wrote a will before he died.

He did not like that at all. He was afraid that the will would expose him and take away the wealth he has already started enjoying.

He sat on the chair with anger in his heart. His mother sat beside him. She was angry too.

“Don’t let them disgrace you. This house belongs to you now. Fight them with everything.” His mother said.

When Loveth and the lawyer walked in, Ndu frowned and hissed loudly.

“So, you have come with your so-called lawyer. We will see who will win today,” he said.

The lawyer greeted everyone politely and asked them to sit. He brought out a brown envelope and placed it on the table.

The lawyer cleared his throat and started talking.

“I am Barrister Okeke, personal lawyer to the late Chief Jacob. Before his death, Chief Jacob wrote and signed a will. Today, I am here to read that will in the presence of his family, his wife, and whoever claims rights to his properties.” The lawyer said.

Everyone became silent. Even Ndu’s heart began to beat faster. The air was filled with tension.

The lawyer slowly opened the envelope and brought out the documents. He adjusted his glasses and began to read.

“I, Chief Jacob, being of sound mind, do hereby declare this as my last will and testament. In the event of my death, I give all my properties, houses, lands, and companies to my wife, Loveth. She shall be the custodian of my wealth for the sake of our children. Nobody else has the right to claim or control my property apart from her.”

At those words, Loveth broke down in tears. “Oh Jacob, you remembered me,” she cried.

But Ndu jumped up immediately. His face turned red with anger. He started shouting.

“This is a lie! This is a forged document! How can my brother give everything to this woman? She is the one who killed him, and now she wants to steal his wealth with the help of a fake lawyer. It will not work! I will not accept this!” Ndu said.

His voice echoed around the room. His mother also joined him, clapping her hands and shouting, “It is not possible! This woman is a witch. She has come to disgrace our family. We will never allow it!”

The lawyer remained calm and continued reading.

“It is my wish that in my absence, my wife should take full charge of my companies and investments. She knows my dreams, and I trust her to carry them on for our children. Anyone who goes against this will is going against the law.”

When he finished, he folded the paper carefully and placed it back inside the envelope. He looked at Ndu directly in the face and told him the truth.

“You have no right to this property. You must move out of this house and allow Loveth access to her husband’s documents.” The lawyer said.

The moment the lawyer said those words, Ndu’s anger doubled. He moved closer to Loveth and shouted in her face.

“You will never step your foot into this house again! You and this lawyer have planned together to steal everything my brother worked for. Over my dead body will I allow you to take over. You are nothing but a stranger in this family. I don’t care about any paper you are waving around. I am the elder brother of Jacob, and I am the rightful owner of everything!”

He pointed at the lawyer, shouting, “Get out now!”

Loveth fell on her knees and begged him.

“Brother Ndu, please, don’t fight me. This is my husband’s wish. You cannot go against him even in death. Please, think of my children. Think of their future. Don’t let us suffer. Everything belongs to them. I am only their caretaker. Please, don’t drag what is not yours.” She said. But Ndu’s heart was hardened like a rock.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her to the ground.

“Shut up! You are a liar! You are a thief! You can never stay in this house. As long as I am alive, you will remain outside.” Ndu said.

The lawyer stepped forward, raising his voice for the first time.

“Mr. Ndu, you are making a terrible mistake. This will is recognized by law. If you refuse to obey, we will take this matter to court. You cannot frustrate this woman forever. The truth will always stand.”

But before he could say more, Ndu pushed him backward and shouted, “Get out of my sight! I don’t care about any court. This is my brother’s house, and I decide what happens here. You and this woman can go and die if you like. Nothing will change my decision!”

Loveth held her children as tears rolled down her eyes. She looked at the house and remembered all the beautiful memories she shared with her husband there.

Now, she was being thrown out again by the same man who had stolen her peace. The lawyer helped her up.

“Don’t worry, madam. This is not the end. We will fight this with the law.” But Ndu was already dragging them out. He pushed both Loveth and the lawyer out of the house and locked the door behind them. Loveth wept bitterly.

When Loveth got home, she conceived a plan to fight Ndu.

“It’s time to make my next move. Now that it is clear that everything belongs to me, I will teach Ndu a lesson. I have begged him enough.” She said.

The Homeless Widow — Episode Five

Loveth could not control her anger anymore. She kept thinking about how Ndu pushed her and the lawyer out of the house.

“Since he doesn’t want peace, I’m ready for him.” She said.

The humiliation Ndu gave to her was too much. She remembered her husband and how kind he was. She remembered how he used to hold her hand and promise her that nothing would ever happen to her. Tears poured down her eyes.

“Jacob, you left me too early. But I will not let them destroy everything you worked for. I will not let your enemies win. I will fight with everything in me, even if it costs me my peace.” She said.

As she sat in her new apartment, a thought entered her mind. She suddenly remembered how her husband died. He did not die on his sickbed. He did not die from an accident. His death came suddenly, just after he returned from a family meeting.

That day, Jacob complained of stomach pain. Within hours, he was gone. Loveth wiped her tears.

“No, this is not normal. Jacob was poisoned. Somebody killed him. It was confirmed at the hospital that he was poisoned. And the person who gained the most from his death is Ndu. Yes, I must expose them. I must go to the police.” She said.

The more she thought about it, the more her heart burned with anger. She remembered how Jacob trusted his elder brother and always gave him respect. He even gave him money to start business. Yet Ndu repaid that kindness with wickedness. Ndu squandered the money.

“You killed your own blood because of money. You killed him so you can inherit what does not belong to you. You and your mother must pay for this. You think you have power, but the law will humble you. I will not keep quiet. I will report you immediately.” She said.

The next morning, Loveth dressed up and carried her handbag. She called her lawyer and told him about her decision.

The lawyer advised her to be bold.

“Madam, if you truly suspect foul play, the police must hear it. That is the only way to bring justice for your husband.” The lawyer said.

“I am ready. I will not rest until they face the truth.” She entered a taxi with her children and went straight to the nearest police station. She was determined to speak the truth no matter what happened.

At the police station, she met the Divisional Police Officer. He asked her why she came. Loveth fell on her knees and began to cry.

“Sir, my name is Loveth. My husband, Chief Jacob, did not die a natural death. He was poisoned after a family meeting. It was confirmed at the hospital that he was poisoned. The hospital has the test results. His brother, Ndu, and their mother are the people I suspect. Since his death, they have been fighting me, pushing me out of the house, and trying to steal my husband’s property. Please, help me. Arrest them and question them. Let them confess. I want justice for my late husband.” She said.

The officer listened carefully.

“Madam, stand up. Wipe your tears. Nobody is above the law. If what you are saying is true, we will investigate. If they are guilty, they will face the law. Give me the details of the case.” He said.

Loveth explained everything from the day Jacob returned from the meeting to the moment he died. She explained how Ndu and his mother had been troubling her since then. The officer wrote down everything and nodded.

“This is a serious case. We will act immediately. Madam, prepare yourself. We are moving now.” He said.

Within minutes, a team of police officers followed Loveth to her late husband’s house.

Ndu was sitting outside, drinking palm wine and laughing with friends. His mother was inside, singing church songs. When Ndu saw the police, he jumped up in surprise.

“What is going on here? Why are police in my compound?” he asked angrily.

One officer replied, “We are here to arrest you and your mother for the murder of your brother, Chief Jacob. You are both suspects in this case. You must follow us.”

The words hit Ndu like thunder. He began to shout, “What nonsense is this? Me, a murderer? How dare you accuse me of killing my own brother? This is a lie! Loveth, you are behind this. You want to disgrace me, but you will not succeed. I will fight you with everything I have!” Ndu said.

His mother rushed out in shock. “Arrest who? You must be joking! My son cannot kill his brother. This woman is a devil. She is the one who killed Jacob, and now she wants to put it on us. God will judge her!” She said.

But the police officers were firm. They brought out handcuffs. “Madam, sir, you both have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be used against you in the court of law. You must follow us to the station immediately.”

Ndu tried to resist, but two strong officers held him. His mother screamed and fell to the ground, rolling and crying. “This is wickedness! This is evil! You people want to destroy our family. You want to put shame on us. God will punish all of you!” But the police did not listen. They pulled them up.

Loveth stood at a distance with her children. She had done the right thing. Tears filled her eyes.

“Jacob, I will not let your killers rest. I will not let them enjoy peace while you are in the grave. Today, they will face the law. Today, they will answer for what they did to you.” She said.

She watched as the police pushed Ndu and his mother into the van.

The Homeless Widow, Episode 6

After Ndu and his mother were arrested, they were locked up.

The police cell was dark and dirty. Ndu and his mother sat on the bare floor, leaning against the cold wall.

The first night was unbearable. Mosquitoes bit them from every corner. Hunger tormented them. Nobody came with food. None of their relatives wanted to visit them. Those who used to hail Ndu in the village suddenly abandoned him.

He sat in shame, looking at his mother.

“Mama, how long will we stay here? This is hell. We cannot continue like this.”

But his mother only wept silently as her pride was broken for the first time.

The days rolled by slowly. One week inside that small cell felt like one year. Every morning, policemen shouted at them. Every afternoon, they were given small food that barely filled their stomachs.

Ndu could no longer boast. His mother, who once carried herself like a queen, now looked like a beggar. She scratched her head and cried.

“My son, we are finished. Nobody cares for us again. Our enemies are laughing. Jacob’s widow is rejoicing. What shall we do?” Ndu looked at her with tears.

“Mama, maybe we should confess. Maybe that is the only way out.”

The following day, the officer in charge called them out for questioning. They had no strength to argue. They were tired of lying. They looked like shadows of themselves.

The officer placed a file on the table.

“Ndu, Mama, are you ready to tell us the truth? Your silence will not help you. We already know more than you think. Speak now, or continue to rot in this cell.”

“Yes, officer, I will talk. I am tired. I will say the truth.” Ndu said.

“Talk. Tell us what happened on the day Jacob died.”

“We poisoned him. Mama and I planned it. Jacob refused to give me money. He had billions, but he said I should go and work for my own. I begged him to build me a house, but he refused. He said he will not spoil me with free gifts. I became angry. I felt cheated. So when we met in the village, Mama gave me poison, and I put it in his drink. That was how my brother died.” Ndu said.

The room went silent for a moment. The officer turned to the old woman.

“Madam, do you confirm what your son has just confessed?”

Tears ran down her wrinkled face. She sniffed and nodded her head slowly.

“Yes, it is true. I gave him the poison. I hated Jacob’s wife. I warned him not to marry her, but he refused. He disgraced me before the whole family. That woman is a witch. I wanted her to suffer. I wanted her to cry the way I was crying. I never knew things would turn this way. Forgive me.” The old woman said.

The officer stood up and slammed his hand on the table.

“You both are wicked! You killed your own son because of greed and hatred. You will pay for this.” He said.

He called his men and ordered them to prepare the case for court. By the time they returned to the cell, Ndu and his mother were already trembling. For the first time, they realized the consequences of their actions.

They were no longer proud. They were no longer bold. They were weak and helpless, waiting for the judgment that was coming. Their world had collapsed completely.

When the case went to court, the evidence was clear. Their confession was written and signed. Witnesses came forward to testify about their jealousy and hatred. The judge listened carefully and shook his head many times.

At the end of the hearing, he banged his gavel and gave the verdict.

“For the murder of Chief Jacob, this court hereby sentences Ndu and his mother to twenty-one years in prison each, without option of fine.” The courtroom was silent. Ndu’s mother fell on the ground, crying bitterly. Ndu covered his face in shame. It was their end.

Loveth was in the courtroom. She held her children close as tears flowed down her eyes. Justice had finally been served.

“Jacob, you can rest now. Your killers have been exposed. They will never taste freedom again.” She said.

Her children looked at her and asked, “Mummy, are we safe now?”

“Yes, my children, we are safe. Nobody will push us out again. Nobody will take what belongs to you. God has fought for us.”

After the judgment, Loveth moved back to her husband’s house. This time, she walked with confidence. The gates that were once shut against her were opened wide. Neighbors came out to greet her with respect. The lawyer handed over all documents of the companies and properties to her. She held them carefully, thanking God for His mercy.

“Jacob, I will take care of everything you left behind. Your children will not suffer. I will raise them well. Your enemies have failed.” She said.

From that day, Loveth’s life changed completely. She regained full access to her husband’s wealth. She managed the wealth with wisdom. She enrolled her children in the best schools. Slowly, joy returned to her home. Sometimes, when she remembered the pain she passed through, she cried. But then she looked at her children and found strength again. She learned that life is not always fair, but God never abandons the innocent. She raised her hands and prayed, “Lord, thank you for fighting for me. Thank you for giving me victory. From today, peace shall reign in my home.”

The End