Chapter 66 — The Arrival That Changed Everything
The celebration had already stretched deep into the evening.
Music floated softly across the grand hall while conversations blended beneath glittering chandeliers. Guests laughed. Glasses clinked gently. Photographers still wandered around capturing moments the Collins family would likely treasure forever.
And for the first time in years—
Peace truly seemed possible.
Which was exactly why fate chose that moment to ruin it.
The grand entrance doors opened again.
Several guests turned casually at first.
Then the atmosphere shifted almost instantly.
Because walking into the hall was the Mustopha family.
Mr. Mustopha entered first beside his wife with composed elegance fitting wealthy elites accustomed to attention. Behind them walked their sons—
Qazeem and Farouq.
Both dressed sharply.
Both completely unaware that their arrival had just detonated a silent bomb inside the hall.
Near the family section—
Basit froze.
Faridat noticed immediately.
"What happened?"
But Basit was no longer listening.
Because across the hall—
His father had already seen them.
Mr. Abbas Abdullah's expression darkened so suddenly it unsettled even those beside him.
Mrs. Abdullah quietly touched his arm.
"Abbas…"
But he was already staring directly at Mr. Mustopha with undisguised fury.
Pure fury.
The kind built from betrayal.
The kind that never truly disappeared.
Meanwhile—
Completely oblivious to the tension surrounding them—
Qazeem and Farouq moved naturally through the crowd after greeting a few guests and some of their business partners politely.
Then both brothers spotted familiar faces.
Rihannat's foster parents.
Immediately their expressions brightened.
"Uncle!"
Farouq greeted warmly while stepping forward respectfully.
Qazeem smiled as well.
"It's been a while."
Rihannat's foster father smiled politely despite noticing the strange atmosphere already forming nearby.
"You boys came late."
"Our mother delayed us," Farouq replied dramatically.
Mrs. Mustopha sighed tiredly behind them.
"Because unlike you two, civilized people prepare properly before attending events."
Farouq placed a hand over his chest in fake offense.
Qazeem looked unsurprised.
The foster mother laughed softly.
For a moment—
Everything almost appeared normal.
Then Qazeem noticed Basit standing nearby.
And smiled instantly. A peaceful one rather than competitive. They made peace the day basit told him --- he would give up if Rihannat choses him. Her peace of mind comes first to him." It was that day he started putting him in a high regard.
Basit is a man who loves quietly and selflessly. He care without holding back. Even when is interest is at stake. Such a man is rare. And Qazeem promised himself that day- he will do the same.
That is how a just, loving, selfless and upright man should do.
"Basit." he approached calmly, the smile on his face brightened further.
Basit forced himself to respond calmly and welcoming. They both hug and shake hands, surprising the girls who expected a dynamite to go off.
They could all still remember their reactions towards eachother at Rihannat Foster's parents house during their last holiday get together. What changed.
"Bro Qazeem." Basit answered
Farouq however already moved toward the girls shamelessly. Ignoring his junior sister folakemi who was among the group.
"Ah finally. Human beings I actually like."
Folakemi pointed immediately.
"You disappeared!"
"My mother kidnapped us emotionally," Farouq defended himself.
"That's not what happened," Mrs. Mustopha corrected calmly from behind.
"It felt like it."
Rayyan laughed softly.
Even Balkis smiled.
Then—
Farouq noticed Rihannat, he looked at everyone from head to toe.
Then blinked dramatically.
"Okay wait."
"Why does everybody suddenly look expensive tonight?"
Rihannat burst into laughter.
"You're insulting us somehow."
"I'm complimenting you."
"You're failing terribly."
Qazeem shook his head quietly while watching them, amused.
He turned towards the elders.
And then—
He noticed something strange.
Basit looked tense.
Not normal tension.
Not mild discomfort.
Something heavier.
Qazeem frowned slightly.
Before he could ask—
A cold voice interrupted from behind.
"Mustopha."
The laughter around the group died instantly.
Mr. Abbas Abdullah had approached.
And the fury in his eyes was impossible to miss.
The entire nearby atmosphere shifted immediately.
Basit inhaled slowly.
Faridat's smile disappeared. The two siblings were tensed seeing their father that way.
Even the girls sensed danger now.
Mr. Mustopha turned calmly.
"Abbas."
But Mr. Abbas was no longer interested in formalities.
"You have confidence showing your face here."
Silence.
Qazeem frowned deeply.
Farouq looked confused immediately.
"Dad?"
Mrs. Mustopha's expression tightened slightly.
Several nearby guests subtly began paying attention now.
"Collins, I will like to use your first floor reception. Plea....."
"No. Don't. It's fine, go ahead I will join soon. It's your place after all."
Mr. Mustopha remained composed.
He walked away followed by the Mustopha's and the others. Leaving the crowd behind them.
"This is neither the place nor time." Mr. Mustopha said immediately they entered the reception.
"No," Mr. Abbas replied sharply.
"It became exactly the place the moment I saw you walk through those doors pretending nothing happened."
Basit stepped forward carefully.
"Father…"
But Mr. Abbas ignored him completely.
His eyes never left Mr. Mustopha.
"I trusted you."
Now the tension became suffocating.
Qazeem exchanged a confused glance with Farouq.
Clearly—
Neither brother understood what was happening.
Mr. Abbas laughed bitterly.
"A man comes to you searching for information about a missing child."
His voice remained controlled.
But barely.
"I gave him access. I gave him resources. I told him we should investigate discreetly."
Rihannat slowly stiffened.
And suddenly—
Everyone understood where this was going.
Mr. Abbas continued coldly.
"And instead of reporting back to me like agreed…"
"He told me to stop investigating. He said not to give her highness hope then squash it. He told me the girl can't be the one, to give up and I did so, thinking he was right."
"Yet you investigated, gathered information and....,"
His gaze sharpened dangerously.
"You handed every single result directly to the Collins family."
Shock spread quietly across the group.
Farouq blinked hard.
Qazeem stared at his father.
"What?"
Mr. Mustopha finally spoke calmly.
"She deserved to know her family."
"That was not what you told me!"
The outburst echoed louder than expected.
Several conversations across the room stopped now, the children dare not utter a word now seeing the anger radiating off the man.
Mr. Abbas stepped closer.
"I asked you one thing."
His voice dropped lower.
"One time and you disappoint me this much."
Basit had never seen his father this angry before.
Never.
Even Faridat looked shaken now.
Mr. Mustopha however did not back away.
"I would make the same decision again."
That only worsened everything.
"You lied to me."
"I protected a child."
"You betrayed me."
"And you are angry because I chose her well-being over your pride." he would never say it was for another reason...
The silence afterward felt deadly.
Qazeem finally looked between both older men slowly.
Understanding dawning piece by piece.
Then his eyes widened slightly.
"You found out after Basit dad told you…"
His gaze shifted toward Rihannat.
"…and gave the report to Mr. Collins instead of him?"
Mr Mustopha wanted to argue that they are all friends, so what is the difference with whom he gave but he knew himself that the excuse was lame.
He could only glare at his son for uttering those shameful words. He thought begrudgingly "nobody will think you are mute if you keep quiet. I am doing it for you foolish boy."
It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Nobody answered immediately.
Which was answer enough.
Farouq looked completely stunned now.
"You mean…"
He looked at his mother.
"You knew?"
Mrs. Mustopha closed her eyes briefly.
Because this—
This was exactly the confrontation they had hoped to avoid tonight.
Nearby on the upper balcony—
Segun watched everything unfold quietly.
And slowly smiled.
Perfect.
Chaos had finally arrived.
"I will have to postpone mine till another day." He thought.
@Olukoyazainab