The Cruelest Betrayal

Three months had passed since Idris lost his job.

Every morning, he woke up before sunrise, dressed neatly, and left the house carrying a folder filled with copies of his résumé.

Every evening...

He returned with the same folder.

Untouched.

No job.

No interview.

No hope.

Yet, he never stopped trying.

He believed that somewhere, someone would eventually give him a chance.

But each passing day made life more difficult.

•••

Damilola had changed completely.

The gentle woman who once waited eagerly for her husband to return home no longer existed.

She rarely spoke to him.

Whenever she did, her words were cold.

One afternoon, Idris was seated in the living room, scrolling through job vacancies on his laptop.

Damilola walked in from work carrying shopping bags.

She glanced at him briefly.

"So this is what you do every day?"

Idris looked up.

"I'm searching for vacancies."

She laughed mockingly.

"Searching?"

"You've been searching for months."

"You think companies are waiting for you?"

Idris remained calm.

"I'll find something."

"When?"

He didn't answer.

She shook her head and walked into the bedroom.

A few moments later, Idris quietly carried the shopping bags inside for her.

She didn't even say thank you.

•••

The following week, the landlord came to collect the annual rent.

Fortunately, Damilola had already paid it.

After the landlord left, she called Idris into the sitting room.

"I hope you heard what he said."

"I did."

"I paid the rent."

"I know."

She folded her arms.

"So remember whose house this is."

Idris looked at her in disbelief.

"Our house."

She smirked.

"No."

"My house."

"You didn't contribute one naira."

Those words struck him harder than any slap.

He lowered his head.

"I'm sorry."

She walked away without another word.

•••

Days later...

Idris decided to clean the entire house while Damilola was at work.

He swept.

Mopped the floor.

Washed the dishes.

Prepared dinner.

He wanted to surprise her.

When she finally arrived home, she barely looked around.

Instead, she frowned.

"Why are you sitting on the sofa?"

Idris looked confused.

"I've finished cleaning."

"So?"

"I just wanted to rest."

She pointed at the tiled floor.

"Sit there."

He blinked.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"This sofa was bought with my salary after you lost your job."

Idris stared at the woman standing before him.

He could hardly recognize her.

"Damilola..."

"I said sit on the floor."

A long silence followed.

Without saying a word...

Idris quietly stood up and sat on the cold tiles.

She nodded with satisfaction before switching on the television.

As Idris sat there, tears gathered in his eyes.

Not because of the floor...

But because of the woman.

•••

That night, he couldn't bear the pain any longer.

He picked up his phone and called his mother-in-law.

"Good evening, Mama."

"My son."

"I need your help."

"What happened?"

Idris explained everything.

The insults.

The disrespect.

The separate bedroom.

Everything.

There was silence on the other end.

He waited for comforting words.

Instead, she sighed.

"Idris..."

"Yes, Mama?"

"My daughter isn't completely wrong."

His heart skipped.

"You are no longer the man you used to be."

"Mama..."

"A woman wants security."

"I'm trying my best."

"Trying doesn't pay bills."

Tears rolled down Idris's face.

"So you support the way she's treating me?"

"I'm only being realistic."

The call ended.

Idris slowly lowered the phone.

At that moment...

He realized he was completely alone.

•••

The next evening, Damilola returned home unusually cheerful.

She hummed happily as she walked into the house.

Idris hadn't seen her smile like that in months.

"You look happy."

"I am."

"Did something good happen at work?"

She smiled mysteriously.

"You could say that."

Her phone suddenly rang.

She picked it up immediately.

Idris noticed the smile on her face grow even wider.

"Yes..."

"I miss you too."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

She ended the call and hurried into the bedroom.

Idris frowned.

Something didn't feel right.

Later that night, while clearing the dining table, her phone vibrated again.

The screen lit up.

A message appeared.

❤️ Tunde

"I can't wait to have you in my arms again. Very soon, he'll be out of our lives forever."

Idris froze.

His hands began to tremble.

His breathing became heavy.

He read the message again.

And again.

His vision blurred with tears.

The phone slipped from his hand and landed softly on the couch.

The truth...

The horrible truth...

Had finally found him.

The two people he trusted the most had been secretly destroying his life together.

And this was only the beginning.