The bedroom was filled in silence, broken only by the faint sound of the air conditioning. Daniela sat on the edge of the bed, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as though she could hold her fractured emotions together. Her mind was filled with Alexander’s earlier confession, but despite his assurances, she couldn’t quiet the nagging voice in her head—the one whispering that she didn’t know him as well as she thought.Her gaze flashed to Alexander’s briefcase, carelessly left by the desk. It was unusual for him to be so disorganized; Alexander was meticulous, almost obsessive about his work. The slight bulge of the manila envelope peeking out from the side caught her attention.For a long moment, she debated with herself. Should I? she thought, her fingers filled with hesitation. She hated the idea of snooping—it felt like a betrayal of trust. But hadn’t he betrayed hers first by keeping secrets?The question was enough to push her over the edge. Slowly, she rose from the b
Alexander packed his bags the following morning one after the other, properly arranged. Daniela saw him and was eager to know where he was going. “ Where are you going Alexander? “ she said, staring at him face to face.” I have business meetings in Abuja and they are very important, “ He replied, as he rushed inside the car . The driver drove him to Abuja's most exclusive hotel. As a businessman, business meetings were a normal occurrence but this particular one, Alexander wasn't travelling for a meeting. He headed straight into the arms of a past he should have left behind- A past that had the power to destroy everything he had built with his wife.The moment Alexander stepped into the hotel suite, Christiana was already waiting for him. She had always known how to seduce him. She was wearing a crimson silk gown that brought her curves, her lips painted the same shade as her dress, She stood by the windows with a glass of wine in her hand.“ Alexa
The next morning, while Alexander was having his bath, Daniela seized the opportunity . She opened his suitcase carefully,her hands trembling. At first, Everything looked normal - clothes, toiletries, and a few work documents . But as she checked through the side pockets, She found something that made her blood run Cold. A receipt from La belle suites . The date stamped on it was two days ago,confirming he had stayed there for at least two nights.She stared at the paper,her heart pounding. Why would Alexander stay in a luxury hotel instead of the company provided accommodation he always used? Her thoughts were diverse as she considered the possibilities. She placed the receipt back, exactly where she found it and closed the suitcase, her mind filled with a lot of thoughts.The following evening, Daniela prepared dinner as usual, though her hands trembled as she chopped vegetables . Alexander entered the kitchen staring at what she was cooking. “ Dinner sm
The early morning sun shined through the curtains in Daniela's bedroom, Casting a glow across her face. Her skin was Frigid, and her breathing labored as she fought against the fever that had kept her bedridden. She barely could hear the distant sound of Alexander's car pulling out of the driveway.A knock at the door pulled her out of her thinking. “ Madam, Should I bring you some tea?” Blessing concerned voice was heard through the doorway. Daniela forced her heavy eyelids open, her voice barely heard. “ No, just check up on Noah. Make sure he's ready for school “. Blessing hesitated,lingering through the doorway scanning through Daniela's pale face. “ But you don't look fine. Should I stay back today?I can handle everything here”.“ No” Daniela replied,her tone firm despite her discomfort. “ Noah needs to be in school. Pls just make sure he's okay and safe”.With a reluctant nod, Amaka disappeared down the hall and did as her boss said. She bathed
The house, once lively with the sound of Noah’s laughter, was now silent like a graveyard. Daniela sat in the living room, her fingers holding Noah’s favourite toy car. Her eyes were red,dark circles marking her face like someone going through depression. It had been four days,four unbearable days since their little boy vanished without a trace. Alexander stood by the window, his phone pressed tightly to his ear. His voice filled the room as he issued instructions to the private investigators he had hired. “ I don't care how much it costs”, he screamed . “ I want results. And I want them now”.Daniela barely paid attention to his words. Her mind was stuck on the “ What ifs”. What if Noah was scared?What if he was cold?What if they were hurting him? She squeezed her eyes shut, willing away the tears that threatened to spill for what felt like the hundredth time that day. “ Did they find anything? “ She whispered,her voice cracking from crying. Alexan
Later in the evening, after the officer had left, Daniela sat in the living room staring at her phone. Alexander was upstairs, but she couldn't bring herself to join him. She felt insensitive, as though she was watching her life crumble from a distance. Her phone rung again, and her heart leapt. She opened the message, her blood running cold as she played another audio file. “ Mama! Papa! Jonah's small voice cried, filled with pain. “ Please help me! They said they'll hurt me if you don't do what they say!” The recording ended Daniela in utmost silence. She replayed the message, her heart breaking with each repetition of Noah's desperate tears.“ Alexander” She screamed, her voice pale.He came running , his face reddish. “What is it?” She gave him the phone to check for himself. He took it, his expression darkening as he listened to the recording. When it ended, he slammed the phone on the table. “ That's it”, Daniela said, her voice
As the door shut behind her, Daniela felt doubts hardening in her chest. She had spent too long depending on Alexander as the head of the house. But this time, She couldn't rely on him. Noah's life was at stake , and she wouldn't let anyone, not even her husband stop her from saving her child. She wiped her tears away, holding her trembling hands. She had no plan or clear idea of how she would raise the ransom money, but one thing was certain she would do whatever it took. Daniela went to her bedroom and locked the door. She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contact lists. As she scrolled, She came across a name Liam Carter. He was an old friend,someone she had once trusted deeply before Alexander came into her life. Liam had always been helpful, and though they hadn't spoken in years, She knew he could help her navigate the cross road she was in. Her fingers clicked over the call button,but just as she was about to press it, A message notif
The car ride was heavy with speed.The rain poured endlessly, a reflection of the storm going through Daniela's life. Liam's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly,his jaw clenched in concentration. Beside him, Daniela sat stiffly clutching the bag of money on her lap as if her entire life depended on it . Her chest tightened with every passing minute . “ This is all we have”, She murmured to herself . “ What if they won't take it?” Remember, it's a hundred million they requested for properties and this is just ten million”. “ They 'll take it”, Liam assured her deeply, though the doubts in his eyes betrayed his calm tone. “ They'll have to.Stay focused. We'll handle whatever comes next”. Daniela nodded weakly, her mind racing . It wasn't enough. She knew it wasn't. The kidnappers had demanded two million , but this was all Alexander had agreed to give. She bit her lips, her fingers trembling as they gripped the bag tighter. The thoughts of leaving with
Gabriel stared at Daniela's name on his phone screen, his thumb hanging over the call button. His mind screamed at him to stop, to delete her number and erase her from his life. But his foolish bleeding heart refused to listen. He pressed the button. The phone rang once and then twice then also the third time. His ear began to shake as he imagined her reaction. Would She scoff at the sight of his name? Would she Ignore him completely? Or worse still was she Lying in Alexander's arms, Laughing at his desperation?. On the fourth ring, The call connected . A cold, detached voice filled his ears. “ Hello?”. Gabriel's breath almost left him. He hadn't really prepared for this . Now that She was on the line, the words tangled inside him, choking him. He had imagined her reaction when she saw his name on her screen. Was she smiling at his call?Would she groan in annoyance and cut the call while rolling her eyes at Alexander? But now that she had picked the call, all he could d
Gabriel sat in the dimly lit living room, staring blankly at the wall. The silence of the house was suffocating, pressing against his chest like a heavy weight. The absence of Daniela felt like a gaping hole in his life, one that he never imagined would exist.Just days ago, this house was filled with warmth, laughter, and the familiar presence of the woman he loved. Now, it was just an empty space—lifeless, cold, and unbearably quiet.He let out a long, shaky breath as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair. His eyes, bloodshot from lack of sleep, flickered toward the half-empty bottle of whiskey on the table. He had never been much of a drinker, but tonight, the burn of alcohol seemed like the only thing keeping him grounded."Why, Daniela?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why did you do this to me?"The pain in his chest tightened as memories of her flooded his mind. The way she used to smile at him, the way she would rest her head on his shoulder after a long da
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the vast, fertile lands of the village as Alexander’s convoy approached. The air buzzed with excitement, and the entire community had gathered in anticipation of the arrival of their new king and queen.Alexander sat in the back of his luxurious black car,his fingers joined together as he stared out of the window. Beside him, Daniela sat quietly, her expression unreadable. She was dressed in a flowing royal blue gown, adorned with intricate golden embroidery that shimmered in the fading sunlight.She had not spoken much since they left the city. Alexander had noticed the distant look in her eyes, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was that she was here with him, and soon, she would be crowned as his queen.The journey had been long, winding through dusty roads and dense forests, but finally, they reached the grand palace at the heart of the village. The palace, though ancient, stood with an air of majesty—its walls adorned w
Gabriel stood frozen, his entire world crashing down around him. The wrumpled note in his trembling hands felt heavier than it should, as if it carried the weight of all the emotions swirling inside him. His chest tightened, his breathing uneven as the words replayed in his mind. I’m sorry. I don’t expect you to understand, but I have to go. Please don’t look for me.His throat left him and before he knew it, hot tears welled up in his eyes. His hands trembled as he wiped his face, but the tears kept coming. He let out a sharp breath, gripping the edge of the dining table for support.Why?Why would Daniela suddenly leave him like this? After everything they had been through, after everything he had done for her?He staggered backward, dragging a hand through his hair in frustration. His mind reeled with unanswered questions. This wasn’t just a simple breakup—it didn’t make sense. Daniela had given no signs of being unhappy. She had never complained. If anything, she had seemed happy
Gabriel stirred in his sleep, shifting slightly as he reached out for Daniela, expecting to feel the warmth of her body beside him. His fingers touched nothing but cold sheets. His brows furrowed as his eyes flickered open. The dim glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the empty space beside him.“Daniela?” he called groggily, his voice thick with sleep. No response.His heart pounded slightly as he sat up, running a hand through his messy hair. He reached for his phone on the nightstand and checked the time—2:37 AM. A strange sense of unease crept up his spine.Maybe she had gone to the bathroom? He swung his legs off the bed, planting his feet on the cold tiles before standing up. He walked toward the bathroom door and knocked lightly.“Dani?”Silence.His chest tightened as he pushed the door open, only to find the bathroom empty. He frowned, stepping out into the dimly lit bedroom. His eyes darted around, his mind struggling to stay rational.“She must be in the kitchen,” he murmure
The city was wrapped in silence, the streets nearly empty except for the occasional flicker of headlights cutting through the night. The digital clock on the bedside table blinked 2:13 AM in bold red numbers, casting a faint glow in the dimly lit bedroom.Gabriel lay beside her, deep in sleep, his chest rising and falling steadily. The rhythmic sound of his breathing should have been comforting—it always had been. But tonight, it suffocated her.Daniela sat up slowly, careful not to make a sound.Her mind was a tangled mess.She didn’t understand what was happening to her. A few hours ago, she had been living her normal life—working, loving Gabriel, planning for their future. But now, all she could think about was Alexander.His voice.His face.His presence.It was like an invisible thread was pulling her toward him, tightening around her chest, making it impossible to breathe unless she was closer to him.Her heart ached for him.And she had no idea why.Shaking off the confusion, s
The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting soft golden hues through the curtains of Daniela’s cozy apartment. The room was quiet, except for the faint hum of the air conditioner and the occasional chirping of birds outside. It was her day off from work, and she had planned to rest, maybe even do some cleaning, but she hadn’t expected a visitor.And certainly not him.Alexander stood at her doorstep, his usual confident smile in place, holding a neatly arranged gift bag. Daniela's brows furrowed in mild surprise. She hadn’t seen or spoken to him in weeks. She had moved on—at least, she thought she had.Still, curiosity got the better of her."What are you doing here?" she asked, crossing her arms.Alexander let out a small chuckle, his deep voice smooth. "Relax, Daniela. I just wanted to check on you. No pressure, no trouble. Just... an old friend bringing a gift."Her eyes flickered down to the bag in his hand.She hesitated.She knew Alexander too well. He was never one to do things wit
Alexander sat in his lavishly furnished bedroom, the golden chandelier above casting a dim glow over the space. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and faint traces of burning incense—remnants of the chief priest’s visit from the previous day.On the polished mahogany table in front of him lay a small, dark vial.He picked it up, rolling it between his fingers. The chief priest had promised him that this would change everything. One drop of the sacred potion, and Daniela would no longer resist him. She would no longer see Gabriel. She would no longer refuse his love."Daniela, you will be mine again. You don’t have a choice."The thought sent a wicked thrill through him.He leaned back in his leather chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. He had spent the entire night thinking about how things had spiraled out of his control.When he and Daniela were together, he had never once thought she would leave him. He had been confident—too confident—tha
The morning sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows of Alexander’s penthouse, casting long shadows across the floor. He had barely slept, his thoughts consumed by the memory of Daniela—her laughter, her sharp tongue, the way her eyes once softened when she looked at him. But that was in the past. Now, she was engaged to another man, willingly giving herself to someone who wasn’t him.That knowledge burned through his veins.No matter what, she would be his.A sharp knock on the door jolted him from his thoughts. He straightened, already knowing who it was. He strode toward the door, his heart pounding with anticipation, and pulled it open.Chief Priest Okanga stood before him, draped in a flowing red robe embroidered with ancient symbols. His presence was as commanding as ever, his dark eyes holding the wisdom of generations past. Around his neck, cowries and beads rattled softly as he stepped inside.“You summoned me, my prince,” Okanga said in his deep, measured voice.Alex