echoes of yesterday
666 Words
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Echoes of Yesterday
The charity gala ended long after midnight.
Guests left in groups, whispering about the photographs, the interrupted presentation, and Chief Clement's unusual reaction.
But none of those whispers mattered to Agatha.
She drove home in silence.
For the first time since returning to Nigeria, she wasn't certain of anything anymore.
Had Jeffrey lied?
Or had someone spent years making sure she believed he had?
...
The Williams Mansion was quiet when she arrived.
She slipped off her heels and walked barefoot into the garden.
The cool grass beneath her feet reminded her of simpler days.
Days before secrets.
Days before heartbreak.
She sat on the wooden swing and looked up at the stars.
"Why does it still hurt?" she whispered.
"You still love him."
Agatha turned.
Daniela stood a few steps away, her evening gown covered by a light shawl.
Agatha smiled sadly.
"I don't know what I feel anymore."
Daniela sat beside her.
"I saw something tonight."
"What?"
She hesitated.
"I found a message on Beatrice's phone."
Agatha frowned.
"What kind of message?"
Daniela took a slow breath.
"It was from Chief Clement."
Agatha's eyes widened.
"What did it say?"
Daniela looked directly at her.
"'After tonight, Agatha must never trust Jeffrey again.'"
The words settled heavily between them.
Agatha couldn't speak.
Daniela continued.
"I think someone has been manipulating both of you."
Agatha looked away.
"If that's true..."
Her voice trembled.
"...then my whole life changed because of a lie."
...
Across the city, Jeffrey stood alone on the balcony of his apartment.
He held the silver bracelet box he had bought years ago.
The matching bracelet rested on Agatha's wrist.
The matching box had remained with him ever since.
Tony stepped outside carrying two cups of coffee.
"You've been out here for an hour."
Jeffrey accepted one.
"Thank you."
Tony leaned against the railing.
"I spoke to Daniela."
Jeffrey looked up immediately.
"How's Agatha?"
"Confused."
Jeffrey nodded.
"That's better than hating me."
Tony smiled.
"I suppose that's progress."
After a moment of silence, Tony spoke again.
"You can't keep carrying this secret forever."
Jeffrey closed his eyes.
"I know."
"Then tell her."
Jeffrey looked toward the sleeping city.
"I will."
Tony smiled.
"When?"
Jeffrey's answer came almost as a whisper.
"The next time she asks me."
...
The following afternoon, Agatha decided to leave the mansion alone.
She needed time away from everyone.
Away from questions.
Away from memories.
She drove to a large supermarket on Victoria Island.
Inside, she wandered through the aisles without really paying attention to what she was buying.
She reached for a box of cereal.
At the exact same moment...
Another hand reached for it.
"I'm sorry."
Both voices spoke together.
Agatha looked up.
Jeffrey.
For a brief second, neither of them moved.
Then Jeffrey smiled awkwardly.
"I guess we still have terrible timing."
Agatha couldn't help it.
A tiny smile escaped her lips.
"So it seems."
It lasted only a second before she remembered herself.
She pulled her hand back.
"You can have it."
"I don't even like this brand," Jeffrey admitted.
Agatha almost laughed.
"Then why were you reaching for it?"
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I wasn't."
"I saw you."
"I was actually reaching for the coffee beside it."
For the first time in years...
A genuine laugh escaped Agatha's lips.
It was soft.
Brief.
But real.
Jeffrey simply stood there, listening to the sound he had missed every single day.
Neither of them noticed Unduka entering the supermarket at that very moment.
From the end of the aisle, he saw Agatha laughing with Jeffrey.
He stopped walking.
Not because he was angry.
But because, for the first time...
He realized something he had been trying not to admit.
No matter how kind he was...
No matter how much he cared for Agatha...
There was still a part of her heart that belonged to Jeffrey.
And winning her love would be far more difficult than he had imagined.
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