THE NEXT MORNING – OUTSIDE THE BENSON ESTATE
Mrs. Ada stood in front of the mansion, hands on her hips, headscarf tight, eyes blazing.
Beside her, Aunty Caro looked uncertain.
> "Are you sure about this?" she asked quietly.
> "I'm very sure," Ada hissed. "Today, that man will hear from me. He thinks everything in this world is money?"
A guard opened the gate slowly. Before he could say anything, Mrs. Ada pushed through like a storm.
---
INSIDE THE BENSON LIVING ROOM
Mr. Benson sat at the breakfast table, sipping his coffee with his usual arrogance when he heard the voice.
> "So this is how you live, Maxwell? Fancy chairs, big compound, but no soul inside?"
He turned — eyes narrowing — as Mrs. Ada stormed in.
> "What's the meaning of this?" he asked coldly.
> "The meaning is: you're a disgrace," Ada fired back. "You sent five million to shut us up. Let me tell you — I'd rather beg in the market square than feed my children with blood money."
Mrs. Benson walked in.
> "Who let this woman in here?"
> "I let myself in," Ada spat. "You call yourself a mother? You raised demons, not children. One nearly killed my daughter, the other nearly destroyed her soul."
Mrs. Benson flinched. "Don't you dare insult my children—"
> "What children? That Julie you made your maid was running wild like a snake in uniform! That Luna of yours? A devil in school uniform!"
The room tensed. Mrs. Benson moved forward, ready to retaliate.
> "Leave my house before I—"
Before she could finish, Mrs. Ada grabbed her wrapper.
> "Do it! Let's fight here, madam rich woman! I've buried shame before, I will bury yours too!"
The two women lunged at each other, pushing and screaming.
> "You're a coward's wife!"
"You're a disgraceful mother!"
"My daughter nearly died because of you!"
"And what about my son who was shot?!"
Suddenly—
Aunty Caro jumped in, yanking Mrs. Ada back.
> "That's enough! Ada, let's go. It's not worth it!"
Mrs. Ada panted, adjusting her scarf.
> "You can keep your fake apology, your fake riches. But hear this — you will never know peace until Nelly gets hers!"
She turned, storming out. Aunty Caro followed quickly behind.
Mr. Benson and his wife stood speechless, embarrassed and rattled for the first time in years.
As Mrs. Ada and Aunty Caro stepped out of the Benson mansion gate, anger still steaming from Ada's face—
Luna and Bella came strolling from the garden, arms folded, lips already curled in disgust.
> "Wow. I guess rats really can sneak into mansions," Luna said loud enough for them to hear.
Bella laughed. "Must be charity day in Lagos."
Mrs. Ada paused mid-step, but it was Aunty Caro who slowly turned around.
> "Rats?" Caro echoed. "At least rats know where they belong. But you two… you're just well-dressed demons with no home training."
Luna's smile dropped. "Excuse me?"
Aunty Caro walked right up to them, her voice steady and bold.
> "You think being born into money means something? If wealth made sense, your father wouldn't be buying freedom like groundnut."
> "Your whole family is rotten," Bella spat.
Mrs. Ada stepped beside Caro now, voice firm.
> "Say what you want about us, but my daughter still has more grace in her little finger than you ever will."
Aunty Caro added, "And if we're rats, then consider yourselves snakes — you hiss behind closed doors and strike where you can't be seen. But even a snake gets caught in the fire when the bush is cleared."
Luna clenched her jaw, furious. "We'll see who ends up on top."
> "Oh you will," Caro smirked. "But I pray you enjoy the view — because the higher you go without sense, the harder you fall."
With that, Mrs. Ada and Caro walked off, heads high, leaving Luna and Bella fuming in silence.