Nora agreed because she wanted more.
She had always wanted more.
But even she was beginning to see something she did not like.
Imani still lived somewhere in Chidi’s heart.
And Chidi, for reasons he did not fully admit even to himself, was not ready to tell Imani the truth. Part of him wanted her jealous. Part of him wanted her confused. Part of him wanted her to feel, even for a little while, the same insecurity he had carried years ago.
That was where the revenge began to show clearly.
But even now, it was not clean.
Because every time Chidi tried to punish her, his heart kept getting in the way. And every time Imani told herself Chidi had moved on, something happened to shake that belief.
It was in the way he cleaned her bruised hand without carelessness. It was in the silence between them, which felt less like indifference and more like pain that had learned how to dress itself in control.
That was what made her afraid.
If Chidi ever saw how much she still loved him, he would have too much power over her, and Imani no longer trusted her own heart enough to place it in his hands again.
So she lied.
It happened two days after the night he took her home.
She had just finished arranging some files in his office when Chidi asked without looking up, “Do you always go from here straight to the club?”
“Most nights.”
“That kind of life will break you.”
She forced a small smile. “Not everyone has a choice.”
His jaw tightened slightly, but he said nothing more.
The silence between them stretched.
Imani did not know why she said it then. Maybe she wanted distance. Maybe she wanted protection. Maybe she was trying to remind both of them that whatever this strange closeness was, it could not become dangerous again.
“There is someone in my life.”
That got his attention.
Chidi looked up slowly. “What?”
Imani kept her face calm. “I said there is someone in my life.”
His eyes stayed on her. “Who?”
She hesitated for just a second, then said the first name that made sense.
“Collins Maduka.”
Chidi knew the name. Collins was older, polished, and smooth in the kind of way that made people trust him too quickly. He had come around the office once or twice on business and had shown clear interest in Imani.
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