THE UNEXPECTED CALL

Sarah's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the phone in her hand. "Hello?" she said again, wondering if she'd misheard.

But the voice on the other end was clear. "Sarah, it's Charlotte Bill. Andrew's ex-wife."

Sarah's mind went blank. She had no idea who Charlotte was or why she was calling. "I'm sorry, who is this?" she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.

"I'm Charlotte, Andrew's ex-wife," the woman repeated. "I know we haven't spoken before, but I've been thinking about Andrew a lot lately, and I wanted to talk to you about him."

Sarah's shock turned to confusion. What could Charlotte possibly want to talk to her about? And why was she calling her now, after all these years? "I don't understand why you're calling me," Sarah said, her tone cautious.

"I just wanted to talk to you about Andrew's past," Charlotte said. "I think there's something you should know."

Sarah's curiosity was piqued, despite her initial wariness. "What is it that you think I should know?" she asked, her tone a bit softer.

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Sarah wondered if Charlotte was going to reveal something significant. "I think it would be better if we met in person," Charlotte said finally. "Can we schedule a time to talk?"

Sarah hesitated, unsure if she wanted to meet with Andrew's ex-wife. But her curiosity got the better of her. "Okay, fine," she said. "When were you thinking?"

They exchanged a few more words, agreeing to meet at a coffee shop in a few days. As Sarah hung up the phone, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't anticipate.

She looked around the room, feeling a sense of unease. What did Charlotte want to tell her? And how would it affect her relationship with Andrew? Sarah's mind was filled with questions, and she couldn't wait to find out the answers.

The days passed, and Sarah found herself growing more and more anxious about meeting Charlotte .She had no idea what to expect, and her imagination ran wild with possibilities.

When the day of the meeting finally arrived, Sarah arrived at the coffee shop early, her heart racing with anticipation. She ordered a coffee and sat down at a table, scanning the room for any sign of Charlotte.

A few minutes later, a woman with long, dark hair walked in and looked around the room. Her eyes landed on Sarah, and she smiled faintly before making her way over.

"Sarah, hi," Charlotte said, extending her hand.

Sarah shook it, feeling a sense of trepidation.

"Hi, Charlotte. Thanks for agreeing to meet me."

Charlotte sat down, and the two women ordered their drinks before getting down to business.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Sarah asked, getting straight to the point.

Charlotte took a deep breath before speaking, her eyes locked on Sarah's.

"I think you should know the truth about Andrew's past. There's something he's not telling you, something that could change everything."

Sarah's eyes widened as she leaned in, her curiosity piqued.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Charlotte glanced around the coffee shop, ensuring they were out of earshot.

"Andrew and I... we didn't exactly part on good terms. He was hiding something from me, something big. And I think he's still hiding it from you."

Sarah's mind was racing. What could Andrew be hiding? She thought she knew him, but now she wasn't so sure.

"What is it?" Sarah pressed, her voice a little louder.

Charlotte hesitated, then pulled out a small folder from her bag.

"I found some documents, some records. They prove that Andrew was involved in some shady dealings before we met. I think he's still involved, and I think you need to know about it."

Sarah's eyes scanned the documents, her heart sinking. She couldn't believe what she was reading. Was this really true? Was Andrew the man she thought he was?

As she looked up at Charlotte ,Sarah saw a mixture of concern and determination in her eyes.

"I just want you to be careful, Sarah," Charlotte said.

"I don't want you to get hurt."

Sarah nodded, her mind reeling with questions and doubts. She needed to confront Andrew, to get to the bottom of this. But as she stood up to leave, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her world was about to be turned upside down.

Sarah's hands trembled as she held the documents, her mind racing with questions. She needed to confront Andrew, to get the truth from him. She quickly paid for her coffee and left the shop, her heart pounding in her chest.

As she walked back to her car, she dialed Andrew's number, her fingers moving on autopilot. He answered on the first ring, his voice warm and familiar.

"Hey, beautiful. What's up?" he asked, oblivious to the storm brewing inside her.

"I need to talk to you," Sarah said, her voice firm. "Now."

There was a pause on the other end of the line.

"What's wrong?" Andrew asked, his tone changing to one of concern.

"I'll tell you when I see you," Sarah said, her voice cold. "Meet me at home."

Andrew sensed the tension in her voice and agreed to meet her. Sarah drove home, her heart heavy with doubts and fears. What would Andrew say? Would he deny it, or would he tell her the truth?

As she arrived home, Andrew was already there, waiting for her in the living room. His expression was worried, and he stood up as she entered.

"What's going on?" he asked, his eyes searching hers.

Sarah took a deep breath and handed him the documents.

"Is this true?" she demanded, her voice shaking with emotion.

Andrew's eyes scanned the papers, and for a moment, he seemed frozen in time. Then, his expression changed, and he looked up at her with a mixture of guilt and fear in his eyes.

"Sarah, I can explain..."

Sarah's eyes narrowed, her heart heavy with emotion.

"Explain?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You've been lying to me, Andrew. You've been hiding the truth about your past. How could you do that?"

Andrew took a step forward, his hands extended in a pleading gesture.

"Sarah, please listen to me. I know I should have told you, but I was scared. I didn't want to lose you."

Sarah shook her head, feeling a mix of anger and sadness.

"What is this?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"What were you involved in?"

Andrew hesitated, then took a deep breath.

"It was a business deal gone wrong. I was young and stupid, and I made some mistakes. But I've been trying to make it right ever since."

Sarah's eyes searched his face, looking for the truth. She saw the guilt and regret in his eyes, and she knew that he was telling the truth. But it wasn't enough.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her voice cracking.

Andrew's face contorted in pain.

"I was afraid of losing you. I knew you'd leave me if you found out. But I promise, Sarah, I'll do whatever it takes to make it right. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you."

Sarah looked at him, her heart heavy with emotion. She didn't know what to do, what to say. She loved Andrew, but she couldn't just forgive him without thinking. She needed time, time to process, time to decide what she wanted to do next.

"I need space," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I need time to think."

Andrew's face fell, but he nodded.

"Okay, I'll give you space. But please, Sarah, don't leave me. I'll do whatever it takes to make it right."

Sarah sat on the bed, her eyes fixed on the wall as she replayed the memories in her mind. She recalled the night Andrew told her about his past, about the shady business dealings that had haunted him for so long.

"My father was involved in some shady dealings," Andrew had said, his voice cracking with emotion.

"He made some mistakes, and I got pulled into it. I was young and stupid, and I didn't know any better."

Sarah remembered the look of shame and regret on Andrew's face as he spoke. She remembered the way he sobbed, the way his body shook with emotion.

As she sat there, Sarah's conscience began to struggle. She thought about how Andrew had been honest with her, about how he had trusted her with his secrets. She thought about how he had changed, about how he had worked hard to make amends for his past mistakes.

"Why did he lie to me about it?" Sarah wondered, her mind racing with questions. "Why did he say it was his father's doing when it was his own?"

Sarah's thoughts swirled around her, taunting her with doubts and fears. She didn't know what to think, what to feel. She loved Andrew, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of betrayal.

As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, Sarah's eyes began to well up with tears. She felt torn, torn between her love for Andrew and her anger towards him.

Sarah's tears flowed freely as she thought about the pain Andrew's deception had caused her. She felt like she was living a lie, like everything she thought she knew about their relationship was a facade.

"Why did he do it?" Sarah whispered to herself, her voice barely audible.

"Why did he lie to me?"

As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, Sarah's mind began to wander to the what-ifs. What if she had known about Andrew's past from the beginning? Would she have still fallen in love with him? Would she have still trusted him?

The questions swirled in her mind, taunting her with uncertainty. Sarah didn't know what the future held, but she knew she needed to confront Andrew about her doubts and fears.

With a newfound sense of determination, Sarah wiped away her tears and stood up. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation that lay ahead. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was ready to face the truth and whatever came next.

Sarah walked into the living room, where Andrew was sitting on the couch, his eyes fixed on her. He looked anxious, worried about the outcome of their conversation.

"Sarah, I've been thinking," Andrew said, standing up as she approached.

"I know I messed up, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make it right."

Sarah looked at him, her eyes searching for the truth.

"Why did you lie to me, Andrew?" she asked, her voice firm but controlled.

"Why did you say it was your father's doing when it was yours?"

Andrew took a deep breath, his eyes dropping to the floor.

"I was ashamed, Sarah. I was ashamed of what I had done, and I didn't want you to see me as a bad person. I didn't want to lose you."

Sarah's expression was skeptical.

"And you thought lying to me would keep me from leaving you?" she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm.

Andrew shook his head.

"No, I know it was stupid. I was just scared, Sarah. I was scared of losing you, and I didn't know how to handle it."

Sarah's eyes narrowed.

"You're still not telling me the whole truth, are you?" she accused. "There's more to this story, and I want to know what it is."

Andrew's eyes darted up to hers, and for a moment, Sarah saw a flash of fear in them. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice cautious.

"I mean that there's more to this story than you're letting on," Sarah said, her voice firm. "And I want to know what it is."

Andrew's eyes darted around the room, as if searching for an escape route.

"There's nothing more to tell, Sarah," he said, his voice tight with tension.

But Sarah wasn't convinced. She could see the fear lurking behind his eyes, the desperation to keep his secrets hidden. "Don't lie to me, Andrew," she said, her voice cold and detached.

"I know there's more to this story. And I will find out what it is."

Andrew's face paled, and he took a step back, as if retreating from the truth.

"Sarah, please," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "Just listen to me, and I'll tell you everything."

But Sarah's trust was broken, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to hear more lies. "What else haven't you told me?" she demanded, her voice firm.

"What other secrets are you hiding?"

The air was thick with tension as Andrew hesitated, his eyes locked on hers. And in that moment, Sarah knew that she was in for a revelation that would change everything.

Andrew's eyes dropped to the floor, and he took a deep breath before speaking.

"I didn't just make some mistakes in business, Sarah," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I was involved in some things that...that I shouldn't have been. Things that could put us in danger."

Sarah's eyes widened in shock.

"What kind of things?" she asked, her voice firm.

Andrew hesitated, glancing around the room as if he feared being overheard.

"I was involved with some people who...who aren't good people, Sarah. People who will stop at nothing to get what they want."

Sarah's mind was racing. What was Andrew talking about? Who were these people, and what did they want?

"Who are these people?" she demanded, her voice cold.

Andrew's eyes locked on hers, and he spoke in a low, urgent tone.

"People who will hurt you, Sarah. People who will hurt us both if they find out that I've been talking to you about this."

Sarah's heart was pounding in her chest. She didn't know what to believe, or what to do. But she knew one thing - she had to get out of there, and she had to protect herself. "I need some time to think," she said, her voice firm.

Andrew's face fell, and he reached out to her. "Sarah, please..."

But Sarah stepped back, her eyes cold. "Don't touch me," she said. "I despise you "

Sarah turned and walked away from Andrew, leaving him standing alone in the living room. She went to her room, locking the door behind her. She needed time to think, to process everything that had happened.

As she sat on her bed, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was in danger. Who were these people Andrew was involved with? And what did they want?

Sarah's mind was racing with questions, but she knew she couldn't stay in the dark forever. She needed answers, and she needed them now.

She pulled out her phone and dialed a number, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she was taking a risk, but she had to know the truth.

As the phone rang, Sarah's anxiety grew. What would she learn? And how would it change everything?

The phone was answered, and Sarah took a deep breath before speaking.

"I need to know the truth about Andrew," she said, her voice firm.

"Can you help me?"