Hajiya Maimuna sighed and said, "You, more than anyone, know that your daughter doesn’t want anyone near you unless it’s her. So, whenever she’s here, I step aside. Call me when she leaves, and I’ll do whatever you need." Without waiting for a response, she turned and left.

Sanam glared at her, clicked her tongue in annoyance, and continued chewing her gum.

Alhaji Abba, looking at his only daughter, whom he adored more than anything in the world, said, “Don’t let her upset you, my love. Ignore her.”

Sanam popped her gum, making a loud noise, and said, "Daddy, I came to talk about changing my car. My account balance doesn’t have the amount I need. You didn’t deposit enough." She spoke in a childish, spoiled tone.

Her father looked at her and said, “My love, this car is barely ten days old, and you’re already asking for a new one? Why don’t you use this one for a little longer? Then I’ll order a new one from Germany.”

She frowned and said, “Daddy, do you want me to have the same car as Zahra? She bought the same model after seeing mine. I can’t be driving the same car as someone else. It lowers my class.”

He chuckled and asked, “How much is the car you want?”

She smiled, her dimples showing, and said, “It’s just 50 million naira, Daddy.”

He smiled and said, “If there’s a more expensive one, that’s the one I’ll buy for you, my love.”

Excited, she jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly. Seeing her happy made him happy too. He kissed her forehead and immediately transferred 80 million naira into her account. "Let’s go celebrate later, my love," he said.

She pouted playfully, kissed his cheek, and said, “Thanks, my special papa! I’m proud of you, Daddy.”

She quickly grabbed her bag and left the room.

As she descended the stairs, she ran into Hajiya Maimuna. Sanam let out a loud sigh, spat on the floor in disgust, and walked past her without a word.

This act infuriated Hajiya Maimuna. How could a little girl treat her this way? Sanam’s behavior was becoming unbearable. Could she really continue living under the same roof as Alhaji Abba?

She stormed upstairs, straight into her husband’s room, without knocking.

“Alhaji, I’m tired of your daughter’s behavior! Every time she comes here, she treats me with utter disrespect. Today, she even spat at me! And whenever I complain, you say I’m overreacting. If this continues, I will leave this house because my patience is running out!”

Alhaji Abba stood up angrily and glared at her. “Maimuna, I knew you’d come up with another complaint about Sanam. I’ve been very lenient with you regarding her. But if you keep pushing me, you’ll see what happens!”

He scoffed, grabbed his car keys, and stormed out.

Tears filled Hajiya Maimuna’s eyes. She collapsed onto the bed, sobbing.

“When will my suffering over this girl end? When will I have peace in my home? Every time she visits, she leaves behind chaos. Truly, the Hausa saying is right: A co-wife’s daughter is for the patient woman. May Allah grant me the patience to endure this test.”

Meanwhile, outside, the security guard was still standing in the rain, umbrella in hand. He knew better than to step under it himself—Sanam would make his life miserable if he did.

When she finally exited, he quickly held the umbrella over her until she reached her car. Once she was inside, he folded it and placed it in the backseat before running to open the gate.

She sped out of the compound like a madwoman, as if she were about to take off. Other drivers swerved out of her way as she raced down the road.

She entered the estate in Area 11 just as a young man, dressed in a simple jallabiya, stepped out of a house, hurrying to the mosque for the afternoon prayer.

Without a second glance, she nearly ran him over, drenching him in water from the street. But she didn’t even seem to notice what she had done.

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