Family secret
Episode 5
Andrew’s worry had turned to panic as the hours ticked by with no word from Anita. Three days had passed, and his pride was crumbling. He reluctantly dialed Anita’s family, hoping against hope that she had sought refuge with them.
“Hello?” Anita’s mother answered, her voice warm and concerned.
“Hi, ma’am. I’m looking for Anita. We had a little fight, and I thought she might have come to your house,” Andrew said, trying to sound calm.
But Anita’s mother’s response surprised him. “I should be asking you that, Andrew. My daughter is in your home. What will she be doing there?”
Andrew’s mind raced as he realized his mistake. “Uh, well… we had a small argument, and I thought she might have come to your house…”
Anita’s mother interrupted him, her tone firm but calm. “Andrew, we haven’t seen or heard from Anita.
Anita’s father, a man of few words, took the phone from his wife and demanded answers from Andrew. “Where is my daughter?” he asked, his voice firm but laced with concern.
Andrew, still trying to downplay the situation, replied, “Maybe she’s returned home. I’m still in the office.”
But Anita’s father was not convinced. He knew his daughter, and he knew she wouldn’t just disappear without a trace. He handed the phone back to his wife, his eyes filled with worry.
After the call, Andrew tried to reach Anita’s number again, but her phone is off.
Andrew burst into Nicolas’ office, his eyes red and puffy from crying. “Nicolas, my wife left me! She’s not at her parents’ house, and I have no idea where she is. I’m so worried, I miss her and my son henry. My happy family has turned to ashes.”
Nicolas leaned back in his chair, a sympathetic expression on his face. “Ah, Andrew, don’t worry. Anita will come back. She’s just upset, that’s all.”
But deep down, Nicolas was happy that Andrew’s family was falling apart.
Days turned into weeks, and Anita’s parents didn’t hear from either Andrew or Anita. They grew more worried by the day and decided to pay Andrew an unexpected visit.
Andrew was sitting in his living room, struggling to care for his son Harry, who was crying uncontrollably. Anita’s parents burst into the room, their faces filled with concern.
“Where is our daughter?” Anita’s mother demanded, her voice firm.
“Anita’s mother took little Harry from Andrew and managed to calm him down, persuading him not to cry. She said, ‘Harry will stay with us until we’re reunited with our daughter, Anita.'”
Andrew shrugged, feeling defeated. “We just had little issues, and she left the house. I don’t know where she is.”
Anita’s father’s face turned red with anger. “You’re not telling us the truth, Andrew. We know you’re hiding something.”
Andrew tried to justify himself, but Anita’s father was having none of it. He called the police, and Andrew was arrested on the spot.
As Andrew sat in his cell, he realized that his pride and refusal to listen had cost him everything. He had lost his job, his family, and his peace. He was left alone, with nothing but the bitter taste of regret.
Three months later, Andrew was released from jail, a shadow of his former self. He had lost everything that truly mattered to him. He had no access to his wife and children.
Anita had started a new life in a different city.
Anita worked hard to provide for her son Henry, but she never forgot her other son, Harry. She missed him dearly and prayed for him every day, hoping that one day they would be reunited.
Andrew walked into his empty house, feeling a mix of emotions. He had just been released from jail and was greeted by the silence of his empty home. He looked around, but all he saw were pictures of his wife and kids. He cried and felt frustrated, realizing that his family was no longer with him.
He decided to pay Nicolas an unexpected visit to let him know that he was out of jail. He knew that Nicolas’ office didn’t open on Saturdays, but he hoped to catch him at home. When he arrived at Nicolas’ house, he was surprised to see Maria, Nicolas’ wife, instead.
“Hey Maria, how are you?” Andrew asked, trying to sound friendly.
“I’m good, Andrew. What about you? We haven’t seen you in a while,” Maria replied, looking concerned.
“I just got out of jail.” Andrew said,
“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. Maria replied”
Andrew changed the subject. “So, Maria, where is Nicolas? I need to talk to him.”
“He went to work,” Maria answered.
Andrew raised an eyebrow. “But his office doesn’t open on Saturdays.”
Maria hesitated. “Well, Nicolas works for some people during the weekend.
We need the money, especially since I’m about to give birth in less than a month.”
Andrew said, “Haha, you are a wealthy woman, you can help your husband get that. You are working to support him, he should have rest.”
Maria replied, “You are right…but that’s if I’m working. I’m not working, Andrew. I haven’t worked once since I got married to Nicolas. He provides everything for me.”
Andrew was shocked. He remembered how Nicolas had used Maria’s work during pregnancy as an example to pressure him into forcing his own wife, Anita, to work while she was taking care of their twins. This had led to the destruction of his family. Some questions ran through his mind. “Does it mean Nicolas has been deceiving me?” he thought.
Just as he thought this, Nicolas walked in, looking rough from physical labor. Andrew walked close to him, staring at him.
“Hey man, when did you return from jail?” Nicolas asked, looking guilty.
Andrew demanded, “Tell me the truth, does your wife work or not? You used her as an example to pressure me into forcing my wife to work, and now my family is destroyed.”
Nicolas stuttered, “W-what do you mean by this question?”
Andrew grabbed his shirt, his voice low and menacing. “I say answer me yes or no, Nicolas. Does your wife work or not?”
Nicolas stuttered, “N-no…my wife does not work.”
Andrew was frozen in time, his mind reeling with shock and anger. He couldn’t believe that Nicolas had lied to him all this time.
“Why did you lie to me, Nicolas?” Andrew demanded, his voice shaking with rage. “Your lies have destroyed my family, my life. I lost my wife, children, and job. What have I done to you to deserve this?”
Maria watched in shock as the scene unfolded before her eyes. Nicolas couldn’t answer, unable to meet Andrew’s gaze.
“You are the real devil, Nicolas,” Andrew spat.
“Don’t you have your own sense? You did everything yourself. You destroyed my family yourself
Nicolas finally found his voice.
Andrew glared at him, his anger and betrayal boiling over. “You’re a liar, Nicolas. You destroyed my life with your lies. I’ll never forgive you.”
With that, Andrew turned and walked out of the house, leaving Nicolas and Maria in an uncomfortable silence.
