The idea came up unexpectedly one evening while Naya and Kain were lounging on the couch after dinner. Tami had fallen asleep with her head on Naya's lap, her tiny breaths even and soft.
Kain looked over at Naya and, with a casual tone, said, "I want to meet your parents."
Naya blinked. "Really?"
He nodded. "I think it's time. I want to know where you come from. The people who made you who you are."
The idea had both excited and unsettled her. Her relationship with her parents—especially her father—was warm but distant. She called sometimes, sent money monthly, and made sure they were comfortable, but her visits had grown few and far between.
Still, she agreed. A week later, with bags packed, they set out for her hometown—a modest but lively city two hours away.
As they hit the expressway, Kain pulled into a large superstore. "I need to pick up a few things for your parents," he said casually.
Naya assumed he meant a fruit basket and maybe a bottle of wine. But an hour later, the back of the SUV was filled with bags—large sacks of rice, cartons of tea, cooking oil, body supplements for the elderly, a full medical kit, boxes of premium groceries, and more.
"Kain, this is too much," Naya whispered as they checked out.
"They raised you. They deserve this and more," he said simply.
On top of everything else, he added a bottle of a rare Italian wine—one so expensive the store manager had to personally unlock a display case to retrieve it.
By the time they pulled up to her family house, the car was packed so tightly they could barely see out the rear window. Naya's mother, Mrs Lawal, opened the front door with a wide smile the moment they stepped out.
"Ah! My daughter!" she exclaimed, wrapping Naya in a tight hug. Her eyes softened when she spotted Tami. "And who is this princess?"
"This is Tami," Naya said, smiling. "She's very special to me."
Tami curtsied shyly, and Mama Lawal immediately fell in love. She held her hand and led her inside like she had known her for years. The moment she saw the bags of groceries and provisions, her eyes widened.
"Kain brought these?" she asked in disbelief.
"Yes, ma," Naya replied.
Her mother turned to him. "God bless you, my son. You'll never lack."
Kain smiled respectfully. "Thank you, ma."
She quickly busied herself preparing a meal, refusing to let Naya or Kain lift a finger. "Your father is on the way," she said. "I've called him already."
Thirty minutes later, Mr. Lawal arrived. He was a tall man with a slightly rounded belly, his expression stoic as always. But when he saw Naya, his stern features cracked into a smile.
"Naya," he said, opening his arms.
She hugged him tightly. "Daddy."
"Why don't you ever call unless it's about money?" he grumbled, though his voice held no real anger.
"I'm sorry," she replied. "I've been very busy."
He nodded, then turned to Kain, eyeing him with quiet intensity. "So this is the man?"
Kain stood and greeted him respectfully. "Good evening, sir. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
"Where do you work?" he asked, cutting straight to the point.
Kain was visibly nervous but held his composure. "I run several businesses, sir. Mostly in real estate and architecture. I also have international investments… and a stake in a growing relationship and therapy company."
Naya raised an eyebrow. That was news to her—but not something she dwelled on in the moment.
Mr. Lawal nodded. "Hmm. And who is the little girl?"
Kain's voice softened. "She's my daughter from a previous marriage, sir."
"What happened to the marriage?"
Kain paused before replying, "We weren't compatible. It ended amicably."
Her father frowned. "And my daughter—was she forced into this relationship because of your past?"
"No, sir," Kain said immediately. "We started off unconventionally, but everything now is by choice. I love her. Genuinely."
While the men talked, Mama Lawal pulled Naya into the kitchen. "Come. Tell me the truth. Do you love this man?"
Naya nodded. "With all my heart."
Her mother's eyes narrowed. "And what about the child? You know she's not yours. Can you handle raising another woman's daughter?"
Naya didn't hesitate. "She's mine. In every way that matters."
Her mother studied her for a moment before breaking into a smile. "You chose well. Don't let anyone take your happiness. Start thinking of marriage. That man—he's every woman's dream."
Back in the living room, laughter rang out. Naya walked in to find her father and Kain discussing politics like old friends.
"You're surprisingly reasonable for a man your age," her father was saying.
Kain chuckled. "And you're surprisingly open for someone who interrogated me like a detective."
Naya leaned against the wall, watching the two of them.
Her heart swelled. Her family didn't know yet that she and Kain were already legally married. They had agreed to keep that part quiet for now. Too much truth at once would only complicate things.
But seeing her father laugh and her mother beam at Kain made her feel something she hadn't felt in a long time—relief.
Later, as they loaded the now-empty bags into the car and said their goodbyes, Mr. Lawal clapped Kain on the back. "You did well today. Don't disappoint my daughter."
"Never," Kain said.
And he meant it.
As they drove away, Naya looked at him. "You were nervous, weren't you?"
"Terrified," he admitted.
She laughed, reached for his hand, and squeezed it.
"You did good, Adeyemi."
He smiled. "Only because she's worth it."