Her Billionaire Father Offered Me ₦1 Billion to Leave Her… My Decision Changed My Life Forever!

Chapter 2

My mother was sitting by the window when I got home.

She looked tired.

The television was on, but she wasn’t watching it.

She was staring at the medical bills on the table.

“You’re late,” she said.

“I had dinner.”

“With Olivia?”

I nodded.

She smiled.

“She makes you happy.”

I didn’t answer.

My mother noticed.

“What happened?”

I put the envelope on the table.

She looked at it.

“What is that?”

I opened it.

She saw the bank draft.

Her mouth fell open.

“Daniel.”

I said nothing.

She picked up the paper.

Her hands began to shake.

“One billion?”

I nodded.

“Where did you get this?”

“Her father.”

Silence.

My mother sat down.

“Why would he give you that?”

“To leave her.”

She stared at me.

Then she laughed.

Not because it was funny.

Because she couldn’t believe it.

“He thinks you’re not good enough.”

“Yes.”

My mother looked at the draft.

“Is he wrong?”

The question hurt.

“Mom.”

“I didn’t say you should leave her.”

She lowered the paper.

“But look at us.”

I looked around the apartment.

The leaking ceiling.

The old refrigerator.

The medicine beside her chair.

The unpaid electricity bill.

The hospital receipt.

My younger sister’s school fees.

Everything I had spent years pretending didn’t matter suddenly seemed to be sitting on the table.

One billion naira.

My mother saw my expression.

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Let money make the decision for you.”

I looked away.

“He could change everything.”

“No.”

She pointed toward the envelope.

“He could change your circumstances.”

Then she touched my chest.

“Only you can decide who you become.”

That night, I didn’t sleep.

At 2:13 a.m., my phone buzzed.

Olivia.

Are you awake?

I stared at the message.

Then replied.

Yes.

A few seconds later:

Did you take it?

I closed my eyes.

No.

Three dots appeared.

Then disappeared.

Then appeared again.

Finally:

I was scared you would.

I typed:

Why?

Her answer came immediately.

Because everyone I love eventually chooses what my father’s money can give them.

I stared at the screen.

That was when I understood.

Her father wasn’t the only reason she was afraid.

She had lived her entire life wondering whether people loved her—

or what came with her name.

I typed:

I don’t want his money.

She replied:

Then what do you want?

I looked at the dark room.

I knew the answer.

You.

Her reply came after nearly a minute.

Then don’t let him scare you.

I smiled.

I didn’t know it yet.

But that message would be the last peaceful conversation we’d have for a long time.