The night refused to let Amara breathe.
Even after leaving the wedding hall, the noise, the laughter, the clinking of glasses — it all echoed in her head like a cruel reminder of what she had just witnessed.
Tunde… standing there… smiling… saying vows to another woman.
To Chioma.
Her best friend.
Amara's heels clicked weakly against the pavement as she walked toward her car, her vision blurred with tears she refused to let fall. She didn't want to cry — not here, not where anyone could see her.
But her chest ached like something inside her had been violently torn apart.
How did we get here?
Her hands trembled as she unlocked her car and slid into the driver's seat. For a moment, she just sat there, gripping the steering wheel, staring blankly ahead.
Then it hit her.
A sharp wave of nausea.
Amara quickly leaned forward, placing a hand over her stomach, breathing slowly. The doctor's words echoed in her mind.
"You're about five weeks pregnant."
Her lips quivered.
Five weeks.
Five weeks carrying the child of a man who had just married someone else.
A broken laugh escaped her lips, quickly turning into silent tears.
"This can't be happening…" she whispered to herself.
The drive home felt endless. The city lights blurred past her window, but she barely noticed. Her mind replayed everything — the way Tunde looked at Chioma, the way he smiled, the way he didn't stop the wedding.
He didn't stop it.
That hurt more than anything.
If he loved her… if he truly loved her… why didn't he fight?
By the time she reached her apartment, her body felt heavy, like she was carrying more than just a child — like she was carrying the weight of betrayal itself.
She pushed the door open and stepped inside, locking it behind her immediately, as if the world outside could still hurt her.
The silence in the room was deafening.
No music.
No laughter.
No Tunde.
Just her.
Amara slowly walked to the couch and collapsed onto it, her hands instinctively resting on her stomach.
"My baby…" she whispered softly, her voice breaking.
Tears finally spilled freely now.
"I don't even know what kind of world I'm bringing you into…"
Her heart twisted painfully. She had imagined telling Tunde the news in a completely different way — joyfully, lovingly, maybe over dinner or during one of their quiet moments together.
Not like this.
Never like this.
Her phone buzzed suddenly, snapping her out of her thoughts.
She wiped her tears quickly and picked it up.
Chioma.
Amara's stomach turned.
She hesitated… then opened the message.
"Amara… I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for things to happen this way. Please understand…"
Amara let out a bitter laugh.
"Didn't mean for it to happen?" she muttered.
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
How do you accidentally marry your best friend's man?
Another message came in.
"I wanted to tell you… but everything happened so fast. Please don't hate me."
Amara's eyes darkened with pain.
Too late.
She dropped the phone onto the couch, as if it had burned her.
A sudden knock at the door froze her completely.
Her heart skipped.
Who could possibly be here?
It was late. Too late for visitors.
The knock came again — firmer this time.
Amara stood slowly, her body tense. She walked toward the door, each step cautious, her heart pounding louder with every second.
She leaned slightly and looked through the peephole.
Her breath caught.
Tunde.
Of course.
Who else would it be?
For a moment, she considered ignoring him. Pretending she wasn't home. Pretending none of this existed.
But something inside her — anger, curiosity, maybe even love — made her unlock the door.
She opened it halfway.
"What do you want?" she asked coldly.
Tunde stood there, looking nothing like the groom from earlier. His tie was loose, his hair slightly messy, and his eyes… his eyes carried something she hadn't seen before.
Regret.
"Amara…" he said softly.
Hearing her name on his lips almost broke her.
"Don't," she snapped quickly. "Don't say my name like that."
He swallowed hard. "Please… I just need to talk to you."
"There's nothing to talk about," she replied, her voice shaking despite her efforts to stay strong.
"There is," he insisted. "There's so much you don't know."
Amara laughed bitterly. "Oh really? What else is there to know, Tunde? I watched you marry my best friend today. What more explanation do I need?"
His jaw tightened. "It's not what you think."
"Then what is it?" she shot back.
Silence.
Heavy. Painful silence.
Then he said the words that made her heart stop.
"I didn't have a choice."
Amara stared at him in disbelief.
"No choice?" she repeated slowly. "You're telling me you had no choice but to marry her?"
"My family—" he began.
"I don't care about your family!" she exploded. "You made a decision, Tunde! You stood there and said those vows! Nobody forced your mouth open!"
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her emotions spilling over.
Tunde stepped closer, desperation in his eyes. "You don't understand. They threatened everything — my job, my future… even you."
Amara froze.
"Me?" she whispered.
He nodded slowly. "Yes. They knew about us. They said if I didn't go through with the marriage… they would make sure you suffered for it."
Amara's heart pounded loudly in her ears.
Was he telling the truth?
Or was this just another excuse?
She turned away, running a hand through her hair, overwhelmed.
"This is too much…" she murmured.
Tunde moved closer, his voice softer now.
"Amara… there's something else."
She stiffened.
"What now?"
There was a pause.
Then he said it.
Quietly. Carefully.
But loud enough to shake her entire world.
Cliffhanger:
"You're pregnant… aren't you?"