THE FALL
Ebimene's life was the kind most people envied. At eighteen, she had everything—wealth, security, and a clear path to a bright future. Her parents, Chief and Mrs. Tonye, were well-respected business moguls, their empire spanning real estate, oil, and international trade. As their only child, Ebimene had been groomed to take over one day, her mind sharpened by exclusive education and privileged exposure.
She had been preparing for her final exams, eager to graduate high school and head to one of the world's most prestigious universities when tragedy struck.
The news arrived on a humid Friday evening.
A car crash. Instant death.
Ebimene's world shattered.
She refused to believe it at first. The call from the hospital had felt like a cruel joke, a mistake that would be corrected any moment. But when she arrived at the morgue, the cold reality crushed her. Her mother's face, once full of warmth, was frozen in a final expression of fear. Her father, a man who had always seemed invincible, lay lifeless beside her. Their bodies were bruised and broken, their souls gone forever.
She screamed, but the walls did not care. No one did.
The funeral was a grand affair. Dignitaries, business tycoons, and government officials attended, offering hollow condolences while watching the shifting tides of power. But the real storm came after the burial.
Her father had always been a man of control. No one ever imagined he would die without a will. Yet, as the days passed, the truth became evident—there was no document securing Ebimene's inheritance.
Then the vultures descended.
Her uncles and aunts, people who had once showered her with gifts and affection, turned ruthless. The mansion she had called home became a battleground. One by one, they claimed her father's assets—his businesses, cars, and estates—citing tradition and legal loopholes. The very people who had once celebrated her parents' success now took pleasure in dividing their wealth amongst themselves.
She tried to fight. She went to lawyers, hoping for justice. But justice, she soon learned, had a price, and she could not afford it. No court could help her; no one spoke up for the orphaned heiress now stripped of everything.
Everything except the modest house on the outskirts of the city.
They left her that, a roof over her head—out of pity, she suspected, or perhaps to silence their own guilt. A small, aging bungalow that was a far cry from the luxury she had known. It was not a home; it was a prison of memories.
With no money, no connections, and no one to turn to, Ebimene faced a harsh reality. She was no longer the daughter of powerful parents; she was just another young woman struggling to survive. The world had cast her aside.
And so began her descent into hardship.
The first months were the worst. The fridge was empty more often than not, and the bills piled up like a cruel reminder of her fall. She learned the value of every coin, how to stretch a meal for days, how to swallow her pride and beg for work.
Four years of menial jobs followed. Waiting tables, cleaning offices, running errands—any work that could put food on her table. University was out of the question; survival became her only priority. She learned quickly that kindness was rare, and trust was a dangerous luxury.
There were nights she cried herself to sleep, cursing the fate that had robbed her of everything. But she never allowed despair to consume her. Deep inside, a fire still burned—one fueled by the betrayal of those who had stolen her future.
It was during one of her low-paying jobs at a tech company as an office assistant that she stumbled upon Business Intelligence. She watched analysts transform raw data into strategic insights, helping businesses grow. The skill fascinated her. It was power—not just numbers, but knowledge. If she could master it, she could change her life.
Determined, she spent nights studying, using free resources online, practicing on borrowed computers, and taking freelance projects for meager pay just to refine her craft. She endured sneers and doubts, but she persevered.
The first time she made a successful data prediction that helped a small business increase its profits, she felt something she hadn't in years—hope. It was a small victory, but it was proof that she had something valuable.
Because Ebimene had made a promise to herself.
She would rise again.
And when she did, those who had betrayed her would regret it.