They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 25: Pretense 3

Did he really just give her that? they wondered collectively, their thoughts filled with disbelief. That's his beloved Rolex! The one he always flaunts! What on earth is going on?

Internally, the queen's mind was reeling. 'This... this can't be happening. Why is he suddenly being generous? He hates her, doesn't he?'

King Ikechukwu glanced at his son, then at Nnenna. Though his face remained unreadable, the slight furrow of his brow betrayed his curiosity.

'What changed?' he thought. 'Why does it feel like the tide is shifting in her favor?'

Nnenna looked down at the watch, her fingers curling around it gently. A flicker of determination lit her eyes. 'Whatever you fire at me, I'll use it to my advantage. Let's see how long you can all keep up this charade.'

The silence in the room grew thicker, broken only by the soft ticking of the elegant watch in her hand.

If Queen Chioma hadn't been carefully maintaining her façade as a loving mother, she would have outright demanded an explanation from Obinna then and there.

'What on earth is wrong with this boy?' she thought, her forced smile twitching slightly at the corners. Her mind raced with questions she couldn't ask openly in front of everyone.

Meanwhile, Nnenna, noticing the tension bubbling beneath the surface, put on her most radiant smile, masking the flicker of disbelief she still felt at Obinna's sudden generosity.

though it were the most precious thing she had ever received. "I knew

her words had completely erased his earlier misstep. "You're welcome, you're welcome," he said eagerly, a note

awkwardly, as though debating whether to offer her something else. His hands fidgeted at his sides, but when he found nothing else on him that he considered worthy, he settled for nodding

would interrogate Obinna later. There's no way this is normal, she thought suspiciously. 'Why is my second son acting like this? What's

at her husband, hoping he would react, but King Ikechukwu remained stoic, his piercing eyes watching the scene unfold as though analyzing every subtle shift in the

lightly, though her words carried an undertone of disbelief. "It seems you've truly embraced the role of

proudly. "Of course. Family is

was fuming. 'Family is everything? Since when has

that hung in the air. 'This is turning out to be more entertaining than I expected,' she mused,

toward Chidera, waving him over with

her. And don't forget to apologize for your earlier actions," she added, her

then sauntered over, his usual air of arrogance clinging to him like a shadow. He held a small box in one hand while flipping

an

the pretense of formality. "I'm sorry you don't know your place," he said quietly but

around the watch Obinna had given her. She locked eyes with him, her gaze cool and unwavering, refusing to give him

straightened, his smirk deepening as he continued, "If you knew your place, you wouldn't be struggling with me for