SWITCH AT BIRTH
EPISODE 1
King Emeka and Queen Chioma’s love story was one for the ages. Their bond was unbreakable, and their love for each other only grew stronger with each passing day. King Emeka was so enamored with his queen that he would not entertain any negative remarks about her. He was her rock, her protector, and her everything.
“I love you, Chioma,” King Emeka would often say, his eyes shining with adoration. “You are my everything. I cannot imagine a life without you.”
Queen Chioma would blush and smile, her heart filled with joy. “I love you too, my king,” she would reply. “You are my everything. I cannot imagine a life without you by my side.”
Their love was pure and true, and the kingdom prospered under their rule. But as the years went by, the kingdom began to whisper about the lack of an heir. King Emeka’s advisors, chiefs, and high-profile individuals urged him to consider taking another wife to ensure the continuation of the royal lineage. But King Emeka would not budge, refusing to share his throne or his heart with another.
Queen Chioma, aware of the pressure on her husband, took his hand and looked into his eyes. “My dear king, do not worry about the whispers of our people. We will have a child, a beautiful child who will inherit your throne and carry on our legacy. Have faith in us, in our love, and in the gods who have blessed us with each other.”
King Emeka’s face lit up with hope, and he drew his queen closer. “You truly believe so, my love?”
“I do,” Queen Chioma replied, her voice filled with conviction. “We are young, and God is on our side. Our love is strong, and it will bring us a beautiful child.”
Five long years passed, and the kingdom’s anxiety grew. But Queen Chioma’s words remained etched in King Emeka’s heart, a reminder of her unwavering belief in their love and their future. And then, the news came – Queen Chioma was with child! The kingdom erupted in joy, and King Emeka held his wife close, thanking God for blessing them with a child.
Nine months had passed, and Queen Chioma had finally given birth to a beautiful son, bringing immense joy to the kingdom and her husband. She was a devoted mother, so protective of her child that she wouldn’t even allow the maid to touch him.
Three days later, Queen Chioma took her son for his immunizations, insisting on carrying him herself. She asked her maid to wait in the car and went into the health center alone. As she waited for the vaccine, she felt a sudden and urgent need to use the restroom. The nurses directed her to the bathroom, but when one of them offered to hold the baby, Queen Chioma refused.
“Please, I’ll take him with me,” she said, cradling her son in her arms.
As she entered the bathroom, her son began to fuss and squirm, making it difficult for her to manage. Just then, a cleaner was passing by, and Queen Chioma handed the baby to her, instructing her to wait outside until she finished.
Nneoma, the cleaner, was childless and had always longed for a child of her own. As she held the prince in her arms, a sudden and overwhelming desire to keep him as her own washed over her. She gazed into his innocent face and felt a surge of maternal love. In that moment, she made the fateful decision to keep the prince as her own, forgetting the consequences of her actions.
“Oh, what a beautiful child!” the cleaner exclaimed, gazing at the prince in wonder. “He’s so adorable!”
“Yes, he is,” Queen Chioma replied, smiling. “Please, just wait outside with him until I’m done.”
But when Queen Chioma emerged from the bathroom, the cleaner was nowhere to be found. She frantically searched the area, calling out for her baby and the cleaner, but there was no response.
“Where is my child?” she demanded, her voice rising in panic. “Where is the cleaner who was holding him?”
The nurses and staff joined in the search, even sending someone to the cleaner’s home, but she had already packed her belongings and fled.
Meanwhile, the cleaner, had indeed taken the prince and made her way out of the health center through the back door. She climbed over the fence and ran as fast as she could, finally reaching her small hut on the outskirts of the kingdom.
Breathless and trembling, she packed some of her belongings and fled, leaving behind her life in the kingdom.
Back at the health center, Queen Chioma was beside herself with worry, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. The kingdom’s joy had turned to chaos, and King Emeka was summoned to the health center amidst the uproar.
As soon as King Emeka heard the news of his missing child, he turned the town upside down. He rallied his guards and searched every nook and cranny, leaving no stone unturned. The kingdom was in an uproar, and the king’s anger and desperation were palpable.
“Find my son!” he thundered, his voice echoing through the streets. “Find him, or face my wrath!”
The search continued, but the prince and Nneoma seemed to have vanished into thin air. The kingdom was in chaos, and King Emeka’s heart was heavy with grief and worry. His love for his queen and child knew no bounds, and he would stop at nothing to ensure their safety and happiness.
Meanwhile, back at the palace, Queen Chioma was frantic with worry. She had never been separated from her child before, and the thought of someone else holding him was unbearable. King Emeka, equally distraught, rallied his guards and launched another search party to find their missing son.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. The kingdom was in an uproar, and the king’s anger and desperation grew with each passing day.
But as the search continued, King Emeka’s behavior towards Queen Chioma began to change. He grew distant and cold, his love for her seemingly fading with each passing day. The queen, sensing her husband’s disaffection, tried to reach out to him, but he pushed her away.
“You were supposed to protect our child,” he growled, his eyes blazing with anger. “You failed me, Chioma. You failed our son.”
Chioma had never seen him like this before, and it broke her heart to see the love they once shared slipping away.
As the search for the prince continued, the kingdom was in chaos. The king’s advisors and guards were at a loss, unable to find any trace of the missing prince. It was as if he had vanished into thin air.
But Nneoma, the cleaner, knew the truth. She had the prince, and she was determined to keep him as her own.
The story continue.
Please share, thank you.
©Rukkymerry
