A WEB OF DECEIT

chapter 72

Thelani

I barely slept that night. Every time I closed my eyes, I could feel the phantom sting of Lucas's hand across my face. His words echoed in my head, bouncing around like the walls of a prison I couldn't escape.

*I want you gone.*

Olwethu had finally settled back to sleep after what felt like hours of me rocking her, whispering soft words that I didn't believe myself. Now, in the stillness of the night, I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands trembling, heart heavy. I couldn't stay here. Not after what he'd done, what he'd said.

But where could I go?

Nkosi Made it clear our home is not safe for now which made everything worse. I hadn't spoken to him since Lucas barged into my room like a madman. A part of me thought about calling him, telling him what his father had done. But something in Lucas's threat kept me silent. The way his eyes darkened when he told me to leave, the pure malice in his voice. I didn't doubt for a second that he would follow through with his threat.

*Why does he hate me so much?* It wasn't my fault the baby died. How could he possibly think that?

I glanced at my phone sitting on the bedside table. It was early morning, just past five. I had typed a message to Nkosi but hadn't sent it yet. My thumb hovered over the screen, but my thoughts kept spiraling. *What if Lucas tries to turn him against me? What if he's going to  poison his mind with lies?*

As I wrestled with my thoughts, I heard something. A sound I had come to fear. Footsteps. Slow, deliberate.

My heart raced. I held my breath, listening, praying that maybe it was just one of the house staff. But the footsteps grew louder, closer, and then stopped—right outside my door.

My body stiffened. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe.

Then the door handle turned.

It opened just a crack, enough for him to slip inside. My chest constricted as Lucas stood there, the hallway light casting his silhouette in the doorway. He didn't say a word. He just stood there, watching me.

The silence stretched, thick and suffocating. I wanted to scream, to tell him to get out, but the words were stuck in my throat. My mind raced, trying to make sense of his presence. *Why was he here? What did he want?*

He closed the door softly, locking it behind him. That single sound—a soft *click*—sent ice through my veins.

"Lucas, please..." I whispered, my voice trembling. "What are you doing?"

He didn't respond. Instead, he stepped toward the bed slowly, his gaze never leaving mine. His expression was different now. No anger. No hate. There was something darker, more unsettling.

I scrambled off the bed, grabbing Olwethu from the crib. Her soft breath against my shoulder was the only thing keeping me grounded. I took a step back, trying to put distance between us, but he kept moving closer.

"I've been thinking, Thelani," he finally said, his voice disturbingly calm. "About us. About what you and I could have been."

I swallowed hard, clutching Olwethu tighter. "Lucas, there is no 'us.' You need to leave."

He smiled—a cold, chilling smile that made my skin crawl. "That's where you're wrong. There was always something between us, Thelani. You just couldn't see it. You thought you could run to my son, didn't you? Thought you could replace me with him."

I shook my head, my body trembling. "You're delusional. Nkosi and I—"

"Nkosi doesn't understand you the way I do." He cut me off, his voice sharp. "You and I, we've been through things together, haven't we? Things you can't just forget. You can't run from me, Thelani. I won't let you."