The Betrayal

Jade opened the door to her apartment and froze. It was unlocked. Only her parents had a spare key, which she had left with them for emergencies during her frequent work trips as an event planner. She stepped inside the dark, quiet space, her sanctuary, and wondered who had been there.

Usually, Jade looked forward to peaceful evenings after returning from her travels, but something was off. Her neighborhood was a quiet, upscale area where everyone minded their own business. No thefts or disturbances ever occurred here, so the unlocked door unsettled her even more.

Flipping on the lobby light, Jade glanced around, checking if anything seemed out of place. Everything appeared as she had left it before heading out for the event a week ago. Still, the eerie feeling persisted. She moved cautiously, ashamed of her rising paranoia but careful not to make any noise. Something told her she wasn’t alone.

Her pulse quickened as worst-case scenarios flashed through her mind. She fumbled for her phone, her thoughts racing toward calling the authorities. She reached the living room switch, her heart pounding, and—

“Surprise!” A chorus of voices rang out, shocking her into a scream that nearly had her jumping out of her skin.

Jade’s terror melted into disbelief as she recognized the familiar faces surrounding her. Her hand flew to her chest as she let out a shaky laugh. “Oh my God…” She managed a smile. “You guys scared me half to death!”

Relief washed over her as she surveyed the scene. Of course—this had Anita and Kunle written all over it. They were the only ones, besides her parents, who knew about her promotion at work. She should have guessed they’d plan something like this, but not in such a dramatic fashion.

Though exhausted from her trip, Jade was touched by their thoughtfulness. Kunle, her boyfriend since college, could be romantic when he chose to be, and Anita, her cousin, was always involved in these things. They were her closest confidantes outside her family, constantly teasing her about being a homebody. Despite her fatigue, Jade enjoyed the party, laughing and dancing with Kunle. She leaned into his solid frame, grateful for the celebration.

Yet, during one of the dances, Jade noticed Anita’s expression shift. There, just for a moment, a malicious look crossed her cousin’s face. But it was gone before Jade could fully process it, replaced by a forced smile that never quite reached Anita’s eyes.

After the party wound down, Anita stayed the night, but Kunle left despite Jade’s attempts to get him to stay. She almost begged him, feeling a strange sense of unease, but he insisted he had work early the next morning, though it was a Saturday.

As Kunle drove away, his unease mirrored Jade’s. A short distance down the street, he pulled out his phone. “Hey, babe, you can come out now. It’s safe. I’m just down the road.”

Anita’s voice responded coolly, “On my way.”

Back at Jade’s apartment, Anita stifled a yawn and excused herself for the night, hurrying to meet Kunle. She slammed the car door, her irritation evident. “You forgot I was right there! You danced so intimately with her,” she fumed.

Kunle sighed, trying to calm her. “I had no choice. You know I have to keep up appearances.”

“Appearances? You enjoyed it, didn’t you?”

He chuckled. “You know I didn’t. It’s all for show, Anita. You’re the one I love.”

“Then why haven’t you ended things with her?” Anita folded her arms, glaring at him.

“I will, soon. Timing is everything.”

Anita scoffed, clearly impatient. “Soon isn’t good enough. I’m tired of sneaking around.”

Kunle hesitated, sensing the tension mounting. He reassured her with empty promises, but in the back of his mind, he wrestled with his feelings. Could he really end things with Jade? He loved Anita’s fiery personality, but Jade’s quiet grace and intellect were equally compelling. He was caught between two worlds—one passionate and free, the other steady and thoughtful. And then there was the matter of Jade’s firm boundary about waiting until marriage, while Anita… well, she didn’t have those limitations.

Meanwhile, back at her apartment, Jade couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The look Anita had given her lingered in her mind. And there had been other moments too—times when Anita’s presence seemed more than just coincidental. She brushed aside her worries, not wanting to jump to conclusions. People often called her naïve, but surely, her own cousin and boyfriend wouldn’t betray her. Right?

She called Kunle’s landline, but there was no answer. Perhaps he was just delayed. She decided to call again tomorrow and tried to put her suspicions to rest.

The next day, Jade couldn’t resist calling Kunle again, but still, no answer. She decided to drop by his place, but what she found shook her to the core.

Kunle and Anita were lounging together on the couch, too absorbed in their conversation to notice her until the sound of her bag hitting the floor jolted them from their cozy world. There was no need for words. The sight before her confirmed what her instincts had been trying to tell her all along. She had been played.

Jade’s heart shattered. The betrayal stung deeply—not just from Kunle but from Anita, her cousin, her best friend. She wept until she could cry no more. Would this pain ever fade? How could she rebuild her life when the two people she loved most had broken her trust?

---

Months later, Jade found herself on a peaceful beach, basking in the sunshine, trying to reclaim some semblance of peace. It had been two years since her last holiday, and for the first time in ages, she felt free from work obligations. The gentle sun warmed her skin as she relaxed on a lounge chair, her sunglasses perched on her nose and her favorite music playing through her earphones.

Suddenly, a beach ball knocked her hat askew, interrupting her solitude. She sat up, annoyed, only to be met with the laughter of a little boy.

“Sorry, ma’am, but you look funny with your hat like that!” he giggled.

Before Jade could react, a deep voice called out. “James, apologize properly!”

A tall, handsome man strode over, shaking his head at the boy. “I’m really sorry about that. But,” he added with a smile, “you do look stunning—even with the hat askew.”

Jade glanced up, her breath catching as she met the man’s gaze. He was breathtaking, his athletic build emphasized by a fitted top. Her heart skipped a beat. Since Kunle, she had sworn off men, but something about this stranger was different.

“I’m Dapo Benson,” he said, extending his hand. “And this troublemaker is my nephew, James.”

Jade shook his hand, trying to compose herself. “Jadesola Coker. Nice to meet you both.”

Despite his invitation to join them for a game, Jade politely declined, craving her solitude. As she returned to her lounge chair, Dapo couldn’t help but steal glances her way, already regretting not getting her number. He hadn’t felt this way about anyone in a long time.

As Jade settled back into her chair, her mind drifted. Maybe, just maybe, it was time to open herself up again.

And perhaps, the universe was giving her a second chance.