His mother stepped forward. “Think about the consequences.”
“I have.”
“You will lose everything again.”
Okafor looked at Ada, then back at them.
“Then I lose it.”
Princess Diana stepped forward then.
The room shifted toward her.
“I assume this means the wedding is over,” she said.
Okafor looked at her. “Yes.”
She nodded slowly. There was no anger in her face.
Only understanding.
“You should have done this sooner,” she said.
“Perhaps.”
Diana looked at Ada.
For a moment, the two women simply saw each other.
Then Diana said softly, “Take care of him.”
Ada blinked, surprised. “I will.”
Diana nodded once and walked away.
And with that, the future planned for years ended.
Okafor turned to Ada.
“Come with me.”
This time, there was no hesitation.
“Yes,” she said.
They walked out together in front of everyone.
Not hidden.
Not ashamed.
Not uncertain.
Outside, the air felt lighter.
Ada looked at him. “You really did it.”
“So did you.”
She shook her head. “I almost didn’t.”
“Why did you leave?”
She looked down. “Your mother came to see me. She said I was the reason you were suffering.”
Okafor’s jaw tightened.
“And you believed her?”
“I saw you struggling.”
“You saw the struggle,” he said gently. “Not the reason.”
“I thought I was helping you.”
“You hurt me.”
“I know that now.”
Silence settled between them, but this time it was not empty.
It was healing.
