THE GENERAL’S WIFE
Episode 2
Weeks passed and Kola remained at the battlefield, sending short, reassuring messages whenever he could.
“I’m safe. I love you.”
“It’s tough out here, but I will come back to you.”
“Pray for me, my love.”
Each message made Teni smile, but it didn’t take away the emptiness. The house was too quiet. Nights were the hardest. She would wake up in the middle of the night, reaching out for Kola, only to find an empty space beside her.
And then, there was Richard.
His presence had become a daily part of her life. He always seemed to know when she was lonely, when she needed a friend, when she needed a distraction. They would sit in the living room, watching movies, talking about life, or simply enjoying each other’s company.
One evening, after a dinner Richard had prepared for her, Teni leaned back in her chair and sighed.
“I can’t believe you’re this good at cooking,” she said.
Richard grinned. “You sound surprised.”
“I am! Kola never told me you could cook.”
“He doesn’t know,” Richard said, leaning forward. “It’s a secret talent.”
They both laughed, and for a moment, the room fell into a comfortable silence.
Then Richard’s expression grew serious. “Teni, are you happy?”
The question caught her off guard. “What do you mean?”
Richard tilted his head. “I mean… with Kola. Are you happy with him?”
Teni frowned, shifting in her seat. “Of course, I am. Kola is a good man.”
“But is he the right man for you?”
Something about the way Richard looked at her made her heart race. She quickly stood up, shaking her head. “Richard, we shouldn’t be talking about this.”
Richard sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I just… I see you, Teni. I see how lonely you are. And it kills me.”
Teni swallowed hard. “I made vows to Kola. He’s my husband.”
“And he left you,” Richard said softly.
Teni’s breath caught in her throat. “That’s not fair. He left to fight for his country.”
Richard stood up, walking closer to her. “And what about you? Who is fighting for you?”
There was something in his voice, something raw and painful. Teni’s body tensed as he reached out and gently touched her arm.
For the first time, she felt it—an undeniable, dangerous attraction.
She should have pushed him away. She should have walked out of the room.
But she didn’t.
Instead, she looked into his eyes and felt something shift inside her.
Something she couldn’t explain.
Something that could change everything.
That night, Teni barely slept. Richard’s words echoed in her head. She felt guilty. She loved Kola. She had never even thought about another man before.
But Richard was different.
He understood her.
The next morning, she decided to create distance. She ignored Richard’s calls and avoided places she knew he would be. She needed to remind herself that she was a married woman.
But Richard didn’t give up.
One evening, after three days of silence, she heard a knock at her door. She knew who it was before she even opened it.
“Teni, are you avoiding me?” Richard asked, stepping inside.
She crossed her arms. “I just think we’ve been spending too much time together.”
Richard sighed. “Tell me the truth. Did I do something wrong?”
Teni hesitated. “No, Richard. It’s not you. It’s me. I need to focus on my marriage.”
Richard took a step closer. “And what if I told you… I can’t stop thinking about you?”
Teni’s breath hitched. “Richard, don’t—”
“I love you,” he said.
Her heart stopped.
No.
No, this wasn’t happening.
“You don’t mean that,” she whispered.
“I do,” Richard said firmly. “I’ve loved you for years, Teni. I just never said anything because of Kola.”
Tears welled up in Teni’s eyes. This was wrong. Everything about this was wrong.
But when Richard reached out and cupped her face, she didn’t move.
She didn’t push him away.
And when he leaned in, pressing his lips to hers…
She kissed him back.
A decision that would change her life forever.
Days turned into weeks, and the secret between them deepened. What started as a mistake became something more. They tried to stop, tried to end whatever was happening, but they kept coming back to each other.
Then one morning, Teni woke up feeling sick.
At first, she thought it was stress. But the nausea became worse.
One afternoon, while Richard was over, she rushed to the bathroom, vomiting violently.
Richard rushed to her side. “Teni, what’s wrong?”
She wiped her mouth, her hands trembling. “I… I don’t know.”
But deep down, a terrible fear was growing inside her.
No.
It couldn’t be.
Richard frowned. “Teni… when was your last period?”
Teni’s blood ran cold. She hadn’t even noticed, but now that she thought about it…
It had been two months.
Richard grabbed her hands. “We need to get a test.”
Teni’s heart pounded as Richard drove her to the pharmacy. She sat in the car, her hands shaking as she held the pregnancy test.
Minutes later, she stood in the bathroom, staring at the result.
Positive.
Her body went numb.
She was pregnant.
And Kola wasn’t the father.
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she clutched the test.
“What have I done?” she whispered.
She walked out of the bathroom, and the moment Richard saw her face, he knew.
“It’s mine, isn’t it?” he asked.
Teni nodded, fresh tears falling. “Richard… what are we going to do?”
Richard stepped closer, determination in his eyes. “We’ll figure it out. We’ll handle it together.”
But deep in Teni’s heart, she knew the truth.
There was no way to handle this.
Because sooner or later…
Kola would return.
And when he did, the unexpected would happen.
TO BE CONTINUED…