The Truth Revealed

"Well?" Ndidi's voice sliced through the crowd's mutterings, sharp and commanding. "Where is this so called proof, Nnenna? Or have you finally realized that slander has consequences?"

Nnenna swallowed hard, her mind racing for a way to salvage the situation. But the damning silence only deepened the humiliation.

Ndidi seized the opportunity to turn the tide in her favor. Her voice was clear, calculated, and filled with mockery. "I knew it! You're jealous of Olaedo's marriage to Chibuzor. That's the only reason you're trying so hard to turn her against the Arinze family."

"N-no, that's not true!" Nnenna stammered, her confidence wavering under the weight of the accusation. "Don't try to twist this—"

But the damage was done. Ndidi's words rippled through the crowd, drawing murmurs and nods of agreement.

"That makes sense," a middle aged man muttered, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Her friend marries into a powerful family, and now she's trying to stir trouble. Classic envy."

"What a vile woman!" an elderly lady exclaimed, shaking her head in disdain.

The tide had turned, and the air grew heavy with judgment directed at Nnenna. Her protests fell on deaf ears.

"Stop it!" Olaedo's voice cut through the growing whispers. All eyes turned to her, startled by the sudden outburst. She stood tall, her expression resolute. "I trust my friend," she declared firmly. "Nnenna has never lied to me. Not even once."

Her words silenced the murmurs, but a sudden realization dawned on her, causing her heart to race.

The cloud.

Olaedo's eyes widened as the thought clicked into place. The voice recording might have been deleted from Nnenna's phone, but not from the cloud backup. There was still a chance to retrieve the truth!

She collected the phone from her and searched the storage immediately.

Olaedo's heart sank as she realized that Nnenna's phone had already been wiped clean. Even the cloud storage had been tampered with. The thugs had been meticulous, erasing every trace of evidence.

But she wasn't ready to give up. With determination etched on her face, she pulled out her own phone, ignoring the curious stares from the crowd. Her fingers moved swiftly as she accessed her cloud backup. Silence filled the room as everyone watched her, wondering what she was up to.

Moments later, Olaedo downloaded her chat history and headed straight to the technical team overseeing the event. Her confidence was unshaken, and her resolve left no room for doubt.

Minutes felt like hours as the technical team worked. Then, the large screen at the front of the hall lit up with the messages. Gasps echoed through the ballroom, each one louder than the last. The evidence was undeniable, the chats were from six months ago.

Olaedo stood before the crowd, her voice steady and clear. "These are the messages. Not only did Adamu twist my words, but he also tampered with the dates. This is proof of my innocence."

The weight she had carried for hours lifted from her shoulders, leaving her feeling lighter and stronger. As her gaze swept across the room, her eyes found Chibuzor. In that moment, she saw it, a flicker of pride shining in his eyes. He was proud of her, and it filled her with a quiet sense of triumph.

Turning to Ndidi, she addressed her calmly, though her words carried an undeniable warning. "Look, Ndidi, I don't know if you were involved in this or not. I have no solid proof against you yet. But if I ever find out you had a hand in this..."

Her words hung in the air like a sword poised to strike. Without waiting for a response, she descended the stage, leaving Ndidi pale and visibly shaken. The icy warning had struck its mark, and the relatives who had stood with her moments ago suddenly began to fade into the background, distancing themselves from her in silence.

The room had shifted, and with it, so had the power dynamic.

The crowd fell silent as Chibuzor's sharp, dark gaze landed on Ndidi. A resolute thought flickered through his mind, firm and unyielding 'I won't let her dirty her hands while I'm here.'

As if sensing the weight of his silent judgment, Ndidi's eyes darted toward him. The intensity of his expression was enough to make her stumble backward, her steps faltering.

Unconsciously, she tugged at the hem of her dress for balance, but it was no use. She tripped, her heel catching the edge of the fabric, and fell backward. Her outstretched hand caught the corner of the tablecloth, yanking it down with her.

A symphony of disaster followed. Glasses clattered, and drinks cascaded across the table before raining down on her. The vibrant liquids stained her expensive gown, smearing her carefully applied makeup into a chaotic mess.

Obinna reflexively stepped back, narrowly dodging the splashes, but his shock rendered him speechless. Ndidi, once the epitome of grace and sophistication, now sat amidst the ruin of her own image.

The room froze, a thick silence enveloping the guests. It lasted only seconds before it shattered under a wave of laughter. Mockery and whispers spread like wildfire through the crowd, a few voices murmuring about retribution.

"She could have done it," someone muttered under their breath. "Maybe this is karma?"

The press wasted no time, their cameras clicking furiously to capture the scandalous moment. The once impeccable Ndidi had become the headline of the night.

Olaedo, watching the scene unfold, stood rooted to the spot, her mind racing. Was this some strange consequence of her own actions, or simply an unfortunate twist of fate?

Confusion clouded her thoughts as she walked back to Chibuzor, seeking answers in his unreadable expression.

Chibuzor's warm hand slid into Olaedo's, his grip firm yet gentle, breaking through her cloud of confusion.

At first, her instinct was to pull away, her fingers twitching as if to retreat. But his hold tightened, not with force, but with a steady assurance. His dark eyes locked onto hers, unwavering and filled with sincerity.