Too Late To Love Her

##Chapter one:Cold spaces

**Amara’s POV**

There was a time when I could tell what my husband was thinking just by the way he walked through the door. A time when the sound of his car pulling into the driveway sent butterflies through my stomach. Now, I barely reacted. Now, I waited in silence, pretending that my heart didn’t ache.

I adjusted the silverware on the table again. The rice was cold. The grilled fish was no longer steaming. I had even remembered the peppered snails—his favorite—but I already knew he wouldn’t notice. Or care.

The heavy mahogany door creaked open and Jide walked in. Impeccably dressed, always powerful, always sharp. He didn’t greet me. His phone was already in his hand. He was smiling.

Not at me.

I watched as he poured himself a glass of whiskey without a glance in my direction. Then he leaned on the kitchen counter, scrolling his phone like I wasn’t even there.

"Dinner’s ready," I said, my voice soft. Still hopeful.

"I’m not hungry," he muttered.

He didn’t look at me. But I saw the name light up on his screen: *Tasha.*

The message preview flashed:

*"Missing your lips already... 😘"*

I stood frozen for a second, the air leaving my lungs. My husband was having an affair. And he wasn’t even hiding it anymore.

**Jide’s POV**

I knew Amara was watching me. I could feel her eyes—wide, sad, the same ones I once swore to protect. But I didn’t care. Not tonight. Not after the board meeting. Not after the stress. And not after hearing the whispers.

They said she was close to Deji. The driver.

I had seen them laughing together in the rearview mirror too many times. And the way she touched his arm once—too familiar.

Tasha said she overheard things. Things I couldn’t ignore.

So no, I wasn’t going to play house. I wasn’t going to pretend. Let her stew in her guilt.

"We need to talk," she said the next morning.

I didn’t stop reading my email. "About what?"

"Us. You’ve changed. You’re distant. Jide, I’m your wife—"

"Yeah? And what have you been doing with Deji behind my back?"

Her face twisted in shock. "What? Deji? Are you even hearing yourself? That’s ridiculous."

"You think I’m stupid? You think I don’t see the way he looks at you? The way you smile at him?"

She was trembling now. "Jide, I would never—"

"Spare me. You’ve embarrassed me enough."

She didn’t speak again. Just stared at me like she didn’t recognize the man in front of her.

And maybe she didn’t.

**Amara’s POV**

I left two days later. I packed my things while he was at work. I didn’t cry. Not until I locked the front door and walked away from the house that had become a tomb.

He didn’t call.

Not even once.

And that told me everything I needed to know.

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