4.

"Who could that woman be? She doesn’t look familiar to me. This is the first time I’ve seen her here,"

said a woman whom she passed by.

"I think I saw her here before. She was applying for a job here,"

another one said.

"Oh, I remember her now. But what is she doing here? She wasn’t hired by CD Inc."

"Uhmmm! She’s heading toward Sir Winson’s office. Oh no, we’re in trouble if we don’t stop her! Sir Winson’s mother is currently in his office—they’re having a conversation right now!"

Panicking, they all hurried to stop the woman who was trying to enter their boss’s office.

"Wait, MISS! Hold on, where are you going? Do you have a scheduled meeting with our boss?"

"Oh! I didn’t come here to see your boss. I wanted to surprise my husband by coming here without him knowing,"

Lorain replied.

"Your husband?

Who is your husband, ma’am?

What’s his name? Maybe we can help you find him,"

another woman asked her rapidly.

Lorain was about to respond when someone behind them suddenly spoke.

"HEY! Lorain?"

Rica asked in surprise. She didn’t expect her best friend to show up at her workplace.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

"Well, I wanted to surprise my husband, Rica."

"Does your husband work here?" Rica asked in shock.

Lorain had never introduced her husband to Rica because ever since she got married, she and her best friend never got the chance to meet him. Rica had no idea who Lorain’s husband was.

"What’s your husband’s name again?

I forgot—it’s been so long since you two got married and I’ve never met him."

"It’s Inson… I mean Winson. The name I told you before was just his nickname. His real name is Winson Durumio,"

Lorain replied with a smile.

"WHAT?! Your husband’s name is Winson Durumio?!"

Rica shouted, catching everyone’s attention.

"Keep your voice down, that’s embarrassing!"

"No way?! Is it true, Winson is your husband?" she asked again, still in disbelief.

"Ahh! Okay, I’ll look up that name. But for now, you should go home, Lorain. I’ll let you know right away once I find your husband."

(Meanwhile, the gossip spreads...)

"What is she saying?! How could Sir Winson’s wife be here? His family is in Florida right now!

Oh my, that woman must be crazy—just saying nonsense,"

said one of the women.

Not far away, one of Winson’s mother’s staff overheard everything they were saying. She immediately reported it to Winson’s mother.

"What do you mean he has a wife here?"

"It’s true, ma’am. Sir Winson is living with another woman. They even have a daughter together."

"This can’t be happening!

Let their neighborhood know that she is not legally married to Winson!"

Winson’s mother ordered, and her staff immediately complied.

(While Rica was walking, she couldn’t stop thinking...)

"But how could that be? If she’s really Sir’s wife, why wasn’t she even allowed in his own office?

What secret is Winson hiding?

What about us?

What will happen to my friend once she finds out I’m her husband’s mistress?"

These were the questions swirling in Rica’s mind as she walked toward Winson’s office. As she thought about it more, she started considering breaking things off with the man—she didn’t want to betray her friend.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

on Winson’s office door.

"Come in!"

"Sir, can we talk for a moment?"

Before she could even finish the sentence, Winson kissed her on the lips.

"Winson, stop it. Let’s end whatever we’re doing,"

Rica said, pulling away from his kiss. Despite feeling torn inside, she couldn’t bring herself to hurt her friend.

"WHY? What’s the problem, Rica? Don’t you love me anymore? You don’t like what we’re doing? Are you getting tired of me?"

Winson asked, questions Rica didn’t want to hear.

What she longed to hear was "I love you," but those words never came from Winson’s mouth.

"HEY, RICA! What’s the problem?"

he snapped her out of her thoughts.

"I need to know so I can understand why you’re pushing me away!"

he added, clearly upset.

Rica burst into tears and asked:

"What am I to you? Did you ever love me, even just a little?"

"Of course! Would I do this with you if I didn’t love you?

Stop overthinking things!

Just love me, Rica, and I will love you too,"

he replied sarcastically.

"What about your wife?"

she quickly asked.

Winson looked directly at her.

"What do you mean? How did you find out about that?"

Rica didn’t answer. Instead, she asked another question:

"CAN YOU LEAVE YOUR WIFE? Will you choose me over her?"

Winson was silent for a moment before finally answering:

"Yes, I can leave them. I’ll marry you, Rica, so you don’t have to worry anymore."

Because of what Winson said, Rica threw her arms around him tightly, forgetting all about her best friend—the very woman she was helping to betray.