Meanwhile, at the same moment in Star Restaurant, Chioma was about to exit through the entrance door to receive a call from Michael due to poor network reception. However, as she stepped outside, a group of individuals, claiming to be Jessica's fans, swiftly approached her, hurling insults and accusations.
'Chioma Chima, what kind of woman are you? Didn't your mother teach you to respect your womanhood? How could you cheat on two powerful men at the same time?' they berated her.
Chioma knew they meant trouble. 'I'm sorry if you misunderstood,' she replied calmly.
'Misunderstood?' a woman with a shrill voice scoffed. 'It's clear that you cheated on these two men for your own benefit! Unfortunately for you, Jessica was quick to expose your motives!'
The commotion attracted the attention of passers-by and customers at the restaurant, sparking a flurry of speculation. Within minutes, a crowd of hundreds had gathered around Chioma, their faces a mix of curiosity and judgment. Reporters weaved through the throng, shoving cameras and microphones in Chioma's face, eager to capture the unfolding incident on their devices.
'Madam Patricia will never accept you for her son neither will Madam Isabelle accept you for her son. Who will accept a cheap whore like you? Of course, no one,' someone shouted.
'Give Jessica back her man!'
'You don't deserve a good man.'
'You'll live a life of misery.'
The insults escalated, with some pushing Chioma, others throwing raw eggs, and some even physically assaulting her. The scene grew hotter and louder. To these people, Chioma was shameless. In their eyes, Jessica was the only worthy woman for Michael, and they hoped Felix would find a better partner for himself.
Chioma found herself completely surrounded, with no means of escape. Panic clawed at her throat, but she fought back tears, refusing to give these bullies the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Chisom, too, was unable to reach Chioma and offer assistance against these troublemakers.
'Instead of attacking me as if I'm a criminal, why not ask your questions?' Chioma calmly proposed, her voice surprisingly steady.
Chioma's plea was met with a chorus of jeers.
'What trick do you have up your sleeve?'
'You're a conniving schemer.'
'You deserve to rot in hell.'
'You look innocent, but deep down, you're rotten,' a particularly spiteful voice hissed.
Chioma retorted, meeting their gaze head-on. 'You claim to care about Jessica, Michael, and Felix, yet here you are tarnishing their reputation. The whole world is likely watching this melodrama you're creating, and what do you think their judgment will be? They'll say that you're the cause of all these problems.'
She paused for a second and looked around at the crowd most of whom were Jessica's fans. The warm orange light from the setting sun made long shadows dance on the ground, hiding some people's faces, but their hatred was clear.
'In Nigeria, we have entertainment companies that house some of the hottest domestic celebrities,' Chioma continued. 'The presidents of these companies have enough wealth to make anyone famous, as long as they are willing to promote them. But unfortunately for you, none of these companies would invest in making you famous because your faces bring nothing but bad luck... They wouldn't hire people who are talkative but rather those who protect the company's image.'
A tense silence followed.
'Whether or not I cheated on these two men, even if I don't explain myself, I'm confident that the world is advanced enough to detect photoshopped images and use lie detectors to determine if I'm telling the truth or not,' Chioma said firmly, 'I'm sure the street cameras around would have captured some truth about my relationships with these men. I know you recognise a whore when you see one. I know you love Jessica, but don't ruin anyone's reputation because of this. I don't wish to speak further, but I hope you don't see me as an enemy, but rather someone who found herself in a complicated love story. But in the end, everything will be all right.'
Chioma spoke calmly and directly, not forceful but firm in her words. Chisom beamed with pride, seeing her best friend fearlessly standing up for herself in this moment.
Julia, who was present at the scene with her friends, couldn't contain her anger any longer. She positioned herself between her friends and Chisom, turning her attention to Chioma. 'Before you appeared out of nowhere, everything was calm and peaceful,' she spat. 'But not only did you cheat on Michael, you also cheated on Felix. You hurt two good men. How can you claim innocence?'
'If you don't give Jessica back her man, you'll live in perpetual misery,' another person chimed in.
Chisom scoffed at the statement. 'Do you truly believe Jessica is meant for Michael?' she challenged, her words carrying a deeper meaning.
'Yes, they've been childhood friends,' the person replied.
'So, does that mean we should all marry our childhood friends?' Chisom countered.
Just then, a booming voice cut through the chaos. 'How dare you speak so disrespectfully to my woman?' Then, a sudden hush fell over the crowd. Heads swivelled towards the source, parting like waves before a tidal surge. Michael appeared out of nowhere, his tall figure and handsome face standing out from the mess. His eyes narrowed, scanning the scene until they landed on Chioma.
The presence of Michael stunned everyone, except for Chisom, who had discreetly informed him about the situation. A tremor of relief shot through Chioma, momentarily eclipsing the sting of humiliation. Chioma's heart skipped a beat, a tiny bit of hope sparked inside her, but a worried feeling wouldn't go away. What if Michael didn't want her back? Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision.
Michael strode towards her, his every step parting the throng like Moses before the Red Sea. The crowd held their breath, their hostility momentarily replaced by stunned curiosity. As he reached Chioma, he enveloped her in a protective embrace, and planted a kiss on her cheek before standing by her side, a powerful declaration that sent a warmth through her despite the mortifying situation. Michael did that to show everyone that Chioma was his woman.
All Chioma wished for was to find a hole and hide in it. She felt incredibly embarrassed, but amidst the humiliation, there was an overwhelming sense of sweetness in her heart because Michael was there with her, protecting her.
He released Chioma from the hug and looked at the crowd with a serious face. His voice sounded low and dangerous, making everyone shiver. 'I could make all of you disappear from this state if I wanted to. How dare you speak to my woman like that? Do you have a death wish?'
The crowd stammered, their bravado faltering under Michael's fierce intensity. Even Julia, the ringleader, seemed momentarily speechless.
Michael glared fiercely at the people gathered, and with the commanding tone of a king, he addressed the crowd, 'Do you know what Chioma means to me? She's not just my woman, she's my life.' The announcement left the onlookers or rather Jessica's fans shocked. They had expected Michael to humiliate Chioma, but instead, he treated her like a queen in front of everyone. Michael turned back to Chioma, his voice softening as he brushed a tender kiss on her cheek. 'You,' he declared, his voice ringing out, 'are the sun in my sky. The air I breathe.'
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Jessica's fans thought Michael would yell at Chioma, but instead, he was saying he loved her in front of everyone. Julia tried to argue, her face turning red. 'But... Sir... Michael, you've spent a lot of time with Jessica since childhood. It's expected for you and Jessica to be together,' Julia interjected. 'You can't just pick a random girl and make her your woman. What if she has an incurable disease? Jessica is pure and beautiful. She possesses all the qualities.'
Michael looked at Julia with a cold stare. 'Anyone who tries to come between me and Chioma is nothing but a nuisance, a third wheel. I am not in a relationship with Jessica and I never will be. And you,' he said slowly, his voice dripping with dislike, 'you're just an extra in my love story. I can easily turn you into an extra without a face.' In front of everyone, Michael lowered his head and brushed a soft kiss on Chioma's lips. 'She is the better half of my heart,' he declared.
Julia felt so ashamed, her face turned bright red. She mumbled something inaudible before melting back into the crowd. Michael, with a final possessive glance at Chioma, scooped her up in his arms, ignoring her surprised yelp. Everyone watched with their mouths open as he carried her away, their shocked faces a clear message that he didn't believe their lies.
Chioma glanced at Chisom, who was smiling slightly, before she whispered to Michael, 'Please let me down. I'm not a baby.'
'Don't say that again,' Michael said dominantly. 'If they want to write headlines, then let's make it easy for them.'
The onlookers couldn't help but continue staring as Michael whisked Chioma away from the scene. He placed her in his car and drove her to a luxurious restaurant. Although Chioma didn't feel like indulging in such pampering at the moment, she couldn't help but appreciate the beauty of the place as they arrived.
'Michael, I don't want all this,' Chioma protested.
Ignoring her words, Michael carried her up an elegant spiral staircase and into a lavishly decorated private room. Chioma's eyes were drawn to the stunning chandelier hanging from the high ceiling, adding to the beauty of the surroundings. After gently setting her down, a waitress came to welcome them, and within a few minutes, they were seated in front of a sumptuous spread of food.
Michael waited for Chioma to eat to her heart's content before breaking the silence. However, it was evident that Chioma wasn't in the mood for food. After a moment, he spoke softly, 'Tell me the truth.'
Chioma looked up at him, her eyes filled with uncertainty. 'The truth is... I don't deserve you,' she admitted, her voice filled with self-doubt. She paused for a moment before continuing, 'They are right; Jessica is the one who deserves you. I'm not even sure if I can move on...'
'Are you admitting that you're in love with Felix too?' Michael asked, seeking clarification.
Chioma remained silent, not knowing how to begin explaining everything to Michael.
'Was Felix the reason you wanted our relationship to be announced?' Michael pressed further.
'Yes... I've only ever loved one man in my life, and I would never cheat on him. Everything that happened was a misunderstanding and my own foolishness. If I had explained everything to you earlier, if I had known you were related to Felix, if I had been brave enough to tell him that I already had a beau, then we wouldn't be in this situation. Yes, when I met Audrey, I didn't have a boyfriend. That's the truth. But I know she might see me as a user... I may not have made any vows in a church, but I will never break the vow I made in my heart,' Chioma expressed, her voice sincere and filled with regret.
'Does that mean you love me and not Felix?' Michael asked, his gaze fixed on Chioma.
'You already know the answer to that question,' Chioma replied, her eyes meeting Michael's.
A warm smile spread across Michael's face. 'Then nothing should change. I will introduce you to my parents on Saturday, and gradually, you will get to know all my family members.'
Chioma remained silent, her thoughts consumed by doubts about whether she would be accepted into the Njemanze family. She stared at Michael, hoping that her fears would prove unfounded.