/ Romance / Double cross / Chapter 14: The Quiet Changes No One Saw Coming

공유

Chapter 14: The Quiet Changes No One Saw Coming

last update 게시일: 2026-04-02 15:50:29

Bella and Mariam were in the living room, still talking about Mr. Smith’s exam.

“That man really meant well for us,” Bella said, stretching her legs on the sofa. “He wants us to pass.”

“Hmm,” Mariam nodded, but her mind was elsewhere.

So this girl is really not going to tell me anything about her parents forcing her to be with Samuel? Why is she hiding it from me? she wondered silently.

“What are you thinking about?” Bella asked suddenly.

“Don’t mind me, dear,” Mariam smiled quickly. “I’m think
이 작품을 무료로 읽으실 수 있습니다
QR 코드를 스캔하여 앱을 다운로드하세요
잠긴 챕터

최신 챕터

  • Double cross   Chapter 26: I give up

    When a living person begins to long for death, it is no longer a careless statement. It is the quiet confession of someone who has exhausted hope.There were nights when Mrs. Ajayi lay awake and wondered how anyone could wish to stop existing. How could someone want to leave the air, the light, the sound of life itself?Now she understood.In her case, death felt kinder than living with Mr. Ajayi.When her husband had come back months ago, he changed overnight. Or at least, that was what she believed. He became attentive. Soft-spoken. Helpful. He apologized for past cruelties and claimed that a colleague’s advice had “touched his heart.” He promised to become a better man.She had not trusted it fully—but she had allowed herself to breathe again.Then one evening, he sat across from her and said calmly, “You will start footing the bills.”That was when the mask slipped.The transformation was subtle at first. The sarcasm returned. Then the insults. Then the cold silence. His laughter

  • Double cross   Chapter 25: The Knock At The Door

    Bella woke with a heaviness in her limbs, the kind that clung to her even after sleep. The first thing she did was reach for her phone.No missed calls from Mariam.No messages.She frowned.Why hasn’t she returned my calls? That’s strange. Is she even fine?Throughout the holiday, Mariam hadn’t visited. She hadn’t called. She hadn’t even sent a casual hi. That was unlike her. No matter how busy she was, Mariam always returned Bella’s calls.Bella sighed and sat up.“These holidays sef,” she muttered to her reflection. “If you’re in school, the term crawls. But once it’s holiday, time flies.”She had spent the first week visiting her father’s friend in another city. Now the second week—the final stretch before school resumed—was almost gone.“I talk too much,” she told the mirror, smiling faintly.Talking to herself always helped. It gave her space to express every thought without interruption.She headed to the bathroom but paused long enough to send a message.I’m coming to your pla

  • Double cross   Chapter 24: Deals and Hidden Fire

    It was the seventh day of Bella’s first week visiting Mr. Onijikan at his house. He smiled as he fastened his belt, his dark eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and satisfaction.“Bella,” he said, his voice low and deliberate, “you’ve been so sweet. I truly enjoyed your company. I hope you enjoyed yourself too.”“Yes…” Bella whispered, though a pang of pain shot through her. Deep inside, she knew he had been rougher than she expected—pounding her with a force that left her both shocked and strangely shaken. She had never imagined a man could be so intense.He leaned back, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “It’s already been a week. Tell me honestly—do you want to continue this… arrangement? Or shall I give you what you asked for and we go our separate ways?”Bella’s chest tightened. She looked at him, her heart a swirl of hurt and curiosity. “Why… why have you been so hard on me? Are you trying to push me away?”He chuckled, a low, dangerous laugh that sent shivers down her spine.

  • Double cross   Chapter 23: A goat will always be a goat

    Mr. Ajayi woke up unusually early that morning.For a few quiet seconds, he simply lay there, staring at his wife as she slept beside him. The morning light rested gently on her face, softening her features. She looked peaceful… younger… almost fragile.He smiled to himself.Why didn’t I see this beautiful woman all these years? he wondered. Why did I treat her so badly?A wave of regret washed over him.At least it hasn’t gotten worse than it already did, he thought. It’s not easy for her to forgive me. I know that.He slipped quietly out of bed.Let me make breakfast for my wife.The thought alone made him grin.In the kitchen, he moved with surprising excitement. Oil sizzled in the frying pan. He sliced plantains carefully and dropped them into hot oil. The aroma of dodo filled the house. He whisked eggs, humming softly to himself, even dancing a little as he cooked.Anyone watching would have wondered if this calm, cheerful man had ever existed inside Mr. Ajayi.Upstairs, Mrs. Aja

  • Double cross   Chapter 22: A love too perfect

    Mariam had never known happiness like this.Since the holidays began, Samuel’s visits had filled her days with warmth, laughter, and a kind of love she once only imagined in movies. Every memory they created felt like something sacred—something she wanted to bottle up and keep forever.That Friday morning, she woke up with unusual excitement. Samuel was coming over.She cleaned the house again, even though it was already spotless. She dusted the shelves, rearranged the cushions, mopped the floor twice, and sprayed her favorite air freshener until the room smelled sweet and inviting. She wanted everything to be perfect.So perfect that she completely forgot it was Friday.The weekend.The weekend she had promised her parents she would always come home.Her phone rang.She froze.“Mummy” flashed across the screen.She inhaled and answered.“Hi, my daughter.”“Hi, Mummy,” she replied, forcing cheerfulness into her voice.“We are expecting you today. It’s already the weekend.”Her heart s

  • Double cross   Chapter 21: The corridor no one walked through

    Moturanyo arrived at Mrs. Ajayi’s gate without warning, knocking hard—too hard for a friendly visit.Inside the house, Gbemisola Ajayi cursed under her breath as she rushed out.“Ah ah, that useless man has come back again. Na wa.”She flung the gate open.And froze.Moturanyo stood there, eyes unreadable.For a second, relief flashed across Gbemisola’s face.“Ah! Moturanyo? You remembered me today? I thought you had left the country.”Moturanyo smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.“You have mouth to talk. After our last visit, you disappeared. No call. No message. But once it’s gist or trouble, you remember me.”“Ahn ahn, my friend, don’t start,” Gbemisola said quickly. “Life has just been—”“Busy,” Moturanyo finished. “Life is always busy when you don’t need someone.”She glanced past the gate.“That your wicked husband—he’s not around, right? Because I didn’t come here to add beating to my problem.”Gbemisola forced a laugh.“He’s not around. He went out. Come in.”Moturanyo hesit

  • Double cross   Chapter 17: The Shape Of A Secret

    Sunday finally came.Mariam felt happy and sad at the same time, emotions tangled so tightly she couldn’t separate them. Happy—because she was finally leaving this house. Sad—because of everything she was leaving behind.I rejected Samuel’s kiss because of Bella, she thought bitterly. Why am I even

  • Double cross   Chapter 16: When Desire Crossed The Line

    It was already past 4:00 p.m. when Bella called Samuel.He answered almost immediately.“Hi, Bella,” he said. “Hope you’re getting ready. Are you coming?”“That’s exactly why I called,” Bella replied. “I wanted to ask—won’t you pick us up?”“Oh, I will,” Samuel said calmly. “I’ll come by 7:00 p.m.

  • Double cross   Chapter 15: Scars We Don’t Talk About

    Saturday MorningSaturday morning arrived bright and unapologetic. Sunlight poured through Bella’s window, landing directly on her face, as if the sun itself had leaned close to whisper, Wake up. It’s time.From somewhere in the house came the familiar, comforting aroma of beans and fried plantain—

  • Double cross   Chapter 13: Shadows in the Classroom

    The classroom was tense the moment Mr. Smith stepped in. He carried the exam papers like a weapon, his eyes scanning the room with the cold precision of a hunter.“Pass the papers quickly. First row, to the second. Move,” he barked. “And you,” he snapped at the boy near the window, “keep looking ou

더보기
좋은 소설을 무료로 찾아 읽어보세요
GoodNovel 앱에서 수많은 인기 소설을 무료로 즐기세요! 마음에 드는 작품을 다운로드하고, 언제 어디서나 편하게 읽을 수 있습니다
앱에서 작품을 무료로 읽어보세요
앱에서 읽으려면 QR 코드를 스캔하세요.
DMCA.com Protection Status