Rose blinked. “What is it, Daddy?”
Chief Williams sighed and took her hand in his. “I have to tell you the truth. Everything you saw… the sickness, the doctor’s report, the coughing, the weakness…” He paused.
Rose looked confused.
He continued, “It was all a test. I was never sick. I do not have cancer.”
Rose gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “Daddy… what?”
“I pretended,” he said slowly, “because I needed to know the heart of everyone in our family. I wanted to know who truly loves me for me, for when I can no longer give money, when I can’t speak, or walk, or stand. I had to see who would wipe my tears, and who would fight over my treasures.”
Rose sat frozen, her eyes wide with shock. “So… all this time…”
Chief Williams nodded, tears welling up in his own eyes. “You were the only one who stood by me. You fed me. You bathed me. You even brought me all the way to this village, hoping to find a cure for an illness I never had. I was watching, Rose. And you… you made me so proud.”
Rose covered her mouth, too stunned to speak.
Later that night, Chief Williams asked the elders and all the extended family members to gather under the big tree. He stood before them, this time without any help, and raised his voice. “My people, I have something to confess.”
The elders and cousins looked at each other in surprise.
“I was never sick. I never had cancer.”
They all gasped.
“It was a plan,” he continued. “I wanted to test my family in the city. To know who truly loved me, and who only loved my wealth.”
The elders stared in stunned silence.
Chief Williams raised his hands. “And now… now I know. But I want to thank all of you. The way you came together, your love, your support, your prayers… I will never forget it.” He turned slowly. “And especially you, my daughter Rose. You stood beside me even when everyone else had walked away.”
Everyone began to clap. One elder stood up. “Chief, you have taught us all something great today. This world is full of pretenders. You are truly a wise man.”
Another woman added, “Your daughter is a blessing. May God bless her more.”
Chief Williams smiled, a genuine, warm smile, for the first time in many, many weeks.
The next day, the morning sun rose bright and bold. Rose helped her father pack his small bag. He was dressed in a clean native outfit, and he walked with strength, smiling at everyone in the compound.
When they reached the car, the villagers gathered around them again. “Chief, safe journey!” “Come back and visit us, oh!” “We love you, Chief!”
Chief Williams waved at them, blowing kisses as the car drove off slowly, kicking up dust on the red-packed road, heading back to the city.
It was like something from a dream. As the car entered the mansion’s compound, the gatemen opened their mouths in utter shock. “Chief…?”
They watched in total disbelief as the old man stepped out of the car. He wasn’t coughing. He wasn’t limping. He wasn’t weak. He was strong. He was alive. He was back.
Rose stood beside him, holding his bag. “Let’s go in, Daddy,” she said softly.
He nodded. “It is time.”
But the real shock was waiting inside.
Inside the house, Cynthia was scrolling through her phone on the couch when she heard the front door open. She turned her head casually, and then froze.
Her mouth dropped open. “Daddy?” She leaped to her feet and ran toward him. “Daddy! You’re walking! You’re okay! You’re not coughing!” She hugged him tightly. “I can’t believe it! I thought… I thought…”
Just then, David came downstairs, wearing headphones. He pulled them off, his face a mask of confusion. “Wait, what is going on here?” He saw his father, standing tall, alive, strong. Not weak. Not dying. “Daddy…?”
Frank followed behind him, holding a bottle of wine. When he saw his father, the bottle slipped from his numb fingers and shattered on the marble floor. “You… you’re… fine.”
Chief Williams looked at his three eldest children, one by one, and gave a small, unreadable smile. “Good afternoon.”
From the kitchen, Agatha’s voice echoed. “Who broke something again in this house?” She stopped dead as she stepped into the living room, and her eyes locked on the one man she thought would never walk again. Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest.
“Darling…?” She grabbed the wall for support, her gaze darting from Williams to Rose and back again. “You’re well. You’re strong. You’re walking… with strength.”..
