The Loyalty Game

The estate had never felt colder.

Despite the summer heat lingering outside, inside the grand halls of the Iroko family home, an unspoken chill settled over every corner. The fragile veil of trust that had held the family together since the Loyalty Game began was beginning to unravel—thread by thread.

Titi sat in the quiet of her room, reviewing notes she had taken from the last few days. Her eyes were heavy with fatigue, but her mind refused to rest. There was something off, something lurking beneath the polished smiles and polite conversations. The poison vial discovered weeks ago was only the beginning. Now, a deeper threat emerged.

The Discovery

It was Kenny who first noticed the discrepancies in the medical records. The logs for Mama Iroko's medications had been meticulously maintained—until recently. Small inconsistencies in dosage times, mismatched signatures, and unexplained absences of key staff during critical moments raised alarms.

Kenny called an emergency meeting with Titi and the head nurse, Sandra Weyimi, who had quickly become a trusted ally. As they poured over the data, a clearer picture began to emerge.

"Someone is deliberately manipulating the records," Sandra said, her voice low but firm. "And it's not the new staff."

Kenny clenched his fists. "Who else has access?"

The Aide's Fall

The answer came swiftly—and shockingly.

Late that evening, security footage was reviewed after an anonymous tip from one of the estate's cleaning staff. The cameras showed a familiar figure entering the medicine storage room after hours. It was Bayo Eke, the Governor's longtime aide and trusted right hand—a man who had been with the family for over two decades.

Kenny's voice cracked with disbelief when he told Titi. "Bayo? But he's loyal… isn't he?"

Titi's eyes darkened. "Loyalty is complicated here."

Confrontation in the Hall

The confrontation was set for the next morning. The Governor, Kenny, Titi, and a small group of family elders gathered in the estate's grand hall. Bayo entered, his usual composed demeanor replaced with nervous tension.

"Kenny," he greeted, voice steady but eyes darting. "I assume this is about the medicine?"

Governor Iroko's gaze was steel. "We know what you've been doing, Bayo. Manipulating the medication, altering records. Why?"

Bayo swallowed hard, then spoke in a low, bitter tone.

"This family… this legacy… it's built on secrets and lies. I tried to protect it, to control it."

He paused, eyes flashing with anger.

"But control is slipping away. And when power fades, desperation takes its place."

The Fallout

The room was silent as Bayo's words hung in the air. The family's trusted aide was a betrayer.

He was removed immediately, escorted out with heavy guards. Rumors would swirl for weeks, dividing the family further.

But the revelation also galvanized the remaining members. If Bayo could betray them, then no one was truly safe.

Titi's Resolve

Later that night, Titi stood outside Mama Iroko's room, staring into the darkness.

"The game isn't over," she whispered. "Not by a long shot."

She knew the path ahead would be darker and more dangerous. But she was ready.

For loyalty. For truth. For family.