“I did it for you.”
“No,” he said firmly. “You did it without me.”
“You were suffering.”
“And now I’m empty.”
The truth landed between them.
“I thought I was saving you,” she said.
“You were breaking me.”
He reached for her hand.
She did not pull away.
“I went back,” he said. “I did everything they wanted. I tried to live the life they chose for me.”
His voice softened.
“And it meant nothing without you.”
Ada cried openly now.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Behind them, the hall erupted into whispers and outrage.
His father stepped forward. “Have you lost your mind?”
Okafor turned, still holding Ada’s hand.
“No,” he said calmly. “For the first time, I know exactly what I’m doing.”
“You are humiliating this family,” his father snapped. “You are throwing everything away for this girl.”
“She has a name,” Okafor said. “And yes, I am choosing her.”
His mother stepped forward. “Think about the consequences.”
“I have.”
“You will lose everything again.”
Okafor looked at Ada, then back at them.
“Then I lose it.”
Princess Diana stepped forward then.
The room shifted toward her.
“I assume this means the wedding is over,” she said.
Okafor looked at her. “Yes.”
She nodded slowly. There was no anger in her face.
Only understanding.
“You should have done this sooner,” she said.
“Perhaps.”
Diana looked at Ada.
For a moment, the two women simply saw each other.
Then Diana said softly, “Take care of him.”
Ada blinked, surprised. “I will.”
Diana nodded once and walked away.
And with that, the future planned for years ended.
Okafor turned to Ada.
“Come with me.”
