The door slid open, and Camilla stepped in, her baby-pink suit perfectly hugging her hourglass figure, accentuated by a pair of square, transparent specs. Her makeup was flawless, and the golden jewelry she wore complemented her look exquisitely.

“Oh, you’re here,” Micheal smiled as his eyes met hers. “Seeing you remind me of the good old times. I used to bring home accolades from university back then. I remember how you begged me to teach you Scrabble, but now you’re better at it than me.”

“I learned from you to be close to you, you know?” Camilla giggled, comfortably sitting at his table with crossed legs. Watching them from a distance, Grace’s lips tightened in a frown.

“Susanne is sick of being home alone, and he’s enjoying himself out here? What a man!” Grace hissed mentally, her resentment growing.

“You know, everyone took us for a couple back then, not realizing we’re not related,” Camilla said with a smirk. “It’s a good thing your wife isn’t here. She would have slapped me by now.”

“I apologize for the last time,” Micheal said, bringing out a table-sized Scrabble board. “Susanne isn’t usually grumpy. She’s a nice woman.”

“If I had you as a husband, I would have done worse,” Camilla replied, following him into the inner room to play Scrabble without any distractions.

When Grace first saw Micheal and Camilla embracing, her eyes were a storm of betrayal and pain. The gleam of jealousy was unmistakable, a sharp contrast to her usual calm demeanor. Her gaze hardened and darkened, and her breath hitched as she stood frozen, watching the intimate moment unfold. Her eyes, usually warm, now flickered with cold fire, reflecting the sting of seeing her sister’s husband in the arms of another woman. And they were at it again.

Camilla and Micheal sat across from each other in Micheal’s inner office, engrossed in a heated game of Scrabble, something they did occasionally, especially when Camilla was in Nigeria. The door was slightly open, allowing Grace to tiptoe behind it, listening. They filled the room with the sound of tiles clinking and occasional laughter as they teased each other over word choices.

“Is ‘quizzify’ even a word?” Camilla asked, raising an eyebrow.

Micheal grinned. “It should be. I’m sure it means to make someone answer a lot of quiz questions.”

Camilla laughed. “Nice try, but I don’t think it’ll count.”

Meanwhile, Grace leaned closer, peering from the shadowed corner, her eyes narrowing with suspicion and anger. She muttered curses under her breath, holding her phone tightly. She discreetly snapped a picture, determined to gather proof of her suspicions.

Just then, Susanne’s phone rang loudly, its vibration filling the room and breaking the cheerful atmosphere. Camilla and Micheal froze, their eyes widening in surprise at the unexpected interruption. Micheal’s head turned toward the corner where the sound came from.

“What was that?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Without waiting for an answer, Micheal walked cautiously toward the corner. Grace, realizing she had been discovered, quickly slipped out of the office, her heart pounding. By the time Micheal reached the spot, there was no one there. He glanced around, puzzled, then turned back to Camilla.

“Strange... I could have sworn I heard footsteps.”

“Wasn’t that ringtone familiar? It sounded like your wife’s phone.”

“Exactly my thought, but Susanne should be at Garki with her friends.”

Camilla shrugged, trying to shake off the unease that had settled over them. “Maybe it was just your imagination. Now, back to the game. Your turn.”

Micheal nodded, though a part of him remained distracted, wondering about the mysterious phone ring and the sudden sense of someone watching them.

As they resumed their game, Grace hurried away, her mind racing with thoughts of what she had witnessed and the evidence she now held on her phone.

Grace picked up the call as she left Micheal’s office. “Hey Susanne, I can’t speak now. I’m in the middle of something. Why did you call?”

“What’s wrong with your voice?” Susanne asked, her lips twisting below her crinkled nose. “Do you have a cough from staying too long under the AC?” Mrs. Nike was cooking noodles for Susanne while she answered the call.

“No, it’s not that. I don’t want someone to eavesdrop on our conversation. That’s why I’m whispering. How are you? I called you several times, but it wasn’t going through. Was your surgery successful?”

“There are no direct flights from Abuja to India, so I had to do a stopover in Dubai, taking the Emirates Airline. So I just got here. In fact, I am unpacking right now. Okay, I’ll call you later. I just wanted to check on you.”

Grace didn’t realize her sister-in-law, Cryst, had been watching and heard her whispering on the phone. She turned left and right, to be sure that no one was listening to her at that moment. “Okay, bye then. I’ll call you when I can.” Grace ended the call with a relieved breath. Walking to check on Micheal, Cryst caught Grace in the act. A mysterious smirk formed on her pink-glossed lips as she took off her fancy shades, studying her. Grace placed the phone on her racing chest, heaved briefly, and turned back to Cryst. She quickly grabbed the phone and held it to her chest, her eyes darting nervously as fear took over.

“What are you doing here?” her voice cracked as she questioned.

“Look who’s here... Are you worried my brother is cheating on you with Camilla, or are you just playing spy?” Cryst taunted.

“What do you mean, Cryst? Watch your mouth, okay? We’re not agemates,” Grace warned with a frown.

“Oh, now I get it.” Cryst nodded mockingly. “You lied about visiting a friend just to spy on your husband, didn’t you?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

“It’s none of your business, Cryst! Just go away!” Grace snapped, clearly hurt.

“Oh, now I get your tricks. You followed my brother to take pictures of him with Camilla.”

“I didn’t take any pictures. In fact, I just got here,” Grace defended herself, looking away.

Cryst took a step closer, and they faced each other. “Susanne, don’t forget that I know you well. I know what you can do, and sneaking behind people’s backs is so you. Just stop it because your obsession is becoming obvious these days.” Grace’s face flushed at Cryst’s words.

“What Micheal hates most is deceit and keeping secrets,” Cryst warned, narrowing her eyes. Then she folded her arms below her small-proportioned chest. “It’s best you open up to him instead of sneaking behind closed doors. And if you can’t get him, then forget about him. A divorce might be an excellent choice but you dare not demand too much for alimony. Be warned! In any case, your presence here, right now is a shame to our family. There are CCTV cameras around. I wonder if it’s Micheal’s love that’s driving you so crazy that you can’t even realize that you might be on TV tomorrow morning if you’re not careful.”

“Isn’t that Grace’s voice?” Micheal paused and stood up from the inner room.

“Maybe she’s the one,” Camilla said, walking after him.

“It will piss Camilla off when she finds out what you just did!”

“Oh, Cryst, did you just enter now? Were you the one looking for me?” Micheal asked once their gaze met.

“Yes, it was me. I called Kanye for your whereabouts just now. He said you are playing Scrabble with Camilla in the inner room. So I came to call Susanne so we could go in together. There’s news that Camilla is heading back to the States tomorrow. I came to say hi. Kanye also told me about the argument they had on your ship the other day. It was entirely my fault, so I brought Susanne to apologize properly. We are one family, after all. We should get along well. If you feel my visit is unreasonable, then I can leave. I know... I should have called you before coming, but I wanted this to be a surprise visit.”

Once Camilla stepped out of Micheal’s office, Cryst ran towards her and held her in a big, tight hug. “Crystabelle!”

“Sis Cami!”

“It’s been ages! Wow, you’ve grown since we last met!” Camilla blushed as her eyes rolled from Micheal's back to his sister. “I missed you so much.”

“Same here! Did you change your contact? You didn’t reply to my WhatsApp messages. Hope all is well?” Cryst asked as they exchanged pleasantries.

“I’m fine, thank you. Lately, I’ve been overwhelmed with work. Life hasn’t been easy, you see? I barely stay in one place, let alone check on my family and friends. There’s no time!”

“Aww, that is nice. I forgive you as long as you are having a good time. By the way, I heard you are heading for the States tomorrow.” Cryst’s voice heightened with excitement as she blushed. “I wanted to say my farewell because I didn’t know when next we were going to meet. Oh, it’s 2 pm, let’s have lunch together! The four of us, please don’t say no,” she begged childishly.

The subtle lift at the corners of Micheal’s lips spread into a full expression as he watched his younger sister act mature and vulnerable for the first time in years.

When Grace discovered that Cryst not only knew Cami but also encouraged their relationship, the shock was evident on her face. Her eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth slightly agape.

“I have never seen Cryst this happy. So this is what Susanne endures? What a pity.” It felt as if the ground had shifted beneath Grace, leaving her in a precarious freefall. In that moment, she felt like an outsider in her own life, lost amidst the tangled web of deceit woven by those whom her twin sister trusted most. Her thoughts raced, a cacophony of hurt and confusion, as she struggled to process the betrayal from all sides. The realization that Susanne was alone in her pain deepened Grace’s sense of isolation, leaving her heart heavy with sorrow and resentment.

They went into the VIP restaurant. The room featured sumptuous decor with gold accents, private dining rooms, and world-class cuisine crafted by renowned chefs. The atmosphere exuded sophistication and security, ensuring an unparalleled dining experience for the Baloguns. Though Micheal usually ate there with his guests, today, they all gathered. They spread white napkins on their laps before eating. Grace did the same. Cryst sat facing Grace while Micheal sat opposite Camilla. A soft violin song played in the background as they took their seats.

Micheal squinted lightly, adding to the sincerity of his expression. “Why didn’t you order for a swallow? This is the meal we used to have back then in Cambridge, remember? Sushi. I told your chef to prepare it specially for us,” Cryst explained as they ate.

Micheal’s entire demeanor exuded a natural, unguarded happiness. “Time waits for no man. I remember our university days at Harvard, just like yesterday. It’s a good thing you suggested this lunch, right?” he said, looking at Camilla.

“Yes, I agree,” Micheal answered, cutting Grace out of her thoughts. A bitter taste covered Grace's tastebuds as she held onto her tongue.

“Susanne, please eat something. Don’t just stare at the food like that,” Micheal urged gently.

“No, thanks,” she said unexpectedly. “I’m not hungry.”

Cryst smiled at her words. “Sister-in-law, I understand you haven’t eaten this before. It’s my bad. I should have asked what you wanted for lunch before ordering.”

“It’s alright.” Grace slipped the obstructing hair over her shoulder. “I have no problem with the food. I’ll eat.”

“Ring, Ring, Ring!” Grace’s phone vibrated.

“Who’s calling?” Micheal asked, curious.

It was Susanne, but Grace ended the call at once. “It’s a wrong number,” she replied.

Cryst’s eyes gazed at Grace with a pressed smile. Grace took her phone and Cryst wondered about the identity of the caller. Perhaps it was her secret boyfriend, Kingsley.