“Mother-in-Law Palava: The Woman Who Wouldn’t Let Go”

When Temi marries into a seemingly perfect family, she expects bliss, but what she gets is a whirlwind of drama, deception, and secrets that unravel with every passing day. At the heart of it all is her mother-in-law, Lady Dorcas, a woman whose charm hides a web of manipulation and strange rituals. With accusations flying, strange occurrences shaking the house, and long-buried truths coming to light, Temi must navigate the chaos while uncovering the real mystery behind her mother-in-law’s behavior. Each day brings a new twist—reveals, lies, and shocking confessions that will keep you at the edge of your seat. As Temi digs deeper, she discovers that some family bonds are not as unbreakable as they seem… and some forces of nature are far more dangerous than she could have imagined.

No screenshots. No copy-paste. If you forward this chapter, your ring light will flicker at 3:03am.


Not because of the darkness, but because of the low humming sound vibrating from the old wooden floorboards.


Temi clutched Femi's arm. "Tell me you heard that."


Femi didn't speak. He couldn't. His phone had just gone dead. Again.


No battery warning. No app crash. Just black.


Mama Dorcas held the yellowed paper tightly. "The Other Mothers… they sealed themselves long ago. But that voice note means someone has broken one of the seals."


Uncle Monday slowly backed toward the window. "Abeg, make una count me out. I no sign for all this ogbanje matter!"


The floor beneath his feet opened an inch, and a thick fog crept in.


She, Femi, Mama Dorcas, and Madam Eunice stood at the edge of the forgotten well, holding a lantern, an old cowrie bracelet, and the red bag.


"Are we really doing this?" Temi whispered.


"You are," Madam Eunice said. "We'll guide you, but only you can call the Others."


Temi stared into the well. She saw nothing.


Thick, black ink rising from the bottom of the well like a slow heartbeat.


Mama Dorcas raised the yellowed paper and began chanting. Madam Eunice joined. Their voices overlapped in a language that smelled of firewood and old secrets.


The wind shifted. Then, the triangle symbol burned itself into the grass.


The well screamed. Not echoed, screamed.


Then something clawed its way up the stone wall.


She hovered above the well and spoke without opening her mouth:


"You are late, Daughter of Two. We've waited since 1979."


The woman pointed a bony finger at her.


"We are the Other Mothers. The First Protectors. The ones who bound the secrets with our blood."


She hadn't been invited to the meeting. She wasn't happy.


She lit a cigarette, even though she didn't smoke, and muttered, "Them think say I no sabi wetin dey go on."


She answered, irritated. "Who be this?"


"You're not part of the triangle. But you're holding one of its keys."


"Check the mirror behind your bedroom door. At midnight, it will show you the face of the betrayer."


"If you break the mirror, you'll never know the truth."


The call ended. And her bedroom mirror cracked on its own.


Temi gasped as three more women floated out of the mist behind the first.


Each with the same triangle symbol carved into their foreheads.


Temi closed her eyes. "What do you want from me?" she whispered.


The First Mother opened her eyes. They were silver and empty.


Chapter 22 - The other mothers awaken Chapter 22