The truth revealed

Sharon's eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on Jacob's phone. "Who was that?" she asked again, her voice firm but controlled.

Jacob's smile faltered for a moment before he recovered. "Oh, just a work thing," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Nothing important."

Sharon's eyes lingered on his face, searching for the truth. Jacob could feel her suspicion, her doubt. He knew he had to tread carefully, to maintain the facade.

"Okay," she said finally, her voice softening. "But you know I don't like it when you're secretive, Jacob. It makes me feel like you're hiding something from me."

Jacob's heart skipped a beat as he realized how close he was to being discovered. He forced himself to laugh, to sound reassuring.

"Sharon, my dear, I would never hide anything from you. You know me better than that. I'm just stressed with work, that's all."

Sharon's expression softened, and she nodded. "Okay, Jacob. I trust you."

Jacob's relief was palpable, but he knew it was temporary. He couldn't keep up this charade forever. But for now, he was safe.

As they continued with their evening, Jacob's mind raced with thoughts of Lute and Lindsay, and the web of lies he had spun. He knew he had to keep his guard up, to maintain the illusion of his perfect life.

But for how long?

As the night wore on, Jacob's smile grew tighter, his laughter more forced. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he was walking on thin ice, that one wrong move would shatter the fragile facade he had built.

Sharon chatted on, oblivious to the tension simmering beneath the surface. She talked about her day, her friends, her plans for the future. Jacob nodded and smiled, his responses automatic, his mind elsewhere.

Lute's text lingered in his mind, a constant reminder of the secrets he kept. He knew he had to respond, to placate her, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Not yet.

As they finished dinner and prepared for bed, Jacob's anxiety grew. He felt trapped, suffocated by the lies he had told, the lives he had built. He longed for a way out, a escape from the prison he had created.

But for now, he was stuck, caught in a web of his own making. And so he smiled, and kissed Sharon goodnight, and lay down beside her, his mind racing with thoughts of the chaos that lay ahead.

Lute's eyes snapped open, her heart racing as she answered the phone. "Chiyokoma, what is it?"

"Lute, I have some news," the lawyer's voice was grave. "We've finally uncovered the truth about SIBECO's embezzlement scandal."

Lute's mind raced as she sat up in bed. "Who was behind it?"

There was a pause before Chiyokoma spoke. "It was Jacob Phiri, your former husband."

Lute's eyes widened in shock. "What? That's impossible!"

"I'm afraid not, Lute," Chiyokoma said gently. "We have evidence that proves Jacob was the mastermind behind the theft. He used his position to siphon off millions from the company."

Lute's world came crashing down around her. She felt like she had been punched in the gut, her breath knocked out of her. Jacob, the man she had once loved and trusted, had betrayed her in the worst possible way.

"How...how could he do this?" she stammered.

Chiyokoma's voice was firm. "We'll get to the bottom of this, Lute. We'll make sure Jacob pays for what he's done."

But Lute was already gone, her mind reeling with thoughts of Jacob's deception, her heart heavy with the weight of his betrayal.

Lute's world came crashing down around her. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of betrayal, her mind struggling to comprehend the magnitude of Jacob's deception.

She thought back to their marriage, to the happy times, the laughter, the adventures they had shared. Had it all been a lie? Had Jacob been playing her from the very beginning?

The questions swirled in her mind like a vortex, pulling her down into a dark abyss of despair. She couldn't bear the thought of facing Jacob, of confronting him with his betrayal.

But she knew she had to. For her own sake, for the sake of her family, she had to know the truth.

With a heavy heart, Lute made her way to Jacob's office, her feet feeling like lead weights. She pushed open the door, her eyes locking onto Jacob's smug face.

"Jacob," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We need to talk."

Jacob looked up from his desk, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Lute, what's going on?"

Lute's eyes narrowed, her anger and hurt boiling over. "You know exactly what's going on, Jacob. You've been stealing from SIBECO, from our family. How could you do this to us?"

Jacob's expression changed, a mask of innocence slipping into place. "Lute, I don't know what you're talking about."

But Lute wasn't having it. She knew her husband, knew his tricks, knew his lies. And she was done playing games.

Lute's eyes bore into Jacob's, her gaze piercing through his facade. "Don't lie to me, Jacob. I know the truth. Chiyokoma told me everything."

Jacob's mask slipped, a flicker of guilt crossing his face before he regained his composure. "Lute, listen—"

"No, Jacob, you listen," Lute's voice was cold, detached. "You've betrayed me, our family, our friends. You've destroyed everything we've worked for."

Jacob's eyes dropped, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "I know, Lute. I'm sorry. I was desperate, I made a mistake—"

"A mistake?" Lute's laughter was bitter. "A mistake is forgetting to pick up milk, Jacob. This is a calculated, deliberate deception. You've been stealing from our company for years, using our trust against us."

The silence that followed was oppressive, heavy with the weight of Jacob's guilt. Lute's eyes never left his face, her gaze a constant reminder of his betrayal.

Finally, Jacob spoke, his voice barely audible. "What do you want from me, Lute?"

Lute's smile was cold, calculated. "I want justice, Jacob. I want you to pay for what you've done."