FOUND HIM WITH MY SISTER

IM NOT YOURS ANYMORE

*CHAPTER 5: I'M NOT YOURS ANYMORE*

The whole restaurant was looking at us. My face was burning with shame. Sipho standing there with dying Spar flowers, shouting.

Liam was still sitting calmly, sipping his wine. He did not even look at Sipho.

I stood up. My legs were shaking, but my voice was strong.

"Sipho, enough! ENOUGH!" I shouted. Tears were in my eyes but I was not crying. "You cheated on me with my own sister! In your bed! I brought you kota! I loved you! And you... you..."

Sipho tried to touch my arm. "Nandi, I was bewitched! Lindiwe bewitched me!"

"Don't touch me!" I stepped back. "I am not yours anymore! Do you hear me? I am NOT yours anymore! For 3 years I washed your clothes! I cooked for you! I gave you my last money when you said you were broke! And you were busy sleeping with Lindiwe!"

The waiters were whispering. One woman at another table was recording with her phone.

Liam finally stood up. He put his jacket around my shoulders. His jacket smelled so good, like expensive cologne. So different from Sipho's dust.

"Sir," Liam said to Sipho, very politely but his voice was ice cold. "This is my hotel. And you are disturbing my guests. My security is coming. I think you should leave before they carry you out."

Sipho laughed. "Your hotel? So Nandi, you are now sleeping with your boss for money? I knew it! You are a gold digger! Just like your sister!"

That was it. That word. Gold digger.

I slapped him. Hard. The sound was so loud, the whole restaurant went silent.

"Get out! Get out and never come near me again! I would rather die single than be with a cheating, broke, jealous man like you! I AM NOT YOURS ANYMORE!"

Security came - two big men. They held Sipho by the arms and dragged him out. His cheap flowers fell on the floor. Someone stepped on them.

I collapsed into the chair. My body was shaking.

Liam knelt down next to me. He didn't care that people were looking. He held both my hands.

"Breathe, Nandi. Just breathe. You were amazing. You were so strong. I am proud of you."

I looked into his eyes. And for the first time since I found Sipho with my sister, I felt safe.

"Thank you," I whispered.

He smiled. "You said 'I'm not yours anymore' to him. So... can you be mine?"

My heart stopped.

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