She was seven months pregnant and crying so hard that her whole body shook. She held her belly with both hands. “Please,” she said, her voice breaking. “Please don’t do this.” Think about our child. “Please.” But her spouse didn’t care. He lifted the belt higher, and his eyes were cold and vacant, as if he didn’t even see her as a person anymore. His mistress was standing next to him, beaming like this was the finest day of her life. She thought it was humorous to see a pregnant lady plead for mercy. Family members stood around them, transfixed. Mothers hid their children’s eyes, men looked away in shame, and ladies mumbled prayers under their breath. Nobody moved. People didn’t aid her. She was alone on that cold floor, stooping down to protect the baby in her tummy. She wondered if this was how her narrative would finish.
But there was someone in the room. There was someone there that she didn’t even know. Someone who had been watching everything from the shadows, his heart bleeding with every word she said. And when he finally went forward, people started yelling when they saw his face. Not from her. From everyone else.
She went by Maya. She was 28 years old and thought she had married the man of her dreams three years ago. Daniel was his name, and he was nice back then. He opened doors for her. He told her she was pretty. He told her he would give her everything. Her dad didn’t believe in him. Her dad sensed something sinister behind Daniel’s smile, something that wasn’t real and was deadly. Her father informed her the night before the wedding, “That man only wants your last name. He doesn’t care about you. He appreciates what you stand for.”
Maya didn’t pay attention. She thought her dad was envious, domineering, and stuck in the past. She had to make a choice. She said to her father, “Don’t come to my wedding if you can’t accept the man I love.” Her father’s face turned white. His hands shook. He didn’t fight back, though. He said, “I’ll be waiting when you need me,” and then he left her life.
He wasn’t there for the wedding. Daniel grinned. His family cheered him on. And Maya told herself that she had made the right choice. But after three months of being married, Daniel changed. The kindness was gone. The compliments became insults. He would say, “You’re useless.” “You should be glad I married you.” He pushed her against the wall when she tried to stand up for herself. He chuckled while she sobbed.
And then came Bianca. The mistress. Pretty, young, and cruel. Daniel took her home one night and stated, “She’s staying here. Leave if you don’t like it.” Maya couldn’t leave. She had no place to go. She had cut ties with her father. Her pals had ceased phoning her. She was stuck. Then she learned she was going to have a baby.
She felt the baby would make him different. She thought being a father would bring back the man she married. But that only made things worse for him. He said, “That baby better not mess up my life.” Bianca smiled and said, “It might not even be his.”
Today was intended to be a family get-together. Daniel’s family was in town. Maya believed that if she stayed little and quiet, the day may go by without any problems. But then she spilled water on the table by mistake. There was only water. It’s only a little puddle. But Daniel’s face got red. His jaw tightened. He grabbed the belt from his waist in front of everyone, including his relatives, aunts, and mother.
“You make me feel bad every day,” he added, his voice quivering with anger. “Today, everyone is going to see what happens when you don’t respect me.”
Maya went down on her knees. “Daniel, please. Not in front of everyone. Please. “Think about the baby.”
But he didn’t mind. He lifted the belt.
That’s when the door in the rear of the room opened.
At first, no one noticed. Everyone was too busy watching the tragedy happen in front of them. Maya’s younger sister Clara, who was standing in the corridor, noticed him, though. Her eyes got big. She put her palm over her mouth. And she yelled. Not a shriek of terror. A shout of surprise. Of acknowledgment. Of relief.
Clara said, “Oh my God. It’s him.”
The room was quiet. People looked. Everyone could see the man in the doorway. He was tall, had gray hair, and wore a basic white shirt and dark pants. His face was serene, but his eyes were full of something horrible and strong. He didn’t say anything. He just stood there, looking at his daughter on the floor with tears flowing down her face and her hands around her pregnant tummy.
Maya’s heart stopped. She knew him too. It had been three years since she had seen him. But she would know that face anywhere.
It was her dad.
Daniel’s hand stopped moving in the air. The belt hung from his hand. In a matter of seconds, his face changed from red to white. Because everyone in that room knew who this man was. Everyone knew who he was. Richard Okafor. The man who started a business empire from scratch. The man who politicians asked for favors from. The man that people listened to when he spoke. Or else.
And Daniel had just hit his daughter in front of him.
Richard didn’t run. He didn’t yell. He didn’t have to. He only moved gently ahead, and the sound of his shoes on the marble floor was soothing. Every footfall sounded like thunder. You could hear people breathing in the room. Daniel’s hand began to shake. The belt fell out of his hands and hit the floor with a faint thud. Bianca, the mistress who had just been smiling, stepped aside. Her face turned white. She knew who Richard Okafor was. Everyone did.
Richard halted a few feet from Daniel. He looked down at Maya, who was still on her knees, still crying, and still holding her stomach. His jaw got tighter. He had tears in his eyes, but he didn’t let them fall. Not yet. He gently bowed down, and his knees cracked as he knelt next to his daughter. He stretched out and softly caressed her face, using his thumb to wipe away her tears. He muttered, “Daddy’s here.” His voice broke. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”
Maya broke. She fell into her father’s arms and cried so hard that her whole body shook. “I’m sorry, Dad. I’m so sorry. You were right. You were right about everything. I should have paid attention. I should have—
“Shhh,” Richard said softly as he held her close. “You don’t have to say you’re sorry. Nothing. You didn’t do anything wrong. Can you hear me?” He kissed the top of her head, exactly as he used to when she was a little child, and said, “This is not your fault.” And for the first time in three years, Maya felt safe.
Richard got up gently, still holding his daughter’s hand. He turned to look at Daniel. And the way he looked at everyone in the room made them all step back. It wasn’t rage. It was something colder. Something that is more risky. It was the gaze of a man who had just made a choice. And nothing in the world was going to make him change his mind.
Richard whispered softly, “You hit my daughter.” It was scary how calm his voice was. “You hit a pregnant woman with your hand. In front of your family. In front of others who saw it happen. And you believed there would be no consequences.
Daniel opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His lips shook. There was sweat on his forehead. He looked around the room, hoping someone would aid him, but everyone turned away. His own mother even looked away.
“I… I didn’t mean… She… She made me do it,” Daniel mumbled. “She always gets me angry.” “She’s always—”
Richard said, “Stop talking.” His voice was still calm, but it slashed through the air like a dagger. “Every word you say makes this worse for you.”
Bianca, the woman in charge, tried to get to the door. But Richard’s gaze went to her. “Don’t,” he said plainly. She stopped moving. “You stayed. You smiled. You liked seeing her in pain. “Then you’ll stay and see what happens next.”
Richard looked at the rest of the family. Daniel’s cousins. His aunts. His uncles. His mom. All of them were standing there, quiet and ashamed. Richard responded, “You all saw what he did.” “And none of you stopped him. None of you stepped up for a woman who was pregnant and being hit in front of you. “You just watched.”
Daniel’s uncle, an elderly man with a thick beard, cleared his throat. “Mr. Okafor, we… we didn’t know what to do. We believed it was… between a husband and wife.
Richard’s eyes got chilly. “Between husband and wife,” he said again softly. “Is that what you call this? A man hits a pregnant woman with a belt while his mistress smiles? That’s what marriage means to you?”
The uncle gazed at his feet. Nobody said anything.
Richard took out his phone. He picked up the phone. It rang once. Richard said, “James,” when someone picked up. “I need you to come to this place. Right now. Call the cops.” “And bring a lawyer,” he said. Then he stopped. “Yes. It’s my daughter. Someone hurt her.” He hung up in front of witnesses.
Daniel’s face turned white. “Hold on. Please wait. Mr. Okafor, please. We can discuss this. We can figure this out. I’m sorry. I’ll do what you desire. Please. Don’t call the police. “Please.”
Richard glanced at him like he was an insect. Richard said, “You had three years to be a good husband.” “Three years to treat my daughter with respect.” You have three years to prove me wrong. What did you do? You won against her. You made her look bad. You let another woman into her house. And today, in front of your family, you tried to kill her and her baby.
“I wasn’t trying to kill her!” Daniel yelled, his voice breaking. “All I did was lose my patience. “I didn’t mean to—”
Richard’s voice rose for the first time as he said, “You raised a belt to a pregnant woman.” “What did you think would happen?””
Again, the room was quiet. Maya gazed up at Daniel while still holding her father’s hand. The man she had loved. The man she stood up for. The man she chose instead of her father. Now all she felt was sick. “I want a divorce,” she said, her voice wavering but clear. “I don’t want you in my life anymore.” Forever.
Daniel’s eyes flooded with tears. “Maya, please. I love you. I promise I adore you. I will change. I will go to treatment. I’ll do anything. Please don’t go. Please.
But Maya said no. “You don’t love me. You never did. You only wanted to have power over me. And I let you do it. But not anymore.
Bianca finally spoke after staying stationary by the wall for a long time. Her voice was shaky and tiny. “Daniel, maybe we should just—”
“Shut up!””Daniel yelled at her. “You’re to blame for all of this! You instructed me to do this! You told me to put her in her place! “
Bianca’s face turned red. “Never did I tell you to hit her!” I never—
“Yes, you did!” Daniel yelled. “You said she was making me look weak! “You told me to show everyone who’s in charge!”
Richard saw them turn on each other. He didn’t say anything. He just let them ruin themselves. And suddenly, outside, sirens went off. The windows were flashing red and blue lights. The doors of the cars slammed shut. There were loud footsteps in the hallway.
The police was there.
Daniel got down on his knees. “Please,” he implored, staring up at Richard. “Please. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Please don’t let them take me away. Please. I will go. I will go away. You won’t see me again. “Please don’t—”
The door swung open. Two police officers came in, and then a big man in a suit came in. He was Richard’s lawyer. The police looked at the site. Maya was on the floor, crying. Daniel was on his knees, imploring. The belt is on the ground. Witnesses all over the place.
“Mr. Okafor?” one of the officers said.
Richard nodded. He pointed to Daniel and said, “That man attacked my daughter.” She’s been pregnant for seven months. In front of all these people, he hit her with a belt. I want him to be arrested.
The officer turned to Daniel. Then to Maya. “Is this true, ma’am?””
Maya nodded, her voice breaking. “Yes.” He hit me. For months, he’s been striking me. But today, he did it in front of everyone.
The cop nodded. “Sir, please stand up.” “You are under arrest for assault.”
Daniel began to cry. “No.” No, please. This is wrong. She’s not telling the truth. “She’s—”
“She’s not lying,” Clara, Maya’s sister, stated all of a sudden. She took a step forward and held up her phone. “I wrote down everything.”
The room became quiet. Daniel’s face changed from pale to gray. “You… what?””
Clara’s hands were shaking, but her voice was steady. “I wrote down everything. From the moment you lifted that belt. Every single syllable. Every hit. All of it. “And I’m giving it to the cops.”
Daniel fell down. Not in a bodily way. But something in him broke. He knew it was done. The police officers pulled him up, put handcuffs on him, and told him what his rights were. He didn’t fight back. He only cried. Bianca tried to escape, but Richard’s voice made her stay. “Officers, that woman was in on it. She gave him support. “There are witnesses.”
Bianca’s eyes got big. “What’s going on? No! I didn’t do anything! I just—
“You smiled,” Maya continued, her voice steady now. “You stood there and smiled while he hurt me.”
The cops looked at one another. Then at Bianca. “Ma’am, you need to come with us for questioning.”
Bianca also started to cry. No one felt bad for her, though. The officers took Daniel and Bianca out of the residence. The red and blue lights went out of sight down the street. There was no noise in the home. Richard’s family members stood there, embarrassed and not knowing what to say. Richard didn’t even glance at them. He helped Maya get up, put his arm around her, and led her to the door. He said softly, “You are coming home with me.” “Where you should have been all along.”
Maya nodded, and tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Dad. I’m so sorry.
Richard kissed her forehead and said, “Stop saying sorry.” “You’re safe now.” And I will never let anyone hurt you again.
Three months later, Maya stood in her father’s house in front of the mirror with her hands on her belly. She was nine months pregnant and may give birth at any time. Her face appeared altered. The sadness was over. The fear was gone. She looked like herself again. Strong. Pretty. Free.
Her dad knocked on the door gently. Richard stepped inside and said, “The lawyer just called.” “The divorce is over.” “You are free.”
Maya closed her eyes and let out a sigh she had been holding for years. “Is it truly over?”
“It’s over,” Richard remarked as he hugged her. “Daniel is in jail. He will be there for a long time. Bianca’s family also cut ties with her. “She lost it all.”
Maya wasn’t thrilled that they were in pain. She was just happy. Happy that her baby would be safe as they grew up. She was glad she wouldn’t have to see Daniel’s face again. She was happy to have found her way back to her father.
“I’m sorry I pushed you away,” Maya said softly.
Richard shook his head. “You were attempting to make your own life. I get that. But I’m just happy you’re back home now.
Maya went into labor that night. Her father never left her side and held her hand the whole time. And when Maya’s baby girl was born, healthy and sobbing loudly, she looked down onto her daughter’s face and promised her. “I’ll never let anyone hurt you,” she said softly. “I will teach you to be strong. I will show you that you deserve to be treated with respect. And I’ll show you that real love never hurts.
She gave her daughter the name Grace. Because that’s what her dad had told her to do. Grace. Forgiveness. A second chance.
Richard embraced his granddaughter for the first time and cried as he said, “Welcome home.”
Maya grinned. Because she was really home for the first time in years.
