Romola watched Yetunde's father comfort her with whispers to her ears. If she had a father that cared even half of the way Yetunde's father did, she would not be here. Maybe Sunbo would still be alive. Maybe she would still be in school.

Instead, she had the unfortunate pleasure of watching Yetunde's theatrics.

Something had changed in the few minutes that Yetunde had gone from begging her to crying. Yetunde was scheming. But how would her nemesis lie her way out of the fact that the man she had implicated was not Modupe's biological father?

The test results would show.

Unless...

Unless Yetunde had also lied when she told the 'truth' about Modupe's parentage. Or unless they had hunted down the real man that fathered Modupe.

Romola shifted in her seat and tried to catch Yetunde's gaze. All she got was the seething stare of the adults in the room. Thankfully, they left her to herself and Ayo had taken the space beside her on the chair.

Even with that, she would stand by the resolution that she had made. Yetunde had escaped with far too much. That same Yetunde would have to determine if she was willing to sacrifice her daughter on her altar of lies.

The door swung open. Romola's heart pounded higher in her chest as she expected Olumide to walk into the room but the female doctor that had tried to convince her to give blood, hurried into the room clutching her stethoscope. Olumide and his sister followed closely behind.

Olumide's eyes met hers briefly. He was curious. Just like the rest of them but beyond curiosity, there was something else to his look. Something deeper and more stable and trusting than any way he had looked at her before. Now, he looked at her like she was the only marvel in creation

"Doctor?"

"Any news?"

The doctor stood in the centre of the room, announcing with a booming voice. "I'm afraid I have some news. Two actually."

"Ah. I said it. You've killed me. You've killed me." Yetunde's mother screamed, throwing her hands in the air.

"Calm down woman," Yetunde's father said.

"Don't tell me to calm down. Shebi, I was saying that we should not listen to this girl and you kept insisting that we should be patient." Yetunde's mother pointed at her husband.

Yetunde's father ignored his wife's accusations. "Doctor, go on."

Doctor Sammy looked around the room before her eyes settled on Romola. "Thank you."

Romola nodded. The look in Doctor Sammy's eyes was an assurance.

"What are you thanking her for?" Olumide's father asked. "She put this little girl's life in danger."

"She did not put anyone in danger. In fact, you all ought to be on your knees right now thanking her. But before that, let's get to the fact of the matter." Doctor Sammy began, "Where is the father of the child."

"We've been through this already." Yetunde said through tears.

Romola's face squeezed. How sick did Yetunde have to be to keep up this kind lie? Was Modupe that dispensable to her? Was there no one she cared for more than herself?

"That man is in no way related to the child."

Even though Romola had expected it, it still came as a shock to her. Maybe because she had doubted her plan a few minutes before. Or maybe because she could not believe that Yetunde could live freely after telling such a lie.

"Ehn?" Ayo jumped beside Romola.

"What did you say?" Yetunde's mother's eyes widened.

"You must be joking." Olumide's mother folded her hands.

Olumide came to Romola and sat, placing himself firmly between her and Ayo. He put his hands around her and she did not fight it as she leaned into his warmth. It would be over soon. So, it was right for her to enjoy a few stolen moments of his affection before she had to say goodbye.

Ajoke shook her head, "I didn't hear correctly."

Doctor Sammy turned to Ajoke with an angry look. "I'll only say this one more time. The man that was brought in cannot be the father of the injured child."

"God forbid." Ajoke snapped her fingers.

Yetunde turned to the doctor. "It's not possible. It's Heritage. He's A negative."

"A positive." The doctor said. "I couldn't believe it myself. I had it tested over and over again. And even if this was Modupe's father, he is still not a viable donor."

Romola looked around the room gauging the response of the people while everyone waited for Doctor Sammy to resume her speech. Yetunde was a torn bag of tears. Her mother, a pillar of disbelief but with a face that was quickly turning to Yetunde with alarm, full more of surprise than shock. Her father steamed up, his face becoming darker and thicker. Ajoke leaned towards doctor Sammy, arms akimbo and jaw gaping. Olumide's parent's stood in a corner, an emotionless picture perfect statue, like they couldn't be moved by whatever Doctor Sam said. Like their perfect faces could bear no emotion other than perfect attention.

Olumide grabbed her fingers and gave it a little squeeze. He squeezed a little too hard. She used her free hand to caress his arm.

He cleared his throat then lessened the pressure on her hand. "W- why isn't he a viable donor?"

"He is infected with hepatitis C and syphilis. He isn't even in good health. What astounds me is the fact that you don't care enough about your daughter to do the right thing."

"Daddy, you went and brought the wrong person." Yetunde screamed at her father, stepping away from his hold.

Romola's disgust grew. Yetunde's tactic was the same. Deny, blame and evade.

"Don't even go there. Is it not Heritage Oshodi?" Her father's voice overshadowed hers.

Yetunde shrank away from her father and Romola's lips spread in a smile. She could bet that Yetunde did not expect her father to turn on her.

"Daddy—" Her lips trembled.

"Don't daddy me. I know the man I brought. I would not joke with my granddaughter's life."

"No. You must have made a mistake."

"What mistake?" Her father screamed. "I handed him over to the police myself. It may be eight years but do you think I would forget the face of the man who raped my daughter? What kind of man would you take me for?"

"Daddy, that's not Heritage."

Her father grabbed her hand. "Okay, come let me take you to him. After all, you were the one who identified him."

"No." Yetunde fought, trying to dig her legs into the ground. "I don't want to see him."

Romola rose. "You know the real reason you don't want to see him is because he is not Modupe's father."

"Shut up." Yetunde's mother said.

"No oh. She should talk. Right now, Modupe's life is in her hands and if her word is what is necessary for me to save my grandchild, then I'm going to allow her."

"Daddy, you know she's a liar. She's just going to lie." Yetunde fell to her knees, clasping her father's trousers.

"There is no time to waste. If you know something, say it before she does." Ajoke said.

"What do you want me to say?" Yetunde fully sat on the floor and glared at Romola. "Whatever I say, she will twist it.

Romola shook her head and folded her arms. "So, you're telling me that you'd rather your daughter die because you think I'd lie. You're not ready. If e sure for you, Yetunde, say the truth."

"Mummy?" Yetunde kicked her feet like a petulant child as she turned to her mother. "What do you want me to say again?"

Why was she turning to her mother instead of admitting her faults?

"Can't we figure this out later. We should focus on saving Modupe." Her mother said.

"Yes." Yetunde pointed her hand in no particular direction and shook her head as she knelt up, holding her hands to Romola. "Oya, please. Help Modupe. We can discuss this later."

"I'm not the one stopping Modupe from getting help. You are. Who is her father, Yetunde?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?" Ajoke repeated.

"Why is it important?" Yetunde crawled to Romola and tugged at her dress. "Help me. You know I used to be your best friend and we used to talk about our children. How they would play together—"

"So, now you don't mind your daughter associating with the child of a prostitute. Think clearly Yetunde, who is the father of the child? I will not give one drop of blood unless I know the truth and there is nothing any of you can do about it."

"Mummy, daddy. See her. See what she is doing." Yetunde's head turned sharply to Olumide. "You. This is all your fault. Beg her."

"All she's asking for is the name of the father. Save us all the trouble and tell us."

Yetunde turned to her mother again but Romola was done. She slapped Yetunde's hand off her skin and turned to her father. "Your daughter—"

"Okay. Okay. I'll confess. I'll confess everything."

The atmosphere in the room shifted like they were on a battle ground about to witness the final strike between two eternal enemies.

"You are the only person keeping us from saving Modupe. You were also the one who stopped Romola from giving blood the first time. If anything happens, I'll hold no one responsible but you." Her father glared her down.

"But daddy, Olumide—"

"Has done the best he can. He got her here on time, paid for every expense, was willing to give all of his fortune to help Modupe. And I have no doubt that if he could give blood, he would've done so. E ma pa omo e. Just say the truth. Whoever that man is, I will find him and make him pay for what he did to you. I just need the truth. Modupe needs it." Yetunde's father kept a steady gaze on his daughter as she spoke.

She nodded her head, then stood, dusting the dirt on her clothes. "I only recognized Heritage—"