Chapter 5 Bloodlines And Broken Chains 🔗

The Ikenna mansion was unusually silent.

No clinking wine glasses. No echo of staff moving across marble floors. No music playing in the background. Just a heavy stillness that clung to the walls like fog.

Chief Eze Ikenna stood alone in his private study.

His usually well-kept beard had begun to gray unevenly. His eyes were tired, ringed with sleepless nights. The chaos online had become impossible to contain - and the letter from Adaobi... the one he thought he had hidden well - had somehow made it to the public.

The same letter now lay open in front of him.

He read it again.

> "You once said you would move the world for me. I don't need the world. Just your name for our daughter. Even if you never hold her, let her be seen."

He dropped into his chair.

"Seen," he whispered.

That word echoed through his mind like thunder.

For years, he'd convinced himself it wasn't his problem. That shutting the door on the past would make it disappear.

Now the past had found a camera, a voice, and a face that looked too much like his.

And the world was watching.

---

Behind Closed Doors

Grace Ikenna stood at the foot of the stairs, arms crossed, her posture icy.

She had heard the press conference was happening in less than 24 hours. But her husband hadn't told her directly.

"He's acting like he has nothing to lose," she muttered to herself.

Muna walked in quietly from the hallway.

Grace turned sharply. "Where have you been?"

Muna didn't answer right away.

She'd expected this confrontation eventually.

Grace stepped forward. "I hope you're not still playing messenger for that girl."

"She's not just a girl," Muna said softly. "She's my sister."

Grace's hand twitched at her side, like she wanted to slap her.

But she didn't.

Instead, her voice went cold.

"You're throwing everything away. Your name. Your protection. Everything I gave you."

Muna lifted her chin. "No. I'm choosing what's right."

Grace's face cracked for a moment - a flicker of something that looked like heartbreak - before she turned away.

"She'll ruin you," Grace warned. "And when she does, don't come running to me."

Muna didn't flinch. "I never ran to you. Not once."

Then she left, leaving Grace standing alone in her designer heels, drowning in her own pride.

---

The Country Watches

The next morning, the press conference was aired on national television and streamed online.

Crowds gathered at viewing centers. Phones buzzed. Offices paused meetings. Lagos traffic even slowed down in some areas as people tuned in.

The event was held at a sleek media hall downtown. Cameras flashed nonstop.

When Chief Eze Ikenna stepped up to the podium, everyone noticed the change in him.

He looked... human.

Not the untouchable billionaire. Not the polished businessman.

Just a man.

He cleared his throat and began.

---

The Confession

> "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I will not waste your time.

I have made many decisions in my life - some wise, some selfish.

Today, I face one that was both.

Many years ago, I knew a woman named Adaobi Uzor. She was strong. Kind. She was not my wife. But she changed me in a way I can't explain.

We had a child together.

Her name is Adanna."

Gasps filled the room.

> "I did not raise her. I did not protect her. I chose silence over responsibility. And that silence became a wall she had to break down herself.

I watched her do it. Alone. Brave.

I am not proud of the man I've been.

But today, I acknowledge her. Fully.

I, Eze Ikenna, confirm that Adanna Uzor is my biological daughter."

The room was dead quiet.

Then, a flurry of camera flashes and whispers erupted.

But Eze raised his hand.

> "She owes me nothing. Not forgiveness. Not acceptance. This is not about family dinners or inheritance.

This is about truth.

And I hope, for once, I can give it."

---

Aftermath

The internet exploded within minutes.

#AdannaIkenna trended globally.

Memes, news stories, interviews - everything shifted.

Adanna wasn't a rumor anymore.

She was real.

---

Adanna Watches

Zinny and Adanna watched the press conference from their small room.

The room was completely silent after it ended.

Zinny turned slowly toward her friend.

"Well... damn," she whispered.

Adanna didn't smile.

Her expression was unreadable.

"How do you feel?" Zinny asked gently.

Adanna blinked. "I don't know."

She stood, walked to the window, and opened it.

The Lagos afternoon breeze swept across her face.

"For so long, I imagined this moment," she said. "But now that it's here..."

Zinny nodded. "It feels... weird?"

Adanna chuckled softly. "Yeah. That."

---

An Invitation

Later that evening, an envelope arrived.

It wasn't from the media.

It wasn't a threat.

It was handwritten.

> Dear Adanna,

If you are willing, I would like to meet.

No cameras. No press. Just us.

There are things I owe you.

A conversation is the first.

– Eze Ikenna

Adanna stared at the letter.

Then folded it slowly.

"I'm not ready," she whispered.

Zinny placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to be. He made his move. Now it's your turn."

The next morning brought gray skies and heavier questions.

Adanna sat at the small wooden table in their shared apartment. A bowl of cereal sat untouched in front of her. Zinny was watching her from across the room, scrolling silently through Twitter.

"Do you want to meet him?" Zinny finally asked.

Adanna didn't answer at first.

"I don't know," she said eventually. "I've hated him for so long. I practiced speeches in the mirror. Angry ones. Sarcastic ones. But now that he's... acknowledged me..."

Zinny nodded. "It softens the edge."

Adanna looked down at the letter again. The handwriting was neat. Measured. Like someone who had spent years building a perfect image.

She wondered what his voice would sound like in a private room. No cameras. No bodyguards. Just... him.

But she also knew one thing.

She would not walk into his world like a stray dog.

If they were to meet, it would be on her terms.

---

A Message from Muna

Her phone buzzed.

It was a voice note from Muna.

> "Hey, I know everything's chaotic right now. I saw the press conference. I cried watching it, and I'm not even the one who deserved that apology."

"I think he means it, though. My father. I saw his face after the speech. He didn't go out celebrating. He locked himself in his study and didn't even eat dinner."

"I'm proud of you, Adanna. Whether you meet him or not, just know - I'm here. You're not alone anymore."

Adanna listened to the message three times.

It was strange how much comfort a girl she'd never met a month ago could bring.

Sisters by blood. But now... more.

She typed a reply.

> "Let's meet. Just you and me. No drivers. No housekeepers. I want to know you for real."

Muna replied instantly.

> "I know a place. Let me plan it. I want this to be special."

---

Elsewhere: Grace Loses Control

Grace sat in the dark, in her private sitting room.

The curtains were drawn tight. A half-finished wine glass sat on the side table beside her. The TV was on mute - looping the press conference for the tenth time.

She watched her husband's mouth move without sound.

She knew that mouth.

Knew every lie it had spoken.

But this time... it had betrayed her.

"She's just a mistake," Grace whispered bitterly. "She's not one of us."

But it was too late.

The world believed her. The staff whispered her name. Even Amaka, her loyal assistant, had started asking quiet questions.

Muna barely spoke to her now. The silence was a slap Grace hadn't prepared for.

So she called a number she hadn't dialed in years.

A fixer.

A man named Kane, known for solving "family issues" quietly.

When he answered, his voice was cold.

"Who is the target?"

Grace stared at the screen, paused on Adanna's face.

And she whispered, "The girl. But make it look like she did it to herself."

---

The Meet-Up

Two days later, Adanna waited at a small, rustic café on the edge of Lekki.

It was tucked between a bookstore and a tailor's shop - hidden from paparazzi, simple and warm.

She wore a white blouse and dark jeans. Her braids were pulled back loosely. She felt normal again.

Then Muna walked in.

Adanna stood slowly.

They looked at each other for a long moment - eyes locking, mirrors of the same man's genetics.

Then they both laughed, almost shyly, and hugged.

It wasn't a dramatic embrace. It wasn't teary or overdone.

It was soft. Honest.

They sat down and ordered drinks.

---

"So... You're My Sister"

Muna stirred her iced coffee.

"You have my chin," she said.

Adanna raised an eyebrow. "You have my stubborn forehead."

They both laughed.

It broke the awkward tension that had tried to follow them.

"I always knew something was off," Muna said. "My dad never talked about his past. He told me everything about business. But not love. Not loss. Not mistakes."

Adanna sipped her drink. "I didn't even know who he was until I turned ten. My mom never spoke badly of him. She just... kept quiet. Worked double shifts. She didn't want pity."

Muna nodded slowly. "He loved her, you know."

Adanna's eyes narrowed slightly.

"I don't know that."

"I do," Muna said gently. "He kept the letter. All these years. In a box marked 'Private.' And I saw how he looked after your video came out. I've never seen him so... broken."

Adanna didn't respond right away.

Finally, she said, "Even if he did love her... he still chose to hide me. That's not love."

Muna reached across the table and touched her hand.

"I know. I'm not asking you to forgive him. I just want you to know I see you. I believe you. And I'm not going anywhere."

Adanna blinked back the burn behind her eyes.

"Thank you," she whispered.

---

Kane Makes His Move

Later that evening, Adanna and Zinny returned home, tired but smiling.

Their meeting with Muna had been better than expected. They'd even taken a few pictures together - though none were posted online.

But unknown to them, someone was watching from a black sedan parked across the street.

Kane.

He took photos. Wrote notes. Tracked her movement.

Then he made a call to Grace.

"She's soft. No security. Poor area. Easy target. You want a warning or a disappearance?"

Grace's voice was cold and measured.

"Just scare her. Shake her foundation. Remind her what happens to girls who don't stay in their place."

Kane smiled.

"Consider it done."

Nightfall wrapped Lagos in shadows and flickering headlights.

Adanna sat by the window, humming softly while scrolling through old photos on her phone. Most were of her mother - laughing in the kitchen, dancing with a mop, or smiling softly behind tired eyes.

Zinny was on the couch, scribbling notes for a freelance job. The fan buzzed lazily overhead. It was the kind of quiet moment that felt safe - like maybe, just maybe, life was turning around.

But outside, danger had already arrived.

---

The Break-In

At 11:47 PM, the front doorknob turned with a slow click.

It didn't creak.

There was no knock.

Just the sound of the lock sliding out of place.

Adanna didn't hear it at first. The fan masked the noise.

But Zinny, sharp as ever, noticed.

She froze mid-sentence.

"Did you lock the door?" she whispered.

Adanna frowned. "Of course. Why?"

Zinny dropped her pen and stood.

Then the door swung open.

A man in a black hoodie and gloves stepped into the room, face shadowed by a cap. His eyes scanned fast, calculating. In his hand: a metal rod.

He wasn't here to talk.

Zinny screamed.

Adanna grabbed her phone and bolted for the hallway, but the man lunged forward, slamming the rod into the side of the wall - barely missing her head.

The girls split instinctively.

Zinny kicked a chair into his path.

Adanna reached the kitchen and grabbed the pepper spray she kept taped under the sink - just in case.

She turned fast and sprayed without hesitation.

The man roared in pain, clutching his face.

Zinny ran to her side. "He's not alone! I saw someone outside!"

They didn't wait.

They jumped through the kitchen backdoor and sprinted barefoot into the night.

---

Running for Their Lives

The streets were quiet.

No taxis. No police. Just two girls in pajamas running through alleyways, chased by shadows.

Zinny hissed as she stepped on something sharp. "God, I think I'm bleeding!"

"We need to get to the main road," Adanna panted. "Where there are lights. People."

They ran for several more blocks before finally reaching a small buka still open.

Adanna slammed her fist on the counter. "Please! Please call the police. Someone broke into our house!"

The owner, a tired woman with a scarf wrapped around her head, looked at them in shock.

"Sit down," she said quickly. "You're safe here."

She called her son, who ran down the street toward the nearest checkpoint.

---

The Aftermath

When the police arrived, the apartment had already been cleared.

No fingerprints. No tools. Just the lingering smell of pepper spray and a chair knocked over.

"We'll investigate," the officer said, though his tone lacked confidence.

Adanna didn't care. She wasn't expecting help.

She knew what this was.

Not a robbery.

Not random.

It was a warning.

Someone wanted her scared. Silenced.

But instead, it did the opposite.

It woke something in her.

---

The Next Morning

Adanna stared at herself in the mirror.

Her eyes were bloodshot. Her hair a mess. But her gaze - steady.

She didn't want pity anymore.

She wanted power.

Her phone buzzed.

Muna.

> "I heard what happened. I'm coming to pick you. Pack your things. You're staying somewhere safe. No arguments."

Adanna hesitated.

But then she replied:

> "Okay. But first, I want to meet him. Your father."

---

Face to Face

The meeting was arranged quietly.

No press. No assistants. Just the three of them - Eze, Muna, and Adanna - at a neutral house outside the city.

When Adanna arrived, she felt no fear. Just fire in her chest.

Eze Ikenna stood when she walked in.

For a moment, he looked ten years older.

He opened his mouth, then closed it.

Muna gave them both a nod and left them alone.

Adanna sat across from him. Silent.

He finally spoke.

"I don't expect you to forgive me."

"I don't," she replied.

He nodded.

"I lied for years. I made myself a king in public and a coward in private. I ignored your mother. I erased you. And now I see the damage. I can't undo it. But I can face it."

Adanna didn't blink.

"What do you want from me?"

"Nothing," he said quickly. "I want to give. Not take."

She tilted her head. "Then give me answers."

He exhaled.

"I loved your mother. But I was already married. My father - your grandfather - threatened to ruin everything if I claimed you. He said no daughter outside marriage would ever carry the Ikenna name. I chose my ambition over truth."

Adanna clenched her jaw. "So I was your secret. Your sin."

He didn't deny it.

"I was wrong," he whispered. "Every day I watched you rise, I felt pride and shame. You did more without my name than most do with it."

She crossed her arms. "I don't need your empire. I built my voice."

"I know," he said. "But it's time the world knows who you are - not for my sake, but yours. You earned it."

They sat in silence for a moment.

Then Adanna said, "You want to help? Then make sure your wife never comes near me again."

His eyes sharpened. "Did she...?"

"I know she sent someone. I don't need proof. I know fear when I see it. And I know power moves when I feel them."

He nodded slowly.

"I'll handle Grace. Personally."

---

Grace's Fall

That night, Grace received a letter.

Hand-delivered. No stamp. No signature.

It simply read:

> *You're finished. You come near her again, and I will burn every bridge I built for you. Starting with the charity, the board seats, and your credit lines.

She is my daughter.

This time, I will not fail her.*

– Eze

She screamed and tore the letter in half.

But it was too late.

She was losing everything.

And no one - not even the staff - stood with her anymore.

---

A New Beginning

Adanna didn't return to the old apartment.

Muna moved her into a secure apartment downtown. Quiet. Safe. Paid for fully - no strings attached.

Within days, offers started pouring in.

Interviews. Endorsements. Campaigns.

Not because she was "the Ikenna daughter" - but because she was Adanna Uzor - the girl who took on power and made it flinch.

She chose carefully.

She remained grounded.

And every night, she whispered her mother's name before sleep.

> "We did it, mama. They see me now."