Unspoken Words

The silence in the room was thick, almost tangible, as Amanda paused mid-sentence. Her eyes darted to the door where her father had just made an unexpected entrance.

Henry, who had been hanging on her every word, felt a sudden tension. He was desperate to uncover the secret Amanda was on the verge of revealing.

"Sorry, I just..." Amanda cleared her throat, her eyes flickering with a mix of emotions. She quickly shifted the topic, her voice a little too bright.

"So, Henry, how come you weren't at the eatery with Kelvin and the others last night? I didn't see you there."Henry, still reeling from the abrupt change in conversation, took a moment to gather his thoughts.

"Oh, that. John did invite me, but my schedule was a nightmare yesterday. Couldn't make it," he explained, his gaze never leaving Amanda's face.

"I heard about the commotion, though. Kelvin told me how he... well, how he embarrassed you. He sent me to apologize on his behalf.

"Amanda's expression softened into a smile, but her eyes held a spark of mischief.

"So, Kelvin feels too important to come down here and say sorry himself? Yet he has the nerve to insult me and then hide behind his friends?"

Henry chuckled, the tension easing between them. "You know Kelvin. He's got his pride. But he does feel bad, Amanda. He just doesn't know how to show it."

Their conversation flowed effortlessly from there, with laughter and playful banter filling the room.

But as the minutes ticked by, Henry couldn't shake off the feeling that Amanda was holding something back. The secret she had been about to share lingered in the air, unspoken yet heavy with significance.

As the evening wore on, Amanda's father left the room, giving them privacy once again. Henry seized the opportunity.

"Amanda, earlier, you were about to tell me something important. What was it? You can trust me."Amanda hesitated, her smile fading. She looked at Henry, her eyes searching for him.

"It's complicated, Henry. I want to tell you, but it's not just my secret to share. It involves... others."Henry leaned in, his curiosity piqued.

"Others? Who?"She bit her lip, clearly torn. "I can't, Henry. Not yet. But soon, I promise."Frustrated but understanding, Henry nodded.

"Okay, I'll wait. But Amanda, whatever it is, I'm here for you."The clock struck late, and it was time for Henry to leave.

As he stood at the door, he turned back to Amanda. "We'll talk soon, right?"Amanda nodded, her eyes holding a depth of secrets yet to be revealed.

"Soon," she echoed. Henry stepped out into the cool night, the door closing softly behind him. As he walked away, he couldn't help but feel that the secret Amanda was keeping might change everything.

As the moon hung high in the sky, a single question lingered in his mind, leaving him with a question: What was Amanda hiding?

As Henry was preparing to leave, Mr. Wilson, Amanda's father, called out to him and showed him a picture of two little boys.

He asked Henry if he recognized the children, to which Henry replied that he had no idea.

Mr. Wilson smiled and informed Henry that the two boys in the picture were Henry and Kelvin as babies.

Henry was taken aback and paused for a moment, trying to process the information.

"Does that mean I'm Kelvin's brother?" he asked, looking confused.

Mr. Wilson smiled and confirmed, "Yes, you and Kelvin are brothers. Mr. Anderson is your biological father."

This revelation stunned Henry, and he glanced over at Amanda, who was also looking surprised.

Amanda interjected, "This is the secret I wanted to tell you. My father knows the truth."

Despite their words, Henry couldn't shake off his doubt about the information. He politely asked for permission to leave, as it was getting late.

Undeterred, Mr. Wilson continued, "Kelvin is not just your friend; he is your elder brother. You were separated at a young age. Your mother died from a gunshot after giving birth. The woman you currently live with is not your mother; she is the one who rescued you after the incident."

He went on to reveal that Mr. Anderson was secretly fighting to regain ownership of a billion-naira company and intended to give it to Kelvin.

The only way to achieve this was through two options: a contract marriage for Kelvin or naming both his sons as the owners of the company.

Mr. Anderson preferred the first option, as he harbored animosity toward Henry's mother and didn't want Henry to be involved.

Henry was filled with shock but remained skeptical, considering the lack of evidence for such a dramatic story.

As he was leaving, Mr. Wilson whispered in his ear, "If you think I'm lying, ask the woman you believe to be your mother. She will tell you more."

With his mind racing, Henry left, pondering the new information and the complexities of his family history.

He felt a sense of loss for the family he had never known, but also a newfound hope for the future. He had always felt like something was missing in his life, and now he knew what it was.

As the evening grew late, Henry thanked Mr. Wilson and Amanda for sharing the truth with him.

He needed time to process everything, to come to terms with his new reality. With a final smile, he bid them farewell and made his way home.

As Henry made his way home, he couldn't shake off the weight of the bombshell revelation.

His mind was in a whirlwind of confusion and questions as he grappled with the newfound knowledge about his identity and family history.

Upon reaching home, he found himself unable to look at his supposed mother in the same way.

The woman who had raised him, cared for him, and whom he had always considered to be his mother now held a mysterious aura in his eyes.

He couldn't help but wonder if she held the key to unlocking the truths that had been concealed from him for so long.