0:01 I was flat on my stomach under the
0:04 king-size bed, holding my breath like a
0:06 foolish teenager. My suit jacket was
0:08 still on. My bow tie was loose. My
0:10 cheeks were hot from all the dancing and
0:12 the flashing cameras and the loud cheers
0:14 at the wedding hall. But none of that
0:17 mattered anymore because the hotel room
0:19 door just opened. And the footsteps that
0:21 entered were not my wife's. They were
0:24 slow, careful, confident. A woman's
0:27 heels clicked on the shiny floor. Then
0:29 the door locked from the inside. I
0:30 blinked fast in the darkness under the
0:33 bed, confused. Emerald was meant to come
0:36 in first. She was meant to scream when
0:39 she saw me jump out. We would laugh. We
0:41 would finally be alone. That was the
0:43 prank. But the voice that spoke next
0:45 made my stomach twist. Emerald, the
0:48 woman said softly. Come and sit. We must
0:51 talk now. It was her mother, Mrs.
0:53 Genevie Hawthorne. And the worst part?
0:55 Emerald answered from inside the room
0:57 like she had been waiting for her.
0:59 Mommy, you came. I thought you would be
1:01 with my siblings. I left them. Her
1:04 mother replied. This is more important.
1:07 I pressed my palm to the carpet. My
1:09 heart began to pound so loud I was sure
1:11 they would hear it. I wanted to slide
1:13 out and say, "Good evening, Ma. You
1:16 scared me." But something about her
1:18 mother's tone froze me. Then Mrs.
1:19 Hawthorne said the words that broke me
1:23 into pieces. Remember, she whispered,
1:26 "This man is not your husband. He is
1:30 your ladder and we must not waste time.
1:33 If we do this well, you will not just
1:36 become rich. You will own everything he
1:40 has. Uh my mouth fell open. Emerald gave
1:42 a small laugh, the kind that sounded
1:44 like she was joking, but she was not.
1:48 Mommy, I know. No. Her mother snapped,
1:51 still keeping her voice low. You think
1:53 you know, but you are too soft. You
1:56 smiled too much today. You looked at him
1:58 like you were in love. There was a
2:01 pause. Then Emerald spoke again, slower
2:04 this time. I was acting good, her mother
2:07 said. Because acting is how we survive.
2:10 Your father's death finished us. Your
2:13 siblings are hungry. The world is hard.
2:16 And this billionaire Nathaniel Sterling,
2:17 he is the answer [clears throat] God has
2:20 sent. Nathaniel Sterling. That was me. I
2:23 felt my ears ring. I had been a single
2:26 father for 15 long years. I had buried
2:28 my first wife and carried my grief like
2:31 a heavy bag on my back. I had raised my
2:33 two children with all my strength. And
2:36 now on the night I finally agreed to
2:38 love again. I was hearing my new wife's
2:41 mother call me a ladder under the bed.
2:43 My fingers started to shake. Mrs.
2:47 Hawthorne continued, "You will be smart.
2:49 You will be patient. You will make him
2:51 trust you. and you will do what we
2:53 discussed quietly. Emerald's voice
2:57 dropped to a whisper. Yes, quietly. My
2:59 chest tightened. I did not hear them
3:02 mention any weapon. I did not hear them
3:04 mention any details, but I understood
3:06 the meaning in that whisper. My throat
3:10 went dry. Mrs. Hawthorne sighed.
3:12 Nathaniel is not a fool. He has
3:17 security. He has staff. He has children.
3:20 His family will watch you. So we move
3:24 gently. We move slowly. We make him feel
3:27 safe. Emerald said he already feels
3:29 safe. That is why he married me. Then
3:32 her mother said the next sentence. And I
3:34 almost hit my head on the bed frame in
3:36 shock. And one more thing. Mrs.
3:38 Hawthorne added, "You must never let him
3:40 find out what really happened to his
3:43 first wife." End quote. Time stopped. My
3:46 heartbeat stopped. Even my breath
3:47 stopped. Emerald did not reply
3:49 immediately. And that silence was the
3:52 loudest sound in the room. I lay there
3:54 under the bed staring into darkness as
3:56 one thought slammed into my mind like a
3:59 door. What does she mean? What really
4:01 happened to my first wife? Hours
4:03 earlier, I would have told anyone that
4:05 Emerald was my fresh start and many
4:07 years of grief when I lost my wife. I
4:09 met her on an ordinary day in a
4:12 supermarket at a mall in Leki. I had
4:14 gone in to buy cereal, fruit juice, and
4:16 my daughter's favorite chocolate. I
4:18 didn't want any help from my driver that
4:21 day. I just wanted to walk like a normal
4:24 person. My children, Amelia and George,
4:27 were grown now. Amelia had finished university.
4:29 university.
4:30 George was doing his business training
4:33 abroad and visiting Lagos often. They
4:36 were adults. That was the promise I made
4:40 to myself 15 years ago. The day I
4:42 watched my wife fade away in a hospital
4:44 bed, I remembered her voice that day,
4:47 weak but clear. Nathaniel, she told me,
4:49 don't lock your heart forever. But I
4:52 did. I locked it. People tried to open
4:55 it. My mother, my friends, even my
4:57 business partners, Nathaniel,
4:58 [clears throat] they would say, "You are
5:01 still young. You are lonely. You need a
5:03 companion." I would smile and change the
5:06 topic. The truth was simple. My wife's
5:09 absence followed me everywhere in my
5:14 mansion, in my car, in my office, even
5:16 in my prayers. So when I reached the
5:18 cereal aisle that day in Leki and
5:20 someone bumped into my trolley, I was
5:22 ready to frown, but the voice I heard
5:25 was calm and sweet. I'm so sorry, sir.
5:28 Are you okay? I turned. Emerald, neat
5:30 hair, clear [clears throat] eyes, soft perfume,
5:32 perfume,
5:34 a simple dress that did not scream for
5:37 attention. She looked genuinely worried,
5:40 not fake. It's fine, I said. She bent
5:42 quickly to pick up what fell. Then she
5:45 smiled. "People rush too much," she said
5:48 gently. "Life is not a race. That
5:50 sentence stayed with me for days. We
5:52 spoke again at the checkout line. She
5:55 cracked a small joke. I laughed for the
5:58 first time in what felt like years. We
6:00 exchanged contact. After that, she did
6:03 not beg, she did not chase, she did not
6:06 shout. She just talked. Little messages,
6:09 simple calls, questions about my day,
6:11 kind words. My heart, which had been
6:14 sleeping for 15 years, started to wake
6:16 up. When I finally introduced her to my
6:18 children, Amelia studied her for a long
6:21 time. Later that night, Amelia told me,
6:25 "Dad, she is nice. Just don't rush. I
6:27 promised I would not, but life has a way
6:29 of pushing you." My family kept
6:32 pressuring me. If you wait too long, you
6:35 will never do it. My friend said, "A
6:37 good woman is hard to find." Emerald
6:39 looked at me one evening at a restaurant
6:42 in Ecoy and said, "Nathaniel,
6:44 you deserve peace." And my chest felt
6:47 warm. So, I asked her to marry me. I
6:49 went to see her family with gifts and
6:52 respect. I spoke well. I knelt. I did
6:54 everything properly. Her mother, Mrs.
6:56 Genevie Hawthorne, hugged me like I was
6:59 her own son. That hug now felt like a
7:02 lie. Our wedding was loud, beautiful,
7:03 and expensive. One of those Lagos
7:05 weddings that people would talk about
7:08 for months. After the celebration, we
7:09 lodged in one of the best hotels in
7:12 Victoria Garden City. And on our wedding
7:14 night, while Emerald thought I was still
7:16 outside with my friends, I hid under the
7:19 bed to prank her. Now I was under that
7:21 same bed listening to her mother say,
7:23 "You must never let him find out what
7:25 really happened to his first wife." My
7:27 fingers curled into the carpet. My eyes
7:30 burned. And in that moment, I realized
7:32 something terrifying. This was not just
7:35 about money. This was about my past. And
7:37 whatever secret Mrs. Hawthorne was
7:39 guarding, it was about to destroy
7:41 everything. Then Emerald finally spoke,
7:44 her voice almost shaking. Mommy, please
7:46 don't talk about that here. Mrs.
7:49 Hawthorne answered coldly. Why not? Your
7:51 husband is a widowerower because of it,
7:53 and that is why this plan will work. I
7:55 clamped my hand over my mouth to stop
7:58 myself from making a sound. Because if I
7:59 made one sound, just one, they would
8:01 know I was under the bed. And I was not
8:03 sure I would survive what I was about to
8:06 hear next. Under the bed. My body felt
8:07 stiff, like it [clears throat] no longer
8:10 belonged to me. Mrs. Hawthorne's words
8:12 kept turning in my head. Your husband is
8:14 a widowerower because of it. Because of
8:16 what? I had watched my first wife fade
8:19 slowly in a hospital room. I had signed
8:23 papers. I had cried until my chest hurt.
8:26 Doctors had spoken to me in calm voices.
8:29 Cancer, late detection,
8:32 no miracle. So, what was this woman
8:34 talking about? Emerald shifted on the
8:36 bed. I could see her feet from where I
8:39 lay. Her toes curled slightly, the way
8:41 people do when they are nervous. Mommy,
8:44 she said again. This is not the time.
8:47 Mrs. Hawthorne scoffed softly. If not
8:51 now, when? Tonight is the most important
8:54 night of your life. You are now Mrs.
8:56 Sterling. Everything changes from here.
8:58 There was the sound of a handbag
9:00 opening. Something metallic clicked
9:03 inside. My breath caught. Emerald
9:05 lowered her voice. You didn't bring it,
9:07 did you? Of course I did, her mother
9:11 replied calmly. But relax. Not today. I
9:14 am not foolish. We start gently. Small
9:16 steps. Small steps. The room felt
9:19 suddenly too small. The air felt heavy.
9:22 Mrs. Hawthorne continued, "You will be
9:27 loving, caring. You will cook for him.
9:29 You will watch what he eats. You will
9:32 learn his habits." Emerald nodded, even
9:34 though her mother could not see it
9:37 clearly. "I already know some of them."
9:40 "Good, very good," her mother said. Men
9:41 like him relax when they feel
9:44 understood, when they feel safe. And
9:46 when they relax, they don't notice
9:50 changes. I squeezed my eyes shut. This
9:52 was not a misunderstanding. This was not
9:55 gossip. This was a plan, a slow one, a
9:58 careful one. Mrs. Hawthorne added,
10:01 "Remember what we discussed. No rush, no
10:03 mistakes. We cannot afford attention.
10:06 Not from doctors, not from staff, not
10:09 from his children. my children. Amelia's
10:12 warning echoed in my mind. Dad, don't
10:14 rush. My heart twisted with guilt.
10:17 Emerald swallowed. And if he suspects,
10:21 her mother's answer was sharp. He won't
10:23 because he is lonely. And lonely people
10:26 believe kindness easily. I felt that
10:28 sentence cut into me. For a moment,
10:30 neither of them spoke. Then Emerald
10:32 asked a question that made my blood run
10:35 cold. Mommy, what if he talks about his
10:37 first wife again? What if he asks
10:39 questions? Mrs. Hawthorne laughed
10:42 quietly. Then you listen. You cry if you
10:45 must. You tell him how sad it is. And
10:47 you remember his first wife's story is
10:49 the reason nobody will suspect anything
10:52 if his health changes later. My hands
10:55 trembled. Later health changes. I could
10:57 no longer lie flat. I slowly turned my
11:00 face to the side, pressing my cheek into
11:02 the carpet to stop myself from making
11:04 noise. Mrs. Hawthorne stood up. Her
11:07 heels clicked again. "I should go now,"
11:10 she said. "People will notice if I stay
11:12 too long," she paused. And Emerald,
11:15 "Yes, Mommy. Do not fall in love. Love
11:17 makes people careless." There was a long
11:19 silence. Then Emerald answered very
11:23 softly. "I won't." The room door opened.
11:26 Closed, locked again. Silence fell like
11:29 a heavy blanket. I stayed under the bed,
11:31 not moving, not breathing properly.
11:33 Minutes passed. Then Emerald sighed
11:36 deeply and sat on the edge of the bed.
11:38 Her hands rested on her lap. She looked
11:41 tired, conflicted. For one foolish
11:43 second, my heart wanted to believe she
11:45 was pretending for her mother. That
11:48 maybe she was trapped, that maybe she
11:50 would choose me. Then she spoke quietly
11:53 to herself. I have to do this. My hope
11:56 shattered. She stood and walked toward
11:58 the mirror. I watched her feet move back
12:01 and forth. She practiced a smile, a
12:03 gentle one, the same smile she used at
12:06 the mall. The same smile she used at the
12:08 altar. Then she checked her phone and
12:11 muttered. He should be back soon. That
12:13 was my cue. I slowly pushed myself
12:15 backward under the bed, careful not to
12:18 touch anything. My chest burned. My mind
12:22 raced. I needed time. I needed proof. I
12:24 needed to protect my children. I waited
12:26 until she stepped into the bathroom. The
12:28 sound of running water filled the room.
12:31 I slid out quietly, grabbed my shoes,
12:33 and slipped into the wardrobe area,
12:35 pressing myself behind the hanging
12:38 clothes. Moments later, Emerald came out
12:40 wrapped in a silk robe. She looked
12:43 around, Nathaniel, she called sweetly.
12:45 "Are you back?" "I did not answer." She
12:48 smiled, thinking I was teasing. "I know
12:49 you're hiding somewhere," she said
12:53 playfully. "Come out." My jaw clenched.
12:54 She walked toward the bed, bent
12:57 slightly, and looked underneath. My
12:59 heart stopped, but I was no longer
13:01 there. She frowned. Then her phone
13:03 buzzed in her hand. She glanced at the
13:06 screen and her face changed. Not fear,
13:09 not joy, relief. She typed quickly and
13:12 whispered, "He's not here yet." Under
13:14 the clothes in the wardrobe, I felt
13:16 something hard press into my back. My
13:19 phone. It vibrated once. A message
13:21 popped up on the screen. You know, number
13:22 number
13:25 first dose must look natural. My vision
13:27 blurred because I suddenly realized two
13:30 things at the same time. One, this plan
13:32 had already started. And two, I had just
13:34 stepped into a danger I might not
13:36 escape. I stayed silent, hidden, as
13:38 Emerald turned off the lights and
13:40 climbed into bed, still smiling. And in
13:43 the darkness, I knew the night was far
13:46 from over. My phone screen went dark.
13:48 The bathroom door was still closed. The
13:51 sound of water filled the room again.
13:53 This was my chance. If I stayed hidden
13:55 any longer, I would lose my mind. So, I
13:57 did the one thing I had planned to do
13:59 from the beginning before fear took over
14:01 everything. I took a deep breath. Then,
14:04 I jumped out. Surprise! My voice
14:06 exploded through the room. Emerald
14:08 screamed. She spun around so fast she
14:11 almost slipped, clutching her robe to
14:13 her chest. "Nathaniel," she cried.
14:15 "Jesus, where did you come from?" I
14:18 laughed loudly, forcing the sound to
14:21 come out natural, light, careless. I've
14:24 been here, I said, spreading my arms. I
14:26 came in while you were bathing. I wanted
14:29 to scare you. Her face froze for half a
14:32 second. Just half. But I saw it. Her
14:34 eyes searched the room quickly. The bed,
14:37 the floor, the door. Then she forced a
14:39 laugh, placing a hand on her chest. You
14:42 nearly gave me a heart attack, she said.
14:44 This is not funny. I walked closer,
14:47 smiling, playing my role perfectly. You
14:50 should have seen your face, I teased. I
14:54 was hiding, waiting. My legs are even
14:57 hurting. Her smile widened, but it did
14:59 not reach her eyes. "Where were you
15:02 hiding?" she asked. I shrugged. "Behind
15:04 the curtain." I entered quietly when you
15:07 were bathing. I wanted to jump out. That
15:10 was a lie, but it was the safest one.
15:12 She studied me carefully, like she was
15:14 measuring something. Then she laughed
15:17 again, louder this time. "You are very
15:19 silly, Mr. Sterling." She stepped
15:21 forward and touched my arm. Her hand
15:24 felt warm. Too warm. Why are you fully
15:26 dressed? She asked. Didn't you say you
15:28 were still with your friends? I came
15:31 back early, I replied smoothly. I wanted
15:33 to surprise my wife. I leaned in and
15:35 kissed her forehead. Her body stiffened
15:38 for a brief moment before she relaxed.
15:41 Next time, she said softly. Don't scare
15:44 me like that. I smiled, but inside my
15:46 heart was beating like a drum because as
15:48 I held her, I could still hear her
15:50 mother's voice in my head. This man is
15:52 your ladder. We moved toward the bed
15:55 together. She sat. I sat beside her.
15:58 Silence stretched between us. She broke
16:01 it. My mother came by earlier, she said
16:03 casually like she was talking about the
16:06 weather. I kept my face calm. Oh, I
16:09 didn't see her. Yes, Emerald replied.
16:11 She just wanted to check on me. You know
16:15 how mothers are. I nodded slowly. Yes, I
16:18 know. She watched my face closely. I
16:21 smiled back. Neither of us blinked. Then
16:23 she stood up suddenly. Let me get you
16:27 water. No, I said gently. Too quickly,
16:30 she paused. I mean, I added softer.
16:32 Later. Let's just talk first, her lips
16:34 pressed together for a moment, then she
16:38 nodded. All right, she sat again. Are
16:40 you happy? She asked me. I looked at
16:43 her. The woman I married hours ago. The
16:45 woman who smiled at me in a supermarket.
16:47 The woman whose phone had just received
16:49 a message about a first dose. I am. I
16:53 answered slowly. Are you? She smiled. Of
16:56 course. Another lie. Then her phone
16:58 buzzed again on the bedside table. She
17:00 reached for it quickly, but I was
17:02 faster. I picked it up. Her eyes
17:05 widened. Nathaniel, it's okay, I said
17:08 calmly, glancing at the screen. A new
17:12 message. Unknown number. Be patient. Do
17:14 not rush him. I looked up at her. She
17:16 was staring at me now, frozen. The room
17:19 felt tight. Very tight. I handed the
17:21 phone back to her gently and smiled.
17:23 Someone seems eager to talk to you on
17:26 your wedding night, I said lightly. She
17:28 swallowed and forced a laugh. Just
17:32 family. I nodded. Of course, I said. We
17:34 lay back on the bed side by side staring
17:36 at the ceiling. Her hand slowly reached
17:39 for mine. I held it. But this time, my
17:42 grip was firm, controlled, because as I
17:45 lay there beside my new wife, one truth
17:47 became clear in my mind. The prank was
17:49 over. The game had changed, and I needed
17:52 to pretend just like her. Until I found
17:53 out what really happened to my first
17:56 wife, and who exactly Emerald Hawthorne
17:59 truly was. I closed my eyes, but sleep
18:01 did not come because I knew this
18:03 marriage had just turned into a quiet
18:06 war. I did not sleep that night. Even
18:08 when Emerald's breathing became slow and
18:11 steady beside me, my eyes stayed open,
18:13 fixed on the ceiling of the hotel room.
18:15 Every small movement made my heart jump.
18:17 Every sound felt louder than it should
18:21 be. At exactly 6:15 a.m., I gently
18:24 removed my hand from hers and sat up.
18:27 Emerald stirred. "Nathaniel," she
18:30 murmured half asleep. "I'm here," I said
18:33 softly. "Go back to sleep." She opened
18:35 one eye and smiled. "Good morning, my
18:37 husband." That word husband felt heavy
18:40 in my chest. "Good morning, my wife," I
18:42 replied. A few hours later, we checked
18:45 out of the hotel. The staff smiled at
18:48 us. They congratulated us again. They
18:50 wished us a happy married life. I smiled
18:54 back. I thanked them, but inside I felt
18:56 like a stranger walking through my own
18:58 life. The drive from Victoria Garden
19:01 City to Ecoy was quiet. Emerald sat
19:03 beside me in the backseat of the car,
19:06 her head resting lightly on my shoulder.
19:08 My driver focused on the road ahead.
19:11 Lagos moved around us. Cars, people,
19:14 shops opening, life going on as usual,
19:17 but for me, everything had changed.
19:19 You're very quiet today, Emerald said
19:22 gently. I'm just tired, I answered. The
19:25 wedding was a lot, she nodded. Yes, it
19:28 was beautiful though. I said nothing.
19:29 When we finally arrived at my house in
19:33 Ecoy, the large gates opened slowly. The
19:35 mansion stood tall and calm, just like
19:38 it always had. But that morning, it did
19:40 not feel like home. Emerald's eyes
19:42 widened slightly as she looked around. I
19:44 still can't believe this is where I'll
19:46 be living now, she said with a soft
19:48 laugh. I stepped out of the car and
19:50 offered her my hand. Welcome home, I
19:53 said. The house staff lined up neatly.
19:56 Welcome, madam. They said together.
19:59 Emerald smiled brightly, waving, "Thank
20:02 you. Please don't be formal with me."
20:04 They looked at me, "Waiting. Do as she
20:07 says." I told them. Inside, the house
20:10 was quiet, too quiet. My children were
20:12 not around. Amelia had traveled back to
20:15 Abuja the day after the wedding. George
20:17 was still abroad. That emptiness made
20:19 everything worse. Emerald walked around
20:22 slowly, touching things, observing.
20:25 "This house feels full of memories," she
20:28 said. It feels heavy. I looked at her
20:31 sharply. What do you mean? She smiled
20:34 quickly. Not in a bad way, just
20:36 meaningful. We went upstairs to the
20:38 master bedroom. She placed her bags on
20:41 the bed and sighed happily. I can't wait
20:44 to start our life properly, she said.
20:47 Cooking for you. Making this place warm.
20:50 My chest tightened again. Cooking food.
20:52 I forced a smile. You don't have to
20:56 rush. She laughed lightly. I want to. I
20:58 like taking care of people. I watched
21:01 her closely. Her movements were calm,
21:04 natural, almost too perfect. Later that
21:06 evening, Emerald insisted on making
21:08 dinner herself. The staff tried to help,
21:11 but she waved them away. I want to do
21:14 this alone, she said cheerfully. It's my
21:16 first meal as a married woman. I sat in
21:18 the dining room pretending to check
21:21 emails on my tablet, but my eyes kept
21:23 drifting to the kitchen. The sound of
21:25 pots, the smell of food. Every sense in
21:28 my body was alert. She walked in
21:30 eventually, carrying two plates. "Dinner
21:33 is ready," she said proudly. She placed
21:35 one plate in front of me. "Rice, grilled
21:38 chicken, light sauce, my favorite meal."
21:40 My heart skipped. "How did you know this
21:43 is my favorite?" I asked. She smiled
21:46 sweetly. "You mentioned it once." I
21:49 picked up my fork, then paused. Emerald
21:52 noticed. "Is something wrong?" No, I
21:55 said quickly, just thinking. I took a
21:58 small bite. She watched me closely. Too
22:00 closely. After a moment, she relaxed and
22:03 began to eat too. Nothing happened. No
22:06 strange taste, no discomfort, but the
22:08 fear did not leave me. That night, as we
22:10 prepared for bed, Emerald wrapped her
22:13 arms around me. "I'm happy, Nathaniel,"
22:15 she whispered. I held her. "I hope we
22:17 will always be honest with each other,"
22:20 I said quietly. She pulled back slightly
22:23 and looked at me. "Of course," she said.
22:25 "Why wouldn't we be?" I nodded. But deep
22:28 inside, one question burned in my mind.
22:31 If she could lie so easily. How long had
22:34 she been lying already? As we turned off
22:36 the lights, her phone buzzed softly on
22:38 the bedside table. She reached for it
22:40 quickly, then stopped when she realized
22:43 I was watching. She smiled. Just family
22:46 again. I said nothing. She turned her
22:49 back to me and pretended to sleep. I lay
22:51 there staring into the darkness of my
22:53 Ecoy bedroom. And for the first time in
22:56 15 years, I felt unsafe in my own house
22:58 because I knew this truth now. Whatever
23:01 Emerald and her family were planning, it
23:02 had followed me home and it was only
23:06 just beginning. Ecoy. Too quietly, I
23:10 woke up before Emerald. I lay still,
23:14 listening to her breathing. Slow, even
23:16 peaceful. She looked innocent when she
23:19 slept. That was the hardest part. I
23:21 slipped out of bed gently and walked
23:23 into the bathroom. I splashed water on
23:26 my face and stared at my reflection. The
23:28 man staring back at me looked older than
23:30 his years. "Think," I whispered to
23:33 myself. "Think," I dressed quickly and
23:35 went downstairs. The house staff greeted
23:38 me. I answered them politely like
23:40 nothing was wrong, "Sir," my housekeeper
23:42 said. Madam said she will prepare
23:45 breakfast. My chest tightened again.
23:48 That's fine, I replied calmly.
23:51 But make tea as well. I needed something
23:53 safe. I sat at the dining table
23:56 pretending to read the newspaper. My
23:58 eyes moved, but my mind did not. I kept
24:01 hearing Mrs. Hawthorne's voice. We start
24:03 gently. A few minutes later, Emerald
24:06 walked in, smiling brightly. Good
24:08 morning, she said cheerfully. I hope you
24:12 slept well. Yes, I lied.
24:15 you like a baby. She went into the
24:16 kitchen. I watched her back as she
24:20 walked away. Every step felt measured.
24:23 Careful. Soon she returned with
24:27 breakfast. Toast, eggs, juice. Simple,
24:29 safe, she placed the plate in front of
24:32 me and sat opposite. Eat, she said
24:34 warmly. You need strength. I picked up
24:37 the cup of juice. Then I remembered the
24:39 message. First dose must look natural.
24:42 My hand stopped midair. Emerald noticed.
24:44 You keep pausing when you eat, she said
24:47 lightly. Are you not hungry? I am, I
24:50 replied. Just distracted. I set the
24:52 juice down and picked up the toast
24:54 instead. She smiled again. After
24:57 breakfast, I stood up. I need to go to
24:59 the office just for a short time. Her
25:02 smile dropped for a second. So soon? She
25:04 asked. I thought we would spend a day
25:08 together. About we will? I assured her.
25:12 Later, she nodded. All right, I'll stay
25:14 home and rest. I leaned forward and
25:16 kissed her cheek. Her skin felt warm.
25:19 Too warm again. On my way out, I stopped
25:23 and turned back. Emerald, I said. Yes.
25:25 Did you ever meet my first wife? She
25:27 froze just for a moment. Then she shook
25:32 her head. No. Why? No reason, I said.
25:34 Just curious. She smiled, but her eyes
25:36 looked sharp now.
25:39 She must have been a wonderful woman.
25:41 She was, I replied. I walked out before
25:44 she could say more. At the office, I did
25:47 not work. I called my old family doctor.
25:50 Dr. Lewis. Doctor, I said, keeping my
25:52 voice low. I need you to review my late
25:54 wife's medical records. There was a
25:56 pause. That was a long time ago,
25:59 Nathaniel, he said gently. I know, I replied.
26:01 replied.
26:04 But please, another pause. I'll check
26:07 what I can find, he said. Why now?
26:09 because something doesn't feel right, I
26:11 answered. When I returned home that
26:13 evening, Emerald met me at the door.
26:16 You're back, she said happily. I missed
26:19 you. I smiled. She held my hand and led
26:21 me inside. Dinner that night was
26:23 prepared by the staff. I felt slightly
26:26 safer. After we ate, Emerald suggested
26:28 we sit in the living room. She curled
26:31 beside me on the couch. Nathaniel, she
26:34 said softly. You seem far away today.
26:36 I'm just adjusting, I replied. She
26:38 rested her head on my shoulder. "You can
26:41 trust me," she whispered. "I'm your wife
26:44 now." I said nothing. Her phone buzzed.
26:47 She tried to ignore it. It buzzed again.
26:50 She sighed. Excuse me. She stood up and
26:52 walked toward the hallway, answering the
26:55 call in a low voice. I stayed still.
26:57 Then I heard her say something that made
27:00 my heart race. "No, not yet. He's
27:02 careful." I stood up quietly and moved
27:05 closer. Her voice dropped even lower.
27:07 Yes, mommy, I understand. I felt my
27:10 stomach twist. She ended the call and
27:12 turned around and froze because I was
27:14 standing right there. [clears throat]
27:16 She forced a smile. "How long have you
27:19 been standing there?" "Long enough," I
27:21 replied calmly. Her eyes searched my
27:24 face. "Who are you talking to?" I asked.
27:27 "My mother," she answered quickly. "She
27:30 worries too much." I nodded slowly.
27:32 "About what?" I asked. She opened her
27:34 mouth, then closed it. And in that
27:37 silence, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I
27:40 looked at the screen. Dr. Lewis is
27:43 Nathaniel, we need to talk. There are
27:44 things in your late wife's records that
27:47 do not add up. My heart dropped. I
27:49 looked up at Emerald. She was watching
27:52 my face closely, too closely. And in
27:53 that moment, I realized something
27:56 terrifying. The past I buried 15 years
27:59 ago was not dead. It was awake. And it
28:01 was about to knock very hard on my door.
28:03 I slipped my phone back into my pocket
28:06 and forced a smile. Nothing, I said. But
28:09 inside, I knew the truth was coming, and
28:11 when it did, someone in this house would
28:14 be exposed. I did not confront Emerald.
28:17 Not yet. That night, I lay beside her in
28:19 bed, listening to her breathe, while my
28:22 mind replayed Dr. Lewis's message again
28:24 and again. Things do not add up. I
28:26 waited until Emerald fell asleep before
28:28 I quietly picked up my phone and
28:30 replied, "We will talk tomorrow morning
28:33 in person." I placed the phone back down
28:35 and stared at the ceiling. By morning,
28:38 my decision was clear. I needed facts,
28:41 not emotions. At breakfast, Emerald
28:44 acted normal. Too normal. She joked, she
28:47 smiled. She asked about my plans. I need
28:50 to step out. I told her simply, "I have
28:51 something important to handle." She
28:54 nodded quickly. I'll be here. I drove
28:56 straight to Dr. Lewis's clinic. When I
28:59 entered his office, he looked uneasy.
29:02 Nathaniel, he said, standing up. I
29:05 reviewed everything again. Your wife was
29:08 diagnosed with breast cancer. Yes, but
29:10 there were substances found in her blood
29:12 that had nothing to do with cancer
29:15 treatment. My chest tightened. What kind
29:17 of substances?
29:20 Mild toxins, he replied carefully. Very
29:24 small doses. Not enough to kill quickly.
29:26 Enough to weaken the body over time, my
29:28 hands clenched. Could they have been
29:31 accidental? I asked. He shook his head.
29:34 Unlikely. My voice came out low. Then
29:37 why was it never questioned? Because the
29:39 symptoms matched cancer, he said. And
29:42 because no one asked. I sat back slowly.
29:45 Mrs. Hawthorne's words echoed again.
29:47 What really happened to his first wife?
29:49 I left the clinic feeling cold inside.
29:52 When I returned home in Ecoy, Emerald
29:54 met me at the door. "You're back early,"
29:57 she said, smiling. "Yes," I replied
30:00 calmly. "We need to talk." Her smile
30:04 faded slightly. "About what?" "Your
30:07 mother," I said. Her eyes widened. "What
30:10 about her?" I walked past her into the
30:12 living room. "She knows more about my
30:14 past than she should," I said quietly.
30:16 "And she speaks too freely," Emerald
30:20 swallowed. She talks too much sometimes.
30:22 I turned to face her fully. Emerald, I
30:25 said firmly. Did you know my first wife
30:28 before I met you? No, she replied
30:30 quickly. Did your mother? I asked. She
30:33 hesitated. Just for a second. No, she
30:36 said again. That second was enough. I
30:39 nodded slowly. All right, I said. Then
30:40 tell her to stop calling you about
30:43 private matters. She forced a smile. Of
30:46 course. That evening, I called my
30:49 security chief. From today, I instructed
30:51 him. Monitor all food, drinks, and
30:54 medication in this house quietly. "Yes,
30:56 sir," he replied. I also asked him one
30:58 more thing. "Find out everything you can
31:01 about the Hawthorne family." That night,
31:03 Emerald served dinner again. "I did not
31:06 touch the food." "I'm not hungry," I
31:08 said. She watched me carefully. "You
31:10 hardly eat anymore," she said softly.
31:13 "Is something wrong?" I looked straight
31:16 at her. No, I replied. I'm just being
31:18 careful. Her face stiffened for a moment
31:21 before she smiled. Later, when she
31:24 thought I was asleep, I felt her move. I
31:26 opened my eyes slightly. She reached for
31:28 her phone and typed quietly. I could not
31:30 see the screen, but I heard her whisper,
31:33 "He's changing." I closed my eyes again
31:35 because I knew one thing now without
31:39 doubt. This marriage was built on lies.
31:40 My first wife did not die the way I
31:42 believed. And Emerald and her family
31:44 were not just chasing money. They were
31:46 repeating a pattern. The only question
31:49 left was simple and terrifying. How far
31:51 had they already gone? And how much time
31:53 did I have left? Little did they know
31:56 that I am fully prepared. Kindly let us
31:58 know your view about this story. Where
32:01 are you watching from? Do well to let us
32:03 know in the comments below. And don't
32:05 forget to like, share, and subscribe for
