The next morning, the air inside the house felt different.
Not cold… just strange.
Like something small had cracked in the night and was spreading quietly across the walls.
Nneka woke early, cooked breakfast, and arranged Olu's work clothes neatly on the chair—just as she always did.
She wanted to pretend everything was normal.
Maybe last night was just stress.
Maybe he was tired.
Maybe they only needed a calm day.
When Olu walked out of the room, he didn't greet her with the usual "good morning, my love."
Instead, he walked straight to the basin, washed his face, and took his shirt without looking at her.
She swallowed her worry.
"Your food is ready," she said softly.
"I'm not hungry," he replied.
The words felt like a small cut—tiny but deep.
Still, she didn't complain.
She just watched him walk out of the door, leaving the smell of soap and silence behind him.
⸻
Rumors From the Market
That afternoon, while Nneka arranged new stock in her shop, her friend Ngozi walked in with a hesitant look on her face.
"Are you okay?" Ngozi asked gently.
"I'm fine," Nneka replied, smiling even though her chest felt tight.
Ngozi bit her lip.
"Please don't be angry, but… I saw Olu yesterday. He was at Topaz Bar. With some people. And… with a girl."
Nneka froze.
Her hands stopped moving, her breath stuck.
"A girl?" she repeated quietly.
Ngozi nodded.
"I didn't want to tell you before because maybe it was nothing. They were laughing… close. Too close. I wasn't comfortable, but maybe it's just business?"
Nneka forced a smile.
"I'm sure it's nothing."
But inside her, something sank.
She had always known Olu was charming.
Women looked at him.
She had never been insecure — until now.
⸻
Trying to Hold On
When Nneka returned home later that evening, she decided she needed to talk to him. Not fight. Not accuse. Just talk.
Olu came in at 9:42 p.m.
She waited until he sat down.
"Olu," she said softly, "did I do something wrong?"
He sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"No, Nneka. I'm just overwhelmed."
"Overwhelmed with what?"
He hesitated — too long.
Then shrugged.
"Life. Responsibilities. Work."
She nodded slowly.
"I'm here with you. We're a team, remember?"
He looked at her for a moment.
Something flickered in his eyes — guilt? pain? frustration?
She couldn't tell.
"You worry too much," he murmured. "Everything is fine."
But it wasn't.
She could feel it.
⸻
A Message She Wasn't Supposed to See
Later that night, Olu went to take a bath.
His phone vibrated on the table.
Nneka had never touched his phone in their relationship — not once.
But the vibration came again.
And again.
The screen lit up with a name she didn't recognize:
"Ada Babe ❤️"
Her heart hammered.
A message popped up:
"I miss yesterday… when are you coming again?"
Another message followed immediately:
"Your wife doesn't suspect, right?"
Nneka felt the world blur.
Her vision dropped away.
Her knees weakened.
She didn't touch the phone.
She didn't open anything.
She just stared until the screen went dark.
She wanted to run.
She wanted to scream.
She wanted to cry.
But instead…
She sat down quietly and folded her hands.
When Olu stepped out of the bathroom with water on his shoulders, he found her sitting still, silent.
He frowned.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Her lips trembled, but her voice stayed calm.
"Olu," she whispered, "who is Ada?"
The room went silent — painfully silent.
⸻
End of Chapter 3