er eyes were distant, unfocused. She hadn't eaten, hadn't slept. The events of

pped her on

er walk away with

en have the stren

d her. A few seconds later, the gate creaked

knew that voice, warm, calm, gra

nd. The woman she truste

man whose world her daug

at her face before standing up. "Come in, El

, dressed in a soft blue gown that caught the sunlight as she moved

she said softly, you didn't come to church yesterda

ch her eyes. Ah, my dear, I've just bee

ing her hand. Tired? No, this is more than tired.

. Her throat tightened. Words formed an

ld she

t her daughter the girl Elizabeth had

... it's nothing, my sis

yes softened.

. Yes. She's been difficult lately

who used to run to me to complain about your s

her lips tremb

ore, the door to the hallway

osely around her waist. Her hair was messy but s

ensive cologne clung t

er to Elizabeth. Then a slow,

abeth, Goo

oanna, my darling, You've grown so b

ing against the doorframe, h

fted unco

arm of a chair, crossing her legs wit

ing! How's life treati

some, Joan

ffen. She glanced sharply at her dau

ctually Aunty, there's som

said, intrigued.

awless skin, the subtle jewelry, the gentle confidence of a woman w

u say if we b

m fell

t. Her eyes flew wid

nfused. Co-wives? Wha

I'm just saying, maybe life has a way

ugh! Clara snapped

er smile widening. Why hide it, Mum? It

ghtly, still not unde

trembled. Eli

interrupted, her voic

nked, stunned

gnant. And before anyone starts preaching, let's

roke. Joanna, s

lizabeth, eyes glinting with cruel mischief.

left t

a sharp intake of breath. The color drained from her che

hands, tears spilling down uncon

painfully, every secon

r voice cut through the tensio

d you j

ee wome

irt slightly wrinkled, his eyes wide in

a as though he was

s. Clara

ice barely a whisper. Joanna... p

startled by his

e trembling between hope and fear.

rted, but n

verything in his face

tep, his breath catc

ill staring at Joanna as though she were

were supposed to be my fiancée!

eyes flickered, but only for a moment. Jay, I d

her husband? He pointed toward Elizabeth,

face in her hands

oanna, I gave you everything I had. I waited fo

y, every word she might hav

t hurts the most? I would've forgiven

d the door, his

he sound echoing through the s

closed door. Her chest rose and fell ra

t composed. She turned to Clara, her voic

uldn't, Elizabeth. I co

d, unreadable. "Congratulations," she said quietly

king against the floor the so

bing uncontrollably. Joanna stood in the middle of the ro

he weight of her choi

power, weal

suffocating silence and the knowledge that

face was calm, but inside her, something dark began to stir a qui