Chapter summaries Cursed Daughters Oyinkan Braithwaite

Chapter 65 Summary – Tolu’s Blame and Eniiyi’s Resemblance

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Ebun attends a children's birthday party hosted by her half-brother Tomisin, hoping to give her daughter Eniiyi a rare chance to socialise with other kids. At the party, she meets her glamorous sister-in-law Odeli and reluctantly allows the nanny Anu to take Eniiyi to play. While mingling, Ebun spots Tolu, Monife's brother, with his new partner Dawn. The encounter is strained: Tolu still holds Ebun accountable for Monife's death, and his cold smile reveals unresolved guilt. When Eniiyi begs to swim, Ebun refuses, but Tolu intervenes, accusing her of denying the child a father. He forces Ebun to let Eniiyi swim under Anu's care. As Tolu watches Eniiyi, he blurts out that she looks just like someone—Ebun cuts him off, but later Tolu tells Dawn that if he didn't know better, he'd think his sister had birthed Eniiyi. The chapter deepens the tension around Eniiyi's true parentage and Tolu's lingering resentment.

Key Events

  1. Ebun decides to accept Tomisin's invitation to his daughter's tenth birthday party, hoping Eniiyi can play with other children.
  2. Arriving at the lavish home, Ebun is led through marble-floored corridors to a garden with a swimming pool, guests, and children.
  3. Odeli, Tomisin's wife, greets Ebun and mistakes Eniiyi's name; she promptly offers the nanny Anu to take Eniiyi to the other kids.
  4. Reluctantly, Ebun lets Eniiyi go after seeing her daughter eagerly dancing.
  5. Ebun observes Tolu from a distance, noting his bohemian style and his companion, Dawn.
  6. When Ebun approaches Tolu, his smile slips, revealing his persistent blame for Monife's death.
  7. Eniiyi returns to ask permission to swim; Ebun refuses, but Eniiyi begins a tantrum.
  8. Tolu notices Eniiyi for the first time and is struck by her resemblance to Monife.
  9. Tolu scolds Ebun for overprotectiveness, saying she has denied Eniiyi a father and should take male advice.
  10. Ebun concedes, allowing Eniiyi to swim in the shallow end under Anu's supervision.
  11. Tolu tells Dawn that Eniiyi could be his sister's child, reinforcing the suspicion about Eniiyi's parentage.

Character Development

Ebun: She remains a fiercely protective mother, instinctively tightening her grip on Eniiyi near the pool. Her guilt over Monife's death is still potent, and Tolu's presence reopens old wounds. She shows a softer side when she reluctantly lets go, but her determination to control Eniiyi's environment reflects her fear of losing another loved one.

Tolu: Once a distant figure who breezed in and out of the Falodun house, he is now confronted with Eniiyi's uncanny likeness to Monife. His sharp intake of breath and blunt words reveal that six years have not dulled his grief or his blame toward Ebun. He attempts to assert male authority, perhaps projecting his own sense of loss onto Ebun's parenting.

Eniiyi: Though still young, she displays a defiant will—dancing on the spot, demanding to swim, and rolling on the floor in a tantrum. Her playful "boop" on Tolu's nose suggests a carefree nature, yet she becomes a mirror for unresolved family trauma.

Dawn: Tolu's new partner appears supportive but largely observes the tension, her presence highlighting Tolu's attempt to move on while still being haunted by the past.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Guilt and Blame: Tolu's cold reception and his accusation that Ebun denied Eniiyi a father illustrate how the shadow of Monife's death continues to poison their relationship. Ebun's own guilt is nearly as strong as her grief.

  • Resemblance and Identity: Eniiyi's striking physical likeness to Monife is the chapter's central reveal. Tolu's inability to finish his sentence—"Fuck, she's just like—" and his later comment to Dawn underscore that Eniiyi's existence forces the family to confront a painful truth about her origins.

  • Water as Danger and Freedom: The swimming pool represents both a threat (Ebun instinctively grips Eniiyi's shoulder) and a space of liberation (the children play freely). Ebun's battle between protection and letting go mirrors the larger theme of motherhood.

  • Class and Surface Appearances: Odeli's flashy dress, the marble floors, and the adult-oriented party contrast with Ebun's modest, anxious demeanor. The party seems designed for social display rather than genuine children's fun, echoing the superficiality of family ties.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal because it explicitly links Eniiyi to Monife in Tolu's eyes, confirming the suspicion that Eniiyi is Monife's child. The tension between Ebun and Tolu escalates, setting the stage for future confrontations about Eniiyi's paternity and the secrets surrounding Monife's death. It also shows how the Falodun family's past continues to shape the present: Ebun's half-brothers remain distant, yet Tomisin's party provides the arena for a long overdue meeting. Tolu's blame forces Ebun to face her own guilt, while Eniiyi's innocent presence becomes a catalyst for hidden truths to surface.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Tolu react so strongly when he sees Eniiyi?
Tolu immediately recognises Eniiyi's resemblance to Monife, his late sister. His exclamation and subsequent comment to Dawn reveal that he believes Eniiyi could be Monife's child, which intensifies his anger at Ebun for allegedly hiding the truth and depriving the child of a father.

2. How does Ebun's behaviour at the party reflect her character as a mother?
Ebun's instinct to keep Eniiyi close, her refusal to let her swim, and her cutting off Tolu's sentence all demonstrate her hypervigilant protectiveness. This stems from her guilt over Monife's death and her fear that Eniiyi might be taken from her or harmed.

3. What does the pool symbolise in this chapter?
The swimming pool represents both danger and the desire for freedom. Ebun views it as a threat, while Eniiyi sees it as a playground. Tolu's insistence that Eniiyi be allowed to swim challenges Ebun's control and symbolises her need to relinquish some of her fear.

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