DON'T DOUBT LOVE) loving you no matter what

MAYA'S POV (The Bracelet in the Vault)

The child's bracelet was tiny.

Too tiny.

Silver, slightly tarnished, with a single name engraved in delicate script:

"Kosi."

I didn't recognize it.

But the way Tahir's breath caught when he saw it?

He did.

Victor's laughter cut through the tension. "Oh, this is rich. Did Fatima never tell you about your brother?"

The word hit like a bullet.

Brother.

Not Tahir.

Not Victor.

Someone else.

Someone gone.

Tahir's voice was dangerously calm. "Kosi died. Because of you."

And for the first time, I saw something raw in his eyes.

Not arrogance.

Pain.

AISHA'S POV

The baby in the old Polaroid was smiling.

Chubby cheeks. Bright eyes.

"Kosi," Ryder murmured, tracing the faded edges.

The name meant "There is no evil" in Igbo.

Ironic, considering Victor's smirk as he leaned against the vault door.

"Emmanuel never even knew," he gloated. "Fatima hid the pregnancy. Hid the child."

My hands shook.

Because if Kosi was our brother—

Where was he now?

Mum's weak voice crackled through the hospital feed: "Aisha… listen…"

But Victor kicked the monitor, silencing her.

Ryder moved fast—but not fast enough.

The gun was already pointed at me.

TAHIR'S POV

Kosi's bracelet burned in my palm.

Five years old.

Five years old when Victor's men ran their car off the road.

Fatima survived.

Kosi didn't.

And Emmanuel Hassan?

He died believing his wife had betrayed him—never knowing the child was his.

Victor's grin widened. "You kept the secret all these years. Why?"

I didn't answer.

Because the truth was ugly—

I owed Fatima.

For letting me live when my own father disowned me.

For hiding my sins alongside hers.

And now?

Now Maya was staring at me like I'd ripped her world apart.

Good.

Maybe now she'd understand—

This was never just about money

RYDER'S POV

Aisha's face went pale when Victor aimed the gun.

I moved without thinking—

But Tahir was faster.

A single shot rang out.

Victor staggered back, clutching his shoulder—just as the vault door slammed shut behind him.

Tahir didn't even blink. "The police will be here in three minutes."

Aisha whirled on him. "You knew about Kosi? All this time?"

His silence was answer enough.

Maya's voice was hollow. "Mum lied to us. About everything."

The hospital feed flickered back to life.

Mum's monitor was flatlining.

And Tahir?

He just whispered, "No. She protected you."