"That bastard slapped you? God will punish him and his entire generations."
"Aríre, this is too much for one person to bear," she said, shaking her head. "We need to take this to God. I think we should go to my pastor. Pastor Biyi will know what to do. We'll go to Divine Grace Ministry today."
Like many Nigerians with an unshakable belief in religion, Titi was no different. I am not one to challenge such beliefs, but sometimes I wonder if prayer is always the answer. Nevertheless, I held my tongue and said, "Yes, Titi, I need all the prayers I can get."
"The power of prayer is mighty, Aríre. I know we'll overcome this through faith."
Titi went inside, and after some minutes, she emerged with Uncle Gbade and Isaiah behind her.
Isaiah, oblivious to the chaos in my life, toddled over to me with a toy car in his hand. His innocent smile brought a smile to my face. I hugged him close, silently praying for similar joy in my own life soon.
"Isaiah, say hi to Aunty Aríre," Titi coaxed gently.
"H..Hi Aunty A..Aríre!" he chirped, his tiny voice filled with excitement.
I kissed his forehead and managed a genuine smile. "Hi, Isaiah. How's my little man doing?" Isaiah giggled and ran back to his father.
Titi and I made our way to Divine Grace Ministry in Gbagada. The church was a small, unassuming building, but it radiated a sense of God. Inside, we found Pastor Biyi in his office. He was a man in his fifties, with skin the color of ripe maize, and thick black-framed glasses perched precariously on the tip of his nose. His expression was one of calm, a serene mask that seemed to hold the wisdom of the ages. His office was filled with religious artifacts - a large wooden cross hung prominently on the wall, bottles of holy water were neatly arranged on a shelf, and a small bell, likely used during prayers, sat on his desk.
"Pastor Biyi," Titi greeted as she knelt down, and I followed suit, "this is my friend Aríre. She's going through a tough time and needs your guidance and prayers, sir."
"Welcome, Aríre, to the house of God," Pastor Biyi said warmly, gesturing for me to sit on the white plastic chair on his right-hand side. "Tell me what troubles you."
Even when I wanted to hesitate, I felt a spiritual connection that made me feel I was communicating directly with God. So, I poured out my heart, recounting the betrayal, the assault, and the crumbling of my marriage. Pastor Biyi listened intently.
"Aríre, you are facing a great trial, but remember, God's ways are not our ways. Sometimes, He allows us to endure hardships to strengthen our faith. Rain does not fall on one roof alone, my daughter. Everyone faces challenges and difficulties; no one is exempt from life's trials. It is those who keep their faith in the Lord and believe that this phase will pass who find the strength to overcome. Let us pray together for His guidance and intervention."
We knelt together, and as Pastor Biyi's voice rose in prayer, a calm washed over me. He sprinkled the holy water on us, ringing the bell intermittently to ward off evil spirits. I felt a strong connection to God at that moment, and maybe indeed, I needed prayers like Titi had said.
"Holy Spirit, take control," Pastor Biyi chanted, his voice rising with fervor. "We rebuke any spirit of confusion and despair in this woman's life. Father Lord, grant her the strength to overcome these trials. Amen."
"Amen," Titi and I also muttered.
Pastor Biyi turned to me, a gentle smile on his face. "Aríre, You carry a blessing and a test. Remember, the path of righteousness is often lined with thorns. keep your faith strong. God is with you, even in these trying times."
"Thank you, Pastor," I said, feeling a sense of peace.

Interlude: Anonymous Call
Last night after Ikenna slept, I secretly took his phone, and thankfully, my lord, he didn't have a password. My lord is good!
I grabbed the device from the nightstand and searched for the only person I knew could make my plan move fast.
Scrolling through his contacts, I found the number I was searching for. My heart pounded as I copied it into my own phone. This was my chance to make a bold move. Tomorrow was a new day for something new to happen.
Throughout the night, I only had one plan: make the call to that one person and watch everything fall in line for me. In the early hours of the morning, I dialed the number, my hands trembling slightly. After a few rings, a stern voice answered.
"Hello, who is this?" the voice demanded.
"Good morning, ma. My name is Alice. I'm... I'm Ikenna's new wife," I introduced myself, trying to sound confident.
There was a pause, and then her tone softened. "You say wetin? Ikenna's new wife? Tell me more."
"Yes, ma. I've been seeing Ikenna for a while now, and I wanted to formally introduce myself to you. I know you care about him deeply, and I wanted to assure you that I only want what's best for him."
"Hian, this one that you call yourself his new wife, Ikenna has never spoken about you."
"That's why I'm calling you. He's afraid of what that witch in his house will do to him. Na why me I decide to call you, ma."
"I know that woman is a witch, but my God is stronger than her, and she shall be dealt with by His grace. Bia, my daughter, you say you be Ikenna's new wife?"
"Yes, ma. In fact, he's here with me after what happened yesterday."
"He told you all that happened?"
"Yes, ma."
"I knew it. My Ikenna was not dumb after all. My daughter, I need to meet you."
"Yes, ma. I can come to your place."
"Mbam! Don't let me stress you; let me do the coming."
"Thank you, my mother-in-law."
Just then, I heard Ikenna's footsteps approaching. He strolled out of the bedroom, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
I hung up the phone, thanking her.
"Alice, who were you calling?" he asked, suspicion evident in his tone.
"I... I called Aunty Chika," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "I introduced myself as your new wife."
Ikenna's face contorted with shock. "What?"
Postgraduate school has been really challenging for me, and I apologize for the late update. I'll be posting two chapters today; the next one will be up this evening or later tonight. I truly appreciate everyone who has been following this book-thank you so much!
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