PART 3 | ALL PARENTS NEED TO WATCH THIS!!!

The bathroom tiles were cold beneath Taiwo’s trembling knees as she hunched over the sink, retching violently. The bitter taste in her mouth and the sharp pain in her stomach overwhelmed her senses. Tears streamed down her face as her body shook, a cold sweat breaking out across her forehead. A gentle but firm hand touched her shoulder, startling her. She turned weakly to see her mother, Wana, her face etched with worry.

“Taiwo, what’s wrong with you?” Wana asked, her voice tight. “Why are you vomiting so hard?”

Taiwo forced a weak smile, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m fine, Mom. Just a little stomach upset.”

Wana’s frown deepened, unconvinced. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, Mom. I just need to rest,” Taiwo insisted, attempting to stand. But her legs buckled, and she collapsed to the floor, vomiting again. Wana’s scream echoed through the house as she rushed to her daughter’s side, her hands trembling as she lifted Taiwo’s limp body.

Frank and Kehinde burst into the room, their faces pale with alarm. “Mom, what’s wrong?” Kehinde asked, his voice shaking as he saw his twin sister crumpled on the floor.

“I don’t know,” Wana cried. “She was vomiting, then she just slumped!”

Frank paced, running a hand over his head. “This is serious. We need to take her to the hospital.”

“No, Dad,” Taiwo murmured weakly, her eyes fluttering. “I’m fine. It’s just a stomach upset. Too much food last night.”

Frank and Wana exchanged worried glances. Kehinde stood frozen, his heart pounding as he watched his sister’s frail form. “Alright,” Frank said reluctantly, “she should lie down. Let’s see if she regains her strength.” He carried Taiwo to her bed, Wana trailing behind, her unease growing.

Days passed, but Taiwo’s condition didn’t improve. She stayed home from school, her movements sluggish, her appetite gone. At breakfast, the smell of her favorite meal triggered another wave of nausea. She pushed the plate away, her face pale. “I don’t have an appetite, Mom,” she said, grabbing an orange juice and retreating to the living room to watch TV.

Wana stood frozen, gripping the table, a chilling suspicion taking root. That night, as Frank slept, he was roused by soft footsteps. In the living room, he found Taiwo curled up on the couch, trying to turn on the TV. “Taiwo, you should be sleeping,” he said, his voice firm but kind.

“I couldn’t,” she murmured, her eyes avoiding his. “I was… unable to.”

Frank studied her, sensing something off but unable to pinpoint it. “It’s midnight. Don’t stay up too long, and turn off the TV when you’re done.”

“Thank you, Dad,” Taiwo whispered, pulling her blanket tighter. As Frank returned to bed, Taiwo’s gaze lingered on the flickering screen, her mind far from the movie.

By Sunday morning, as the family prepared for church, Taiwo’s discomfort was palpable. Standing before the mirror, she adjusted her dress, but it felt wrong, clinging awkwardly to her body. A sudden pain shot through her chest, and her stomach rumbled. Frustration surged, and she flung a scarf across the room. Wana, passing by, stopped. “Taiwo, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Taiwo snapped, retrieving the scarf with trembling hands.

“Dress up quick and meet us outside,” Wana said, her concern deepening as she left.

Monday morning, Wana entered the twins’ room to wake them for school. Kehinde stirred sleepily, but Taiwo remained curled under her blanket, her forehead damp with sweat, her breathing uneven. Wana touched her daughter’s forehead, alarmed by the heat. “Taiwo, what’s wrong with you?” she asked, her voice sharp with worry.

“I’m fine, Mom. Just tired,” Taiwo mumbled, her eyes drowsy.

“You’re not fine,” Wana said firmly. “You’re sweating, running a fever. You were vomiting days ago, barely eating. Tell me the truth.”

“It’s nothing,” Taiwo insisted, but Kehinde, now awake, looked at her with concern. “Taiwo, if you’re sick, you should rest. Maybe Mom should take you to the hospital.”

“No!” Taiwo snapped, sitting up too quickly and wincing from dizziness. “I don’t need a doctor.”

Wana’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t something we can ignore.” She sent Kehinde for a bowl of cool water and a towel, then sat beside Taiwo, brushing hair from her sweaty face. “My daughter, I know when something’s wrong. Don’t hide anything from me.”

Taiwo forced a smile. “I’m just weak, Mom. I promise.”

But Wana wasn’t convinced. Her mind flashed to the moments she’d dismissed—Taiwo’s odd behavior, the neighbor’s accusations, the camera’s useless footage. A terrifying thought seized her. She took a shaky breath and asked, “Taiwo, are you pregnant?”

Taiwo’s eyes widened, shock washing over her. “Pregnant?” she stammered, her voice cracking. “Mom, why would you say that? Have you ever seen me with a boy?”

Wana’s throat tightened, her mind racing. She remembered catching Taiwo half-dressed in Frank’s presence, moments she’d brushed off. A sickening suspicion gripped her. “Frank, don’t do this to our daughter,” she whispered to herself, her hands trembling.

The next morning, with Taiwo’s fever unyielding, Frank returned with the family doctor. “She’s been sick for weeks,” he explained. “Vomiting, tired, no appetite.”

The doctor examined Taiwo, pressing her stomach. She screamed in pain, and the room tensed. The doctor sighed, his expression grave. “It’s obvious your daughter is pregnant.”

A collective gasp filled the room. Wana staggered, her voice breaking. “Pregnant?”

“No!” Taiwo shouted, shaking her head. “That’s not true!”

“I’m sorry, but you can’t teach me my job,” the doctor said calmly.

Wana sank to the floor, tears streaming down her face. “Who impregnated you, Taiwo?” she demanded.

Taiwo sobbed, her gaze flickering to Frank. Wana followed her eyes, her heart pounding. “No, this can’t be true,” she wailed, pointing at Frank. “Don’t tell me you did this to our daughter!”

Frank’s face twisted in horror. “I don’t know what you’re saying! Taiwo is my daughter—I’d never do such a thing!”

Wana’s fury erupted. “She’s looking at you! You’re responsible, and you’re pretending to be innocent!”

Kehinde, trembling against the wall, felt his world collapse. Taiwo’s sobs grew louder. “Dad, if only you had cautioned us,” she whispered. “If only you’d disciplined me and Kehinde when you caught us having an affair.”

The room fell silent, the weight of her words crushing. Wana’s eyes widened. “What did you say?”

Taiwo’s voice broke. “You caught us countless times, but you just talked softly, let us go. You and Mom never hid your intimacy from us. We saw you, thought it was normal, something we could do. We were curious, but when Mom got suspicious, we tried to stop. We were already addicted.”

Kehinde’s head bowed, his voice trembling. “We’re sorry. I didn’t know it would come to this.”

Wana stumbled back, her heart shattering. Frank dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face. “This is my fault,” he whispered. “I failed as a father.”

The doctor spoke, his voice steady. “Crying won’t undo this. The pregnancy is about two months. She’s been taking pills to terminate it, which caused her sickness. It’s dangerous to continue. I suggest keeping the baby—further attempts could risk her life.”

Wana gasped. “Pills? Taiwo, you could have died!”

Frank’s voice shook. “The mistake has been made. We’ll live with the consequences.”

Seven months later, the Adebayo household was a shadow of its former self. Taiwo’s growing belly was a constant reminder of their shame. One night, a piercing scream woke the family. Taiwo was in labor, her face drenched in sweat, her body wracked with pain. Frank rushed her to the hospital, Wana gripping her hand tightly during the agonizing drive.

In the delivery room, time stretched endlessly. Finally, the doctor emerged, his face unreadable. “The babies are alive—twins, a boy and a girl,” he said. But before relief could settle, he continued, “Unfortunately, Taiwo didn’t make it.”

Wana’s scream echoed through the hospital. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed, hitting her head on the floor. Frank sank to the ground, his body trembling with grief. Kehinde pressed himself against the wall, numb with shock. Taiwo was gone, leaving behind two innocent lives and a family broken by secrets they could no longer hide.

Epilogue

The twins’ birth marked both a beginning and an end. Wana and Frank, shattered by guilt and loss, faced the daunting task of raising their grandchildren, a constant reminder of their failure to protect their own children. Kehinde, haunted by his role in Taiwo’s fate, withdrew into silence, carrying the weight of their forbidden bond. The Adebayo family would never be whole again, their lives forever altered by the consequences of unchecked curiosity and a failure to confront the truth until it was too late.