The dinner trap

Jalen’s POV

I knew Marian was planning something the moment she started humming in the kitchen this afternoon.

She never hummed; maybe I can’t remember the last time I was home with her all day to hear her hum once.

She only did that when she received her paycheck and had planned how to squander it on a spree.

I stood by the living room window, staring at the empty driveway, hands tucked into my pockets, trying to quiet the dread crawling up my spine.

“Jalen,” she called sweetly.

Too sweet for me to wonder what she was up against this time.

I turned slowly. “Yes?”

She leaned against the counter with her phone in her hand, smiling like a woman who had just received wonderful news. “I just spoke with Fiona’s parents.”

My heart stopped.

“What? For what?” I asked, my stomach clenched.

“They’re coming for dinner tonight.”

My jaw tightened. “You did what?”

She shrugged casually. “Invited them over. It’s been a while since we've all had a proper family dinner with friends. Don’t you think?”

My pulse began to pound in my ears. I walked toward her slowly, every step heavy. “Marian, please cancel it, we had an agreement.”

She laughed. Actually laughed. “Why would I do that?”

“Because this is a bad idea.”

“For who?” she asked, her eyes narrowing in amusement. “Relax okay, I’m not gonna do anything stupid, just thought to have fun with them again after a very long time,”

My mind raced through different thoughts. I could see the hidden trap behind her words, I could barely trust her assurance.

I swallowed hard. “Marian, don’t do this.”

“Oh, I already did,” she replied. “They sounded excited. They’ll be here by seven so get ready and dress your best, I want my husband looking the yummiest.” she teased.

My hands curled into fists. “You’re trying to start something, I can feel it, Marian."

“No…pe,” she said softly, popping her last words. “I’m trying to have fun.”

The way she said it made my stomach twist.

I grabbed my phone immediately and dialed Fiona’s number but it was switched off.

I tried again.

Still off.

I knew she had gone home after exams, and she was still hurting. I knew she wouldn’t suspect anything like this.

And Marian knew that too.

That was the problem.

By 6:45 p.m., the house looked like a picture out of a lifestyle magazine. The dining table was dressed in white and gold. Candles. Crystal glasses. Fine plates.

An open chef stage.

Marian wore a long red dress that hugged her body like a warning sign. She looked stunning in a way I've never seen before.

Dangerously beautiful.

She walked past me with a satisfied smile. “Try to behave tonight, Jalen.”

I didn’t answer.

The doorbell rang at exactly seven.

My chest tightened.

I walked to the door slowly, like a man walking to his own execution.

When I opened it, Fiona stood there between her parents.

Her eyes met mine, lingered softly before she looked away.

And in that split second, I saw the pain she silently carried, it broke me.

“Heyy buddy, been a while. What a pleasant evening it is.” her father said politely, meeting me halfway for a nudge before hugging me.

“Hey,” I replied, forcing a smile.

Her mother hugged Marian warmly as they stepped inside. Fiona walked in last, quietly, her eyes never leaving my face for more than another second.

I wanted to tell her to leave.

I wanted to scream it.

But Marian was watching me from the dining room.

Watching every breath I took.

We sat at the table.

Fiona sat across from me.

Her parents sat beside her.

Marian sat at the head like a queen hosting her court.

At first, the conversation was normal. Forced, but normal.

Harry kept talking about work, and his wife talked about how happy she was that Fiona came home early just in time to continue the chores in the house.

Marian laughed. Asked questions. Filled the air with politeness and charm.

Too much charm, it felt so fake, soon the chefs started to serve us different dishes and drinks until the table was full and could barely hold another plate.

Fiona barely touched her food.

I could feel her gaze lifting to me and dropping again quickly.

Neither of us dared to speak.

The tension between us was silent but loud enough to choke me.

And Marian?

She was enjoying it.

She didn’t look at us once.

She didn’t need to.

She knew exactly what was happening and I was dying inside me.

Halfway through the meal, Marian gently tapped her fork against her glass.

Clink, clink.

The sound sliced through my lungs and I knew she was about to start trouble, I knew she was about to create chaos. I just didn’t know how to stop it. I tightened my grip around my cutlery, hoping she would keep her promise and not do something stupid.

Everyone looked at her.

She stood up slowly, lifting her glass of wine with a smile that did not reach her eyes, her second hand swiftly shoveling the long slit of her dress to the back elegantly.

“I want to make a toast,” she said warmly and Harry smiled.

Marian turned to me with an expression of fake affection. “To my dear husband… for unconditionally loving me so well, and taking very good care of me.”

Everyone turned to me and clapped except Fiona, whose eyes remained glued to the food she never touched. I sighed heavily and forced a smile back.

I didn’t move.

She turned her gaze slowly toward Fiona.

And smiled.

Then she laughed.

A soft, wicked laugh that made the hairs on my neck rise.

“I also want to thank him for taking very good care of your daughter too, especially when she was in school. Isn’t he just a good and trustworthy friend right Mr Harry?” she asked, her eyes still glued to Fiona.

“Hmmm, I agree. Jalen is a principled man, which is why we are still good friends till today,” he answered with a bright smile on his face. My heart shattered.

“Well, my husband is so principled and caring to the point of satisfying your daughter’s teenage sexual urges,” Marian concluded her words with a dark laugh.

Then, everywhere went silent and heavy. Fiona finally raised her head, her eyes filled with confusion. She froze.

Her mother blinked. “I’m sorry… what?”

Marian lowered her glass calmly and sat back in her chair like someone who had just dropped a bomb and wanted to admire the explosion.

“I believe that was too much to process, so I'm gonna repeat myself. Your daughter and my husband have been having an affair,” she said casually.

The world stopped.

Fiona’s fork fell from her hand.

Her mother gasped softly.

Harry’s chair scraped violently against the floor as he stood up.

“What did you just say?” he growled.

Fiona burst into tears instantly. “Dad, I—”

“SHUT UP!” he roared.

I stood up too. “Harry, please—”

He turned to me with eyes filled with fury I had never seen before. “You?”

I had no words.

None.

Marian leaned back comfortably, watching everything unfold like it was her favorite show.

“I have proof,” she added calmly. “Messages. Private meetings. Even witnesses at school. What’s his name again? Hum jude?”

Fiona covered her mouth, staring at Marian like she didn’t recognize her.

“No… no, Fiona, tell me this isn’t true," Mrs Harry whispered.

Fiona sobbed harder. “Mum, please…”

Her father pointed at me. “You are a disgrace to friendship.”

I felt every word hit like a slap.

“You were like family, I took you like a brother, entrusted my daughter to you and you’ve been fucking my daughter!”

“I know, and I feel terrible for this,” I said quietly.

“Know? You KNOW?” he thundered.

Marian chuckled softly under her breath.

That sound broke me.

“You planned this,” I snapped at her.

She smiled. “I simply told the truth.”

Fiona was shaking violently now, tears pouring down her face.

Her mother wouldn’t even look at her.

Her father turned to her with disgust. “Is this why that nonsense photo went around? Because you live this kind of life?”

Fiona cried harder. “Photo? How?... It wasn’t real, Dad! That photo wasn’t—”

“ENOUGH!” he yelled.

I stepped forward. “Harry, please, this is not how it seems.”

“Oh, I know exactly how it seems!” he snapped. “You seduced a child!”

His word cut through me

Child.

Fiona covered her face, sobbing uncontrollably into her palms.

I looked at Fiona.

She looked broken, destroyed, and I knew this was exactly what Marian wanted.

To ruin her completely, and drag me through it, and she had succeeded.

Marian stood up slowly. “I think dinner is over.”