"It’s actually a very different experience when you work with an ordinary anchor and when you work with an anchor who has roots in the Mega family," Skyler gushed in delight, receiving a glare from Shikera and Cyprian.

"I’m not joking! When last did I come shopping in such a high end boutique?"

Shikera’s brows furrowed when she heard that, sensing the underlying meaning of Skyler’s words. She shared knowing glances with Cyprian and the latter nodded, signifying that she noticed it too.

"Esther, which section do you want to check out next?" Ruth asked, leading the little girl away from Shikera and Cyprian, but not before giving them an understanding nod.

"Okay...so what is the problem, Skyler? You have been talking like something is really wrong with your family..." Shikera started, leading the way to a cluster of chairs placed near the wall.

"Something, Kera? Everything is wrong. Daddy was framed and of course, the whole family went down with him. I visit him every morning before work so I can deliver his daily necessities," Skyler said, anger evident in her eyes.

Cyprian placed her hand on Skyler’s shoulder, comforting her with a slight squeeze on there .

"What was he framed for?" she asked.

"Murder..."

★★★

[You guys better meet me in the garage as soon as possible! I have a husband to go home too.]

Shikera laughed as she sent the message, imagining the faces of Cyprian and Ruth when they would see the message. Skyler had gone home when she could not keep herself from breaking down in tears, and Shikera had promised they would be able to talk better when they saw each other later at work.

She, together with Cyprian, had then waited for Ruth and Esther to conclude their shopping. As the troublesome friend that she was, Cyprian had requested for ten minutes to the rest room and Ruth had followed with Esther.

Shikera had abandoned them and proceeded to the parking lot, where she was now waiting. Hearing footsteps approaching her in the quiet place, Shikera looked up with a faked frown.

"Do you think my threat was fake—" Her words hung in her throat when she saw the person approaching. It was not Esther or Ruthlyn, and it was definitely not Cyprian but...it was her supposed mother.

The woman had her phone against her ears which made Shikera know she was on a call, and her eyes seemed to be fixed directly on Shikera. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Nervously, Shikera let her hair down and combed through it with her fingers in a bid to at least look her best, but she was unprepared for what happened next.

"Betty?" called the woman, who had now dropped the phone and was standing a little distance away from Shikera.

"Betty?" Shikera echoed.

"Ah ah," the woman chuckled lightly, "My eyes are probably acting up again. I thought you were my daughter, Elizabeth."

"Elizabeth?" Shikera could not help but repeat.

"Beautiful name, isn’t it?" The woman asked, smiling. "Anyways, I’m sorry for addressing you wrongly. I should be on my way now."

"Wait!"

But the woman had walked away, and she didn’t even turn back. Shikera’s brows furrowed in confusion as she stared at the retreating back, before a call drew her back.

"Kera!"

It was Cyprian, walking together with Ruthlyn and Esther. Shikera waited until the trio were at her front before asking, "How do we ride now?"

Cyprian beamed at that.

"Don’t worry, Kera. You might have a husband but I do have a boyfriend, and ’he’ wants me to join him tonight," she whispered, making Ruth burst into laughter.

With a slightly displaced smile due to the incident earlier, Shikera simply went into the car.

Ethan welcomed her at the door when they got home an hour and a half later and Shikera only gave him a plain hug before excusing herself. With a frown on his face, Ethan turned to Esther and rubbed her on the head.

"Anything happened to Miss—your mum?" he asked.

"No," Esther answered.

"Oh okay, go call her down for dinner," he instructed, and Esther couldn’t be more excited to do that.

"Yes!" She screamed, running towards the stairs.

"Don’t run on the steps!" Ethan called after her, knowing he would not be obeyed anyway. It might even be more effective if Shikera said it, since she was Esther’s new found love.

★

Dinner was very quiet, with Shikera engrossed in her own thoughts and Ethan’s attention fixed directly on her. On the other hand, Esther had noticed how despairing the mood around Shikera was and not wanting to piss her mum off, she kept quiet and ate her meal as quietly as she could.

When they finished their meal, Shikera went straight up to her room with Esther. Ethan watched as she tucked the girl in and went to her own room, all without kissing him goodnight.

He took out his phone and dialled Ruth’s number. The call connected at the very first ring.

"Come over, with Raymond or Enoch."

"Alright Sir," came the reply.

In no time, the front door was opened and Ruthlyn walked in with Enoch, a very professional look on her face.

Ethan walked over to meet them.

"Why didn’t Raymond come?" he asked. As he was aware of the conflict between Ruthlyn and Enoch, he knew Ruth would not willingly choose to come with Enoch.

"Raymond is uh...busy with something, so I called Enoch instead," Ruthlyn replied.

"That’s okay. What happened today, with Shikera?"

"Nothing...that I know of. We were together all through the morning and I only excused myself when she had to talk to her friend about something personal. We met after then and she was totally alright until we excused ourselves to visit the restroom," Ruthlyn stated.

"And Shikera was left alone? Where?"

"She went ahead of us to the parking lot."

"Enoch, get me the CCTV footage of the parking lot, and every information about her so called friend. When Raymond is done with his business, ask him to come see me," he instructed before adding,"Anytime."

"Alright, Sir!"