Chapter 4: His Other Secrets

Sophia sat on the edge of her bed, the weight of Julian’s betrayal still heavy on her chest. She glanced at her phone, scrolling through her contacts as the silence of the house enveloped her. It was like a suffocating blanket, and she felt desperate for some air, some connection.

But how could she call anyone? Who would understand? Who wouldn’t judge her for the mess her life had become?

With a deep breath, she finally hit “call” on her best friend, Jamella. The phone rang, while her eyes began watering. After what felt like an eternity, Jamella picked up.

“Hey, Sophia! It’s so good to hear from you!” Jamella's voice was bright and cheerful, and she thinks that her friend doesn't have any idea about what she's going through right now.

“Hey, Jamella.." Sophia replied, forcing a smile into her voice.

“Can we talk?”

“Of course! What’s going on?” There was a sudden shift in Jamella’s tone, her concerns are now evident through the phone. Sophia took a shaky breath.

“It’s... it’s Julian.”

“What happened?” Jamella asked, her voice instantly turned serious.

“He’s having an affair,” Sophia admitted, her voice cracked already. The confession felt like ripping off a bandage, exposing her wounds to her friend. Jamella then was silent for a moment.

“Oh my God, Sophia... I’m so sorry. Shit! That bastard!”

“I just... I can’t believe it,” Sophia continued, tears stinging her eyes.

“I thought we were happy. I thought the pregnancy would bring us closer, but it just... it made everything worse.” Jamella sighed heavily.

“You don’t have to go through this alone, Soph. I’m here for you. Maybe it's better that you know the truth now, at least you can leave your unworthy husband!”

“I know, but I’m ashamed,” Sophia confessed.

“I thought I was doing everything right, but look where that’s gotten me.”

“Listen to me,” Jamella said firmly.

“This isn’t your fault, okay? You’ve done your best. You deserve better than this, Soph!"

Sophia wiped her tears with the back of her hand, trying to gather her thoughts.

“But I feel trapped, Jamella. I love him, and I want our family to work, but... how can I fight for something that feels so broken?!”

“It’s okay to feel that way,” Jamella reassured her.

“But you have to take care of yourself too. You’re pregnant, and you need to think about your future and your baby.” Sophia took a deep breath, trying to absorb her friend’s words.

“What if I fight for him and it’s all for nothing?”

“Then at least you’ll know you tried,” Jamella said gently.

“But if I were you, Soph? I won't waste my time, asking for his validation. Come on, wake up, Sophia! He cheated on you. It's not just a simple matter."

“I-I don't know anymore, Jamella. I still want to fix us, even just for our baby."

“Hush...I'm coming over. We’ll talk, and I’ll help you through this. I just hope that I won't see Julian there, or else, I'll punch him and call the cops to put him and his affair in jail."

“Thanks, J-Jamella. I really need that,” Sophia replied, feeling a small flicker of hope.

After hanging up, Sophia glanced around the room, her eyes landing on the photos of happier times—when they were still in a good relationship, when Julian had looked at her like she was the center of his universe. Now, those memories felt like a cruel reminder of what she had lost.

Just as she was lost in thought, her phone buzzed again. It was a notification from her bank app. Curiosity piqued, she opened it, only to feel her heart drop into her stomach.

“No, no, no...” she whispered, staring at the screen.

There were transactions—large sums of money that had been withdrawn from her personal savings. Confusion washed over her as she scrolled through the recent activity.

“Why is there money missing?” she muttered to herself. She couldn’t understand how this was happening. She had worked hard for that money, saved every penny for emergencies and the baby.

Just then, Jamella arrived, her voice breaking through Sophia’s panic.

“Hey, I’m here!” Sophia jumped up, trying to mask her distress.

“Jamella! I—I need your help.”

Jamella stepped inside.

“What’s wrong?”

“I found some strange transactions in my bank account. Julian’s been taking money out—lots of it.” Sophia’s hands shook as she handed her phone to her friend.

Jamella scrolled through the app, her eyes widening.

“This is a lot of money, Sophia. What the hell is going on?!”

“I don’t know!” Sophia cried, frustration bubbling over.

“I don’t understand why he would do this. He’s been acting strange lately, and now this?” Jamella looked up from the screen, her brow furrowed.

“Have you talked to him about it? How dare him do this after cheating on you shamelessly?"

“No,” Sophia admitted, shaking her head.

“I didn’t even know until just now. I can’t just confront him again... not after everything else.”

“You have to, Sophia,” Jamella urged.

“This isn’t just about his affair anymore. This is your money. This is about your future and your baby!” Sophia nodded slowly, the realization sinking in.

“I know. But what if he gets angry? What if he denies it? W-What if he'll totally leave me and choose Vanessa?"

“Then you’ll have proof,” Jamella said.

“You deserve answers. You can’t just let him walk all over you like this.”

“You’re right. I can’t let this go. I need to find out what he’s doing.”

“Good,” Jamella said, encouraging her with a nod. Sophia managed a weak smile.

“Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Jamella..." Jamella squeezed her shoulder, then glanced at the time.

“You need to confront him sooner rather than later. When is he coming home?”

“Late, as usual,” Sophia replied, frustration creeping back in.

“He doesn’t seem to care about me—or this baby.”

“Then let’s prepare for him,” Jamella said, her eyes brightening with resolve.

“We’ll make a plan. You’ll go into this armed with the facts.” Jamella smiled, her confidence infectious.

"I should be strong!"

“That’s the spirit! Let’s go over what you want to say. You need to be clear about your feelings and what you want from him.”

As they sat down at the kitchen table, Sophia felt a surge of adrenaline. The more she spoke, the more her voice steadied.

“I want him to be accountable for his actions. I want him to explain the money, the affair, everything.”

“And if he doesn’t?” Jamella asked, her tone cautious.

“Then I need to be ready to walk away,” Sophia replied, her voice is stronger now.

“I can’t keep pretending that everything’s okay when it’s not.” Jamella nodded seriously.

“You need to think about what’s best for you and your baby. You can’t let his lies drag you down.”

“Right,” Sophia agreed.

“I won’t let him take away my strength.”

As they strategized, Sophia felt a newfound sense of purpose. The earlier hopelessness began to fade, replaced by the resolve to confront the man she had loved and the life she had fought so hard to build.

But as the hours passed and the evening shadows grew longer, doubts crept back in. What if Julian was not only cheating but also hiding other things?

And as those thoughts swirled in her mind, a single question loomed over her.

What other secrets was Julian hiding from her?