Part 2
As the news spread, Adebayo’s family began to show their true colors. They weren’t concerned about Jane’s feelings or her well-being. Instead, they immediately began discussing the division of his assets.
“Who will take control of the company?” Kola, Adebayo’s older brother, asked, his voice filled with urgency. “We need to make sure the assets are protected.”
But when it came to Jane, the attitude changed. “Who is she really?” Kola sneered, his face hardening. “She isn’t married to Adebayo. No bride price has been paid, and she has no claim to any of his properties.”
Jane stood frozen, her heart breaking with each word. The man she loved was gone, and now, even in death, his family was trying to erase her and her children from his legacy.
READ ALSO: The Forgotten Village – Part 2
Despite the grief she was still processing, Jane knew that she had to fight. Adebayo’s family had already started moving to take control of his businesses and assets, refusing to acknowledge her as his wife.
They claimed that because the bride price had not been paid, their union was not valid under the eyes of the law. Timi, Folake’s brother, was the first to speak up on her behalf. “This is not right,” he told her. “We have to stand firm. Adebayo’s family cannot just take everything. You and the children have a right to what he built with you.”
But the pressure was overwhelming. Adebayo’s family was well connected, and they had already begun working on legal avenues to dispute Jane’s claims.
They started the process of freezing Adebayo’s accounts and assets, claiming that the marriage was invalid. They argued that there was no documentation or witnesses to prove Jane’s claim.
Who followed Adebayo to meet your people? They asked, looking to take advantage of her husband’s negligence. Afterall, without the payment of the bride price, there was no formal marriage.
Jane hired a lawyer to fight for her rights, but the legal battles were exhausting. Days turned into weeks, and the stress of navigating a court system that favored Adebayo’s family took a toll on her. But she refused to back down
“Fight for our children,” she reminded herself every night. “Fight for Adebayo’s legacy.” Jane’s lawyer, a sharp woman named Tosin, immediately began strategizing how to handle the complex legal situation.
“You are not just fighting for your share of Adebayo’s estate, Jane,” she said one day after they met in her office. “You’re fighting for your children’s future.
This case is about setting a precedent. The law may not recognize your marriage in the traditional sense, but we will make them recognize the life you shared with Adebayo.”
READ ALSO: The Forgotten Village – Part 3
It wasn’t going to be easy. Adebayo’s family, particularly Kola, seemed to have the entire legal system on their side. They were well-resourced and had connections that ran deep in the legal world. Their first move was to argue that without the bride price, Jane had no claim to any of Adebayo’s assets.
But Tosin was confident. “We will challenge that,” she assured Jane. “Common law marriage recognizes your relationship. Your life together, your children, all of that counts in the eyes of the law.”
The first few court hearings were draining. Jane would sit in the cold, sterile courtroom, surrounded by Adebayo’s relatives, who whispered among themselves, casting judgmental glances at her.
Kola, in particular, looked at her with disdain. “You think you have a chance, Jane?” he would sneer. “The law is clear. You’re nothing more than a girlfriend who had children for my brother.”
The words stung, but Jane stood her ground. She had to. Her children were watching, and she couldn’t let them see her fall apart.
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