💔 The Price of Choice: Part 1 – Regret and Resurrection

The banging on the door came again, louder this time, shaking the hinges like they would tear off the wall. Adaeze’s breath caught in her throat. She thought her ears were lying to her. She thought her mind was playing tricks on her because of the pain. But then she heard it again.

“Adaeze hold on. I am coming.”

Her heart froze.

Her body stopped shaking for a moment.

Her eyes widened, filling with tears that didn’t fall.

Chike.

The same Chike she threw away like old clothes.

The same Chike whose heart she broke into pieces.

The same Chike who cried in the rain the day she left him.

The same Chike she treated like dust.

How? Why? What was he doing here?

She didn’t have time to think. Another wave of pain hit her so hard she screamed again. She felt the baby pushing down with force, like life itself was trying to escape her body. She grabbed the cold floor and pushed her back against the wall, panting.

The banging grew faster, harder, desperate.

.

.

.

“Adaeze hold on for me. Please.”

Tears rolled down her face. She wanted to answer. She wanted to scream his name. But only a broken sound escaped her lips.

“Ch… Ch…”

Her voice failed.

Then a cracking sound filled the room. The wooden door bent. Dust fell from the top. Another hit. Another. Her vision blurred, but she stayed conscious by force. She wanted to see who would walk in. She wanted to see the man she left behind.

Another powerful blow.

A piece of the door split open.

And through the hole, she saw it.

His eyes.

Those same eyes she used to stare into at the bus stop.

Those same eyes that once looked at her like she was the whole world.

Those same eyes she wounded with her selfishness.

Chike pushed his face close to the broken wood.

“Adaeze breathe. I am here. Stay with me.”

His voice was shaking.

His hands were bleeding from punching the door.

But he didn’t stop.

He stepped back.

He kicked the lock with full force.

Once.

Twice.

Thunder filled her ears.

Then the door finally flew open.

He rushed inside like a man chasing death away.

When he saw her on the floor, legs shaking, wrapper soaked with blood and water, sweat covering her face, his breath caught. Pain crossed his face like a sharp knife. He knelt beside her immediately.

“Jesus Christ. Adaeze. Why are you alone? Where is everybody? Why is this door locked?”

She couldn’t answer. She only touched his shirt with trembling fingers and whispered with the little strength left.

“Please… help me… my baby… please…”

Chike held her hand.

Warmth covered her cold skin.

She felt safe for the first time in months.

He checked her breathing, checked her pulse, checked the blood on the floor. He wasn’t a doctor, but fear guided him more than knowledge. He removed his jacket, folded it, and placed it under her back. Her head fell into his arm like it belonged there.

“Breathe, Adaeze. Follow me. In… out… in… out…”

She tried.

But the pain was sharp, slicing through her again. She screamed, clutching his shirt until her nails dug into his skin. He didn’t flinch.

He wiped her forehead.

“You’ll be fine. The baby will be fine. Stay with me.”

Another contraction.

She cried out.

Chike held her tighter.

His tears fell on her cheek.

He looked around the room.

No phone.

No intercom.

No one in the mansion.

His jaw tightened.

“This man locked you in here to die?”

She closed her eyes, ashamed.

But there was no time for regret.

Chike stood up quickly.

“Let me carry you. Let’s go to the hospital.”

He tried lifting her. She screamed in pain.

“No… I can’t… I feel the head… I can’t move…”

His heart dropped.

He knelt again.

“Ok. Ok. I’m here. Just push carefully.”

Her voice was breaking.

“I can’t do it… I can’t…”

“You can, Adaeze. Look at me.”

She opened her eyes weakly.

“I am not leaving you again. Not today. Not like this. Push when you feel it. I am right here.”

Her tears flowed.

Her fingers locked around his hand like her life depended on it.

Then the next contraction came, strong and wild.

She screamed and pushed.

Chike supported her back.

He held her shoulders.

He whispered encouragement like a man praying for a miracle.

“Good, Adaeze. Good. Again. You’re doing well.”

She pushed again, crying, sweating, shaking.

Then—

Footsteps.

Heavy.

Slow.

Coming down the upstairs hallway.

Chike looked up sharply.

His heart stopped.

Adaeze whispered in fear.

“He is home.”

The footsteps grew louder.

Chike stood, positioning himself between Adaeze and the door.

His fists clenched.

His eyes darkened with anger he had buried for years.

Then Chief Okadike appeared in the doorway.

He froze.

His face twisted with shock, then fury, then something darker.

“What are you doing in my house?”

Chike didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

Didn’t step away.

Adaeze screamed again as another contraction hit her body. The sound echoed through the mansion.

Chief Okadike watched her on the floor like she was a stranger, not his wife.

Then he looked at Chike again.

“Leave her. You have no right to be here.”

Chike’s jaw tightened.

“She called for help. You locked her here to die.”

Chief Okadike laughed coldly.

“She is my wife. Not your business.”

Her scream cut the air again.

Her body arched forward.

The baby was coming.

Chike shouted.

“She’s in labor now. We need help.”

But Chief Okadike didn’t move.

Instead, he stepped back and reached behind him.

And Chike’s eyes widened when he saw what he pulled out.

A gun.

The world went silent.

Adaeze’s scream faded.

Chike’s breath froze.

The baby was pushing.

Death was standing in the doorway.

Chief Okadike pointed the gun straight at Chike’s chest.

“If you don’t leave my wife and my house in the next five seconds, you will die right here.”

Adaeze tried to speak.

Her voice cracked.

“Please… stop… please…”

But he didn’t look at her.

He only glared at Chike.

One.

Chike didn’t move.

Two.

Adaeze grabbed Chike’s hand weakly.

Three.

Chike whispered to her.

“I will not leave you to die.”

Four.

Adaeze screamed as the baby’s head crowned.

Five.

Chief pulled the trigger.

The sound exploded through the mansion.

The lights flickered.

Then….

---

Jennylight

To Be Continued in Episode 2…