The Prodigal Daughter – Episode 36 & 37

The Prodigal Daughter – Episode 36

Episode 36: The Betrayal

The night was eerily quiet as Sandra stood in the cold, dimly lit warehouse, trying to process everything Tunde had just confessed. Her mind raced. Could he really be telling the truth? Could he truly have been trapped by Mr. Leke the entire time? She wanted to believe him—wanted to believe that the Tunde she had known wasn’t just another pawn in Mr. Leke’s game—but deep down, something felt off.

Tunde shifted uneasily under her gaze, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. “Sandra, I swear, I never wanted any of this. I never wanted to hurt you. But I… I’ve done things. Things I can never undo.”

Sandra swallowed, fighting the wave of emotions crashing over her. She needed answers. And she needed them now.

“If you didn’t want this, why didn’t you tell me from the beginning, Tunde?” Her voice cracked, betraying the pain she was feeling. “Why lead me on, make me trust you?”

Tunde’s eyes flickered with guilt, but he said nothing. He was torn. He was caught between the life he had built with Mr. Leke and the woman who had come to mean so much to him. But he had made his choices, and now, they were closing in on him.

“I… I couldn’t. Mr. Leke… He’s dangerous. You don’t understand,” he said, voice shaking. “He has people everywhere, Sandra. He’s not just some businessman. He controls everything—every move, every decision. If I had told you the truth, he would’ve found out, and it would’ve been the end for both of us.”

Sandra shook her head. “And now you think I’m just going to sit here and trust you after everything that’s happened? After all the lies?”

A long silence hung between them. Tunde stepped forward, reaching out as if to grab her hands, but Sandra pulled away, her eyes narrowing.

“I’m sorry, Sandra,” Tunde whispered, his voice filled with despair. “I never meant to hurt you. But I’m too far in. I’m too deep. If we don’t stop him now, he’ll destroy us both.”

Sandra felt a cold shiver run down her spine. Something wasn’t right. She could feel it—her instincts telling her that Tunde’s confession was only half the truth.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of footsteps echoing in the distance. It was faint at first, but it grew louder. She turned sharply, her heart racing. Someone was coming. And they weren’t alone.

“Tunde, we need to leave. Now,” she said urgently, grabbing his arm.

But just as they were about to make a run for it, the door to the warehouse slammed open, and a group of armed men stepped inside. The harsh light from the streetlights illuminated their faces, revealing cold, calculating eyes. Sandra’s stomach dropped. She knew exactly who they worked for.

Mr. Leke.

Before she could react, Tunde shoved her behind him, his eyes wide with fear.

“Run!” he shouted, his voice desperate. “Go, Sandra! Get out of here!”

But as Sandra took a step back, something caught her eye—something she hadn’t noticed before. One of the men in the group, the one standing closest to the door, wasn’t a stranger. He was familiar—too familiar.

It was Chuka.

Sandra’s heart stopped. Chuka had been with them all along. He had been working for Mr. Leke the entire time.

Her stomach twisted with betrayal. “You… You were with him all along?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Chuka’s lips curled into a smug smile. “You’re not as smart as you think, Sandra. Mr. Leke’s always been two steps ahead.”

The shock was overwhelming. Sandra’s mind scrambled to make sense of everything. All this time, Chuka had been feeding information back to Mr. Leke. He had been the one feeding lies, creating confusion. Tunde’s betrayal had been the spark, but Chuka? He had been the fire.

Tunde, seeing the look in Sandra’s eyes, turned to face her, his own eyes wide in disbelief. “Sandra, I—”

But before he could say another word, the armed men stepped forward, blocking their escape. There was no way out now.

“We need you, Sandra,” Chuka said coldly, stepping closer. “You’re the missing piece. And you will do what Mr. Leke says. One way or another.”

Sandra’s pulse raced. She was trapped. She had trusted the wrong people. And now, she had to face the consequences of that trust. Her life, her choices—everything was spiraling out of control.

To be continued…

The Prodigal Daughter – Episode 37

Episode 37: The Trap Tightens

Sandra’s mind spun as she sat on the cold metal chair, her hands tied behind her back. The dimly lit room smelled of damp concrete and cigarette smoke. Her heart pounded as she tried to steady her breathing. She had no idea where they had brought her, but she knew one thing—Mr. Leke had finally trapped her.

Across from her, Chuka leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching her with an expression she couldn’t read. Gone was the friendly, protective friend she once knew. Now, all she saw was a man who had played her from the very beginning.

“You still don’t get it, do you?” Chuka’s voice was calm, almost amused. “You thought you were in control. You thought you were outsmarting Mr. Leke. But all this time, you were playing right into his hands.”

Sandra clenched her jaw. “You lied to me.”

Chuka let out a low chuckle. “I did what I had to do. You were too stubborn to listen. Now look where that got you.”

Sandra’s mind raced. She needed a way out. Fast.

Just then, the heavy steel door creaked open, and footsteps echoed against the floor. Sandra tensed as Mr. Leke himself stepped into the room, his presence overwhelming. He wore a crisp white suit, his gold watch gleaming under the dim light. His face held that same unreadable smirk that always made her uneasy.

“Sandra,” he said smoothly, his voice like silk laced with poison. “You’ve given me quite a headache.”

She said nothing, refusing to show fear.

Mr. Leke sighed dramatically. “I have to admit, I’m impressed. You lasted longer than most. But in the end, you were never going to win.”

Sandra swallowed hard, keeping her face blank. She couldn’t let him see how terrified she was.

Mr. Leke turned to Chuka. “You did well. Very well.”

Sandra’s stomach twisted. Chuka’s betrayal cut deeper than she wanted to admit.

Mr. Leke leaned forward, his dark eyes piercing into hers. “I’ll give you one last chance, Sandra. Work for me. Or disappear forever.”

Sandra’s heart pounded. She knew what that meant. But she also knew something Mr. Leke didn’t.

She smiled.

A slow, knowing smile that made even Chuka frown.

Mr. Leke’s smirk faltered. “What’s funny?”

Sandra leaned back against the chair. “You think you’ve won.”

Chuka and Mr. Leke exchanged a glance.

Sandra’s voice was steady now. “But you made one mistake.”

Mr. Leke’s jaw tightened. “And what is that?”

Sandra met his gaze with cold confidence. “You underestimated me.”

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed from outside the room.

Mr. Leke turned sharply. “What was that?”

The sound of running footsteps filled the air.

Sandra’s smile widened.

Help was coming.

And this time, she wasn’t alone.

To be continued…