A tall, handsome man in   a suit smiled through the window. Excuse me, he  said. Can I give you a ride? No, thank you, Faith   replied quickly. I’m fine, but he didn’t leave. He  drove slowly beside her, talking, trying to make   her laugh. When she finally reached home, he was  still behind her. “Please go,” she said quietly.

“If my stepmother sees you, I’ll be in trouble.”  Just then, her stepmother stepped out. In trouble   for what? She asked, eyeing the car. Faith froze.  I don’t know him, Ma. The man introduced himself   as Daniel and said he only wanted to know  Faith better. But the stepmother’s eyes lit   up with greed. She quickly invited him inside,  pretending to be kind.

She’s already engaged,   the woman lied smoothly. But I have two beautiful  daughters, Precious and Anita. You’ll love them.   Faith stood there shocked as her stepmother called  out her daughters. They came out in fancy clothes,   smiling like angels. Daniel smiled politely,  said his goodbyes, and left. But Anita was sent   to escort him. That was how it began. Anita and  Daniel started dating.

They went to restaurants,   hotels, and fancy places while Faith stayed home  to scrub the floors. Soon the stepmother and her   daughters began to fear Daniel might discover  the truth that Faith was never engaged. So they   decided to get rid of her. One evening, Precious  brought home a man named Eddie, a security guard   who had once admired her.

The stepmother smiled  wickedly and said, “Precious is taken, but I   have another daughter, Faith. She’s perfect for  you.” Faith’s heart broke. Before she could even   protest, her stepmother forced her to meet Eddie.  He was poor, gentlel looking, and clearly nervous.   They went to a small roadside restaurant. Eddie  confessed he didn’t have much money, and Faith   only smiled. “It’s okay,” she said softly. “I’m  used to managing.

” The next week, her stepmother   arranged for her to marry him without any bride  price. “Edddy,” her stepmother said. “I’ve been   watching you. You look like a responsible man.  My daughter Faith here is a good girl, calm,   respectful, and homely. I think both of you will  make a perfect couple. Faith’s heart dropped. Ma,   she said quietly. I don’t even know him. Will you  shut up? Her stepmother snapped.

Do you want to   waste away in my house forever? A man is here for  you, and you’re talking nonsense. Eddie scratched   his head, unsure what to say. Madam, I like your  daughter truly, but I don’t have much money now.   I’ll need some time to gather enough for her bride  price. Her stepmother laughed, waving her hand.

Bride price? That one is not important for now.  Just come with your people and show interest. You   can bring the bride price when you have money.  I trust you. Eddie looked surprised. Ah, madam,   are you sure? That’s not how it’s usually done.  She smiled sweetly, hiding her true intentions.   Don’t worry, my son. I just want Faith to have a  husband. Money can come later.

Faith’s eyes filled   with tears. She wanted to scream, to beg, to run,  but she had nowhere to go. And so, within a week,   her stepmother forced her into marriage with  a man she barely knew, a poor security guard   everyone looked down on. Faith was packed off with  a small bag of clothes and sent away. When they   reached his home, Faith was stunned. It wasn’t  really a home.

It was a security quarters in a   grand mansion. “This is where I live,” Eddie said  shily. “I’m the assistant chief security officer   in this estate.” She looked around quietly. “The  place was tight with barely enough space for a bed   and a small stove at the corner. yet. She smiled  softly and said, “It’s small, but it’s ours.

” He   nodded slowly and sighed, rubbing the back of  his neck. “Faith, I’m really sorry. Things are   hard right now. I haven’t been paid yet for this  month.” He brought out a few crumpled notes, just   1,000 naira, and handed them to her hesitantly.  “This is all I have for now. Please just manage   it to cook something.” Faith collected the money  gently and smiled. It’s fine. I will manage.

She   said it so calmly, so sincerely that it made  his chest tighten. She didn’t complain. She   didn’t frown. She simply tucked the money into her  wrapper and went out to the market. That evening,   when he returned, the small room smelled of  stew and warmth. Somehow she had managed to   make a simple meal with that little money. As they  ate, Eddie kept looking at her in silence.

After a   while, he asked quietly, “Faith, why did you marry  me, knowing I have nothing?” She smiled and looked   up at him. “Because I believe in you. From the  way you talk, from the way you treat people. I   can tell you’re a good man. I know one day you’ll  make it.

And even if you don’t, I’m already happy   with you.” He stared at her, lost for words.  No one had ever made him feel so seen, so   respected. Every day after that, Faith amazed him  more. She cleaned, cooked, prayed, and laughed,   all with the same humble heart. Whenever he gave  her anything, no matter how small, she would smile   and say the same words that always pierced his  soul.

“I will manage,” he’d just look at her   stunned and whisper, “What kind of woman are you,  Faith?” Then one morning she met the owner of the   mansion and froze. It was Daniel and beside him  was Anita. Daniel’s eyes widened. “Faith?” “Yes,   sir,” she said quietly. Eddie quickly added,  “She’s my wife, sir.” Daniel smiled thinly.   “Your wife?” “Interesting.” From that day, things  became tense.

Anita insulted Faith every chance   she got. “See your life?” she mocked. “Married to  a gate man. How romantic. One morning, Anita asked   Faith to cook breakfast for her and Daniel. Daniel  refused. She’s not a maid, he said. I hired Eddie,   not her. But Faith smiled. It’s fine, sir. I  don’t mind. Later that week, Faith was in the   kitchen when Daniel walked in again. His tone  was soft, his eyes filled with intent.

“Faith,   I can change your life,” he whispered. “You don’t  belong here. Leave that man and be with me.”   Faith turned sharply. “Sir, please stop.” He  moved closer. “You think I’m joking? I can make   you rich. Please,” she said firmly. “Don’t do this  again.” She ran out, shaken. When she told Eddie,   he only sighed. “Faith, please don’t make trouble.  He’s my boss. I can’t lose this job.

” Faith stared   at him in disbelief. He tried to touch me and  you’re scared of losing your job? Eddie said   nothing. Weeks later, it happened again. Daniel  found her in the living room mopping the floor. He   stood behind her, whispering, “I still want you. I  can take care of you. Just say yes.” Faith pushed   his hand away. “Sir, please respect yourself.  I’m married.” Daniel laughed softly.

“Married to   a gate man? I pay your husband. Don’t forget that  Faith’s eyes filled with tears. Then pay him more,   but don’t talk to me like that again. She ran to  the quarters, trembling. One hot afternoon, Edgie   stepped out of the estate to run an errand for his  boss, Daniel.

The sun was blazing, the dust rising   with every step he took. He returned hours later,  tired and sweaty, holding a small nylon bag from   the nearby store. Just as he approached the gate,  a shiny black SUV slowed down beside him. Inside   were two women, Anita and Precious, both dressed  like queens. Anita rolled down the window, her   eyes scanning him from head to toe. “Hey, security  man,” she called, her voice dripping with mockery.

“Where are you coming from looking like that?”  Edgie straightened himself and replied calmly.   “I went to run an errand for the boss.” Precious  chuckled. and you couldn’t take a cab?” she asked,   pretending to look concerned. “Or is it that  you don’t have money for transport?” The sisters   laughed loudly, exchanging glances. “You and that  your wife?” Anita added with a smirk.

You really   deserve each other. “Two perfect peas in a poor  pod.” Edgie didn’t say a word. He simply nodded   and stepped aside as their SUV sped into the  estate, leaving a cloud of dust behind. He stood   there quietly, gripping the nylon bag tighter, his  jaw clenched. Then, with a deep sigh, he whispered   under his breath, “Poor man.

” And he walked back  toward the small security house where Faith was   waiting, smiling, ready to serve him food. Anita  traveled for a weekend and Precious came visiting.   She flirted with Daniel and before long the two  began an affair. It continued secretly until one   afternoon when Anita returned unexpectedly and  caught them on the bed. “Daniel,” she screamed.   “You’re sleeping with my sister.” The noise drew  everyone in.

Faith and Eddie rushed into the   house. Precious hid behind Daniel, crying. Anita  was raging, calling her names. Then Eddie spoke   calmly. “Daniel, how could you? You disappointed  me. Anita turned, laughing bitterly. And who are   you to talk? A common gate man. Precious hissed.  Please take your poverty-stricken self and your   wife out of here when rich people are talking.  Eddie smiled quietly and shook his head.

Really?   That’s interesting. He turned to Faith. Let’s  go, my love. But Faith held his arm. Wait,   what are you doing? Eddie looked at everyone.  Before I go, maybe I should tell you something.   I’m the owner of this house. They all burst  into laughter. Anita held her stomach. “You the   owner? Are you dreaming?” Daniel remained silent.  Eddie continued calmly.

“Yes, I own this house,   this estate, and several companies.” Eddie  Clifford Oil and Gas Limited. Does that sound   familiar? The laughter stopped. Everyone went  silent. Anita turned to Daniel. Why aren’t you   saying anything? Daniel swallowed hard. He’s He’s  my boss. They froze. Eddie continued, his voice   steady. I switched roles with Daniel. I wanted  to find a woman who would love me, not my money.

After my mother died, my father married a cruel  woman who took everything and left him broken.   He died of heartbreak. Since then, I’ve worked  hard to build my life, but I wanted to be sure I   would never marry a woman like her. He looked at  Faith, tears in his eyes. And now I know. You’ve   proven to me that goodness still exists. You  loved me when I had nothing.

Faith stood still,   trembling. Is this true? He nodded. Yes, my love.  And I’m sorry for all the pain. It was never meant   to hurt you. It was to see your heart. Weeks  passed. Anita and Precious told their mother   everything, but she didn’t believe them until one  afternoon, a white MercedesBenz pulled into their   compound. Faith stepped out in a beautiful gown.  Eddie followed, dressed in an elegant suit.

Her   stepmother gasped. Faith. Eddie smiled politely,  handed her an envelope, and said, “That’s 1   million naira for your daughter’s bride price.  Thank you for giving me a good woman. The woman’s   lips trembled. Faith, my child, please forgive  me. Faith looked at her calmly. I don’t hate you,   but I’ve moved on. I have nothing against you.  But I have nothing with you anymore.

Eddie held   her hand and they walked back to the car. As Faith  and Eddie stepped into their white Mercedes Benz,   everyone watched in silence. The same house where  she was once treated like a maid, now echoed with   admiration and shame. Precious stood by the gate,  her eyes filled with tears.

She whispered under   her breath, “This This could have been me.” But  it was too late because what she once mocked was   now what she wished for. Life has a way of  humbling the proud and lifting the broken.   Faith’s story reminds us that no matter how  much they push you down when it’s your time,   not even their hate can stop your rise. Never  despise humble beginnings.

Never judge people   by what they have today. Because sometimes the one  who looks poor is only being tested. And when the   test ends, the truth will shock the world. Tell  me in the comments, do you believe what’s meant   for you can ever be taken away by anyone? I’d  love to hear your thoughts. And don’t forget,   another powerful story is coming soon. One that  will touch your heart and leave you speechless.

So, make sure you’re subscribed, turn on your  notification bell, and don’t miss what’s coming   next on Tales by Eco. Sometimes in life,  the people who hurt you are simply pushing   you toward the place where you’ll be honored.  Faith’s story reminds us that no matter how   life treats you today, your value doesn’t change.  It only waits to be revealed.

Never look down on   anyone because of their situation. The person you  mock today might be the one God has anointed to   change your story tomorrow. And if you’re going  through pain like faith did, hold on because   one day the same mouths that mocked you will  tell your testimony. Tell me in the comments,   do you believe true love can still be found  in a world full of lies and pretense? I’d   love to hear your thoughts.