Chapter 3: Love, Lies, and the Twins He Never Knew
1045 Words
Ayanda has been distracted all day. Her engagement party was perfect — champagne, laughter, a sea of well-wishers — but her mind keeps circling back to that missed call from a private number.
She can’t shake the feeling that it was Sakhile.
Her chest tightens at the thought. She considers messaging him again — but then exhales and decides against it.
⸻
“Earth to Ayanda.”
Titus snaps his fingers in front of her face, pulling her from her thoughts.
“Everything okay? You just got engaged. I expected you to be glowing, not zoning out like someone who lost the Lotto.”
Ayanda forces a small smile. “I’m okay. Just a little under the weather. Nothing I can’t handle.”
“It’s a good thing your fiancé’s a doctor, huh?” Titus teases.
She chuckles politely.
“I need you to reshuffle my entire day,” he continues, suddenly serious. “I’m catching a flight to the U.S. in six hours. My daughter’s been arrested, and Brown wants to expel her.”
Ayanda’s eyes widen. “Oh my goodness, Titus, I’m so sorry. Of course — I’ll clear your schedule. Any idea when you’ll be back?”
“No clue. I just know that when I do return, that girl will still have a future.” He sighs, rubbing his temples. “Daughters are the most fragile and the most dangerous creatures alive.”
Ayanda smiles faintly. “I’ll keep everything on hold until you’re back.”
“Why don’t you take a few days off too?” he suggests, softening. “Spend time with your twins before they grow horns. Kids change overnight. Catch them while they still think you’re cool.”
She laughs. “Thanks, Titus. I’ll submit my leave right away.”
⸻
“Paris won’t be the same without you, babe. Are you sure you can’t come?”
Lefika’s voice trembles between irritation and sadness.
Sakhile exhales, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I really can’t, my love. But go, enjoy yourself — for both of us.”
She studies him. “Sakhile… since the morning after our engagement, you’ve been different. You barely talk to me. You haven’t told your parents yet. Are you having second thoughts about the wedding? About the baby?”
“I think you’re imagining things, Lee,” he says softly. “I just can’t leave work right now. That doesn’t mean I don’t love you.”
She nods, but her eyes say she doesn’t believe him. Moments later, her driver pulls up to take her to the airport to meet Thimna and Zu.
As soon as the car disappears from view, Sakhile’s mask drops. He dials a number.
⸻
“Anything?” His voice is tight.
“Well,” the PI answers, “I finally found her. I even got hired at the same company she works for — so I can keep an eye without raising suspicion.”
Sakhile straightens. “Where?”
“Umhlanga. She’s an executive PA to the COO. But there’s more.”
His pulse quickens. “What more?”
“She has kids. Twins. They’re eight years old… and they’re yours.”
Silence.
For a moment, the world stops spinning. He grips the phone, jaw clenched.
“She’s engaged,” the PI continues gently. “To a white doctor she’s been with for seven years. He’s been helping her raise the twins.”
Sakhile closes his eyes. “Their names?”
“Melusi and Ntandokazi.”
He hangs up before she can say anything else.
⸻
He dials again. The number she once gave him.
After two rings—
“Ayanda, hello?”
Her voice is cautious.
“Yanda.”
Ayanda freezes. Her mother and the twins are watching TV in the lounge. She rises quietly and steps outside.
“Yanda, are you there?”
“Sax… hi.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about my kids?”
Silence. Only the waves beyond the house fill the air.
“I’m flying to Umhlanga tonight,” he says at last. “Meet me at the Oyster Box. I’ll text you when I land.”
“Sax, I can’t. I have plans with—”
“Your fiancé? Cancel them.”
“Sax—”
“Yanda, please. I’m begging you. You disappeared with no explanation, had my children, and built a life I was never part of. Please… this is the least I deserve.”
Ayanda’s throat tightens. “What do I even tell Nate?”
“Tell him you’re taking the twins on holiday for a week,” he says quietly. “You’ll see him when you get back.”
“You want me to bring the kids?”
“Yes. I want to meet my children. I’ll book us separate rooms. We’ll decide together how to tell them. I’ll text when I land.”
The line goes dead.
Ayanda stands in the moonlight, phone pressed to her chest, her heartbeat in her throat.
⸻
Yanda and Sax — Flashback
The presentation had been brilliant. Ayanda, radiant and confident, commanded the room like she owned it.
Every time she spoke, Sakhile couldn’t help but glow with pride. And every time he spoke, she blushed, even when he was tearing into senior management over a costly mistake.
They made an exceptional team — and everyone saw it.
Sakhile, the sales genius. Ntokozo, the strategic CHRO. Thomas, the sharp COO — Ayanda’s direct boss.
And Ayanda, the quiet force holding their empire together.
The chemistry between her and Sakhile was impossible to ignore. But in public, they played it professional.
Until that day.
A two-hour meeting request. From the CEO himself.
No one declines a meeting with Sakhile Yeni.
She walked into his office. The door closed behind her. The city disappeared.
And what followed — was inevitable.
By the time she returned to her desk, her body still trembled, her heart still echoing his voice in her ear:
“My Yanda…”
“I’m going to make you Mrs. Yeni one day.”
Then, just like that, they both slipped back into their worlds —
he to his boardroom,
she to her deadlines —
as if nothing had ever happened.
But both knew:
Everything had changed.
- Writer
