A WEB OF DECEIT

chapter 17

Thelani
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The next morning, I woke up to breakfast next to my bed, but Lucas was nowhere to be found. Instead, there was a letter: *"I had to rush home. See you later."*

As I read the note, a small part of me felt empty, yet I couldn't deny the excitement that bubbled up inside me. So this is what my life was going to be like? Dating a married man was no child's play, but I was being treated like a princess. The thought both thrilled and unsettled me.

My phone rang, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was Mbali. I hesitated before answering, already sensing the conversation that was about to unfold.

"Thelani, you moved out without telling me?" Mbali's voice was sharp, a mix of hurt and confusion.

"Mbali," I started, trying to find the right words. "I was going to tell you, it's just that a lot has been happening."

"A lot has been happening?" she echoed, disbelief laced in her tone. "Wow, Thee, I thought we were best friends. First, you get a blesser, and now this?"

Her words cut deep. I could hear the disappointment and the sense of betrayal in her voice. Mbali had always been the one to ground me, to pull me back when I was making questionable decisions. But now, I had shut her out, and it was evident how much that hurt her.

"Mbali, it's not like that-" I tried to explain, but she interrupted.

"Not like that? Then what is it like, Thelani? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're throwing your life away for something... for someone who can't give you what you deserve."

I swallowed hard, guilt washing over me. She wasn't wrong. Deep down, I knew she was right, but I didn't want to admit it-not to her, not to myself.

"Mbali, please, can we talk about this later? I'm late for class. Can we meet around 3 PM at our usual spot?" I asked, hoping to diffuse the tension.

There was a pause on the other end, and for a moment, I thought she might refuse. But then she sighed. "Fine. 3 PM. But Thelani, we're not done with this conversation."

"Sure," I agreed, my voice barely above a whisper.

As I hung up, a heaviness settled over me. Mbali was right to be upset. I had been reckless, impulsive, and in the process, I had hurt the one person who had always been there for me.

I hurried to get ready for campus, my mind a tangled mess of emotions. The excitement I had felt earlier was now tainted with guilt and a growing sense of dread. How long could I keep living this double life before it all came crashing down?

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Nkosikhona

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I sat on the cold, unforgiving bench in my cell, staring at the cracks in the concrete floor. My thoughts were a chaotic mess, tangled up in confusion, anger, and fear.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ayanda's face, her eyes wide with fear, her voice echoing in my ears. The memory of that night haunted me, and the questions kept gnawing at my mind like a relentless predator.

Why did she have to die? And why did everyone seem so determined to pin her death on me?The private investigator's revelation had shaken me to my core. Ayanda's mother had visited her just before she died, but he was convinced that she didn't kill her daughter.

I wanted to believe him, but something didn't add up. Why would her mother visit her so late at night? And why the hell did my parents pay ten million rand to the Mthembus? None of it made any sense. My family had turned their backs on me, disowned me, yet they were willing to cough up such a massive amount of money.

It was clear they were hiding something.I had to get out of here. I needed to uncover the truth, and I couldn't do that from behind these bars. But getting out meant making a deal with someone I had no business dealing with-a man whose help always came at a steep price. I reached for the burner phone hidden under my mattress, my hands trembling slightly as I dialed the number.

The voice on the other end was as cold and calculating as I remembered.

"You know the drill, Nkosikhona," he said after I explained what I needed.

"Nothing's free in this world.""I know," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Just tell me what you want."

The terms were steep, but I agreed.

I had no choice. If I didn't do this, I'd never find out the truth about Ayanda's death. I hung up the phone and leaned back against the wall, feeling the weight of the deal settle over me like a shroud. There was no turning back now.

I was committed, for better or worse.But as I sat there, a new fear crept into my mind. What if I discovered something I didn't want to know?

What if the truth was more terrifying than the lies? I pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the task at hand. I would deal with whatever came my way when the time came. For now, all I could do was wait.