The Betrayal Mirror

Episode13: unknown connection

One bright afternoon, Sar arrived at the market carrying a bag of oranges.

Vivi welcomed her with a warm smile.

"You came."

Sar laughed."You sound surprised."

Vivi. "I'm not surprised."

Sar. "Then why are you smiling like that?"

Vivi. "Because the market is less boring when you're here."

(The two women laughed together).

Vivi " sit down

Sar" I miss you so I said let me come see you today"

"You've been quiet."

Sar sighed. "I've been thinking.

Vivi "About your sister? "Partly." "And the man?"

Sar nodded.

Vivi sat down beside her.

"Tell me."

Sar hesitated. I don't wanted to go see him, because my sister Sarah told me the way he was looking at me the day he brought her home was suspicious.

My sister believed that he loved her and I want to rule their relationship, but he keep calling me sending me text messages that he want to take me out for lunch and nothing more,

I do no where my sister was coming from.

She saw us together

Sarah remained frozen.

Then anger surged through her body. Without thinking, she marched across the street.

"Sar! Screaming my name we both turned. My smile disappeared immediately.

She ask me What am i doing There?" The question sounded more like an accusation.

I frowned. I told her i was Having coffee with him nothing more. She didn't believe

Sarah looked at him, she didn't get angry with me, she didn't say anything to him.

"Then why are you spending time with him? People nearby began glancing in our direction.

Sarah's voice rose. "I want an answer. I was not happy about that so I told her that

I don't need her permission to talk to someone." The words hit Sarah hard.Owie remained silent. Watching. Observing without saying anything.

"What happened this time?" Vivi asked.

Sar sighed."Sarah thinks every conversation I have with him means something."

Vivi "And does it?"

Sar "No."

Vivi studied her carefully. "You sound certain."

Sar "I am."

Vivi "Then why continue talking to him?"

Sar looked away. That question again.

Sar " i had asked myself the same thing many times. "I think I'm trying to understand him.

Vivi frowned slightly. "And have you?"

Sar "No." "He says he wants a serious future, "But?

"But I know almost nothing about his personal life.

The statement caught Vivi's attention.

VIVI "What do you mean?"

Sar "I've never met any family members.

Vivi became thoughtful. "That is strange.

Sar "Exactly." Sar sighed. "He never talks about where he lives.

Vivi. "Hmm.

Sar. "He avoids personal questions.

Vivi. " I am short of words, what are would tell you , you need to be careful and try to observe this man

I don't want you to be sad. If you are sad you look more ugly.

Sar smiled, I want you to be always happy ok, don't allow this to over disturb you.

You are a beautiful lady, smart and intelligent ok.

Sar okay thank you I really appreciate.

Vivi frowned. The description felt familiar. Painfully familiar.

But she couldn't understand why.

Before she could think deeper about it, another customer approached the stall.

The conversation ended.

One evening, Sarah sat alone in her bedroom staring at her phone.

She had sent Owie messages Hello dear how are you doing how is work? I miss you

No response. She sent after 20 minutes, my love I have not has from you since two days are you ok???

She sent again after two hours.

The silence made her uneasy.

Sarah thinking Was he busy?

Was he ignoring her?

Or was he with someone else?

The last thought filled her with dread.

Her phone suddenly rang.

Owie.

Relief immediately washed over her.

"Hello.

"Hi.

Sarah smiled. "I was worried.

Owie "Why?

Sarah "You weren't answering."

Owie. "I was working.

Sarah "Sarah accepted it.

Because she wanted to believe him.

Sarah "Have you spoken to Sar today?" she asked.

There was a brief pause.

Owie. "A little."

The answer instantly ruined her mood.

Again. Sarah was not happy to hear that but she pretended and forced a smile

As if she was happy

But deep inside, resentment continued growing.

Vivi returned home after closing the market.

The house felt unusually quiet.

Her children were doing homework. Mummy you are welcome

The children run and urge her.

The television played softly in the background.

But Owie was missing. Again.

Vivi turn and sit down She checked the clock.

Nine o'clock.

No call.

No message.

Nothing.

The loneliness had become routine.

And somehow, that hurt even more.

After putting the children to bed, she opened her journal.

The blue notebook now contained months of pain.

Months of unanswered questions.

Months of disappointment.

She began writing.

"Today I watched other couples shopping together."

She paused.

Then continued.

"I realized I can no longer remember the last time my husband and I spent a full day together."

The realization made her chest ache.

She closed her eyes.

Sometimes she wondered if Owie even noticed how much he had changed.

Sometimes she wondered if he cared.

The next day, Sar returned to the market.

Sar. "Business was slow again

The vivi sat together drinking cold juice.

For a while, they talked about ordinary things.

Then Sar laughed suddenly.

Vivi "What?"

Sar shook her head. "Nothing.

Vivi. "No, tell me.

Sar smiled. "I was remembering something Owie said."

Vivi looked curious. "What did he say?

Sar "He claimed he spends most weekends traveling for business.

The smile faded from Vivi's face. Very slightly. Almost imperceptibly.

"Most weekends?

Sar "Yes.

Vivi looked down thinking That sounded familiar. Too familiar. Owie often used the same excuse.

Business trips.

Meetings.

Conferences.

Work.

The coincidence felt strange.

But she quickly dismissed it.

Surely many businessmen used similar explanations.

Still, a small seed of discomfort planted itself in her heart.

Vivi. "What kind of business does he do?" Vivi asked casually.

Sar shrugged. "He says investments. Are you ok vivi?

Vivi " yes I am fine

The answer unsettled Vivi even more.

Owie also worked with investments.

For a brief moment, a strange feeling passed through her.

A feeling she couldn't explain.

Then it disappeared.

The moment was gone.

And neither woman noticed how close they had come to the truth.

That evening, Owie sat in an expensive hotel suite with another lady.

His phone buzzed repeatedly.

Messages from Sarah. (Baby good evening hope you are doing well? Am missing you am home checking on you ).

Messages from Sar. ( hi Good evening I trust you are OK).

Several missed calls from Vivi.

The lady told him your phone is very busy, he replied is a business call, don't worry I would take care of it .

He ignored them all.

Instead, he poured himself a drink and smiled.

Life felt good.

Three women.

Three different relationships.

Three different versions of himself.

And none of them knew the complete truth.

Or so he believed.

What Owie didn't realize was that the walls around his secret were beginning to crack.

Sar was asking more questions.

Vivi was noticing similarities.

Sarah was becoming increasingly suspicious.

The truth was no longer standing still.

It was moving toward them.

Slowly.

Patiently.

Inevitably.

That night, Vivi lay awake staring at the ceiling.

Across the city, Sar also struggled to sleep.

Both women found themselves thinking about the same man.

The same questions.

The same confusion.

Yet neither knew they were connected by a secret larger than either could imagine.

A secret that would soon change all their lives forever.

The mirror of betrayal was drawing closer to the moment of revelation.

And although the reflection remained blurry, the outline of the truth was finally beginning to appear