CHAPTER 142: I CAN NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

Dayo woke up feeling both heavy and light. It was a strange mix, a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time, but he savored it. He went through his usual morning routine, jogging along the quiet streets, though this time he didn’t stream himslef jogging well all thia social were band and in review. The silence felt odd, but he reminded himself this might be his new normal.

When he returned home, he made a quick breakfast for his family. After a while, they all sat down to eat together. The morning was quieter than usual, but Dayo knew why.

With a soft cough, he said, "Okay, you all should start talking. It’s not like I was always a celebrity."

His family of five laughed together, and for a moment, the tension lifted. Dayo smiled and said, "This doesn’t change anything. The good thing is I get to spend more time with you all. For me, this is for the best."

They nodded, agreeing silently.

After breakfast, Dayo dressed simply: a black top with his hoodie, baggy trousers, and a small silver chain. He took a deep breath, picked up his bag, and stepped into his Mercedes. The world outside was already in chaos, reacting to the events that had been unfolding.

News outlets and blogs were flooded with headlines:

"What’s going on with JD?"

"Is Dayo quitting music?"

"JD Records silent after global wipeout."

"JD social flagged as using bots."

"Dayo is mentally unstable."

"JD’s Social Media Accounts Under Investigation"

"Music World in Shock: Dayo Goes Silent"

"JD Records’ Collapse Sends Industry Reeling"

"Dayo’s Break: Temporary or Permanent Exit?"

"Fans Rally Behind JD Amid Scandal"

Fans were worried. Some defended him, others mocked. The air was heavy with confusion and speculation. Media houses prepared for the scheduled press conference: cameras set up, microphones ready, reporters murmuring, hashtags already trending.

Dayo arrived at the hall, calm and composed, unbothered by the crowd. He walked in alone, with no team or assistants by his side. Flashes of cameras immediately captured his presence, the reporters scrambling for questions. He simply stood there, motionless, silent.

The room gradually quieted, the only sound coming from the occasional click of cameras. Dato Finlay stepped forward, tapping the microphone.

"Good morning, everyone, and thank you for coming," he began, pausing briefly. "I know many of you have questions, but please allow me to speak uninterrupted. Thank you."

Dayo nodded, then took the microphone.

"These past few weeks have been... something I can’t explain fully," he began. "I’m sure most, if not everyone here, is aware of what’s been happening. I’ve seen the love, I’ve seen the hate, and I’ve learned from both."

He paused, taking a sip of water.

"Now, I know the questions in your minds: Are the allegations true? Did I really not create my songs? Are the lawsuits accurate? Do I have anger issues?"

Dayo gave a faint, almost mocking smile. "The answers don’t really matter. They never do. We all know what the truth is, and we all choose what to believe. Nothing I say would change the narrative."

Many reporters had expected an argument or a confrontation. Instead, they were met with calm. Some have been instructed by their management to make things hard for Dayo and somewhere paid to do the same. So this shocked them as he didn’t fight it.

"I’m sure most of you are confused as to why I called this press conference. It’s simple: ’A break.’"

The room went silent. Every eye was on him. Only the hum of cameras and microphones filled the space.

"Yes," Dayo continued, "you heard me right. A break. For now, I’m stepping away from the industry. Not because I’ve lost, but because I’ve given all I can. I can say with my chest that the industry has felt my presence — whether you like it or not. I might be gone, but I can never be forgotten. My name, JD, has written history. I shattered the world record for the most sold album. That’s a fact that can never be buried."

He let the words hang in the air, calm but resolute.

"To my fans, to my people, to everyone who believed — thank you. This is not goodbye forever. Just... goodbye for now."

Dayo’s voice remained steady and composed as he stepped back from the microphone. The reporters were stunned, unsure how to respond. Some tried to ask more questions, but he only gave short, grounded responses:

"It doesn’t matter anymore."

"What matters is peace."

"Everything happens for a reason."

He waved faintly to the crowd and walked off the stage. Cameras kept flashing, capturing every moment.

Online, reactions exploded instantly. Clips went viral within minutes:

A TikTok video showed Dayo waving calmly as reporters shouted questions.

Twitter threads trended worldwide, with fans expressing sadness, admiration, and disbelief.

Instagram stories flooded in with screenshots of headlines and short video clips.

Reddit posts debated whether this break was temporary or permanent.

YouTube reaction videos quickly accumulated millions of views.

Some comments were critical, some sarcastic, some emotional, but every post carried the weight of the moment. Despite attempts to moderate some of the comments, the speech had already left an impact. It was being called "I Can Never Be Forgotten." although majority of the comments were bad due to the past week scandals does that choose to belive. Believed.

Even Michael, watching from a distance, couldn’t help but clap quietly in respect. He realized that if had not been careful, that Dayo speech could have turned the tables completely.

For Dayo, it was more than just a press conference. It was a release. After the whirlwind of scandals, lawsuits, and personal losses — Vivian’s problems, Luna’s song, his uncle’s death, Michael’s interference — the pressure had been relentless.

For the first time in a long time, Dayo felt light. The storm hadn’t ended, but he had chosen his silence.

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A/N:

I want to take this moment to thank all my readers for coming this far with me. It’s been a wonderful and stressful journey, with times I wanted to stop, but I stayed because of you. Thank you.

This Chapter serves as the end of Book One.