Rita's POV

The next few days are hectic to say the least and I spend a majority of my time making sure that the many orders made on opening night and after were being arranged and will be received on time, as well as planning Chioma's baby shower.

Thankfully, the event was today and I'm more than ready to loosen up a bit and have some fun after the stressful week I've had.

Since Temi and I had some business to tend to, we decided that afterwards we'd drive to the venue together. Meanwhile, Mimi was tasked with picking up Chioma under the guise of catching up with her over dinner. The lie wasn't a solid one, I know, but Chichi has been itching to leave the house and anything at this point would've got her out, unsuspecting of our plans.

The car ride is devoid of conversation with only the low sound of the radio on to stand as background noise. However, I can't concentrate on what is being said as I'm too lost in my own thoughts. Temi, too, I guess. Although, she has been uncharacteristically quiet all day. She wouldn't say why, and I wasn't going to push her to but it did worry me a bit and I was curious about the possible reason for her behavior.

With my hand tightly clasping the steering wheel, I spared Temi a glance where she sat in the passenger seat. "You good?"

It took her a few seconds to understand my question and she blinked up at me, shifting in her seat. "Yeah, I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

I could immediately tell that she was lying but I shrugged. "You've been really quiet all day which is unlike you. If you wanna talk about anything, I'm here, you know."

Temi shook her head before sending me a tight, close lipped smile. "I'm fine, seriously. How about you though?"

"Truth?" I ask and she nods. "I don't know. I'm just thankful for work cause it has been a good distraction from my messy real life."

Sympathy overtook her eyes as she asked, "Cameron still isn't back home?"

"No. I mean, I shouldn't be sad seeing as I was the one who chased him out of the house." I said, biting my lips as that day replayed briefly in my head. "But I can't help it. I just want everything to go back to normal but I feel like he might've fucked that over deeper than I even know. I'm not sure how to explain it, a gut feeling, I guess."

She nods and is quiet for a moment. "You mentioned that you guys talked though. How'd that go?"

Unintentionally, I let out a scoff. This causes her to arch a curious brow at me. "That bad?"

"I wouldn't say bad. But it was unfruitful. Marriage isn't supposed to be like this, Temi, or is it?" I find myself asking but my unmarried best friend stares at me blankly, the answer as beyond her as it is me.

I shook my head, disappointment settling in my chest. I felt pathetic. Allowing a man to make me feel like shit, to make my emotions so strong and all over the place. This wasn't me. But still, with every fiber of my being I wasn't able to resent Cameron. Instead, I longed to go back months ago, when everything was still amazing and my husband loved and treated me like a fragile piece of glass art.

What changed between now and then? Well, the answer was beyond me.

"Rita, I should tell you this." Temi whispers into the enclosed space. She clears her throat before she begins speaking, "You know the other day Tosin and I went out for date night- I, well, Cameron-" She stuttered.

Raising my hand, I cut her off. "You know what, I'm not trying to ruin my night so every talk about my husband should be suspended. Tonight is supposed to be fun!" I say in my most excited voice, sending her a grin that could only be described as fake but as they say, fake it till you make it.

Temi looks like she wants to say more and she opens her mouth to do just that but on a second thought, she closes it and remains quiet with an accepting nod of her head.

I really just don't want to get into that tonight and have a permanent damper on my mood like I've had for the past few days.

After a few minutes, I pull into the compound of the restaurant which had been rented out just for tonight's occasion. We get out of the car and head inside before taking the elevator to the top floor where The View Lounge is located.

Decorations are still being put up when we walk in because we are a bit early and Temi and I immediately get to work, helping to set up things. As we are doing that, our girlfriends slowly begin trickling in one at a time, each complete with gifts that they drop on the designated table by the door.

The event was set to begin by eight pm and by a few minutes after that time, I received a text from Mimi telling me that she was about to head up here with Chioma.

"Hey, guys!" I holler, trying to get the attention of the chatting women. A few seconds later, when I'm sure that they're listening, I say, "Mimi and Chioma are heading up now so we have to be really quiet. I'm gonna go turn off the lights now."

I went to do just that and about a minute later, I hear voices from outside.

"Okay, this is getting creepy, and you should know better than to do something like this to a pregnant woman. Where the fuck are we?" Chioma asks and when the door is heard being closed behind them, the lights are turned on.

Simultaneously, everyone yell, "Surprise!"

Chioma's face is priceless and makes all the effort taken to plan this event worth it. Everything goes smoothly after that and the distraction of having a good time with my friends and loved ones is just what I needed.

***

"You look..." I mentally roll my eyes as I wait for my mother to finish her statement, the first one she has made since I sat down on this chair. I expected a less than pleasant description from her, but instead she surprised me by settling for, "Tired."

"Because I am." I replied after a beat.

"Why?"

"Mom, I run a business." I point out as an excuse but the scrutinizing look she gives me tells me that she doesn't believe my less than honest reason.

"Yes, a business where you have employees who are paid to take the strain off of you. Now will you tell me what's going on or will you keep on lying?" She says straightforwardly, that lethal gaze of hers firmly fixed on me.

Letting out a breath, I shift in my seat. Luckily, the moment is interrupted by a waiter who approaches us to take our drink order.

"I'll have a piña colada, extra ice and rum." I tell the guy and my mom narrows her eyes at me.

"I'll have a gin and tonic." She finally turns to the guy and says. After, he leaves to handle our orders.

To avoid her disarming stare, I turn to look outside the window which we are conveniently seated next to. The floor to ceiling clear window overlooks the massive golf course which simply looks like an expanse of green and from where I am seated. However, I spot some men playing the sport at a far distance, their figures looking to me like colored dots.

When my mom had invited me to the V.I Country Club to have lunch with her, at first I was a bit reluctant. The woman could always see straight through me which is why I'd been avoiding her for a while now. Avoiding her in an effort to avoid spilling my guts to her about the fuck up that is my marriage, but of course my mother noticed my evasion.

"Talk to me, Rita." I hear her say softly and with a low hiss of breath, I turn to her sharply.

"I kicked Cameron out." I blurt out.

Her eyes widen slightly in surprise. "It's that bad?"

Her words reminded me of Temi's last night and a humorless chuckle escaped my lips as I nodded slowly. I began to tell her everything, starting from his odd behavior months ago. All the while, she listened attentively, her facial expressions carefully guarded so as not to give anything away. By the end, I was biting on my lower lip as I patiently waited for her to give me her two cents on the matter.

My mother's long finger slowly traced her jaw in a graceful manner as she contemplated my words before finally asking, "Have you spoken to him since then?"

"I spoke to him at my opening party on Tuesday, that didn't really go well in my opinion."

I tell her what happened and when I'm done, mom hummed shortly as she mulled over my words.

"I'm unhappy without him, especially with how things are going, but something tells me that I won't be happy with him either. Not when he's keeping secrets, talking to his ex girlfriends and God knows what else that he isn't telling me." I let out and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from crying, my lips trembling slightly. I bring my hand up to cover my mouth, running the other through my weave frustratedly.

I hadn't actually spoken at length to anyone about all that has been going on before now and telling my mom made it feel...I don't know.

Mom stares at me in sympathy as she reaches across the table and holds my hand in a firm grip.

"Is marriage supposed to be like this, Mom?" My voice wobbled as I asked her the question, my vision becoming blurry.

She hands me a tissue and I inconspicuously dab at my eyes. Sniffing, I look up at her.

"It's not supposed to be a bed of roses, Rita, that's for sure." Mom tells me. "All couples have their own issues, your father and I included. Marriage is made up of two imperfect individuals, you cannot expect perfection. There will be roadblocks, some stumbling here and there and all that. To move forward, it all boils down to how we deal with it."

I take a deep calming breathe as she speaks, "You've told me all that has been going on. Now tell me, Rita, what do you think about it?"

I didn't really have a reply to that. It felt like I'd been going through the motions these past few weeks that in the midst of it all, I hadn't really stopped think of it, really think of it, and what it meant to me and my future.

"I feel like something about this whole thing isn't adding up, and yet it is." Mom tilts her head, giving me a questioning look that prompts me to continue. "Why would Toke feel so comfortable so as to call a married man to come to her rescue when she was in 'danger'?" I made air quotes at the last word.

"Obviously they've been in contact, but what've they been talking about? Why is he just telling me about her wanting to get with him regardless of his relationship status now after all this time? Why didn't he tell me sooner and not when it was convenient for him? I wonder if he actually turned her down." The questions shot from my lips and I didn't stop to think of their implications as I spoke, only letting them out as my words hung heavy in the air.

"Then there's the issue of him starting to travel a lot all of a sudden some months ago after she appeared, and then him becoming suspicious with his phone activities; hanging up calls or turning off his phone when he sees me. Makes me wonder if he's been in contact with her all this time. Indulging her, encouraging her." A soft gasp escaped my lips, anguish twisting in my gut as I finally asked the question I didn't dare consider before now, didn't allow my mind to go that far. "Mom, is my husband cheating on me?" The fear in my voice was almost palpable.

The question was purely rhetorical as I didn't actually expect my mother to know the answer.

She shook her head, a scrupulous expression on her face as she said firmly, "You have a lot of questions, Rita, rightly so. But I'm no place to answer them. I think it's time you really talk to Cameron."

.
.
.
Rita is beginning to catch on lol. Too late?

What'd you guys think of this chapter?

This book only has a few more chapters to go before finally, it'll come to an end after almost two years. Can't believe it.

I would love to hear you guys predictions of what you think will happen in the next chapter lol so do comment them.

Also, what do you think Temi wanted to tell Rita before she was interrupted?

We'll find out soon enough.

As usual, please don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT your thoughts. Your support on this book urges me to write and update faster so if you want more, VOTE and COMMENT.

Until next time, stay safe y'all💕