MasukThe morning came slowly, shining through the curtains and lighting up Cassandra’s face. She had been awake all night, turning from one side of the bed to the other. Her eyes were red, and her lips dry. Nathaniel had not come home, and the silence in the mansion made her go crazy. When she finally got up, she went straight to the dining table. Her face looked tired, but her anger was written all over it. “Where is my coffee?” she asked coldly. The maids who were standing around looked at one another. One of them, a small girl named Rose, came forward quickly. “I’m sorry ma’am, I’ll bring it now.” Cassandra glared at her. “You should have done that long ago! You people are becoming lazy these days.” Rose ran to the kitchen, her hands shaking. The other maids kept their heads down, afraid to breathe too loud. They all knew when Cassandra was in a bad mood, and this morning looked worse than usual. Cassandra sat still, tapping her fingers on the table. Her chest was he
Cassandra woke up very late that morning. Her head was heavy, and her eyes were swollen from crying all night. She sat up slowly, holding her pillow close to her chest. The house was quiet, too quiet for her liking. She walked to the mirror and sighed. “You look like a mess,” she whispered to herself, trying to smile. But the smile didn’t last. Her thoughts were everywhere. For days now, Nathaniel had been acting distant. He barely talked to her anymore. Even when he was home, he stayed in his study most of the time. The love and attention she used to get from him had slowly turned into silence. She blamed herself. She knew she had been moody and distracted lately, thinking too much about Marcus and all the mistakes she had made. But Nathaniel didn’t know that — and she didn’t want him to. Cassandra dressed up neatly and went downstairs. The maids greeted her, but she barely answered. She sat at the dining table, staring at her untouched food. After a few minutes, Nathaniel
Cassandra woke up feeling a little lighter that morning. For the first time in weeks, she smiled to herself. She sat up on the bed and touched the drawer where she hid Marcus’s letter. It still felt unreal that he was alive. She took the letter out again and read it for the tenth time. “Cassie, I’m sorry for everything. I’ll come back for you when the time is right. Please don’t give up on me. I love you.” Her eyes softened. “I knew you’d never leave me, Marcus,” she whispered with a weak smile. Nathaniel had already gone to work. The house felt peaceful, and that gave her the space she needed to think. She quickly dressed up, applied light makeup, and carried her purse. She had to tell someone — she had to tell Vanessa. ---Vanessa was sitting in a quiet corner of a small café when Cassandra arrived. She was sipping iced coffee, scrolling through her phone. When she looked up and saw Cassandra, she raised her brow. “Wow, look who finally remembered I exist,” Vanessa said
Cassandra couldn’t sleep that night. She kept turning on the big bed, her eyes wide open as she stared at the ceiling. Nathaniel was fast asleep beside her, his soft breathing filling the quiet room. But her mind was noisy, full of Marcus. Every time she closed her eyes, his face came back. His smile, his voice, his promises. “I love you, Cassie… trust me,” she remembered him saying. But those words now felt empty. The man she loved, the man she gave money to — forty million naira — had run away without a trace. She sat up slowly and looked at Nathaniel. He was sleeping peacefully. For a second, she wished she could feel something real for him, but she couldn’t. She sighed and stood up, walking to the window. The city lights glowed far away. Her reflection looked tired and broken. “Why did you do this, Marcus?” she whispered. “Why did you leave me like a fool?” Her phone was on the table beside the bed. She picked it up again, hoping for a missed call, a message — anything. Bu
Nathaniel sat in his home office, typing something on his laptop. The afternoon sun came through the window, lighting up the big room. Everything was quiet except for the soft sound of the air conditioner. For the past few days, Cassandra had been acting different. She smiled too much, laughed too loud, and suddenly wanted to spend time with him every night. It was strange. Nathaniel loved peace, but he also loved the truth. He could always tell when something was off. He leaned back on his chair and stared at the door, thinking. Two weeks ago, Cassandra had cried over the missing forty million naira. She said she used it for shopping, but nothing new showed up in the house. Then suddenly, she started behaving like everything was perfect. It didn’t sit right with him. Just then, a soft knock came at the door. “Come in,” Nathaniel said. Cassandra walked in, smiling sweetly. She looked stunning in a simple white gown, her hair neatly brushed, her perfume filling the room.
Cassandra sat in her room, staring blankly at the glass of water on her dressing table. The room was filled with silence, except for the ticking clock on the wall. Her hair was scattered, her face pale, and her hands trembled slightly as she held her phone. It had been two days since Vanessa showed her that Instagram post — the one that broke her heart completely. Marcus had betrayed her. The man she trusted, the man she gave everything to, had been enjoying himself with another woman while she was losing her mind over him. She had cried until there were no more tears left to cry. The money — forty million naira — was gone. But even worse, her dignity was gone too. A soft knock came at her door. “Cassie, can I come in?” Vanessa’s voice was calm, gentle. Cassandra didn’t move. “It’s open,” she said quietly. Vanessa walked in, wearing a cream jumpsuit and a serious look. She closed the door behind her and came closer, stopping beside Cassandra. “You haven’t eaten anything







