Chapter 44: Burn It All Down.
Jeremiah's Penthouse.
Tammy didn't even realize how hard her hands were shaking until the glass she was holding slipped and shattered on the tiled floor. The sound echoed through the estate like a warning bell. Rita and Anjii jumped in unison from the sofa where they'd been playing Rema's Charm on full blast, blasting adlibs like backup dancers.
"Ah-ah, babe," Rita gasped dramatically, clutching her chest like someone's Yoruba auntie in Nollywood. "See wetin you dey do? Even the cup sef no wan hold your wahala."
"Ehn-ehn," Anjii added, snickering. "This one na broken cup, not broken spirit o."
But Tammy didn't laugh. Her chest felt hollow. The weight of betrayal was crushing her ribs. Her own sister—the person she thought she would die for—had planned her downfall. Twice. And her parents… God, her parents, the ones who should have protected her, were now begging her to stay silent. She wasn't stupid. She can't believe Tayo would change not after two times of this nonsense. It's her parents…
She wiped her face, ignoring the wetness smearing down her cheeks. Her voice came out hoarse but steady. "Call her. Tell Tayo to meet me. I'm ending this tonight."
Rita stopped mid–twerk, blinking. "Wait. You want face-to-face, like WWE Royal Rumble?"
"Abi you want slap-fest?" Anjii chimed in, eyes already sparkling.
"I want the truth in her face," Tammy whispered, her throat tight with anger. "I want her to know she didn't win."
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By the time Tayo walked into the estate's grand living room, Tammy was already waiting. Jeremy had offered to stay, but Tammy shook her head. This was between sisters—blood against blood, even if that blood felt poisoned.
Tayo strolled in like she owned the place, a smug smile curving her lips. Her dress was immaculate, her makeup flawless, as though she wasn't the same person whose schemes had almost ruined Tammy's life.
"Tammy," she drawled, her voice dripping sugar and venom. "Finally decided to talk to me, instead of sending your… friends?" Her eyes flicked dismissively at Rita and Anjii, who were sitting like hype-women on the side, Rita holding her phone up as if about to livestream.
"Girl, I swear if you try me I will go live on Instagram right now," Rita muttered under her breath, loud enough for Anjii to snort.
Tammy didn't smile. Her voice was steel. "You drugged me."
The air in the room shifted, heavy and tense. Even the Afrobeats playlist in the background—Asake's Lonely at the Top—sounded like a haunting prophecy.
Tayo's smile didn't falter. She tilted her head like a cat playing with its prey. "And what if I did? Look at you now. Married to the richest man in the city. Pregnant with his heirs. A queen in this mansion. You should be thanking me, not accusing me."
Something inside Tammy snapped. She took a step forward, her voice breaking with rage. "You tried to destroy me! You didn't care what would happen to me that night—you didn't care if I got hurt, or worse! You just wanted what I had, like you always do!"
Tayo's eyes hardened. "Correction: I wanted what I deserved. You were always the golden child even though I'm the first born. Daddy's favorite. The one with brains, beauty, and talent. And me? I was just… Tayo. The shadow. So yeah, I lit a little fire under your perfect life. Too bad it didn't burn you down."
"Too bad for you," Tammy spat.
The tension cracked like thunder. Tammy marched forward, her hands trembling but strong. She pointed to the door with all the authority she never thought she had. "Get out. You're not welcome here anymore."
Tayo blinked, caught off guard. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," Tammy said, her voice shaking with fury and heartbreak. "Pack whatever you think you own and get out of this estate. Today. Now. I don't care where you go, but you won't stay here and feed off me anymore."
For the first time, Tayo's mask slipped. Her eyes flashed, her lips curled into a snarl. "You think this is the end? You think throwing me out makes you strong? Tammy, you haven't even seen me fight yet. You'll regret this."
Rita jumped to her feet, clapping her hands like she was in a street fight. "Omooo! Yoruba demoness alert! Did y'all hear that? She said boss fight is loading!"
Anjii added, "Sis, abeg no vex. But you just exposed yourself like PowerPoint presentation. Villain 101."
Tayo's gaze burned into Tammy, but Tammy didn't flinch. Her stomach twisted, her heart hurt, but for once in her life she stood firm. "No, Tayo. I'll regret ever loving you as my sister. But I'll never regret taking my life back."
The words echoed through the mansion like a decree.
Tayo hissed, her heels clicking furiously as she stormed toward the door. She paused only once, looking over her shoulder. "This isn't over. You haven't seen the last of me."
The door slammed shut behind her, rattling the walls.
Silence hung heavy for a moment, then Rita exhaled dramatically. "Chai! Somebody play Burna Boy's Last Last because sis just packed her bags and went 'everybody go chop breakfast.'"
Anjii burst out laughing, clapping her hands. "I swear, Tammy, you should've had a mic to drop after that speech. Pure Nollywood meets Netflix!"
Tammy sank onto the couch, her legs suddenly weak, her chest heaving with the aftermath of rage. Her hands trembled, but this time it wasn't from fear—it was from release. She had finally burned it down.
And in the silence that followed, Fireboy's I'll Be Fine drifted softly from the speakers. The words wrapped around Tammy like a promise. She wasn't broken. She wasn't defeated. She was free.
For the first time in forever, Tammy let herself believe it.