30/09/2026
THE WIFE HE COULDN’T LOVE
Chapter 4 — The First Lie
Nadia couldn't sleep.
Adrian's words kept returning to her.
“My father died because of her.”
And then,
“Your father was the last person to see him alive.”
By morning, she had made up her mind.
She would find out what happened.
She found Adrian in the dining room, drinking coffee.
“Your mother is alive.”
He looked up slowly.
“Yes.”
“You told me she was dead.”
“I told the world she was dead.”
“Why?”
Adrian put down his cup.
“Because I had to.”
Nadia sat opposite him.
“You're asking me to live in this house, sleep under your roof and pretend we're husband and wife while you hide things from me.”
“I never asked you to pretend.”
“You bought my silence with my family's debts.”
His expression tightened.
“I saved your family.”
“And what did you get in return?”
Silence.
Nadia leaned forward.
“You knew my father.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Adrian looked away.
“He worked with my father.”
“Doing what?”
“Business.”
She studied his face.
“You're lying.”
His eyes returned to hers.
“How do you know?”
“Because every time I mention my father, you look like you're remembering something you don't want me to know.”
Adrian stood.
“Nadia, stop digging.”
“Why?”
“Because some truths don't set people free.”
He walked away.
Nadia watched him disappear through the doorway.
Then she noticed something on the table.
An old envelope.
Her father's name was written across it.
SAMUEL AFOLAYAN.
Her breath caught.
She picked it up.
Before she could open it, Adrian suddenly returned.
His face changed when he saw the envelope.
“Give me that.”
Nadia held it tighter.
“Why?”
“Because it belongs to me.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Adrian's voice became dangerously quiet.
“Nadia.”
She stared at him.
“You know something about my father.”
He said nothing.
“And I'm going to find out what it is.”
For several seconds, they simply stared at each other.
Then Adrian whispered:
“Your father wasn't the man you thought he was.”
Nadia's heart sank.
“What does that mean?”
Adrian walked toward her.
“It means the day you discover the truth…”
He stopped inches from her.
“…you may hate the wrong person.”
And before she could ask another question, he took the envelope and walked away.
Nadia watched him go.
But she had already seen the handwriting on the back.
Three words.
ASK YOUR MOTHER.
To be continued…
