Binary Hearts

112 | The End

That evening, Adaora decided to prepare a simple meal. She wanted to cook achi soup with yellow eba—a dish that once brought comfort to her long days. She gathered the ingredients, although she realized there weren't as many as she usually used. The stockfish smelled faintly of nostalgia as she soaked it in water, and the ground achi gave off its familiar aroma when she added it to the pot. She boiled her meat with onions, salt, and a touch of seasoning, then added the stockfish and achi leaf. The bubbling pot released a mild, savory aroma, but Adaora knew the flavors weren't as vibrant as usual.

As she stirred, she felt uneasy. After dishing out her portion and sitting to eat, the sudden wave of nausea hit her like a storm. She barely made it to the bathroom before vomiting. Weak and shaken, she covered the untouched food and retreated to bed, her appetite gone. Her body felt heavy, and sleep came quickly, though it was restless.

Meanwhile, Tunde and Adeola were packing for their evening flight. Adeola's hands trembled slightly as she zipped her suitcase, the weight of her nerves evident. "Why are you so nervous?" Tunde asked, his voice soft but probing. Adeola shook her head. "It's nothing," she muttered, though her tone betrayed her. Tunde wasn't convinced. He stepped closer, his hands resting lightly on her waist before sliding to her lower back. "Tell me...why are you nervous?" His voice dropped, but the pressure of his hand made Adeola flinch.

"I'm sorry, Tunde," she whispered before realizing the words had slipped out.

"Sorry for what?" His eyes narrowed.

"Never mind," she replied quickly, pulling away. Tunde didn't press further but watched her closely. As they prepared to board the plane, Adeola made a hurried phone call. The moment she saw Tunde approaching, she ended it abruptly. "New boyfriend?" he teased, trying to lighten the mood. "No, jhoor," she replied with a faint smile, but her laughter didn't reach her eyes.

The next morning, Adaora woke up feeling weak. Today was her mother's death anniversary, and her phone buzzed with messages from family members urging her to attend the memorial. But Adaora had already decided not to go. Tunde was arriving today, and she couldn't afford to miss his return. She forced herself out of bed, brushed her teeth, and took a lukewarm bath. Skipping breakfast, she sipped tea and sat idly, the hours dragging painfully slow.

Chidi, on the other hand, was restless. He knew today marked the end of Tunde. The thought twisted in his gut as he dialed his sniper dealer for confirmation. Everything was in place, but a flicker of unease lingered in him. Tunde was once his closest friend. Was this really necessary? He shook off the doubt, focusing on what had to be done.

As noon approached, Adaora and Mide sped to the airport. Adaora's heart raced with anticipation, even as her body still felt weak. Mide had arranged a team of bodyguards to secure Tunde's safety. When the plane landed, and passengers began to disembark, Tunde walked out, holding Adeola's hand. His eyes scanned the crowd until they locked onto Adaora.

The world seemed to stop. Tunde released Adeola's hand instinctively. Adaora's eyes glistened with emotion as she called out his name. "Tunde!" she yelled, running toward him.

Tunde stepped forward, arms outstretched, ready to embrace her. The bodyguards moved to stop her, but his raised hand gave her a clear path. She leaped into his arms, and he caught her effortlessly. The moment froze in time. Then, a gunshot shattered the air. Blood splattered across Tunde's face as Adaora shuddered in his arms.

"Ada!" he screamed, his voice breaking as her body slipped from his grip to the ground. He fell beside her, his mind blank and the world around him a blur. The airport erupted into chaos. Families screamed and ran for safety. Mide barked orders, sending guards to capture Adeola and others to chase the sniper.

Within minutes, Adaora was rushed to the hospital. Tunde clung to her limp hand in the ambulance, tears streaming down his face. "Ada...please don't leave me," he murmured as they wheeled her into the theater. The doors slammed shut, and Tunde tried to force his way in, screaming her name, but Mide held him back. "Calm down, Tunde. Let them work."

Hours felt like days. Tunde paced the hallway, praying and muttering, "Adaora, please. I'm a coward. I love you. Don't leave me." The news had already spread online: Tunde Adeyemi long-awaited return to Lagos marred by tragedy.

Adaora's uncle and aunt arrived at the hospital, visibly shaken. They greeted Tunde respectfully, though their faces were lined with worry. When the doctor finally emerged from the theater, Tunde rushed forward. "We're sorry..." the doctor began, but Tunde didn't hear the rest. The room spun, and he collapsed.

Hours later, Tunde woke up to Mide's voice. "She's fine," he said, and Tunde's eyes darted around the room. "Adaora!" he called, and then she appeared. She looked radiant, her skin glowing and her eyes shining like pearls. Tunde pinched himself, unsure if he was dreaming.

Adaora walked toward him, and he pulled her into a tight hug, only loosening his grip when she groaned softly. "Sorry," he said, suddenly remembering the sniper's attack. "Are you okay? How are you feeling?" he asked, his words tumbling out.

"I'm fine, but..." Adaora hesitated. "Tunde, I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"I lost the baby," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Tunde froze. "Baby?" His eyes widened as realization dawned. He buried his face in his hands.

"I should have listened to you and stay away from Chidi," Adaora said, tears brimming in her eyes.

Tunde pulled her close. "Don't cry. I'm just glad I didn't lose you." He kissed her forehead gently. "Besides," he teased, "I can always fuck your and make another baby."

Adaora managed a small laugh through her tears. "Chidi and Adeola were imprisoned already. Adeola refused her family's attempts to bail her out, insisting she deserved to be punished" Mide informed Tunde.

Months Later

Tunde stood silently before Adeola casket, a storm of conflicting emotions swirling within him. A part of him felt pity, but the weight of the truths Mide had uncovered stifled any sympathy. From the beginning, Adeola had been by his side with ulterior motives, driven by her deep-seated grudges against Adaora. She had orchestrated the release of damaging news about Spark Technologies and Paystack to the media, hoping to tarnish his reputation. She even manipulated Chidi into tampering with Spark Technologies' gas cylinder to force the company into chaos and prevent Tunde from returning to Lagos so he could stay by hers Ife forever.

It was Adeola who leaked Tunde's flight details to Chidi and forwarded them to Adaora, ensuring her presence at the airport that day. Her influence extended to cornering the sniper hired by Chidi, using her power to change his orders. Instead of targeting Tunde, she instructed him to aim at Adaora. Adeola made sure Adaora would be there, knowing the emotional devastation it would bring.

She also sowed seeds of doubt in Adaora's mind, convincing her that Tunde's love wasn't genuine—that he saw her as nothing more than someone indebted to him. She urged Adaora to create distance between them or even pursue someone else, all as part of her calculated plan to isolate Tunde and destroy Adaora.

Now, staring at her still form, Tunde couldn't reconcile the woman he had once trusted is the main villain working with Chidi due to her obsession with him. The weight of her betrayal was overwhelming, and even though Adeola was gone, the scars of her actions remained. Tunde felt both relief and disbelief, knowing he could never truly forgive her.

As he walked away from the grave, Tunde felt a strange sense of closure. He held Adaora's hand tightly, knowing their future, though scarred, was now their own. Spark Technologies thrived under Mide's leadership, with Tunde as chairman. And as they left the cemetery, the sun broke through the clouds—a quiet promise of better days ahead.