"Tell me, what is this charade that you have going on?!" She demanded angrily.

"Stop asking me questions as if you're my wife! I do not owe you any explanations," he snapped, causing her to falter in her steps shocked by his sudden outburst.

He watched her eyes widen as his words settled and so did the implications of them. He swore and shook his head slightly. "I'm sorry I said that. That was not what I meant."

It was her turn to move her head from side to side slowly. "No, but that's what you said," she remarked, forcing him to cuss before moving towards his wardrobe. He had a seminar to attend and he was presenting a paper as well. He chose not to reply her before he said something stupid again. He knew her well enough not to fuel her anger. It never ends well.

His words had hurt, Sara thought on the verge of tears. He didn't confirm her suspicions neither did he deny it and that was confusing as hell. She hated the thought that all these had been a dream. Damn, it had been a good dream though.

"You're right, I'm not your wife but when you asked for us to try again at love, I stupidly thought we were in a relationship but obviously that isn't true. We are not in a relationship, are we Lucas?" She quizzed, scolding her foolish tears not to spill and expose her weak heart. She'd not let him play her the fool again.

He turned to drop his navy blue suit on the bed and sighed heavily. "I'm sorry for what I said, alright. I was an asshole,"

"And I'm the fool for letting you talk me into this again. Seriously, how can we be anything if we cannot have simple honesty between us? This was the exact reason why we got a divorce, Lucas. Because you wouldn't come clean with me about your relationship with Karen Thomas!" She yelled, getting exasperated with his noncommittal attitude.

He needed to dismiss her so he could change his clothes privately, not that she would mind otherwise but she was too angry with him right now for him to risk it. "I really wish you'd stop bringing up my ex and my infidelity issue in our every argument. She's my ex, let her stay that way," he pleaded.

"I'm also your ex, in case you've forgotten," she spat out, glaring at him in annoyance. It irked her to know that he and Karen could still be a thing. "Do you want to sleep with Karen? Was that why she was touching you at dinner? Is that why you have a room at Tinapa, so you two can be together?!"

Lucas was forced to look at her when she said those words and that was when the situation dawned on him. He could see it as clearly as day. The accusation in her eyes, the scorn and detest on her lips, the disbelief and horror mixing proportionally in her brain. He had been a victim of this merciless assembly before and he was not about to stand like a helpless sheep and allow her tear him down again because of her irrationality.

"Fine, if you want answers, then I'll tell you," he grated out, his jaw clenched in anger. "I never planned to come to this blasted mountain resort in the first place. Seriously, what would I be doing here? The seminar that brought me to Calabar is being held at Tinapa. Executives, managers, government officials, stakeholders, CEOs, all of them are lodged there. CAPPEL has a reservation under my name at Tinapa. My father whom I'm representing thinks I'm there. Then I thought it would be a wonderful idea to mix pleasure with business and invite you. But since you had to go crazy about a mountain resort, I stupidly thought, why not? I could totally wing it.

"Do you know how hard it is to stay away from you these past two days because I kept thinking, Lucas, you're coming on too strong? That it worked 7 years ago doesn't mean it will now? So I foolishly thought I could try the Englishman's style and court you with flowers and romantic dinners and all those crap. But this has all been nonsense anyway if my absence for one night could be ultimately attributed to sleeping around with my ex," he finished, his lips lifted up in disdain.

She watched him slowly before commenting. "You didn't mention who you were with."

Really? After all the things he said, that was what she cared about? "Does it matter?!" He blurted out in frustration. This woman was aggravating.

"Yes, it does," she was adamant. "The last time I overlooked something like this, you got caught up in a cheating scandal that ruined our marriage!"

"Did I not tell you I didn't have sex with her?"

She scoffed at that. "That's not what the news said. You were caught in the act, remember?!"

He threw his hands up in defeat. Why were they even debating this issue when it was obvious they would never find a common ground? "Fine, believe what you will. I don't need to explain anything to you anyway as I can see it will be pointless," he remarked.

"That's what you say but I'll be the one in pain in the long run. I'll not let you hurt me again, Lucas. I won't allow it!" She spat out in disgust.

"Then don't allow it. In fact, do what you want, I won't ask you to do otherwise."

Since he pointed out she could do as she wanted, she was going to be sensible while she still could. "I want to go back to Lagos, Lucas, so you can have the freedom you need to flirt with whosoever you desire," she said flippantly and out of the blues, surprising them both.

He looked at her, really looked at her and agreed that she was probably right. If she wanted out, he'd give her the liberty she asked for. He'd never keep her if she didn't want to stay. He pulled his phone and placed it to his ear before speaking rapidly to his secretary. Then he called the designated driver to come to the lodge. All the while she watched him keenly.

"Since you want to go, I won't ask you to stay as there is no need. I've made plans for your flight back to Lagos. It's for 2pm and the driver will take you back to the airport when you're ready."

Sara watched as he rattled off instructions to the driver who just walked in for a few minutes before sending him away. Then he pulled his clothes forcefully from their hangers and donned a sweatshirt before throwing the rest of his clothes on the bed, then his shoes too and then he pulled out his leather suitcase. He dumped it on the bed and unzipped it before stuffing his clothes haphazardly inside. In a matter of minutes, the room was bare of his belongings. He grimaced at the surrounding and zipped his suitcase, then pulled it along to the door where she stood the whole time watching him.

"Where are you going?"

The question left her lips before she could stop it. Didn't she just give him the go-ahead to do as he pleased? Why did his destination matter to her?

He paused to exhale a breath, wondering if he should answer her or not. She didn't need to know as she was leaving already. "I'm moving back to Tinapa where I should be. There's nothing keeping me here anymore."

Then he walked past her, pulling his suitcase along. Few seconds later, she heard the door shut and she knew he was out of her life again, probably for good this time.

+++++++++++++

They had tried but it didn't work, Sara thought later on that morning as she carefully folded her clothes into her suitcase. Their argument this morning had been uncalled for and totally wrong. She had accosted him in anger and he was obviously tired from last night's party to have clear, coherent thoughts. She should have waited till he returned from his seminar to ask him, it might have gone differently, but there was no use crying over spilt milk. The deed has been done, they had shouted, ranted, cussed and swore at each other but it didn't do much justice except separate them. For one, it didn't tell her if he planned to sleep with Karen or not, and she still didn't know if the party last night was all business like he said or it involved something more?

Curiosity was a dangerous thing, but she didn't like having doubts and unanswered questions. The last time she had doubts about him, it had led to that awful scandal. She may have listened to Karen's speech but she could see it was filled with malicious intent. That woman was vile and would likely do anything to snatch Lucas back. Not that she was in the competition anymore though.

Sighing, she bit her nails nervously as she watched the wall clock willing the time to pass away. 11:30am chimed and she made up her mind. She had to be sure, she told herself sternly and strolled out of her lodge after placing a quick call to the driver. She met the driver at the reception and walked up to the Toyota highlander with a rapidly, pounding heart. She couldn't chicken out, not now.

"Take me to Tinapa resort. I'm meeting someone there," she said before climbing into the car.

Barely an hour later and she was standing in front of the reception questioning her decision to come here. Wasn't it glaring already that those two were together? Before she could let her doubts about that woman manoeuvre her resolve, she walked up to the smiling receptionist dressed in a slim fitted black suit with a red neck tie, a bun hairdo and a friendly disposition.

"Good day, ma'am. Welcome to the Tinapa resort and conference center. How may I help you?"

You can help me by telling me if my ex-husband is sleeping with Karen Thomas. She exhaled deeply, banishing the thought away while grasping for subtlety. "Yes, you can. I need to make an enquiry about the guest in room 234," she said with a smile.

The younger female nodded and clicked on the computer in front of her desk. "I'm afraid that information is confidential. The guest asked for complete discretion," she informed with an apologetic smile Sara felt like wiping off her face. "Would you like to make an appointment, perhaps?"

She didn't need an appointment but she'd do with who he had an appointment with. She hated herself right now for stooping so low but she reassured herself it was only to confirm her suspicions.

"I don't need an appointment. I asked about the guest in room 234 because he's a very good friend of mine and I set him up with a girlfriend of mine yesterday afternoon. I wanted to confirm the appointment. You know all these things, she's shy and wouldn't make the first move unless given the needed push," she winked suggestively at the receptionist who nodded in agreement obviously believing her now for knowing the guest in room 234 was a male and very single.

She glanced around the area before lowering her voice. "This is off records, but I did see him walk across the lobby yesterday afternoon with a lady in red. They were chatting like lost lovers and then they went to the bar. In my opinion, they didn't look like people who just recently met since she was looking so sultry as though trying really hard to seduce him," she finished in a conspiratorial manner.

That was all Sara needed to hear. He was really here yesterday with a sultry looking lady in red. Karen looked very seductive in her red gown yesterday. She took a deep breath to calm her jumbled emotions and smiled forcibly at the receptionist who looked eager for more gists. Determined to not let Lucas play her for the fool again, she whirled around and marched off towards the courtyard where the driver was still waiting for her.

She had just reached the revolving doors of the lobby when she bumped hard into a figure and staggered back faintly from the collision. The woman she bumped into let out a curse and straightened too looking at her. She was dressed in a purple jumpsuit and black sandals and her curly weave-on fell in waves on her shoulders. Sara mumbled a quick apology and made to go but the woman held her back.

"Excuse me, I'm sorry if I'm being a bother but don't I know you?"

Sara shook her head. She wasn't good with faces but she knew most assuredly that they have never met.

"Of course I do!" The woman cried in happiness, "I'm a silly goose, I mean how could I forget? You're Sara Amadi, right? Lucas's ex-wife?"

Sara hated being referred to as that but it would also explain why the woman knew who she was, not necessarily her. Besides she didn't have time for this chitchat. "Yes, I am. Alright then, I'll be on my way. It was nice meeting you."

But the woman was having none of that. "No, please don't go. I've been planning to meet you. You see, I haven't seen Lucas in more than seven years and I heard he got married and that he got divorced and I met him recently and he said he was getting back together with you. I mean it's a rollercoaster ride of events!"

"I don't understand you," she intoned clearly, glancing at her wristwatch. She really didn't have the time to understand her.

The woman nodded, deciding that what they had to talk about might need a drink and a relaxation spot. "Perhaps we could go sit by the loungers. I promise I won't take too much of your time since you're obviously in a hurry."

Sara eyed the loungers near the swimming pool and accepted the invitation since the woman was being persistent. "I still don't know who you are."

The woman laughed at that as they strolled to go seat at a table for two beside the loungers. She stretched out her palm in greeting which Sara accepted reluctantly. "I'm Cindy Onoh. Formerly, Cindy Oluloye. I was Lucas's heartthrob back in our college days until he met Karen and they became like glue on paper. We never had the pleasure of meeting because I left the country for my Master's program after I graduated.

"I recently got back into the country with my husband, Ebuka Onoh and who should I bump into here at the resort but Lucas. We got chatting and I took him to meet Ebuka so they could talk business. You see, Ebuka is into software programming for seismic modules and I thought I could use my charm as his ex-girlfriend to get a contract for him. Turns out, I didn't even need it. Ebuka and Lucas were highschool friends!"

"You met him here at this resort?"

Cindy shook her head in denial. "We did not meet here exactly. I followed him to Obudu mountain resort because he looked to be in a hurry when I saw him here. Then we got talking and I mentioned about having a good time so I could get him to agree to meet with Ebuka and he agreed. Then he later pushed the meeting to today in the evening because he said he had prior engagements. But imagine my surprise when he called late last night and said he had time. So Ebuka and I took him to the bar and we had a great time," she explained.

That would explain the drinking party from last night. "You were the one that answered his phone?"

Cindy squirmed slightly at her cold gaze. "I admit that was low of me but we had managed to get him into a good mood and he and Ebuka were sealing important business agreements. I couldn't let outside interferences affect that."

If he was with this couple last night, and with Cindy at the mountain resort in the afternoon, then where did Karen fit into this story? It just did not add up.

"Look I'm really sorry about last night. It was the perfect opportunity to get a big break for my husband. I was tired of watching him wallow in self-pity cause he couldn't get high paying contracts and when I saw Lucas, I assumed my feminine charms would work wonders on him. I can see now that it was a total fail."

Sara's mind was whirling with the events that transpired yesterday and couldn't place Karen anywhere in the story. The times Lucas was missing from the lodge was verified by this woman and her husband. It was like he had the perfect alibi whereas Karen's story had loopholes. Didn't the receptionist say he was with a woman in red who he talked with as though they were lost lovers? Her eyes flew to the woman's face and hair. Of course, she could easily see the error now.

"What were you wearing yesterday when you met Lucas? What were you putting on?" She quizzed sharply stunning the woman.

Cindy raised a brow at the ridiculousness of the question. Wasn't she angry about the call?

"What colour were you wearing yesterday afternoon?!" She grated out, biting her lips to hold in her anger. Even before Cindy opened her mouth, she knew she had been fooled by Karen.

"A red gown! It was red. I thought I could go sexy and seductive to help my husband's cause but like I said earlier, it wasn't necessary. Lucas wasn't moved by it and Ebuka reprimanded me for acting like a slut instead of a married woman. Thank heavens they were bestfriends otherwise it would have been a disaster!" She exclaimed laughing at the memory.

Sara agreed with her that it was a disaster. A manipulative girl had made her doubt and caused an unnecessary fight with the man she was building something with. She shouldn't have jumped to conclusion without hearing him out first. Her phone rang immediately, shocking her out of her reverie. It was the driver informing her that her flight was in the next hour.

She made her excuses but not before extracting a promise from Cindy for a girl's day out sometime. She kept glancing at the resort even as the car drove off, wondering if and wishing she could see Lucas and tell him she was in the wrong for this morning's argument.

The car pulled into airport road in record time and she knew all hope was lost. A tear leaked from her eyelids and she let it fall as the dam was threatening to break. Shakily, she picked up her phone and dialled her neighbor. She was sensible, she would know what advice to give her. She waited for Jules to pick up before blurting out in between pools of tears.

"I think I just made a big mistake!"

~~~~~~~~~~

Phew!! 😰 So that's what happened.

How many of you guessed this scenario about Lucas and Cindy?

Do you think Sara made a big mistake?

But still, I have my doubts. I mean, for all we know Lucas could be sleeping with a nameless, faceless lady even if he did not do it with Karen or Cindy, but what do I know? 😞

Randomly, I'm tired of our favorite ship so I'm switching teams. Donald and Karen are a couple and I'm going with them for now. It would be better for you guys to follow me 😋😏

Remember, your votes and comments always count and are highly appreciated.

Thank you 😍😘