The days that followed the gathering were fraught with tension. Bamidele and Jumoke continued their secret meetings, stealing moments whenever they could, but the weight of the world seemed to press down harder with every passing day. They could no longer pretend that they were merely two lovers lost in a brief affair. Their hearts had become too intertwined, their desires too exposed, and the stakes had grown too high for them to ignore.

Femi's words echoed in Jumoke’s mind like a constant reminder of the danger that loomed over them. If he knew, others would know too. The walls of 122 Series were thick with whispers, and no one could be trusted. As the days turned to weeks, Jumoke and Bamidele grew more cautious, yet their passion for each other burned ever brighter, an unquenchable flame.

Stolen novel; please report.

One afternoon, Jumoke received a letter. The wax seal was unmistakable—Bamidele's family crest. Her heart skipped a beat as she broke the seal and unfurled the parchment. The words were simple, yet the weight of them hung heavy:

Meet me at the old boathouse by the lake, just before dawn. There is something we need to discuss. Something that cannot wait. — B.

Jumoke’s pulse quickened, and her thoughts raced. What could it be? What was so urgent that Bamidele had to call her in the dead of night? She knew she couldn’t waste any time. She prepared herself, dressed in darkness, and slipped out of the estate, her heart beating with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.