“Okay, talk later.”
I hang up, then pack up my suitcase before going to Nkem’s room.
Nkem and I spend the rest of the week enjoying Canada before flying back to Chicago.
To my surprise, Daniel is waiting for me at the airport when I clear customs.
“He’s already in love with you,” Nkem whispers when we see him. I race into his arms. As always, he catches me.
Chapter 52
Anu-Ms K
Daniel has kept me in bed for the last few days. I guess it’s safe to say he doesn’t like it when I travel. He traveled to New York yesterday and returned late, curling up to me in bed.
The only time I wake up before Daniel is when we haven’t had sex. He came in late and was probably tired.
I stare at the kettle, watching water boil and his coffee is brewing. A new tune hums in my head. I smile, letting it flow. This is going to be good. I’m happy. I can feel it in my bones. I’m a happy woman in a loving relationship. Despite how Daniel drives me crazy sometimes, with his tidiness and his controlling behavior, I still love to be with him.
The kettle whistles and I take it off and pour the hot water into the mug. Blackcurrant is my choice today. While the tea brews, the coffee is done. I smile and add his cream and sugar; the way he likes it. I’m officially domesticated.
I hear the door as he comes out of the room and I smile, but he’s holding his phone and glaring at me. He’s usually disoriented, but something is wrong. His movement towards meis steady, but his eyes are angry. His whole being looks scary.Something is wrong.
“What the fuck is this, Anu?” He shouts
His angry growl scares me. I take a step back as he charges towards me. He turns his phone to me, and I look. Horror and mortification shoot through my body. My eyes must be deceiving me, because the pictures are me, and I’m naked in Teni’s arm. That can’t be real. I look up at him, hoping this is some kind of mystery or inappropriate prank, but his eyes are blazing. The anger emanating from him is ravenous. I shriveled up.
His glare tells me all I need to know. He swipes the screen, and each picture is of me naked and Teni clothed. His hands are all over me: my breast, between my legs. The acidic taste of bile forms in throat. I push the phone away and rush to the garbage bin. I threw up immediately. My brain can’t form words.
“You fucking lied to me,” he yells.
I wipe my mouth.
“It… can’t… be… me,” I garbled, raising my head. My stomach is churning again.
“It is you, and don’t you dare tell me it’s AI, because this is you and Teni, your ex-boyfriend. The guy you promised me I should never worry about.” His angry tone and glare scares me.
“Please, Daniel. I didn’t do anything with Teni. That can’t be me,” I plead when I find my voice.
“I know your body; every corner, every angle and every inch of your body.” He roars, knocking the hot tea and coffee off the counter. The mugs and hot liquid splashes to the floor. My favorite mug, broken. I step further back, scared.
“You must have had a good laugh behind my back while you fucked him in Canada. You probably thought I would never find out,” he yells rage emanating from him
“I didn’t betray us, I swear to you, Daniel. I didn’t sleep with Teni.” My voice trembles with fear.
He looks like he wants to rip me apart. I see betrayal in his eyes, in his whole being.
“Explain the fucking pictures to me then,” he bellowed.
“I can’t….” I answer. “I don’t know how that happened.” I shrivel to the corner, crying.
“I know, you fucked him and lied to me.” He glares at me. “We are done,” he says quietly but the anger behind each word is felt.
My body trembles at his words.
“Please, Daniel, you don’t mean that. I beg you, please. I didn’t do this. I don’t know how this happened. I swear to you. I didn’t have sex with Teni.”
I step closer, stepping on the hot liquid and try to grab his arm. He knocks my hand off him.
