This continued for several weeks, living like familiar strangers under the same roof. Amoke finally decided she had had enough; she needed clarity. Summoning her courage, she confronted her husband, they had a deep and honest conversation, laying bare their emotions and frustrations but at the end, he asked for a few days to himself. Though hurt, Amoke had no choice but to respect his wish. Her husband packed a few of his things and checked into the hotel where he worked. Nobody knew about her home affairs except her mother-in-law. Despite everything, she never relented in checking up on her husband. As an only child, his mother felt the pressure to secure his future and began trying to set him up with a second wife but he wasn't interested. The situation began to take a toll on his health, leaving him emotionally drained. In need of clarity, he decided to call his best friend for advice. After work on a Saturday, he headed to the bar where they had agreed to meet. When his friend arrived, he found him tipsy, sipping from a half-empty glass. He slumped into the seat beside him and gave him a long, searching look.
"Guy, you look like you've been carrying the whole world on your head," his friend said, "What's going on?"
He let out a deep sigh, swirling the liquid in his glass. "It's too much, man. My home is falling apart. My mum is pressuring me to remarry, and Amoke... I don't even know where we stand anymore."
His friend focused on him. "You still love her?"
"Yes," he replied without hesitation. "But everything feels broken."
There was a brief silence, the hum of the bar filling the gap. Then his friend leaned in, more sober than before. "Then fix it. Talk to her. Ignore the noise. It's your life, not your mother's."
"I asked Amoke to give me a break," he said, voice heavy with emotion. "Do you even understand the gravity of what she did?"
His friend shook his head slowly, confused. "No... what happened?"
"Dammit!" he slammed his palm on the table, his voice cracking. "She cheated on me, man. She had an extramarital affair. Am I not enough for her?"
His friend's eyes widened. "She really did that?"
"She did," he said, wiping his face with both hands. "And what hurts the most is... I didn't see it coming."
"Did she give you a reason?"
He hesitated, then nodded slowly. "When I lost my job, she stepped up. she handled everything. The bills, our kid, the house but I later found out she was entangled in something from her past. I don't even know when it started, but it broke me."
His friend sighed deeply, resting his elbow on the table. "Man... I'm speechless but maybe you should consider giving her a chance. She did it all to keep the family afloat."
He shook his head sharply. "That's not an excuse. There were better options. She could've told me, we could've figured it out together but she chose that path. That's betrayal. That's bullshit."
"what should I do now?" he cried.
"Guy, I think you guys should sit and discuss thoroughly"
"Alright, I will get to it right after my break" he said
They both continued drinking until they were clearly drunk. Across the lounge, a group of ladies had been watching them closely. Sensing their vulnerability, the women decided to make a move.
"Hello!!!," one of them purred, sauntering over. "What are you two up to?"
She leaned in with a sly smile. "Looks like you've had a little too much. Why don't we take care of you tonight?"
The men mumbled incoherently, their words slurred beyond recognition. Ignoring the lack of consent, the ladies exchanged glances and guided the unsteady men out of the bar and into their hotel rooms.
The next morning, he woke up with a pounding hangover. As his vision slowly cleared, he scanned the unfamiliar room around him, confused and disoriented.
He sat up slowly, holding his head as the throbbing intensified. The room was dim, the curtains barely letting in the morning light. Clothes were scattered carelessly on the floor, both his and some unfamiliar ones. A strange perfume lingered in the air, mixing with the scent of alcohol and sweat.
Panic set in.
He looked to his right and froze. A woman lay beside him, still asleep, the sheets barely covering her. His heart began to race.
"What the hell happened last night?" he whispered, struggling to recall anything beyond the bar, the drinks, and faint laughter. He quietly got out of bed, careful not to wake her. His shirt lay crumpled near the edge of the bed, and his wallet sat open on the table. He grabbed it, shoved it into his pocket, and tiptoed to the door. Before opening it, he glanced back one last time. The woman shifted in her sleep, her back to him.
"I need to get out of here," he murmured to himself and slipped out the door, stepping into the cold, unfamiliar hallway of regret.
Back in his room, he called his friend and poured everything out. His friend felt the same way, full of regret. They both wished they could turn back time.
Following the conversation with his friend, he contacted his wife to inform her of his return home.
Back in the hotel room, the woman stirred awake, surprised to find the bed empty. He was gone. Remembering what she had learned the night before while helping him out of his clothes that he worked in the same hotel, she got up and decided to search for him. As she moved through the hotel, asking discreet questions, she eventually learned that he had clocked out earlier this morning. A wave of frustration washed over her. She told herself she wouldn't give up on him. Determined, she made a plan, she would visit the hotel everyday after work, hoping to see him again.
Amoke was filled with joy when she received his call. With renewed hope, she prepared his favourite meal, silently praying that he would forgive her. When her husband arrived, the aroma of the sumptuous dinner welcomed him. After eating, they sat together and talked at length. By the end of the conversation, he forgave her, but with a firm warning that she must never repeat the same mistake again. Relieved and overjoyed by his forgiveness, Amoke was filled with gratitude. That night their hearts reconnected, and they shared a moment of pure and tender lovemaking, a quiet affirmation of their renewed bond.
Few months later, Semi completed her master's degree, Amoke became the proud owner of two thriving supermarkets, and her husband was promoted to director of the hotel. Life seemed perfect until everything changed. One night, Amoke received a call from an unknown number. The voice on the other end whispered her husband's name, followed by "he's not who you think he is."
Although Amoke had considered investigating the strange calls, she eventually waived them aside and focused on her life even though she had not yet given birth for her husband. After her first miscarriage, she conceived again, but sadly lost the pregnancy once more. Her mother-in-law distanced herself, treating Amoke with coldness and subtle contempt. Surprisingly, her husband remained supportive, never making a fuss about her inability to carry a child. Yet, the anonymous calls persisted. No matter how many times she ignored them, they kept coming until one day, a mysterious parcel was delivered to her doorstep. Around the same time, her mother-in-law's attitude took a sudden, dramatic turn. She began to shower Amoke with affection, gifts, and concern which felt strangely and calculated.
What do you think is in the parcel? Why the sudden love from her mother-in-law?