The Wife He Betrayed

Amaka stared at the clock on the wall. 11:47 p.m. She picked up her phone again and checked the screen. No missed calls. No message. Nothing. She sighed and dropped the phone on the bed. Chinedu had promised he would be home before ten. It wasn't the first time he had come home late, but tonight felt different. Maybe it was because he had been unusually quiet that morning. Or maybe she was simply overthinking. Amaka stood up and walked toward the window. The street outside was quiet. A few houses still had their lights on, and the security light at the gate cast a pale glow across the compound. She checked the road again. Still nothing. “Where is this man?” she muttered. She picked up her phone and called him. It rang. Once. Twice. Three times. No answer. Amaka frowned. She called again. This time, the call ended almost immediately. Her eyebrows pulled together. He had rejected the call. “Chinedu?” She stared at his name on her screen. Why would he reject her call? Before she could call again, her phone vibrated. A message. Amaka opened it. Unknown Number: You need to know where your husband is. Her heart skipped. She read the message twice. Then she typed. Amaka: Who is this? The message was delivered. No response. She waited. Nothing. “Maybe somebody is playing a prank,” she whispered. She put the phone down. A few seconds later, it vibrated again. This time, there was a photograph. Amaka opened it. Everything inside her went still. It was Chinedu. Her husband. He was sitting at a restaurant table. But he wasn't alone. A woman was sitting opposite him. Amaka zoomed in. Her eyes widened. She knew the woman. “Nneka?” Her voice came out as a whisper. Nneka was one of her closest friends. The same Nneka who had visited her earlier that afternoon. The same Nneka who had sat in this very room, eating the jollof rice Amaka had prepared. The same Nneka who had laughed and called Chinedu “brother” whenever she visited. Amaka looked at the photograph again. Something wasn't right. Chinedu was smiling. Nneka was smiling too. They looked comfortable. Too comfortable. Amaka's fingers trembled. She wanted to believe there was an explanation. Maybe they had met accidentally. Maybe it was about work. Maybe— Another message appeared. Unknown Number: Ask him about the apartment in GRA. Amaka's breathing stopped. The apartment. She knew about it. Chinedu had told her months ago that his company rented an apartment in GRA for employees who needed to stay close to the office. She had never been there. She had never questioned it. Why would she? Chinedu was her husband. She trusted him. At least, she thought she did. Amaka sat slowly on the edge of the bed. Her wedding ring caught the light. She stared at it. Three years of marriage. Three years of waking up beside the same man. Three years of believing that whatever happened, they would face it together. Could all of that have been a lie? A sound from outside made her look up. Headlights appeared through the curtains. A car entered the compound. Chinedu was home. Amaka quickly wiped her eyes and put the phone beneath her pillow. She didn't want him to know about the messages. Not yet. She needed to see his face. She needed to hear his explanation. The front door opened downstairs. A few moments later, she heard his footsteps coming up the stairs. The bedroom door opened. “Baby?” Amaka looked at him. Chinedu walked inside, looking tired. His tie was loose around his neck, and he carried his laptop bag in one hand. “Why are you still awake?” he asked. “You said you'd be home before ten.” He glanced at the clock. “I'm sorry. The meeting took longer than I expected.” “What meeting?” He paused. It was brief. Almost unnoticeable. But Amaka noticed. “At the office,” he answered. “Until midnight?” “It wasn't planned.” She nodded. “Okay.” Chinedu walked toward her. He leaned down to kiss her forehead. Amaka moved away. His expression changed. “What happened?” “Nothing.” “You're acting strange.” Amaka looked at him. “Am I?” “Yes.” She forced a small smile. “I'm just tired.” Chinedu watched her for a moment before turning away. His phone suddenly rang. He pulled it out. The moment he looked at the screen, his face changed. Amaka noticed. “Who is calling?” “Nobody.” “Nobody?” “It's just work.” He quickly silenced the call and placed the phone on the table. Amaka stared at him. She remembered the photograph. Chinedu and Nneka. The restaurant. The apartment. The strange phone call. Too many things were beginning to connect. She looked away before he could notice the tears gathering in her eyes. “Go and shower,” she said quietly. “You must be tired.” Chinedu smiled. “That's my girl.” He walked into the bathroom. The moment the door closed, Amaka reached beneath her pillow and brought out her phone. She looked at the photograph one more time. Then she saved it. Tomorrow morning, she would go to GRA. She didn't know what she would find there. But she knew one thing. Whatever Chinedu was hiding from her, she was going to find out. Even if the truth destroyed the marriage she had spent three years building.