_PONTSHO_

I look at him with tears in my eyes as the man I've loved for almost half my life shreds my heart into pieces. He has no shame, no remorse whatsoever. In my house? Is it because I'm an orphan that he treats me like this, or the fact that his family hates me?

"Did you hear me?" I nod, tears streaming down my cheeks. The woman wheels her bags upstairs while I watch her. I turn to my husband, who has been snapping his fingers in front of my face.

"Focus, Pontsho. I hope you moved your stuff out of the main bedroom."

I chuckle. "You mean our matrimonial bedroom?" A slap lands on my cheek, and I instantly see stars.

"Don't interrupt me when I'm talking."

"I'm sorry," I say.

"Apology accepted. Busi will be staying with us, and you dare breathe a word to any of my colleagues or our friends about this, I'll kill you. I don't need two wives anyway. I'm just keeping you here because you have nowhere to go."

The Busi woman enters the kitchen and kisses my husband's cheek before turning to look at me.

"Uhm, I see you forgot to remove your wedding pictures, Sisi. Please remove them quickly. I don't want nightmares, mina."

I nod, not knowing what to say.

"As of today, you are not allowed to cook for my man and me. I don't trust you, phela. You might poison us."

I nod again, void of words.

Menzi Bhengu and I met 15 years ago. I was 15 years old, and he was 20 years old. I was staying with my grandparents back then. My mother died giving birth to me, and my father died a year after I was born. He had lung cancer.

I was on my way back from school when Menzi stopped me and offered me a ride back home. We sat for hours in his father's car, getting to know each other, and since that day, we were inseparable.

His parents hated me because they wanted him to marry their choice, but that man chose me. He married me straight after I finished my matric because I was pregnant.

My grandfather walked me down the aisle two days before suffering a fatal heart attack. If it wasn't for my husband, I swear I would have lost my mind because my grandfather and I were thick as thieves.

As if that was not enough, I buried my grandmother after my son Njabulo was born, and just like that, I had no family. My father's family is from Germany, and I never met them.

My grandmother told me that my father is white, and he never spoke much about his family. He was the best carpenter in the whole of Bloemfontein. Unfortunately, his business died along with him.

"Pontsho!" I quickly snap out of my thoughts.

"Yes?"

My husband looks at me with so much disgust in his eyes. He used to love me. Things drastically changed two months ago after his company went international. His business became a huge success.

He started attending business functions, making headlines, taking overseas trips, and things took a turn for the worse when our son died a month ago from a severe asthma attack.

Instead of us mourning together, he started blaming me and even started beating me up. Today, he brought his mistress to live with us. I saw them together on social media, taking trips to Dubai, and finally, he brought her to my house. My house!

"I'm going away for a couple of days on business. If I hear that you gave my woman a problem, I'll kill you. She's in charge. If she says lick the floor, you fucken lick the floor. Am I clear?"

I nod. As soon as he leaves this house, I'm moving out. He thinks I have nowhere to go, but I know God will never forsake me.

Menzi left. I packed all my bags while Busi was fast asleep and left my triple-story house in Sandton.

With only 10k in my bank account, I don't know what awaits me, but I will not roll over and play dead in the name of marriage. Money changed him, grief changed him, maybe I changed him, but I will not be his punching bag anymore.

My former helper told me about affordable accommodation in Soweto, so I took a taxi to Diepkloof. I walked around the whole day looking for a place to rent until I got a back room. Thank goodness the rent is affordable, but 10k won't last long. I need a job.

"You don't have furniture?" the landlord asks.

"I don't, but I'll make a plan."

She looks at me like she's thinking.

"I'm a businesswoman, and I have a proposition for you, only if I can trust you," she says, eyeing me carefully.

"I have a good feeling about you, I hope I'm not wrong. I am Naniki Mvelase."

"I don't want trouble, I just need a place to sleep and a job to get by, that's it."

She smiles. "Looking at your clothes, the ring on your finger, your perfume... You are used to the finer things in life, and I can get you that type of life."

I chuckle. "Then what are you doing in Soweto? Shouldn't you be in Sandton living that type of life?"

She laughs. "This is what I call confusing the enemy. I have a bed in my house that no one is using. You can have it, and when you want to find out more about the proposition, call me on this number. Rent is free for this month only."

This Naniki character is strange. She's dressed modestly, nothing screams money, but yet there's a Range Rover Sport parked in the yard.

*_Two months later_*

"You did well, Pony. Here's 15k for your trouble," I squeal in excitement.

"All this for just accompanying him to a two-hour business dinner, Naniki?"

She chuckles. "Yes, dear, and there's plenty more where that came from."

I nod. "Can I ask you something?"

"Okay."

"What if they want sex?"

She chuckles. "I don't do prostitution, Pontsho. If you guys have an agreement, then fine, do it on your own time, far away from my business, and I won't offer you security. This is like a dating site for rich men who want to go to functions with decent women. No strings attached, no scandal, no backlash, that's why you signed a non-disclosure agreement."

I nod. "Let me get going. Thanks for the cash. I have a client for tomorrow's presidential gala dinner, right?"

She nods. "Come two hours earlier, Brenda will do your whole look for tomorrow. This guy is a huge deal, Pony. We can't afford any fuckups."

MENZI BHENGU

I walk into the bedroom, and she's putting lotion on her legs. I remove my shoes and socks.

"Any luck finding her?"

I shake my head. "You need to find her, I won't bring a child out of wedlock. Find her and serve her the divorce papers fast."

"She was careless, letting her leave. I wanted to kill her because she stands to get half of everything if we get divorced. You were supposed to watch her until I got back."

She pouts. "You know pregnancy makes one sleepy, I didn't hear a thing. But she's used to the high life, she'll be back in no time to beg you for a second chance, and that's when we'll strike."

"I hope so. I don't know what kind of muthi she fed me to give her shares to my company. I can't do shit without her signature now."

"I'm sorry, baby. We will find her."

"My mom and sister are coming tomorrow. They can't wait to see you again."

"I know, right? The last time I saw them was at Junior's funeral. I miss them."

I'm happy that my family loves Busi. They hate Pontsho so much. Looking back, I think what I felt for her was not love. I was infatuated by her mixed-race beauty. Other than that, there's really nothing special about her.