Chapter Four

The walk back to her car felt like the longest one ever for Ayva. She couldn't help but feel a sense of shame as she made her way through the parking lot. The encounter with the lady had left her feeling embarrassed and hurt. How could her own husband keep such a big secret from her?

As Ayva continued her walk, her mind raced with questions. Would he have ever told her about quitting his job if she hadn't visited his workplace? It was a painful thought, realizing that she may have never found out the truth if she hadn't taken matters into her own hands. It made her question the trust and communication in their relationship.

The three months leading up to their trip suddenly became a mystery to Ayva.

Where had he been going every morning after getting dressed? What was he hiding?

The uncertainty and confusion weighed heavily on her, causing her head to ache with the weight of unanswered questions.

Just as she reached the garage of her workplace, her phone rang, displaying the caller ID 'The man behind my smiles ❤️'

Swiping to answer, she held the phone to her ear, unsure of what to expect.

"I'm sorry, honey, I missed your call," came Zion's voice on the other end. "I was stuck in a meeting that went on longer than expected. But guess what? Those Chinese investors we've been trying to secure a partnership with finally accepted our offer!"

Ayva's heart sank as she listened to his explanation. A meeting? Was that all he had to say? She couldn't help but wonder if there was more to the story, if he was hiding something else from her. The sense of betrayal lingered in her mind, clouding her ability to fully trust his words.

"Oh, did I forget to tell you?" Zion continued, his voice tinged with disappointment. "I actually decided to go back to work today. I didn't have anything better to do, and I thought we could spend the whole day together. But you insisted on going to work, remember?"

Ayva's heart wrenched at his words. It was as if he was trying to make her feel guilty for wanting to go to work. The mixed emotions of anger, hurt, and confusion swirled within

"So, you're at work now?" Ayva sniffed, asking for confirmation. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to fall.

"Yes." He replied.

"By work, do you mean AG Enterprise?" she asked, silently hoping he would tell her he had quit his job there. She wished he would mention another workplace, different from the one she had just left. She hoped he would tell her he got a new job at another company and had forgotten to mention quitting his old job. She prayed he wouldn't lie to her anymore.

"Of course, honey. Where else will I mean." he smoothly lied through the phone, and she choked on her sob. "Is something wrong? Are you crying, honey?" His voice sounded genuinely concerned, Ayva would have thought his worry was genuine if he hadn't just told her the biggest lie.

"No, no." She said, picking up a tissue to dab at her tears. "No I'm not." She sniffed, her tears continued to fall uncontrollably. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" he asked, sensing her hesitation. Ayva couldn't answer because her voice would have given her away. "Why did you call earlier? Did something happen? Do you want me to come get you?"

She shook her head, forgetting he couldn't see her. She dabbed at the tears on her face, careful not to ruin her makeup.

She mustered up the strength to respond, "I forgot why I called earlier. I have to go now. I have a presentation in less than thirty minutes."

"Okay, but are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, I am. You shouldn't worry about me," she replied, her voice filled with a mix of sadness and betrayal.

"Why wouldn't I worry about the love of my life? I'll let you have some time for your presentation. Would you like me to get you your usual from McDonald's tonight?" he offered.

"No, I'm fine-I mean, yes. I'd like that," she lied through her teeth, realizing that he would have found it suspicious if she had turned down his offer.

"Okay, I promise to be home soon. I love you." he said, and she immediately hung up without saying it back.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself as she stepped out of her car and strode confidently into her office. It was as if the weight of the world wasn't threatening to crush her.

Entering her office, she examined the folder she had received from Justin earlier, her eyes scanning the contents with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

As employees entered her office, requesting her signature on various files, Ayva maintained her warm smile, masking the turmoil that churned inside her. She couldn't let them see the cracks in her facade, not now, not ever. With a steady hand, she signed the documents, all the while keeping a watchful eye on her surroundings.

Deep down, Ayva couldn't help but wonder if any of her colleagues were involved in the deceit that had entangled her life. She knew she had to be careful, to guard her every move, for her enemies were lurking in the shadows. waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

The time came for Ayva to showcase her expertise in front of a crowd. She took a deep breath, steadying her nerves, and stepped onto the stage. The room was filled with eager faces, waiting to hear her presentation. With each word she spoke, her delivery was flawless, captivating the audience.

The crowd erupted in applause, acknowledging her wonderful presentation.

As Ayva graciously accepted the applause, her smile never faltered. But behind her confident exterior, her eyes frantically scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of her stalker. The fear of being watched, of having her every move monitored, weighed heavily on her mind.

She couldn't shake the feeling that someone amongst them held ill intentions towards her.

She approached her colleagues and those from neighboring companies, engaging in small talk and exchanging pleasantries. Yet, in the back of her mind, she couldn't escape the nagging question of who amongst them could be her stalker. She wondered if the person was someone she knew, someone she trusted, or a complete stranger.

Ayva's heart raced as she made her way towards the backstage area, her mind still reeling from the performance. Just as she was about to step out of the room, Justin approached her, offering her a bottled water. She politely declined the water, her nerves getting the best of her.

Before she could make her escape, Justin called out her name, causing her to freeze in her tracks. She slowly turned around, ensuring there was a safe distance between them.

"I won't come any closer," Justin reassured her, noticing her discomfort. He respected her boundaries and understood the need for personal space.

Ayva nodded, her guard still up.

"You did great," he said, his voice filled with admiration.

"Thanks," Ayva replied, her voice trembling slightly.

******

"Ayva!" a familiar voice greeted as soon as she stepped into the living room.

"Jake?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't resist surprising you." She grinned.

Jake was one of Ayva's college friends and Zion's best friend. He had moved to Australia a year ago for a job opportunity he had been pursuing for years.

"It's so good to see you!" Ayva said, embracing him in a tight hug. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too, and your never-ending nagging," Jake chuckled as they pulled back from the hug.

"When did you get back? Are you here to stay?" Ayva asked, subtly pushing Zion's hand away from her waist.

"I just got back this morning, and luckily, I'm here to stay. I've been transferred to the branch here. Lucky me, right?" Jake replied with a grin.

"Oh, that's amazing!" Ayva smiled, feeling a genuine happiness she hadn't felt all day.

"Wow, I see you two have a mini you on the way," Jake observed, his eyes fixed on Ayva's protruding belly. "I was just about to ask Zion when he plans on growing his family, and then you walked in. After three years of marriage, I think it's about time. So, tell me, are you having a mini Zion or a mini you?" he asked playfully.

"We're having a daughter," Ayva clarified.

They continued to chat, catching up on each other's lives and how they had spent the past years. Ayva excused herself from the conversation to take a shower and change into more comfortable clothes.

As she entered her room, she quickly changed out of her work clothes and was about to head into the bathroom when something caught her eye from her periphery.

It was Zion's phone.

In their three years of marriage, she had never once thought to check his phone or distrust him in any way. However, the fact that he had lied to her twice within 24 hours left her with an unsettling feeling.

Curiosity got the best of her, and she picked up his phone from where he had left it. To her surprise, it was locked with a passcode. Determined to uncover the truth, she tried various number combinations until she finally succeeded on her third attempt. His passcode turned out to be the day they had gotten married.

A smile formed on her face as she realized that their marriage meant a lot to him, evident by his choice of passcode. Part of her wanted to lock the phone and put it back where she found it, impressed by his devotion. However, another part of her couldn't shake off the doubt that had crept into her mind.

Giving in to her curiosity, she began scrolling through his messages and social media, but found nothing suspicious. She almost felt guilty for suspecting her husband of any wrongdoing. Just as she was about to return the phone to its original place, she decided to take a peek at his photo gallery. As she swiped through the pictures, everything seemed ordinary until she stumbled upon one particular photo.

It was a picture of a beautifully presented dinner plate, seemingly taken at a restaurant. At first glance, only the plates and silverware were visible. However, upon zooming in, she noticed a hand resting on the table beside the plate, opposite to where the photographer must have been sitting. Instantly, she recognized that the hand belonged to a woman, as the bracelet she wore gave her away. It was clear that the hand did not belong to her, not only because she didn't own a bracelet like that, but also because she had never been to that restaurant or shared a meal like that with Zion.

She briefly considered the possibility that it was just a random photo from the internet, but her doubts were quickly dispelled as she discovered more food pictures featuring the same hand wearing the same bracelet, all taken in restaurants she had never visited before. This realization shattered her trust and left her feeling betrayed. Questions flooded her mind.

Who was this woman? Why was Zion taking secret pictures with her? And most importantly, what did all of this mean for their marriage?

Ayva saw a thumbnail of a closeup video of Zion's face and immediately clicked on it.

As the video played, Ayva's mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. The woman's voice in the background remained muffled, making it difficult for Ayva to recognize who it was. The camera focused solely on Zion's face, concealing the woman's identity. Ayva longed to know the truth, to understand the depth of Zion's betrayal.

"Babe, " the woman's voice called out, her tone filled with familiarity, yet distant to Ayva's ears.

"Yeah?" Zion's voice responded, his tone filled with curiosity.

Ayva's heart sank as she heard the woman's request, her voice laced with vulnerability and possessiveness. The words cut through Ayva's soul like a knife, leaving her breathless.

"Tell me you love me," the woman pleaded, her voice filled with desperation.

In that moment, Ayva's world shattered. The widest smile broke out on Zion's face, confirming her worst fears. The pain was unbearable, threatening to consume her entirely. She struggled to comprehend how the person she loved could betray her in such manner.

"I love you."

Those three words hit Ayva like a ton of bricks. Her heart sank, and a wave of emotions flooded over her. She couldn't believe what she had just heard.

The video continued to play, with Zion's head lowered and the sound of kissing in the background.

It was a devastating blow to the gut, leaving her feeling shocked, disappointed, betrayed, and in immense pain. Tears streamed down her face, and her whole body trembled with anguish.

In that moment, Ayva felt a mix of hurt, disappointment, and anger like never before. She needed to talk to someone, someone she could trust with this painful discovery. Without hesitation, she grabbed her phone and dialed her best friend's number.

"Hello," a feminine voice came through the other end of the call, filled with concern. "Ayva, are you okay? Is something wrong?" she asked, picking up on Ayva's quiet sobs.

Through her tears, Ayva managed to speak, her voice choked with emotion, "I-I think Zion is... I think Zion is cheating on me, Amanda."