Sweet Revenge: The most dreadful one

CHAPTER ONE:The truth unfolds The night draped Accra in a thin veil of humidity, city lights flickering like distant fireflies over the rooftop terrace of *Skyline Bistro*. A muted jazz saxophone leaked from a cracked speaker, the hum of traffic far below a low, constant thunder. Kendra stood at the edge of the glass doors, midnight‑blue silk dress clinging to her skin, heels clicking with a purpose that matched the thudding in her chest. Ivan waited at a table set for two, white shirt rolled at the sleeves, a faint scar tracing his left eyebrow—a reminder of a night he once called an accident fixing a bike. She slipped into her seat, the chair pulled out by Ivan’s smooth hand. “Here’s to us,” he said, smile perfect, eyes glinting with something she couldn’t read. “To us,” Kendra echoed, the clink of crystal sounding oddly like a warning bell. _Flashback – Coffee shop, 12 days ago._ Ivan’s phone buzzed, a green notification banner flashing *“A.”* He glanced, chuckled, “Just work.” Kendra’s chest tightened. _“A? Who’s A? Why does it feel like a crack?”_ She brushed it off, convincing herself he was stressed, that love covered the fissures. _Flashback – Beach walk, 5 days ago._ Sand slipped through their toes, the sea breeze tangled with their laughter. Ivan’s hand lingered on her shoulder, then a sudden vibration. He pulled his phone, eyes darting. “Sorry, babe, gotta take this.” He turned his back, voice low, shoulders hunching. Kendra watched his jaw clench, his left eyebrow twitching—a tell she’d missed. _“He’s never been this nervous. Ivan would never do the unthinkable,”_ she whispered to herself, pushing the doubt down like a swallowed scream. A soft vibration rattled Ivan’s pocket now. He glanced at the screen; *“Anna”* illuminated the dark glass. Kendra’s breath hitched. The name hit a nerve she hadn’t known existed. “Excuse me, babe. Work thing. I’ll be right back,” Ivan said, voice smooth but edged with a tremor. He slipped away, shoulders stiff, fingers trembling ever so slightly around the phone. He pressed it to his ear, turning his back to the terrace edge where the city lights turned the night into a sea of amber dots. _“Work? Anna? Who the hell is Anna? Why does his voice shake? He’s never nervous. He’s... lying.”_ Her eyes traced the outline of his spine, the way his shirt clung tighter at the waist, the faint twitch of his left eyebrow. She forced a smile, lifted her glass, took a sip, the wine bitter on her tongue. Her hands curled around the stem of the glass, knuckles white. Spine rigid, shoulders slightly raised—defensive. Breath short, shallow, as if the night air was too thin. She noticed the small scar on his left wrist, a reminder of that bike accident, now seeming a mark of something else—control. Dinner arrived: pan‑seared snapper, asparagus, a drizzle of lemon‑butter sauce. Kendra, needing a picture for her i********: story, reached for Ivan’s phone—his habit of snapping food pics. The screen lit up: *iMessage notification – Anna.* “hey darling I’ll be waiting for my good time with you after you’ve had whatever you’ve had with my friend and pls don’t let her get on your nerves..I’ll be waiting dear:)” Time froze. The world narrowed to the glowing green bubbles. _“No. No. No. This can’t be real. He’s playing me. He’s…”_ Her hand trembled, the phone almost slipping to the floor. She caught it, fingers slick with sweat, and forced a laugh that sounded more like a choke. Spine snapped straight, shoulders dropped in a practiced poise. Eyes glazed, a flicker of panic masked by a practiced smile. Mouth a thin line, teeth barely touching. She snapped the photo, the flash blinded her for a split second. The picture showed the plate, the candle flame—nothing of the storm inside her. Ivan slid back into his seat, smile a little too wide, hand finding hers under the table. He squeezed, a gesture that used to comfort, now felt like a clamp. “Everything okay?” he asked, voice smooth, a hint of concern. Kendra forced herself to nod. “Yeah, just… the sauce is amazing.” His eyes lingered a beat too long, searching for cracks. He didn’t see the tremor in her fingers, the pulse hammering against her throat. _What if I’m wrong? What if I’m right? If I confront him now, I lose everything—money, trust, my identity. If I stay silent, I drown._ She imagined the future: Ivan’s smile turning into a sneer, Anna’s text turning into a pattern. The darkness of the city mirrored the darkness creeping into her chest. A decision hardened like steel beneath the silk. She would play along, gather proof, let the truth *unfold* on her terms. The jazz song shifted to a low, mournful sax. The candle sputtered, shadows dancing on their faces. Kendra lifted her glass, eyes meeting Ivan’s. “To new beginnings,” she whispered, voice steady despite the storm inside. Ivan clinked his glass, oblivious. “To us.” She set the glass down, hand steady, the weight of the night settling like a stone in her gut. Outside, Accra’s lights blinked—indifferent, relentless. She thought so hard whiles they were eating but everything seemed to make sense and every dot’s connected perfectly She then remembered when she would see how they use to talk when they’re talking—now love turning to hatred she looked up from her food and saw Ivan staring at her, she gave him a fierce smile which made him uncomfortable but he couldn’t say anything because he did not know what was going on…Kendra realizing the deep betrayal from her loved one and her own best friend she became shattered but forced a smile until the dinner date was over and she was dropped off at the door step of her apartment As soon as she entered the room, her heart almost stopped beating because of the betrayal she’s gone through she cried at the corner of the bed when Ivan sat and promised her the world but this time it was only her sitting there crying from the betrayal from her loved one She cried deeply till the tears got dried. The tears became her stepping stone, she’ll seek revenge, she’ll never let them go scot free especially Ivan That night she slept in her silk dress and a messy hair and sworn to give them the ever sweet revenge they’ll never dread to see The following day she went by her day very normal and you won’t even think that she went through something the previous day..she texted Ivan as usual as she always does and went to work …at work she saw her Anika already at her table busily sending some details to the head office for review so she didn’t even respond when she was greeted by her colleagues Kendra went to her table .” Heyy why do you looked so tensed up” she replied; “I’m supposed to send some files to the head office by 11am and it’s almost 11, please can you give me some time ..? Why not.? Kendra replied and went to her office and couldn’t stop thinking about how Ivan and her would do such a thing to In fact she helped them both especially Ivan and this is the betrayal he could have given me..,she nodded in anguish, well, they will see the other side of me That night when she closed from work, she called Ivan and went out with him to go get ice cream In the car, Ivan pulled Kendra close to him,Kendra wanted to push him off but with what she wanted she had to kiss him back She gave him the most sexiest French kiss he could ever wish of, he was really pleased with how the night went Kendra smiled sexily to him but he thought she wanted another thing but when Kendra sensed that she immediately changed the mood and was dropped off at her apartment She only knew what was in store for both of them especially Ivan