Chapter 12: Damian's Sister, Sandra

Sandra Cole had always been there as an overprotective elder sister. In some of her occasional visits, she would watch her little brother, Damian, going through the experiences of love and betrayal, and she used to hear him pray that Elsie would be different. But the more she examined Elsie lately, the more something did not feel quite right with her. There was a certain air about her- a new-found confidence that felt almost... calculated. This was not the quiet, obedient village girl that was married to Damian. The new Elsie was bolder, slicker, and Sandra suspected very probably that she had to be hiding something.

One lukewarm evening, Sandra decided to make an unannounced visit to Damian's penthouse. She had already tried calling him, but he was unresponsive. At that time, as the elevator doors opened to the penthouse, Sandra entered the large and immaculate living room. It was all neat, as always; yet, something did not feel just right. The air bore a faint smell of some expensive perfume, and soft music could be heard drifting from the hallway. Sandra frowned. Damian was supposed to be out of town on business. So why was it feeling like someone was home?

"Elsie!" Sandra called out very loudly.

Elsie showed up immediately from the hallway, wearing a smart, figure-hugging snake dress, her hair stylishly made hung on her shoulders. She looked like she caught some aesthetics from a runway model. Sandra narrowed her eyes. This wasn't the shy and modest girl she had met at the wedding.

"Sandra," her voice calm but guarded. "What a surprise. Damian's not here. He's out on business."

Sandra crossed her arms, surveying Elsie. "Well, I know that. But it seems you're doing just fine without him."

The naughty smile still didn't falter, but Sandra caught a glimmer of tension in her voice. "I have been keeping myself occupied. Damian was the one who suggested I tour the city and hang out with people to feel more at home."

Sandra raised an eyebrow. "Friends, huh? And where are these friends now?"

"They are out. I was about to join them, actually," Elsie answered.

For some reason, her instinct told her that that was a sure sign that something was going wrong. Her tone slid a little too casual, her demeanor a bit too slick. She was hiding something; that much Sandra was sure about.

"Elsie," Sandra's voice turned firm, "I've been hearing things. Rumors about your... activities. Care to shed some light there?"

Elsie's smile faltered slightly but she regained composure. "Don't know what you're talking about, Sandra. I was just busy with my studies, and some social events in between. That's all."

Sandra stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "Don't play me, Elsie. I know Damian trusts you, but my intelligence is not so easily fooled. If you're up to something, I'll find out."

Elsie's face hardened, and for a brief moment, the flames of rebellion blazed in her eyes. But just as explosively, it was doused, and melted into a sweet innocent grin. "Sandra, I understand you're looking out for Damian, but there is nothing to worry about. I love him, and I would never do anything to hurt him."

But Sandra was not convinced. She had always trusted her instincts, and at the moment they screamed something was terribly wrong. She decided to keep a closer eye on Elsie.

Sandra followed Elsie

Sandra Cole was definitely not known for letting things slide. After confronting Elsie, she still had a nagging feeling something was wrong. It was time for her to take matters into her own hands. After all, if Damian didn't want to heed her warnings, she'd have to find the evidence herself.

The next evening, she parked her car at a distance from Damian's penthouse and waited. She didn't wait long; almost as soon as the sun set, Elsie was out from the building. He stepped into the waiting car, glancing around nervously before slipping inside, dressed in a sleek, form-fitting gown, the kind that shimmered and glowed under the streetlights. Sandra's heart raced as she revved up her engine and followed closely but at a safe distance.

The car twisted its way through the city streets, finally stopping in front of an exclusive nightclub tucked behind a very ordinary façade. Sandra parked nearby and saw Elsie alight from the car, irradiating confidence as she strolled to the entrance. Something twisted in Sandra's gut. This was not how a loving wife should behave.

The club was alive with a charged atmosphere. The air pulsed with the music, and the dance floor looked like everyone was swaying with it. Sandra scanned the floor, narrowing her eyes when she finally spotted Elsie. The young lady was all too jovial and alone with a small crew of drop-dead gorgeous young men, laughing and dancing as though there was nothing more to life. It boiled Sandra's blood.

Elsie's actions spoke volumes against the innocent and submissive wife whom Damian thought her to be. She shamelessly flirted while ringing with laughter that engulfed her in the arms of one of the men, whispering into her ear. As Sandra watched her, her fingers clenched into fists. This was so much more than just a late - night rendezvous - this was none other than treachery, for Sandra.

Sandra pulled out her phone, snapping away the melodrama, her hands trembling in agitation. She managed to capture Elsie on the ascendance to a kiss on the cheek with one of the men and laughing her head off. This evidence was almost watertight, and she dreaded the day ahead when she'd have to show this to her brother.

Damian did not believe it

The next morning, Sandra stormed into Damian's office with her phone, having barely gotten a wink of sleep as the images of Elsie's betrayal raced in her head. "It's not going to be easy for me to allow him to stay in ignorance about this," she thought, "no matter how painful it will be for him to hear it."

"Indeed, Damian, we need to speak," Sandra said in a grave, urgent tone.

Damian looked up from the desk, staring at her, surprised at her tone. "Sandra, what's the matter? You look upset."

Sandra wasted not a single moment with fine pleasantries and niceties. She thrust out her phone, those damning images popped up on the screen. "Look at them. Look what your wife has been doing behind your back, Damian."

It was a nice pain in the heart when Damian flipped through the images. There was Elsie laughing and dancing among men with such unsweet naughtiness. She even blew a kiss on the cheek of a guy. The shining smile was enshrined by a carefree heart. The punch from those images was like a kick in the gut, but Damian couldn't still bring himself to believe what he was seeing.

He said, "Sandra, this doesn't go on to prove anything. Elsie is young, and she's getting used to her new life. She's allowed to have some fun. These men could be her friends."

Sandra's eyes bulged in disbelief. "These guys? Open your eyes, Damian! She's lying to you, and you're letting her get away with it. Don't be a fool."

He shook his head, the lines deepening on his face. "I trust Elsie. There's no way she would do this to me. I don't know what your problem is, Sandra, but I'd suggest you drop it."

Sandra stared at her brother and felt for him. She knew that he was blindingly in love, but she couldn't sit by and watch him make a mistake. "Very well," she said coldly. "But don't say I didn't give you a heads-up."