Dear Wife, I Hate You (by Josephine Mbanefo) novel Chapter 25

Lilith’s Pov

Blackmail?

A sex tape?

Zoey?

I just stared at her. My mouth was slightly open, but no words came out. My brain couldn’t piece anything together. This had to be a joke, right?

“I don’t understand what you’re saying,” I finally muttered.

“You have to understand, Lilith,” she said, her voice trembling. “You’re the first person I’ve told this to. If word gets out… that man will release everything. I’m begging you, promise me you won’t say a word.”

“I promise,” I said quietly.

My chest felt heavy. I sat there, trying to breathe normally, but my mind was racing. “What are you going to do? This is serious. If Nolan finds out you’re cheating…”

“I know,” she said quickly. “That’s why I’m being careful. I’m working on a plan. I just don’t know how it’ll turn out yet.”

I leaned forward. “Why don’t you just tell Nolan? He owns a whole damn security company. He and Killian could help you. They have people. They know how to handle things like this.”

Zoey shook her head. “No. My father would kill me, Lilith. Not literally, but he would disown me. He’d say I was reckless… that I let a man record me like that. He would never forgive me. I need to fix this myself.”

I rubbed my temple. “Then how? How are you going to do it?”

“I need to find someone willing to help. Someone to get close to him, someone he won’t suspect. I’ve been trying, but everyone says no. They’re afraid. No one wants to be in my shoes.”

I felt a sharp ache in my chest. Her voice sounded so broken.

“We have to find a way,” I said. “Because if this gets worse, Nolan’s not going to look at you the same. He won’t stay.”

“I know,” she whispered. “It breaks me, Lilith. Hurting him… knowing what I’ve done… But I have no choice. If this tape gets out, my career’s over. No one will ever work with me again. I’ve worked so hard to build myself.”

I looked at her. “I have an idea.”

Her eyes widened. “What is it?”

“I’ll help you,” I said. “I’ll find the man.”

Zoey looked shocked. “Lilith, finding him comes with responsibilities. You’ll have to be in a room with him. You’ll have to seduce him and then….”

My face tightened. “What’s the plan exactly?”

Zoey shifted uncomfortably. “He’s allergic to nuts. But he’s always careful around me. He doesn’t eat or drink when I’m near. The last time I tried something suspicious, he threatened to kill me. But maybe… if someone else does it-”

“You want me to kiss him after eating nuts?” I cut in, my tone sharp. “That’s your plan?”

Zoey raised her hands. “Okay, okay, maybe not the kiss. We could use sleeping pills. But again, he doesn’t eat anything when I’m with him. He’s paranoid.”

“So you want me to drug him?”

“Yes,” she said without flinching. “You distract him. When he’s out, I’ll come in, grab his phone and system, and delete everything. But we’ll need to plan it properly… when and how you two will meet, everything.”

Before I could respond, her phone rang. She glanced at it and answered quickly. “I’ll be right there.”

She turned to me. “Lilith, I have to go. Something urgent. Just make yourself comfortable or head home if you want. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Okay,” I said softly.

She gave me a weak smile and then rushed out of the room.

I sat in silence for a moment. Then I stood up and looked around. Her room was neat, but something about being here… in Nolan’s house, in this space that wasn’t mine… it made me feel uneasy. Like I didn’t belong.

Honestly, I didn’t comfortable here.

I took one last look around, then turned to leave. It was time to go back.

As I closed Zoey’s door behind me, ready to go back to Killian’s place, I suddenly realized that I didn’t know where to go anymore. Zoey had dragged me from one corner to another like I was a doll on strings. Her house was just as big as Killian’s. No, maybe even bigger.

I kept walking, turning left and right, hoping something would look familiar.

Then suddenly, I stepped into another room.

A library.

A freaking library.

My mouth parted slightly in surprise.

“Oh my God,” I whispered. “A whole–ass library.”

I walked in slowly, spinning around as my eyes took in the shelves, the endless lines of books stacked like treasures. I wasn’t even sure if Killian had a library. I’d never seen one in his house, and that thought annoyed me. How was it that I didn’t even know what my own house had?

I made a mental note to explore every inch of that place tomorrow. No excuses.

I moved through the room, running my fingers over book spines, the paper scent almost calming. I picked one book and stared at the cover, tempted. Then I placed it back. I’d ask Zoey for permission next time.

Back to finding the road.

I stepped out, moving again like a confused tourist in a palace.

Then a strange scent hit me.

Something… burning?

I paused.

Sniffed again.

Burning. Definitely burning.

Panic kicked in.

I followed the smell, walking faster, then running. I turned a corner and went in.

It was the kitchen. Almost up in flames.

Nolan stood in front of the stove with a pan, waving smoke away with a towel like that would help.

“What the fuck?!” I shouted, rushing in.

He looked at me like a kid caught red–handed. “I was just trying to make pancakes.”

“Pancakes?” I echoed, looking at the blackened mess in the pan. “That’s not pancakes. That’s charcoal.”

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