Helen woke very early. The small white card Alex had given her was still under her pillow; she could feel its pressing into her palm even when her eyes were closed.
A knock cracked the quiet. Three sharp taps, too early for neighbours, too certain for someone lost.
Philip had left before dawn to queue for fuel.
The children were still under their blankets, breathing slowly. Helen slipped on a wrapper, tied it tight, and went to the door. She opened it only a hand's breadth.
A man stood there. Suit pressed, shoes polished, city man. Thirty-something. His eyes were quick, taking her in without seeming to stare.
"Morning, ma. You are Helen Adeyemi?"
The way he said her full name made her stomach tilt.
"I am. " Before he could finish Helen asked,
Who are you?"
"Emeka." He glanced past her into the passage. "I work for Alex Raymond. I need five minutes. Inside."
Her fingers tightened on the door.
"I don't know any Alex Raymond." A lie, and they both heard it.
Emeka gave a small, polite smile. "Five minutes, madam. Then I leave you alone."
She should have shut the door. Instead she stepped back.
He entered, closed the door behind him, and then brought out a brown envelope from his pocket.
"Alex said to give you this only if things moved faster than he planned." He held it out. "Look now. Alone is better."
Helen took it. The paper felt thick, expensive. She tore the flap.
One photograph.
Philip. Her Philip. Walking, smiling at a woman, and holding her hands. The woman was laughing, the same way Helen used to laugh when they were new.
She felt the floor tilt.
"This… no." Her voice came out small. "Who is she?"
Emeka watched her carefully. "Open your eyes, Helen. That's what Alex wants. For you to see clearly before tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"The day you decide whose life you want."
She stared at the photo again. The woman's face, she didn't know it. Not a cousin, not a colleague she could name. Philip's thumb was stroking the woman's knuckles. Gentle. Familiar.
Her knees wanted to fold.
Footsteps outside. The metal gate squealed.
Emeka moved fast, sliding the envelope from her hand and pushing it into her palm, closing her fingers over it. "Tuck it away. Now."
She hid it inside her wrapper, against her skin, just as the sitting-room door opened.
Philip walked in, sweating even though the morning was cool. His eyes went straight to Emeka.
"Helen?" His voice was low, careful. "Who is this?"
She opened her mouth. Nothing came.
Emeka answered for her. "Good morning, sir. I sell insurance. Your wife was asking about policies for the children."
Philip didn't blink. "Insurance salesmen knock before six a.m. now?"
Silence stretched tight.
Helen found her voice. "He was just leaving."
Philip's looked at her, then at Emeka. "Leave, then."
Emeka gave a small nod. "Thank you for your time, madam."
He walked past Philip without hurry, and left.
The room suddenly felt too small.
Philip turned to her. "Helen."
She couldn't hold his eyes. "Philip, I"
"Show me what he gave you."
Her heart beat so loud she was sure that he heard it.
"he did not give me anything," she whispered.
He stepped closer. "You've never been a good liar."
He brought out his hand, palm up. Not angry. Just tired.
She slowly brought it out and gave it to him.
Philip opened it and looked. A muscle jumped in his jaw.
What is this?" he asked, still surprised at what he was seeing.
Helen shook her head. "I… I don't know. I found it this morning."
Then he laughed one short, broken sound.
"My sister," he said, voice rough. "wumi. She came from the village yesterday. I picked her at the motor park. That's all."
Helen stared. The woman in the picture now that he said it, the resemblance was there. The nose, the set of the shoulders.
Philip stared at the photo again, his face darkening. Then he looked at her, not with suspicion, but amusement.
"So you think I was cheating on you?" he asked.
"I… I don't know what to think," Helen admitted, trembling.
Helen's face was unreadable. "So nothing else?" he asked quietly.
Philip's smile faded slightly. "Nothing. Now who is that man".
Helen's throat tightened. She looked at Philip "He's… His name is Emeka, he works for a man named Alex" she said cautiously. "He brought this for me, he said it was important."
Philip's was calm.
Her lips parted, but she said nothing.
Philip's hands clenched at his sides. "Helen, tell me everything."
Her heart pounded. She wanted to lie, to push the tension out completely. She wanted to feel safe, go back to Philip, to the life she had promised herself she would protect.
But part of her, the part that had already tasted attention, warmth, and the thrill of being wanted was shaking her with another urge: tell him the truth, or it will consume you anyway.
She swallowed hard. "Philip I… I met him."
Philip's face darkened. "You… Alex?"
"Yes," she whispered. "He… he offered me things. Money, attention and a life I've dreamed of."
The words hung in the room like smoke.
Philip didn't move. Didn't speak. He simply stared at her, his jaw tight, his eyes dark with emotion.
And then, something she did not expect, he laughed again.
"This is incredible," he said, still breathing heavily. "Incredible that you're telling me this yourself."
Helen's eyes widened. "Philip, this is not a joke."
"I know," he said, suddenly serious. "you really thought about leaving me, about leaving your children?
I have been working over time to make sure we all have a good life and you are planning on leaving us, your family. Helen why".
Her eyes were full of surprise. Philip was secretly working for months, saving, preparing a future for the family she had been ready to abandon. Every sacrifice he was making, all his struggles, was for her and the children.
She felt her legs shaking. Tears dropped from her eyes.
Philip walked closer to her, he held her hands. "Helen, I love you. I've always loved you. And everything I do, I do for us. Don't let temptation blind you to that."
Helen swallowed hard, feeling her world shake in ways she did not expect.
Deep inside, Helen realized: tomorrow, when Alex called, she might have to make a choice she wasn't ready for.
A choice between temptation and loyalty.
Between the unknown and the life she had always promised to protect.
And suddenly, nothing felt safe anymore.