Chapter 5: A Painful Goodbye

Sheila stood frozen, staring at her phone screen.

The images blurred through the tears in her eyes, but she didn't need to see them clearly to know what they were.

Her past, exposed.

A lifetime of mistakes, captured in a handful of photos.

Betheul had her cornered.

She looked toward the couch, where Roy slept soundly. His breathing was steady, his face peaceful—completely unaware of the storm brewing around them.

Sheila wiped her tears and swallowed the lump in her throat.

She had to leave.

If she stayed, she would ruin him.

His name. His family. His future.

He had fought so hard to build a life of integrity, and she refused to let her past drag him down.

She turned back to her phone.

Her fingers hovered over the screen as she typed a reply to Betheul.

Sheila: I'll come. Just don't release the pictures.

A response came instantly.

Betheul: Good girl. Be at the Royal Grand Hotel, Room 502. Midnight. Alone.

Sheila's stomach twisted.

She had spent years running from this man. And now, she was willingly walking back into his trap.

But what other choice did she have?

She looked at Roy one last time.

Then, quietly, she grabbed her bag and slipped out the door.

---

A Dangerous Meeting

Sheila's heart pounded as she entered the Royal Grand Hotel.

The lobby was quiet at this hour, the air heavy with the scent of expensive cologne and freshly cleaned floors.

She forced herself forward, her heels clicking softly against the marble.

Room 502.

She stepped into the elevator and pressed the button.

With each passing second, her mind screamed at her to run.

But she couldn't.

Not with Roy's future at stake.

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.

Sheila stepped out, walking down the long hallway until she reached the door.

She hesitated.

Then, with a deep breath, she knocked.

The door opened almost immediately.

Betheul stood there, grinning.

"Well, well. I was starting to think you wouldn't show."

Sheila forced herself to meet his gaze. "I'm here. Now delete the pictures."

Betheul chuckled, stepping aside. "Come in, darling."

She didn't move.

His smirk widened. "Oh, don't be shy. You used to walk into my room all the time."

Her hands curled into fists. She hated him.

Every word he spoke made her skin crawl.

But she had to play his game—for now.

She stepped inside.

The room was exactly what she expected. Expensive. Over-the-top. The kind of place Betheul would stay just to remind himself of his power.

He shut the door behind her and leaned against it. "So, tell me, Sheila. How's life with your perfect little husband?"

She kept her voice calm. "Delete the pictures, Betheul."

He laughed. "You haven't changed. Always so impatient."

Sheila crossed her arms. "I came, just like you wanted. Now keep your end of the deal."

Betheul studied her, amusement dancing in his eyes.

Then, slowly, he pulled out his phone.

"Alright," he said. "One tap, and they're gone."

Sheila watched as he opened his gallery.

Her breath caught in her throat as he hovered his finger over the delete button.

Then—

He smirked.

"Or," he said, slipping the phone into his pocket, "we could make a new deal."

Sheila's blood ran cold. "What do you mean?"

Betheul stepped closer, his voice low.

"I want you back, Sheila."

She stiffened.

"Think about it," he continued. "We were great together. You had power, money, men begging at your feet. And now? You're playing house with a man who doesn't even know who you really are."

Sheila's hands trembled. "You're insane."

Betheul chuckled. "Maybe. But you and I both know you don't belong in Roy's world."

Sheila swallowed hard.

He was wrong.

Roy had given her a new life. A chance to be someone better.

But Betheul was right about one thing.

Sheila's past wasn't clean.

And no matter how hard she tried, it would always follow her.

Betheul leaned in, his voice a whisper. "You have until tomorrow night to decide. Come back to me… or I release everything."

Sheila's breath hitched.

Tomorrow night.

One day.

One day to figure out how to save herself.

And save Roy.

---

A Desperate Return

Sheila walked back to Roy's apartment, her mind racing.

The city was quiet, the streets dimly lit.

It felt as if the world had stopped moving, waiting for her to make a choice.

She reached the apartment and took a deep breath before stepping inside.

She was halfway to the bedroom when a voice made her freeze.

"Sheila."

She turned slowly.

Roy was standing in the hallway.

His eyes locked onto hers, sharp and full of questions.

"Where were you?" he asked.

Her heart pounded.

For the first time, she couldn't meet his gaze.

"I just… needed some air," she said weakly.

Roy didn't move. "At midnight?"

Sheila swallowed. "I couldn't sleep."

Roy stepped closer. "Then why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"

Sheila opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Roy sighed. "I saw the message, Sheila."

Her heart stopped.

He held up his phone.

The same unknown number.

The same threat.

"I know everything," he said.

Sheila's knees nearly gave out. "Roy, I—"

He shook his head. "Don't lie to me. Tell me the truth."

Tears filled her eyes. "I went to see him."

Roy's jaw clenched.

"I thought if I agreed to meet him, I could stop him from hurting you," she whispered. "I didn't want you to get dragged into this."

Roy exhaled sharply. "And what did he want?"

Sheila hesitated.

She couldn't say it.

She couldn't tell him that Betheul wanted her back.

Roy stepped even closer, his voice low and steady. "Sheila. Whatever it is, we'll face it together. But I need to know."

Sheila's lips trembled.

She was so tired of fighting alone.

Finally, she whispered, "He wants me back."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Roy's hands clenched into fists.

Then, after a long moment, he said, "He's not getting you."

Sheila's breath hitched.

Roy cupped her face gently, his

eyes burning with determination. "I don't care what it takes. I'm not losing you."

A sob broke from her lips. She wanted to believe him.

But Betheul wasn't the kind of man who lost.

And by tomorrow night, he would make sure they both knew it.