THIRD PERSON'S POV
The scent of eggs and toasted bread roused Angel from her nap. Her stomach rumbled before her eyes even opened, the dull ache in her lower abdomen reminding her of her reality. She stretched gently, wincing a little at the tug in her belly, then groaned as she turned toward the soft knock at her door.
"Still sleeping?" Samuel's voice was low, careful.
"I was," she murmured, rubbing her eyes. "But now I smell food. Did you cook?"
He pushed the door open with a proud grin. "Chef Samuel at your service. Come on, it's hot. I made tea too. You need something warm."
She rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself. "You didn't have to—"
"Don't argue," he cut in. "Come eat before it gets cold."
Dragging herself out of bed, she followed him to the small dining area. The table was simple but inviting: scrambled eggs, toast, avocado slices, and steaming mugs of tea.
Samuel pulled out her chair. "Sit."
"Thanks, nurse mom" she teased as she lowered herself onto the seat.
"You're welcome, stubborn patient."
She chuckled and reached for her fork. "I'm not even sick and this looks good by the way. "
"I know, I ain't a chef for nothing " he said, sitting across from her.
They ate in companionable silence for a few bites. Angel winced as she shifted in her chair, then sipped her tea with a grateful sigh. Samuel watched her carefully, noting every flinch and wince with a quiet frown.
"You sure you don't need meds?. I mean auntie already said you'd be fine but you keeping wincing and limping a-- "
"I'll be fine. Just cramps. They come and go." She interrupted with a smile
He nodded but didn't look convinced. She reached for another piece of toast and noticed him already buttering it for her.
"You're spoiling me" she said, amused.
"Good. Maybe you'll get used to it."
Angel paused, then gave him a soft look. "Thanks for taking care of me, Sammy."
He shrugged. "You did the same for me."
"Still. I appreciate it."
A faint blush rose on his cheeks, and he turned his attention to his tea.
After breakfast, Angel cleared the table, ignoring Samuel's protests. She wanted to move around, even if her body disagreed. Her phone buzzed against the counter. She paused, glancing at it. The notification reminded her of something.
Roman.
Samuel had mentioned that Roman called while she was asleep. At the time, it barely registered, but now, her mind began to stitch it together.
He called me.
She dried her hands, grabbed her phone, and headed to the window. The morning sunlight poured in, bathing the room in gold. She hesitated briefly, then tapped Roman's contact.
It rang twice.
"So, the prodigal child finally remembers she owns a phone and decided to call this old man back" came the voice on the other end, thick with mock sarcasm.
Angel smiled immediately. "Didn't realize you missed me that much."
"Oh, I cried all night," he deadpanned. "Almost wrote you a poem."
"You should've. I'd have framed it. It's not everyday the big bad boss admits he misses me "
"Please. You'd have used it to wrap moi-moi." ( A/N: It's a traditional Nigerian dish and I just got to know the English name was steamed beans pudding )
She laughed, leaning against the window frame. "Maybe. Depends on how sappy it was."
There was a pause, then Roman's voice softened. "How are you?"
"Alive. Tired. But fine."
"You sure?"
"I've got Samuel fussing over me like a mama hen already and I think you'd like to see it."
"I'd pay to see that. He always looked like he'd break if you poked him."
"He's stronger than he looks." She knew Roman had probably investigated Samuel when he found out
Another pause.
"You scared us, you know. You just called me abruptly and went AWOL, I almost went mad."
Angel looked away. Her fingers tightened slightly around the phone. "I know. Sorry. I wasn't thinking, he was in danger so I kind of lost my mind. I'm sorry again for making you worry "
"Don't apologize, baby girl. Just… take care of yourself, okay?"
She rolled her eyes. "Still calling me that, huh?"
"Of course. It annoys you, so why not?"
"And that brings you joy?"
"Immeasurable joy."
She exhaled slowly, warmth creeping into her chest. This—this was familiar. Not the gang. Not the violence. Just Roman being Roman.
"You didn't say why you called."
"Can't a guy just check in?"
"Roman. And since when were you a "guy"??. You know you don't call randomly."
"Okay, okay. I wanted to see you. There's something I need to talk to you about. Face-to-face."
"What's it about?"
"Business. But not the scary kind."
"Hmm. That's rare."
"Meet me later today? "
" I don't think I can do today. Just got my period so I'm a bit cranky"
" Okay, tomorrow then?"
" Alright, where?"
" Somewhere quiet. You choose."
Angel thought for a moment. "There's a café by the old bridge. They have good doughnuts."
"You're bribing me with sugar."
"Is it working?"
"Always."
Another pause.
"It's really good to hear your voice, Angel."
She swallowed. "Yours too."
"Alright, doughnut girl. I'll see you tomorrow. And bring my favorite smile."
"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were flirting with me Roman "
" C'mon, can't a guy tease someone in peace again?"
" No. Not you!"
He hung up with a chuckle.
Angel lowered the phone and sighed. She felt calm, a warm, strange calm.
Behind her, Samuel peeked out of the hallway. "Everything okay?"
She nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah. Roman wants to see me."
Samuel raised an eyebrow. "About?"
"Don't know yet. But it didn't sound bad."
" When?"
" Tomorrow "
He watched her for a second longer. "You gonna be alright?"
"Yeah," she said, slipping her phone into her pocket. "I think I will be."
Sometime later...
The park was quiet that morning, a soft breeze brushing through the budding trees as if the world itself had decided to be gentle for once. Samuel held Angel's hand as they strolled down a shaded path lined with benches and wildflowers. There wasn't any real destination in mind, just the soothing comfort of being together in a place untouched by chaos.
Samuel had suggested going to the park when Angel casually mentioned wanting to go out for fresh air. And here they were.
Angel leaned into him, her other hand tucked in the pocket of the oversized hoodie that was obviously not hers. She hadn't bothered with makeup or anything elaborate—Samuel had insisted she didn't need to. And when he looked at her the way he was now, like she was the only girl that mattered, she believed him.
"You good?" he asked softly, brushing a thumb over the back of her hand.
She nodded, lips twitching into a small smile. "Better than good. You're spoiling me."
He chuckled. "That's the point."
She rested her head on his shoulder for a moment as they walked. It was peaceful. Safe. The kind of day she never imagined she'd get with him. The ache in her lower belly was a dull reminder of her period, but even that didn't dim her mood. Samuel was attentive as always—he'd made her tea, let her pick the movie that morning, and now brought her to the park just because she'd casually mentioned wanting air.
He paused by a shaded bench and tugged her gently to sit. "Break time," he said, already pulling out a bottle of water from the small backpack he carried. "Hydrate, kitten."
She took the bottle, smirking. "You're giving boyfriend of the year."
"I'll take that title. Gladly."
Their laughter came easily. He brushed a few strands of hair from her face and leaned forward, pressing a light kiss to her temple.
They sat there for a while, watching a little boy chase pigeons across the lawn, his mother laughing nearby. The simple joy of it made Angel feel like she was seeing the world with new eyes. Maybe happiness wasn't a lie.
But then the shift happened.
It was subtle at first. Samuel's posture stiffened just a bit, his arm tensing behind her shoulders.
She felt it immediately. "What is it?"
He didn't answer right away, his gaze locked on a figure approaching from the left side of the path.
A woman.
Tall, poised, and stunning in a high-maintenance kind of way. Her curls bounced with each step, and her designer sunglasses sat perched on her head like a crown. Elizabeth.
Samuel's ex.
Angel's gut twisted. She is really is here.
Elizabeth's eyes swept over them as she approached, her expression unreadable until her lips curled into a too-sweet smile. "Well, well, well. This is cute. I always knew you had thoughts you shouldn't have been having about him"
Samuel rose slowly, keeping a hand on Angel's back. "Elizabeth."
She stopped a few feet away, crossing her arms. Her tone was casual, but her eyes flickered coldly over Angel. "Didn't think you moved on so fast. Or so... drastically."
"This isn't fast, Elizabeth. We broke up ages ago and it's none of your business who I'm with "
Angel stood too, not because she felt threatened, but because she refused to let anyone look down on her while she was sitting. Especially not Elizabeth.
Elizabeth's gaze lingered on her clothes, the plain hoodie, her comfortable pants. "You always had a type, Sam. Broken little birds."
Angel didn't flinch, though her jaw clenched. Oh, she didn't know how wrong her words were.
Samuel stepped in, voice calm but firm. "Stop."
Elizabeth arched a brow. "Oh, I touched a nerve? Didn't mean to. I just thought you had standards."
"Elizabeth—" Angel interrupted him lightly
"No, let her talk," Angel said quietly, her voice steady. "If she wants to embarrass herself in public, let her."
Elizabeth blinked, momentarily thrown off but quickly regained her haughty demeanor. "Oh, look who decided to grace the park with her presence. Samuel, I didn't know you were such a... fan of second chances" she said lightly as if just acknowledging Angel.
"Second chances? I think you're confused. This isn't about you anymore. So where's the 'second chances' coming from?"
" Excuse me?"
"You heard me." Angel said. "You walked over here for a reason, didn't you?. Needed to feel like you still had some kind of hold?"
Elizabeth's lips parted, but no words came, because she knows Angel was right.
"You're being delusional if you think you still stand a chance and you need help."
Samuel placed himself slightly in front of Angel now, not to shield her, but as a quiet show of loyalty. "We're done, Elizabeth and we've been done for ages. Get that into your head. You have no right to talk to her like that. Y'all might have had your differences but I won't allow you talk down on her like that when I'm here"
Angel felt a flicker of pride at how he shielded her and how steady his voice sounded. Inside, she was roiling, but outside, she was calm. Controlled.
"Aw, Sammy, still playing the protector? Or just scared I'll outshine her?"
"Outshine me?. Excuse me, have you seen yourself?. If y'all don't have a mirror in your house, I'd buy one for you so you'd see yourself and know we're not on the same level. You look like a pig forgot it's snout on you"
"Honey, you're barely holding on. You should thank me for showing you the door before things got messy." Elizabeth said bitterly
" I should thank you?." She looked up at her, eyes cold and glinting " Why don't you just leave? Before this peaceful day turns into a scene you'll regret."
Elizabeth scoffed. "Fine. Enjoy your little fairytale. Just remember, Sam—when it all crumbles, don't come crawling back."
She turned and walked away without another word.
Silence hung between them for a moment. Samuel sighed, turning to Angel. "I'm sorry about that."
She looked up at him and shook her head. "Don't be. She needed to see that she doesn't get to affect you anymore."
He cupped her cheek. "You okay?"
"I'm more than okay," she said. "That was weirdly satisfying."
"And you looked so cool talking back at her. I almost fell on my knees."
They both laughed, the tension breaking like a wave. He pulled her back into a hug, holding her close as the birds resumed their chirping in the distance. The storm had passed. And Angel had weathered it—on her feet, beside the man who had chosen her.
For once, everything felt like it was falling into place.