In August 2019, I was a newlywed, full of hope and excitement for the future. I had just married Olumide, a man I thought I knew and trusted. Our wedding was simple, just a court ceremony, but it was filled with joy. Everyone was happy for us—or so I thought. Little did I know, my life was about to take a turn I could never have imagined.

Three weeks after our wedding, Olumide left for what he said would be a one-week trip to Lagos. I didn’t think much of it at the time. But when two weeks passed and he still hadn’t returned, I began to worry. My concern grew when I found out I was pregnant. I was overjoyed at the news, but Olumide’s reaction was far from what I expected. He didn’t seem excited at all, and I began to sense that something was terribly wrong.

My worst fears were confirmed when I started to uncover the truth. Olumide’s trip to Lagos wasn’t just a trip—he had vanished. The so-called family members and friends who attended our wedding turned out to be impostors, hired or tricked into playing roles. Even the people I thought were his close relatives were part of the charade. It was all a scam, and I was the target.

Olumide had one goal: to gain access to my money and assets. Once he got what he wanted, he disappeared, leaving me to pick up the pieces. I was alone, pregnant, and devastated. The man I had married was not who I thought he was, and the life I had envisioned was shattered.

The past five years have been a struggle to rebuild my life. The emotional and psychological toll has been immense. I’ve had to face the reality of raising my child alone while dealing with the trauma of betrayal. Every day is a fight to regain the parts of myself that were broken. The pain, the sense of loss, and the lingering questions of “Why me?” are always there.

But despite it all, I have refused to let this experience define me. I have worked hard to create a stable life for my child and myself. It’s not easy, and there are days when the weight of it all feels too heavy to bear. Yet, I keep pushing forward, determined to rise above the betrayal and rebuild what was lost.

Looking back, I realize the only crime I committed was trusting and committing to a man I didn’t truly know. I never broke any laws, yet I’ve felt imprisoned by the consequences of that one mistake. It’s been a long, painful journey, but I’m learning to forgive myself and find peace in the midst of the chaos.

To anyone reading this, remember that even in the darkest of times, there is hope. Life may be unfair, and people may betray your trust, but you have the strength to overcome. Don’t let one mistake define your future. Keep fighting, keep healing, and most importantly, keep believing in your worth.