A House Full of Secrets
–
Dara Nix sat on the sectional in her living room, her swollen feet propped up on the ottoman. The modernized home she had inherited from her grandparents felt different these days. The laughter that once filled it had quieted, replaced by tension neither she nor Genevieve Washington wanted to speak on.
Genevieve emerged from the kitchen, a glass of red wine in hand. She hesitated for a second before settling onto the couch opposite Dara. “You sure you don’t want a sip? A little wine never hurt anybody.”
Dara smirked. “I think LC would have a fit if he saw me drinking anything other than water.”
Genevieve rolled her eyes. “LC needs to relax. You’re already under enough stress as it is.”
That much was true. Between balancing her job as an elementary school principal, wedding planning, and preparing for motherhood, stress had become her closest companion. But there was another weight—one she hadn’t admitted to anyone, not even Genevieve.
LC had been acting different lately. Distracted. Unavailable. And she had a sinking feeling she knew why.
Across from her, Genevieve swirled her wine in her glass, her own thoughts racing. She had recently started seeing Malik, a charming radiology resident at Balfour Baptist Hospital. But their relationship had taken an unexpected turn when she discovered he wasn’t just seeing her—he was engaged.
And yet, she hadn’t walked away.
Both women sat in silence, caught in the tangled webs they had unknowingly woven.
—
Suspicion and Lies
–
The next morning, Dara sat at the kitchen island, sipping on a smoothie when her phone buzzed. It was a text from LC:
Morning, babe. Got called into an early meeting. Catch you later. Love you.
She stared at the message for a moment before glancing at the clock. LC wasn’t scheduled for any meetings today, at least none that he had mentioned.
She debated calling him but decided against it. Instead, she turned to Genevieve, who was flipping through a magazine. “Do you ever get the feeling someone is lying to you?”
Genevieve stilled. “Why do you ask?”
Dara shrugged. “LC’s been acting strange. I don’t know if it’s just the stress of the wedding and the baby, or…” She trailed off.
Genevieve hesitated before speaking. “If your gut is telling you something’s off, you should trust it.”
The irony wasn’t lost on her. She had ignored her own gut feeling about Malik, and now she was stuck in a mess of her own making.
—
Deception Unveiled
–
Later that evening, Genevieve was at the hospital finishing her shift when she spotted Malik near the nurses’ station. He was leaning against the counter, laughing—too closely—with another woman.
She recognized her instantly: Olivia, his fiancée.
Her stomach turned. She had suspected he was still seeing Olivia, but to witness it firsthand made her sick.
Gathering her courage, she approached them. “Hey, Malik. Can I talk to you for a second?”
His expression shifted from surprise to panic, but he quickly masked it with a casual smile. “Of course. Olivia, I’ll catch up with you in a bit.”
Once they were alone, Genevieve crossed her arms. “So, you’re still playing house with her, huh?”
Malik sighed. “Genevieve, listen—”
“No, you listen,” she cut him off. “I was stupid to get involved with you, but I’m done now. Stay the hell away from me.”
She turned on her heel and walked away, her hands shaking.
As she exited the hospital, her phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number.
If you want to know where your fiancé really is, check the Blue Sky Hotel. Room 112.
Genevieve’s heart stopped.
It had to be about LC.
—
The Betrayal
–
Dara sat in the passenger seat of Genevieve’s car, her stomach churning. She didn’t know what was worse—the idea that LC could be cheating or the possibility that this was some cruel prank.
As they pulled up to the Blue Sky Hotel, Genevieve reached for her hand. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Dara nodded, swallowing hard. “I have to know.”
They walked through the lobby, the air thick with tension. When they reached Room 112, Dara took a shaky breath before knocking.
Seconds later, the door cracked open, revealing LC—shirtless, eyes wide with shock.
Behind him, a woman lounged on the bed in nothing but a silk robe.
Dara felt her heart shatter into a million pieces.
“LC,” she whispered.
He stepped forward, face paling. “Baby, I can explain—”
But she was already walking away.
Genevieve followed, rage burning in her chest. She had been deceived by Malik, but seeing Dara go through this was worse.
They reached the car, and Dara finally broke down, sobbing into her hands.
Genevieve wrapped an arm around her. “I’ve got you. No matter what, I’ve got you.”
—
Picking Up the Pieces
–
The days that followed were a blur. Dara kicked LC out of the house, canceling the wedding and cutting all ties. The betrayal ran deep, but she refused to let it break her.
Genevieve, too, had made a decision—she was done settling for less. She deserved more than a man who saw her as an option.
One evening, as they sat on the porch watching the sunset over Denver, Dara turned to Genevieve. “I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through this without you.”
Genevieve smiled. “That’s what sisters do.”
Dara exhaled. “I think I want to sell the house. Too many memories here. I need a fresh start.”
Genevieve nodded. “Then let’s find you the perfect place. A new beginning.”
And for the first time in a long time, they both felt free.
Thee Juju Aura 
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