A Friend’s Deception

chapter four

A situation no one would ever envy; the person Nova had been chatting with on f*******:—the one she had been looking forward to meeting for what she thought would be a casual, exciting date—was now standing as the fake husband of her friend Raven. The absurdity of it made her chest tighten and her mind race. How had things spiraled so quickly into this tangled web? Her pulse quickened, her fingers gripping her bag like it was a lifeline. Truly, this was a predicament she would have never wished on anyone.

Raven, though visibly flustered, tried to maintain composure. She reached out and gently grabbed Nova’s arm, guiding her slightly away from Damian, who stood silently by the elevator. He didn’t move, didn’t speak, yet his presence alone seemed to command the space. Raven pressed her lips together tightly, a subtle but unmistakable sign of tension, as if she was trying to restrain the chaos inside herself.

— He is… my husband.

Nova blinked in disbelief. Surely, her friend must be joking. Two days away, that’s all it had been, and now—married? And to this stranger? Who even was this man? Her eyes widened involuntarily, pupils dilated in shock, as her hand clutched her handbag tighter, almost reflexively, as if preparing for a hasty retreat.

— I’m serious. If I didn’t know you well, you might have thought he was just a friend.

Raven cast a sidelong glance at Damian. He remained motionless, silent, observing them with an intensity that made Nova shiver. Then her gaze returned to Nova, and the slight shrug of her shoulders betrayed the unease she was trying so desperately to conceal.

— Please, Nova… my mother is coming over, and I already told her I got married.

A wave of unease washed over Nova. She knew Raven to be kindhearted, genuinely good-natured, and that very kindness made her vulnerable, perhaps too trusting. Nova had always feared that the wrong person could exploit that softness. She moved slowly, reaching for the door, intending to sit and understand, to calmly navigate the situation—but Damian remained by the doorway. Hands in his pockets, he subtly prevented her from closing it, his gaze sharp, freezing every blood vessel with its icy precision.

— This isn’t proper behavior, but it’s… normal for you.

Nova pressed her lips together, trying to ignore the unnerving tone, trying to dismiss the creeping discomfort. But Raven’s hand shot out, stopping her, a small yet firm intervention.

— It’s fine. I asked him to come.

Raven allowed Damian to step inside. She lowered her head momentarily, offering a brief, apologetic smile, as if acknowledging the awkwardness of the situation. Damian moved with deliberate ease, stepping forward while keeping a subtle distance, his hand brushing past the doorframe with a calm, almost detached precision.

— Make yourself comfortable… I’ll be back shortly.

Nova guided Raven into her room. Her fingers brushed lightly along the edge of the table, as though the contact grounded her, giving her something solid to cling to while she tried to process the unfolding chaos. She prepared to explain everything to her friend, carefully omitting any mention of Damian. Somehow, she felt it better to shield Raven from the truth—for now at least—while Nova herself remained vigilant, her eyes flitting between Raven and the small circular room, absorbing each word from the friend who had somehow ensnared herself with a man she barely knew.

— You know nothing about him… he could be a serial killer.

Raven shook her head emphatically. Damian had never struck her as dangerous. Perhaps he was merely confident—overly so, perhaps. She bit her lower lip nervously, glancing at Nova with an awkward half-smile, a silent plea for understanding.

— No… he works at the company with me. He interviewed me, and I told my mother about him. Can we stay here for the week?

Nova’s lips pressed into a thin line. Her hand moved nervously between her hair and her bag, disbelief flashing in her eyes. She wasn’t convinced by a single word she heard.

— No. My father rejected the person he sent… he’s far too boring and…

The thought of Damian Kai, the man she had been supposed to meet, shot through her mind. She realized she had never asked Raven about him or what had really happened during the date. Her eyes drifted momentarily to the floor, seeking a momentary anchor, before returning to her friend.

— What happened on the date?

Raven nervously placed a finger on her lips, a telltale sign of trouble. Nova’s mind raced; she realized now that Raven might have acted too hastily. Her movements were small, almost subconscious, shifting her weight as if seeking solid ground beneath her feet.

— Darling, I’m not judging you… what did you do?

— I did what I wanted, and he left angry… that’s it.

But Nova didn’t believe a single word. The inconsistencies gnawed at her, each one a silent alarm. She gripped her bag tighter, her eyes scanning the table’s edges as though looking for proof, searching for anything that could validate—or disprove—the words she was hearing.

— You’re lying.

The sudden creak of the door interrupted her. Both girls turned instinctively to see who had arrived. Damian was there, but rather than intruding or speaking, he walked directly to the fridge, opening it with casual familiarity, pouring juice into a glass as though he were perfectly at home. Nova’s tension spiked; her gaze followed his every move, every muscle in her body taut, ready to react.

Raven stepped toward the door, hoping to escape Nova’s scrutinizing stare, only to freeze as her mother appeared. Susanna, her eyes sharp and calculating, regarded her daughter with an intensity that left no room for explanation.

— How…?!

Susanna’s voice was a mix of jest and mild reproach, as she lightly nudged Raven aside:

— What kind of welcome is this? I expected better from you.

— I haven’t seen you in two years… and this cold reception?

Susanna entered the room, eyes sweeping quickly to take in the scene, finally landing on Nova. She recognized her from photos Raven had sent over time. In the American-style kitchen, Damian sipped his orange juice with practiced ease, paying no attention to anyone but himself, lifting the glass with a quiet tilt of his head, while an almost tangible tension filled the air, making each breath feel heavier, each movement more deliberate.

Raven cleared her throat, closing the door behind them, her hands trembling slightly as if every disaster of the past days had gathered in this room.

Susanna’s gaze remained fixed on her daughter, curiosity bright in her eyes, silently demanding an explanation. Nova felt her chest tighten further, the atmosphere constricting around her.

Damian stepped forward, his posture commanding yet calm. His voice was low, steady, carrying the confidence of someone utterly sure of his place:

— Damian Kai, Raven’s husband.

He set the glass down with measured precision, extending his hand to greet his mother-in-law. Each movement was deliberate, calm, and controlled, signaling a man who knew how to handle delicate situations.

Nova gasped. Her eyes widened, disbelief etched on her face. She gripped the table’s edge, realizing with a sinking feeling that her friend had indeed deceived her.

— Raven…!

To be continued.....