A Pact Of Tainted Hearts

DECEPTION

“I’ve really become concerned,” Mr. Dary confessed, his voice heavy with frustration and worry. He sat slouched in his favorite armchair, staring into the distance as if the answers were written somewhere beyond the living room walls. “I don’t know what exactly is making her hide something from me. For the past week, this thought has been eating me alive. I can’t wrap my head around it. What exactly could she be hiding?” His voice cracked with genuine torment, and he rubbed his forehead as though massaging away the unanswered questions might bring him relief.

Across from him sat his best friend, Sylvester, and Silvia, Sylvester’s wife. They had known each other for decades…friends who had grown into family. They could sense when something troubled Mr. Dary, and this time the concern seemed deeper than ever.

“This is really concerning, Mr. Dary,” Silvia began, her tone soft but filled with sincerity. She leaned forward, folding her hands in her lap. “Emilia and I haven’t spoken for weeks. That’s why I was so shocked when you mentioned she said I told her my daughter is going wayward. Why would she claim that? My daughter is not even in this country anymore! In fact, I was taken aback when you repeated that to me. It doesn’t make sense.” She paused, her brows furrowed in genuine confusion. “I just hope she isn’t involved in something terrible. Even if it is bad, it should be manageable… but if it’s something bigger, then this can spiral out of control.”

Mr. Dary nodded slowly, his expression grim. The weight of Silvia’s words only fueled his unease.

“I don’t think it would be wise to confront her now,” Sylvester interjected calmly. His deep, authoritative voice carried wisdom but also a note of caution. “Emilia is very smart..,sharper than most people realize. If she is hiding something, confronting her directly might only drive her deeper into secrecy. No, you have to do your own diggings, quietly, carefully. And when you do, we’ll support you in every way we can.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and unsettling. No one dared to speak again. The room sank into a dead silence, broken only by the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Each tick seemed to echo Mr. Dary’s fears louder and louder.

⸻

Victor’s Deceptions

Meanwhile, across town, Victor drove back to his apartment with a storm of thoughts swirling in his head. Bianca’s demands weighed heavily on him. He had already fulfilled one of her requests, but another remained…and she would not let him rest until it was done. Victor loved her with a dangerous kind of love, the type that blinds a man to morality. He had promised her everything, vowed to do whatever it took to keep her pleased, even if it meant building his life on lies.

“Victor, calm down,” he muttered to himself, gripping the steering wheel tighter. “Vivian is naïve. She’ll believe every word you say. She always does.”

When he finally reached the apartment, he lingered at the entrance for a moment, forcing his face into composure so his emotions wouldn’t betray him. After taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

There, on the couch, sat Vivian, his girlfriend, eating with a soft smile lighting her face. She looked up instantly when she heard the door creak.

“Victor!” she exclaimed, jumping to her feet.

“Vivian,” he replied flatly, his tone lacking the warmth she expected.

She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him tightly. But instead of returning her affection, Victor stiffened, his expression betraying disgust…or perhaps guilt.

“I missed you, babe,” Vivian whispered into his chest, her voice breaking as tears welled in her eyes. “Where have you been? The baby misses you.” She gently guided his hand to her round belly, her tears slipping silently down her cheeks.

Victor’s mind raced. He had been ready to spin a simple lie about his whereabouts, but then, like lightning, a new idea struck him. An idea that could kill two birds with one stone: win Bianca’s approval and manipulate Vivian’s soft heart.

“I was helping a friend,” Victor said suddenly, rubbing his face as though he had been crying. “She just came back from the States, and everything has gone horribly wrong for her.”

Vivian frowned, her eyes narrowing. “What do you mean, Victor? Who are you talking about?”

Victor dropped onto the couch, burying his face in his palms. His shoulders trembled as though he were overwhelmed with sorrow. “It’s Bianca, Vivian,” he muttered finally. “She’s been robbed. Her baby daddy abandoned her. She’s homeless, pregnant, and she has nowhere to go. I’ve been trying to help her, but I can’t find a place for her to stay. I don’t know what else to do.”

Vivian gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “Bianca? Oh my God! Wasn’t she in our year group? That’s horrible!” Her face softened with pity, her natural compassion overtaking every ounce of logic. “And she’s pregnant too? That poor girl…”

Victor nodded gravely, feeding her sympathy with his lies. “She is suffering, Vivian. She barely has enough money to survive, let alone rent a room.”

Vivian’s heart ached. “Victor, she can live with us until she gets back on her feet. Or… or we could lend her some money. Anything, really.”

“No, Vivian,” Victor countered firmly, shaking his head. “That wouldn’t be wise. What if she never pays us back? What if she brings more problems?”

“We’d never know unless we try,” Vivian insisted, her voice firm despite the tears in her eyes. “We can’t just watch her suffer. She’s pregnant for God’s sake! Bring her here, Victor. No woman should be abandoned like that. I mean… it’s so disgusting how some men leave their responsibilities. Where do these baby daddies even come from?” She spat the words with disgust, never realizing the irony of her statement…never realizing the man she loved was the very kind she despised.

Victor’s lips curled into a wicked grin that he quickly hid. Inside, his heart roared in triumph. Vivian’s kindness had laid the perfect trap for herself. His mind screamed: Victory!

#####

Far away, in a small village where poverty was a constant companion but unity and joy kept the people afloat, a little boy came running home from school. His name was Daniel, and his energy filled every corner of their modest wooden house.

“Mummyyyyy!” he shouted, rushing into the kitchen and throwing his tiny arms around Erica, his mother.

“Sweet little boy,” Erica laughed, scooping him into her arms and kissing his cheek before setting him down. “Go and change out of your school clothes. I’m cooking something delicious tonight!”

“Yayyy!” Daniel cheered before dashing off to his room.

At that moment, David, Erica’s husband, entered with a broad smile plastered across his face. He carried a sack and smelled faintly of the river.

“Today was a good day, honey,” he said proudly. “I caught so many fish, and I sold most of them too!”

Erica beamed, helping him unload his catch. “I’m so happy for you, my husband. Go and freshen up, I’ll be done cooking soon.”

Later that evening, as the sun dipped beneath the horizon and darkness draped itself over the land, the family of four gathered on a mat to share their meal. Their home might have been small, their possessions few, but the warmth of their bond made it richer than any mansion.

Daniel, always the chatterbox, paused his chewing long enough to speak. “Mom, Dad,” he began, pointing across the way toward an old, decaying house with faded paint and weeds choking its walls. “I heard someone screaming inside that house. It sounded like they were hurting someone.”

Erica’s face hardened instantly. “Hey, keep quiet! Who told you such nonsense?” she scolded, her protective instincts sharp.

David raised a hand gently. “Don’t be so harsh, honey. He’s just a child. Daniel, listen to me. That house has been abandoned for years. No one lives there anymore. Do you understand?”

Daniel nodded reluctantly, but deep inside, doubt lingered. He knew what he had heard.