BENEATH THE LIES

unraveling threads

June's POV

I watched Micheal walk away, his shoulders stiff, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. My heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of anger and fear coursing through me. He was hiding something. I had felt it for months, and tonight only confirmed it. His evasiveness, the secretive phone calls, the way he looked at me with barely concealed guilt—it was all adding up.

But what was he hiding?

I had tried to trust him. For years, I had given him the benefit of the doubt, believing his promises, his reassurances. But deep down, I knew something was wrong. I could feel the distance growing between us, the cracks in our marriage widening with every lie he told.

I sighed, rubbing my temples as the cool night air wrapped around me. I couldn’t keep living like this—constantly doubting, constantly questioning. I needed to know the truth, no matter how painful it might be. And if Micheal wouldn’t tell me, I’d find out on my own.

My phone buzzed in my purse, pulling me out of my thoughts. I fished it out and glanced at the screen. A message from my best friend, Natasha .

"How's the gala? Any drama yet?"

I hesitated for a moment before typing back a quick response.

"Same old. Micheal ’s being weird again."

Almost instantly, the three little dots appeared, indicating that she was typing a response.

"Weird how? What’s he done this time?"

I stared at the message for a moment, debating how much to tell her. Natasha had always been suspicious of Micheal , even before I was. She had warned me more times than I could count, but I hadn’t listened. Now, I wished I had.

"I don’t know, Ije. Something’s off. He’s hiding things from me, I’m sure of it."

Her reply came almost immediately.

"June, you need to stop playing nice and start digging. You deserve to know the truth."

I sighed, knowing she was right. I had been passive for too long, hoping that things would fix themselves. But they weren’t getting better. They were getting worse.

"I’m going to find out," I typed back. "I’m done sitting in the dark."

I slipped my phone back into my purse and took a deep breath, steadying myself. This was it. No more pretending. No more playing the role of the obedient wife. I was going to get to the bottom of whatever Micheal was hiding, even if it shattered everything I thought I knew about our marriage.

I made my way back inside the gala, my heels clicking softly against the polished marble floors. The room was still buzzing with conversation, guests laughing and sipping champagne as if nothing in the world could touch them. But I felt like I was moving in slow motion, the edges of my world blurring as my mind raced with possibilities.

I spotted Micheal near the bar, his back turned to me as he spoke to Mr. Ethan again. Their conversation looked intense, both of them frowning as they exchanged hurried words. I moved closer, trying to catch snippets of what they were saying, but the noise of the crowd drowned out their voices.

I bit my lip, frustration bubbling inside me. I needed to hear what they were talking about. I needed answers.

As I scanned the room for a way to get closer without drawing attention, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Clinton standing behind me, his expression unreadable.

“June,” he greeted me, his voice low and smooth. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I forced a smile, though my heart wasn’t in it. “Just tired,” I lied. “It’s been a long night.”

He nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment too long. “Is everything all right with you and Micheal ?”

The question caught me off guard, and I hesitated before answering. “Why do you ask?”

Clinton shrugged, his eyes drifting to where Micheal stood at the bar. “Just curious. You seem…distant tonight.”

I frowned, wondering what he was getting at. Clinton had always struck me as someone who knew more than he let on, someone who observed everything but revealed nothing. There was something unsettling about him, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

“We’re fine,” I said, my voice firmer than I felt. “Just the usual stress of work.”

Clinton raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but he didn’t press the issue. Instead, he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Be careful, June. This world you’re stepping into…it’s dangerous.”

I blinked, taken aback by his words. “What do you mean?”

He glanced over at Micheal again before turning back to me. “Just…be careful. Not everyone is who they seem.”

With that cryptic warning, he gave me a small nod and walked away, leaving me standing there with more questions than answers.

My pulse quickened as his words echoed in my mind. Not everyone is who they seem.

I turned my attention back to Micheal and Mr. Ethan , who were now moving toward a quieter corner of the room. This was my chance. I needed to get closer, to find out what they were hiding. I quickly made my way through the crowd, careful not to draw too much attention to myself.

As I neared the corner, I could hear bits of their conversation.

“…the shipment…delay could ruin everything…”

“…if the authorities get involved…”

“…we need to act fast, or it’s over.”

I held my breath, straining to hear more. Shipment? Authorities? What was Micheal involved in? I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized the depth of his secrets. This wasn’t just about money or business deals. This was something far darker.

I took another step closer, but just as I was about to hear more, Micheal glanced over his shoulder and spotted me. His eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across his face. My heart leapt into my throat, and I quickly turned away, pretending to be engrossed in a conversation with a nearby guest.

I could feel his eyes on me for a few moments longer before he finally turned back to Mr. Ethan . I exhaled slowly, my pulse racing. That was close—too close.

I needed a new plan. Eavesdropping wasn’t going to cut it. If I wanted to uncover the truth, I’d have to be more direct, more calculated. I couldn’t just wait for Micheal to slip up. I had to make him reveal his secrets, one way or another.

I glanced at my phone, an idea forming in my mind. Natasha had connections—people who could help me dig deeper into Micheal ’s business dealings. If he wasn’t going to tell me the truth, I’d find it myself.

With renewed determination, I made my way toward the exit. Tonight was just the beginning. Whatever Micheal was hiding, I would uncover it. And when I did, there would be no turning back.