I Rejected the Richest Guy in Church—Here’s Why I Don’t Regret It: Episode 3

I Rejected the Richest Guy in Church—Here’s Why I Don’t Regret It: Episode 3

EPISODE 3: The Gossip and the Truth

I barely made it outside before the whispers turned into full-blown murmuring.

Some people were hurrying after me, their voices rising in confusion and shock.

“Did she just say no?”

“Is she out of her mind?”

“I knew she wasn’t normal. Who rejects Charles Okafor?”

I didn’t stop walking until I got to the church garden, where I finally leaned against a tree, trying to catch my breath. My hands were still shaking, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

I had done it.

I had turned down the richest, most eligible bachelor in church.

And I was sure that, by now, the news had already started spreading like wildfire.

“Naza!”

I turned sharply. Amaka was storming toward me, her expression a mix of anger and disbelief.

“Babe, what just happened inside there?” she demanded, grabbing my hand. “You rejected Charles? In front of everybody? In church?”

I swallowed hard. “Yes.”

She threw her hands in the air. “I don’t understand! This is the same Charles that every girl in this church is praying for! Do you know how many sisters would kill for that proposal?”

I sighed and shook my head. “Amaka, you don’t understand.”

“Then make me understand!” She folded her arms, tapping her foot impatiently. “Because right now, you look like a village girl that doesn’t know when God has answered her prayers.”

I took a deep breath. I knew she wouldn’t get it—not yet.

“I couldn’t marry him,” I said quietly.

Amaka scoffed. “Why not?”

I looked away. “Because God told me not to.”

She blinked. “What?”

I turned back to face her. “Amaka, God told me not to marry Charles.”

She burst into laughter. Loud, sarcastic laughter.

“Oh my God! Naza, please don’t kill me this afternoon.” She wiped imaginary tears from her eyes. “So God sat on His throne in heaven, looked down at all the problems in the world, and decided to personally tell you not to marry a rich, handsome, born-again man? Abeg, stop that thing!”

I frowned. “You don’t believe me?”

“Of course, I don’t!” she shot back. “Do you even know how ridiculous that sounds? God told you not to marry Charles? What exactly did He say? That you should marry a struggling brother instead?”

I sighed again. “I don’t expect you to understand. But Amaka, something is wrong with Charles.”

She rolled her eyes. “What could possibly be wrong with him?”

I hesitated. Should I tell her? Should I reveal what I knew?

Before I could decide, we heard footsteps approaching.

We both turned—and there stood Charles.

His expression was unreadable.

But one thing was clear.

He had heard everything.

To be continued…