CHAPTER 73

CHAPTER 73

Sylvia wants to meet the mystery man. Ntobe told her everything, and Nikky doesn't know that Sylvia will be here too.
Their first stop is at the dress shop for fittings. Sylvia did not only come to see the man, but she also heard that Letsatsi's mother would be here. That alone made Sylvia lose her mind. She knows very well that her plan would not work properly if she did not come herself.
Both Nikky and Futhi cannot have beautiful dresses. No!
Sylvia also informed Sno about the fitting. Sno will arrive any minute. Sylvia needs someone who will agree with her, someone who will support her silent attacks.
Lunga could not come because of personal issues, and honestly, that works well for Sylvia. Lunga is annoying and talks too much.
Sylvia walks into the boutique with everyone.
The place is empty and looks very expensive. The lighting is soft, the mirrors are tall and clean, and the dresses are displayed like art pieces.
Sylvia frowns as she looks at Ntobe, who is visibly excited about everything.
"Nontobeko, this place is expensive," Sylvia points out sharply. She does not like this at all.
Ntobe giggles softly.
"Come on, ma. Nikky and Futhi should look gorgeous too. They are my sisters," Ntobe says, pulling Sylvia toward the sofas to sit down.
Sylvia grunts silently. Nikky is not her sister.
And she does not deserve to wear such expensive dresses.
Sylvia scans the room again. There is not a single ugly dress here. Not one.
Snothando walks in, looking around the place, completely mesmerised by the gorgeous dresses.
"Wow," she whispers to herself.
Her eyes shine with admiration before she quickly controls her expression.
She spots everyone sitting comfortably on the sofas and frowns slightly when she does not see Nikky.
"Come, Sno," Sylvia says with a smile, happy to see her.
Sno greets everyone politely and sits next to Sylvia.
"Where's Nikky?" Sno asks, pretending to look around casually.
Ntobe quickly takes out her phone and starts typing.
"I'm sure she's around. She'll be here," Ntobe says with a warm smile.
One of the workers walks in with glasses of champagne and a bottle, placing them gently on the small table in front of them.
"I'll bring juice as well," the sales lady says before walking out. Futhi is here, and she cannot be drinking alcohol openly in front of her judgemental mother.
Futhi is not even engaging with anyone. Her eyes are glued to her phone, chatting with Roro, ignoring the tension in the room.
"This place looks beautiful," Sno says with her forever fake smile.
Ntobe nods happily.
"It is. Letsatsi hired it for us so we can shop without getting disturbed," Ntobe explains warmly.
Both Sylvia and Letsatsi's mother smile genuinely.
But something stings inside Snothando.
If she were not afraid of Letsatsi, she would have entered his life a long time ago. Every Nkabinde sibling deserves no happiness, she thinks bitterly.
Sylvia looks at her watch impatiently. She wants to complain, but she knows that if she says anything, Letsatsi's mother will defend Nikky immediately.
Ntobe pours everyone a glass of champagne as they continue waiting.
Finally, Nikky walks in with an apologetic smile on her face.
"I'm really sorry. I got lost, to be honest," she says softly.
She is not lying. She actually got lost on her way here.
Sylvia scoffs silently to herself.
"It's okay. You're here now," Ntobe says warmly, standing up to hug her.
Nikky sits next to Futhi.
Their sofa is directly across from Sylvia and Snothando's sofa, so their eyes are fixed on Nikky.
Sno feels anger rise inside her. She wants to lunge at Nikky and strangle her. She still believes Nikky took Ndumiso's things.
Sylvia believes Nikky should not be here at all.
A simple cheap dress from small street, that is what Nikky deserves.
The sales lady quietly closes the doors, giving them privacy.
Nikky feels uneasy. She did not expect to see her mother here. She wants to ask why she is here, but she knows it will turn into an argument.
"Oh, Nikky, my child," Letsatsi's mother says sadly. "Letsatsi told me you are no longer working at the clinic."
All eyes immediately turn to Nikky.
Her heart skips hard.
This is not how she wanted everyone to find out.
Sylvia tilts her head slightly, secretly amused by the news. This means her plan worked perfectly.
Sno scoffs in shock.
"What happened?" she asks curiously.
Nikky sighs and pours herself a glass of champagne.
"Long story," she says with a small shrug, trying to act unbothered.
"Long story?" Ntobe repeats in disbelief. "And why didn't Letsatsi tell me?"
She looks genuinely hurt.
"And? Do you at least have another job lined up? How are you going to survive?" Ntobe continues, her voice filled with disbelief. "Don't tell me you're going to live off Diamond."
All eyes remain on Nikky.
Nikky rolls her eyes slowly and takes a long sip of her champagne. She refuses to look weak. She refuses to look embarrassed.
"Can we get on with the fittings, please?" Nikky says, clearly annoyed now. She does not even try to hide it.
Sylvia giggles sarcastically, the sound sharp and fake.
"Yeah, let's see what they have for us," Sylvia says, adjusting herself on the sofa. "And make sure they don't get too expensive dresses. We can't be wasting our son-in-law's money," she adds firmly.
Ntobe closes her eyes briefly and shakes her head in defeat. She already knows this is going to be a very long day.
She should not have brought her mother here.
She really regrets it now.
Futhi slowly lifts her eyes from her phone, sensing the tension. Sno sits quietly beside Sylvia, watching everything carefully, enjoying the discomfort a little too much.
The sales lady walks back in with a bright professional smile.
"Ladies, are we ready to start with the fittings?" she asks politely, clearly unaware of the tension in the room.
Nikky stands up first.
"Yes," she says calmly. "Let's begin."
.
.
.
The wedding theme color is a shade of purple mixed with a bit of dusty rose. Soft, romantic colors.
Nikky steps out of the fitting room again. This is the third dress she has tried on.
And honestly? She loves this one.
It fits her perfectly. The fabric hugs her body in the right places without looking too much. The color makes her skin glow. The design is simple but classy.
Ntobe squeals loudly and claps her hands like a little girl.
"Wow! This one looks so gorgeous!" Ntobe says happily, her eyes shining with excitement.
Letsatsi's mother stands up slowly, smiling warmly.
"Turn around, my child," she says gently.
Nikky turns around slowly, letting them see every angle. The dress flows beautifully as she moves.
Sylvia frowns. Every single dress Nikky has tried on has looked too good on her.
Very good. Too good.
She cannot allow this girl to take her daughter's spotlight. This is not Nikky's wedding. She should not shine more than everyone else.
Of course, Snothando is sitting there with her forever fake smile, pretending to be supportive.
"I think it's too tight," Sno says softly, sounding innocent.
Sylvia immediately nods.
"Yes, it's too tight. Don't you have another one?" Sylvia asks, looking directly at the sales lady.
The sales lady hesitates for a second.
"No, this one fits her perfectly," she says politely.
"No, this is fine. We are taking it," Ntobe says firmly before anyone can argue further. She looks at the sales lady with determination.
The sales lady nods happily, relieved.
Sylvia looks at Ntobe, trying hard to hide her irritation. Her lips press together tightly.
She has a very foolish daughter, she thinks to herself bitterly.
Snothando's phone suddenly rings.
She quickly searches for it inside her handbag. When she sees it is her mother calling, she rolls her eyes in annoyance and puts the phone on silent.
She is not in the mood to deal with her right now.
Nikky stands in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection.
For a second, she smiles softly at herself.
She looks beautiful. She runs her hands gently over the fabric, admiring how it fits her body. She should continue with her diet, she thinks seriously. She needs to make sure this dress still fits her perfectly on the wedding day.
"Futhi, come, let's go. I want to take a picture of Nikky too," Letsatsi's mother says excitedly, gently pulling Nikky away. Futhi quickly follows behind them.
Sylvia wants to stop them. She wants to say something sharp and embarrassing. But instead, she grabs her champagne glass and gulps it down in one go.
As she looks around, she realises it is now just her, Sno, and Ntobe sitting there.
This is her chance.
"Ntobe? Are you crazy?" Sylvia says harshly. "Nike is taking the whole spotlight. Is this your wedding or hers?"
Ntobe's eyes widen in shock.
Sno slowly nods in agreement. Anything that causes tension between them works perfectly for her.
"You want Letsatsi to notice her and not you?" Sylvia adds, her tone sharper now.
Ntobe scoffs loudly.
"Ma!! That won't happen," Ntobe says defensively. She cannot believe her mother just said that out loud.
"Are you blind?" Sylvia continues angrily. "Can't you see everyone in this family likes her? What if they introduce polygamy?"
Her voice lowers but the anger is clear.
Sylvia hates how the Selepe family adores Nikky. She hates how easily Nikky fits in. She hates how comfortable Nikky looks around them. Sno smiles a wicked smile to herself.
Maybe adding a small lie will make things worse.
"It's true," Sno says softly, pretending to be concerned. "You should watch out. You can't trust your in-laws."
She pours more petrol onto the fire.
"Look at Letsatsi's mother. She is all over Nike. She even went to take pictures with her," Sno adds.
Ntobe frowns, slowly digesting their words.
For a moment, doubt flashes across her face.
"Nike is dating now," Ntobe says suddenly. "And it looks very serious. That man even met Aunt Lunga."
Both Sylvia and Snothando gasp in shock.
"What?" Sylvia blurts out.
"Yes," Ntobe continues, noticing their shocked expressions. "Aunt Lunga met him. It's serious."
Sno's heart starts beating fast.
This is news to her. She did not know any of this. She thought Sylvia was exaggerating before.
"Nike? Dating? Who?" Sno asks in disbelief. She hates this. She hates not knowing what is happening in Nikky's life.
"We are going to meet him today," Ntobe says casually, sipping her champagne as if she did not just drop a bomb.
Sno huffs quietly.
She will have to join them by force if she has to. She needs to see this man for herself. She needs to know who he is.
Sylvia suddenly goes quiet. Her mind is spinning.
How could Nikky introduce this man to Lunga first and not her? What are they planning behind her back?
Why is everyone moving without her knowing?
"So, don't worry yourselves. Nike is happy with that man. I can't wait to meet him. Aunt Lunga likes him too. I think this time around, things will work out. Hopefully, he won't act like Sphephelo," Ntobe adds with a frown. She clearly hates Sphephelo.
Sno wants to scream, but she forces herself to calm down. She already knows what she's going to do. She opens her bag and grabs her phone. She needs to inform her mother.
As she scrolls to her contacts, a new message pops up. She clicks it, and almost drops her phone in shock.
"You thought you were going to get away with murder?" the text reads.
Her heart pounds fast. Panic floods her. Who could have sent this? Her eyes look at Nikky's bag. Could it be Nikky? Or is she working with someone else?
Sno jumps to her feet, her mind racing. She needs to act, and fast.
"I have to go. My mom needs me," Sno says quickly, placing her glass of champagne on the table. She grabs her things and storms out without waiting for anyone's response.
.
.
.
Nikky was still annoyed that Ntobe had spilled the news about meeting Mnotho. Ntobe kept apologising, her voice soft and worried.
"I was just too excited… I'm really sorry," Ntobe whispers, glancing at Nikky as they walk into the restaurant. Sylvia and Futhi follow behind, both looking curious.
The hostess hurries over with a professional smile, her steps quick and precise.
"Good day. Reservation under Nikezinkosi," Nikky says politely, her tone calm but firm. "A private section, please," she adds. She feels a small rush of relief, Mnotho always goes overboard with these things, and this is supposed to be just her, Ntobe, and Mnotho.
The hostess nods, checking her tablet and tapping a few buttons.
Sylvia frowns at the scene, her lips pressing into a thin line. She clearly does not like how things are unfolding.
The hostess looks at Nikky and smiles warmly.
"Mr. Mlambo is already here waiting for you. Please follow me," she says politely.
They all follow her toward the elevator.
Sylvia huffs loudly.
"I hate elevators," she complains, clearly wanting to start drama.
Ntobe frowns at her.
"Since when?" she asks, shocked.
The elevator doors slide open, and they step inside. The hostess presses the button, then steps out, nodding at them.
"She's not coming?" Futhi asks curiously as the doors close.
Nikky shakes her head slowly.
"No, we'll find another one upstairs," she says calmly.
"It looks beautiful. I should take pictures," Futhi says excitedly.
Sylvia scoffs sharply.
"No, you won't do that," she reprimands her, thinking bitterly, there's nothing beautiful about this place.
The elevator doors finally open, and Nikky steps into the private section. She spots Mnotho standing near their table. Two more chairs have been added.
"There's no one else here?" Sylvia asks, her annoyance clear.
Ntobe sighs heavily. She's exhausted from her mother's constant remarks and regrets even telling her about this.
Sylvia's frown deepens as they get closer to the man. She scoffs silently. The man is smiling warmly at them. This can't be the man we're here to meet, she thinks.
They finally reach him and pause. Nikky steps forward and stands next to Mnotho.
"Family, this is Mnotho, your brother-in-law and your son-in-law, Mom," Nikky says softly.
Ntobe blinks slowly, unsure if she should compliment him or say anything. She didn't expect to meet such a mature man, respectful, confident, and good-looking. She doesn't even want to stare too long; it would seem disrespectful.
"I'm Nontobeko. It's so lovely to finally meet you, Mnotho," she says happily, offering him a handshake.
Sylvia laughs out loud, clapping her hands in disbelief. Nikky rolls her eyes, this is exactly why she didn't want Sylvia to come.
"I'm leaving," Sylvia announces without shame. Ntobe gasps, shocked.
"Ma!" Ntobe says, alarmed.
"What? Nike is disrespecting me by introducing me to her…sugar daddy? How old are you, baba?" Sylvia says, irritated.
"Ma! Stop it, you are a guest here," Ntobe says firmly. Her mother is exaggerating, Mnotho doesn't look that old at all.
Sylvia huffs and turns, walking away. Ntobe lets out a shaky sigh.
"Ntombifuthi, let's go. Your sister has lost her mind; she'll teach you nonsense," Sylvia calls over her shoulder, glaring at Futhi.
Futhi sighs softly and walks toward her mother, knowing arguing would only cause a bigger scene. Thank God it's just them here.
Ntobe quickly turns back to Nikky and Mnotho, giving them an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry. Let me go talk to her," Ntobe says softly.
Nikky simply nods.
.
.
.
"Ma, that was so unnecessary! Why did you even come if you were going to be this rude?" Ntobe asks in disbelief, shocked by her mother's behaviour.
Sylvia crosses her arms, looking pleased with herself.
"Ntobe, I was supposed to be happy… Nike dating a sugar daddy? This is exactly why she left her job, so this man can take care of her," Sylvia says, exaggerating everything. She knows she's the reason Nikky lost her job, and now she plans to make sure Nikky feels miserable in this little one-minute relationship of hers.
Ntobe shakes her head, defeated.
"This is why Nike didn't want you to meet him. You didn't even give him a chance," she says. "And stop lying, Ma. He doesn't look that old. Yeah, maybe older than Nike, but he's not a grandpa," Ntobe adds firmly.
Sylvia doesn't care. Even if the man was younger, she would have done exactly what she just did. In her mind, Nikky belongs with Sphephelo. Nikky belongs to that family, and she should be miserable for the rest of her life. Sylvia scoffs silently, thinking maybe she should give Nikky another reminder of who she "really belongs" to.
"Go to your husband, Nontobeko, and take Futhi home. I need to buy a few groceries," Sylvia says, walking away without looking back.
Ntobe sighs heavily. She can't just leave without saying goodbye to Nikky.

•••

[NIKEZINKOSI]

I knew Sylvia was going to behave like that, but I didn't think she would just leave right after I introduced her to Mnotho. This is exactly why I didn't want her to meet him now. Her mind is still stuck on Sphephelo, you would swear he bewitched her.
Right now, I'm just waiting for a call from Mbongeni. I know she is going to run to her brother-in-law and start drama. She won't let this go.
We left the restaurant and found a small café.
I miss Diamond.
I just want to go to our flat and get drunk. This day has been the worst.
Stan even called security on me earlier. He said I was harassing him and if I continue, he will call the cops next time. He said he knows nothing, and if I want answers, I should ask my family.
He mentioned my dad's key. Now I must go home and look for a key I don't even know about.
I'm drained. Completely drained.
For a second, I even think about asking Mnotho to help me with everything. But he has already done enough. He is paying for my fees, something my dad should have done.
"Fuck," Mnotho says irritably.
I raise my head and look at him. He's staring at his phone, his jaw tight, his eyes annoyed.
"Are you okay?" I ask softly.
He lifts his eyes from his phone and looks at me. His face immediately softens.
"Just a small problem at work with a delivery schedule," he says quietly, forcing a small smile. "I need to drop you off at home and drive to work to see what's going on."
"I want to go to my flat," I say gently. "There are a few things I need to sort out."
I need to check something about that key Stan was talking about.
Mnotho just stares at me, like he's studying my face, trying to read what I'm not saying. He sighs softly and puts his phone down.
"Peaches, you know I'm not angry, right?" he asks, reaching for my hands.
I know he's not. And I already apologized for my mother's behavior.
I nod slowly.
"I know. I just need to get to my flat. It's not because of my mom," I assure him. "You can come later when you're done at work."
He smiles and nods.
"You're staying for a bit?" he asks, standing up.
I nod.
"Yeah, I'll be fine," I murmur.
He keeps staring at me for a moment before leaning down and kissing my lips gently.
"I'll call, okay?" he says.
I can see he doesn't want to leave. But I need a little space too. I need to think.
"Nikky," he says quietly after a long moment of silence. "You're not having second thoughts about us, are you?"
I gasp softly and shake my head quickly.
"No. I love you. I'm just a little sad, that's all," I say honestly.
He studies my face again, searching for doubt, for fear, for something hidden. Then he finally nods.
"I love you too. I'll come to your flat once I sort out the mess at work," he says softly.
And then he finally walks away.
I watch him leave, and I sigh tiredly. My shoulders feel heavy. I hope he is not doubting my love for him. I hope he doesn't think I'm pulling away.
The last thing I want is for him to think I'm unsure about us. I'm not. I love him. I'm just overwhelmed. So much is happening at once.
I keep staring at the direction he walked in, wishing things were simpler.
I whisper softly to myself, "Please don't doubt me."
Someone clears their throat. I look up and frown.
"Why are you frowning?" my mom asks as she pulls out the chair and sits down like she belongs there.
Why is she here? I thought she left.
I should just leave.
"But Nike, can't you just find someone your age? Huh?" she asks. "What? Did he promise you heaven on earth?" she adds, her tone sharp. She is clearly trying to provoke me.
"Ma, what is your problem? Can't you just let me live my life?" I ask, my voice shaking with frustration.
She frowns.
"What are you talking about now? Don't act like I'm controlling you. I'm just curious about your life decisions lately. You have no job. Is he your financial plan?" she asks.
I chuckle softly in disbelief. I can't believe what I'm hearing.
"I love him, Ma," I say firmly, holding her gaze.
"Love? Isn't he married? I saw a ring," she pushes. "You are dating married men now?" she scoffs loudly.
Mnotho already paid for our coffee. I should just leave. I don't want to give this woman my energy.
I stand up.
"You're leaving? We need to talk," she says irritably.
I sigh deeply.
"You need to find a job. And stop relying on married men. What will people say, huh? Dating an old married man," she snaps.
"Ma, firstly, he's not old. He's just forty-four," I say firmly.
She gasps dramatically.
"Secondly, he's not married. I'm the one who gave him that ring. It's a promise ring," I continue.
Her eyes widen in shock.
"Jesus help me! Your child will kill me. You gave a man a ring?" she exaggerates, holding her head like she's about to faint.
"Mxm," I mutter under my breath, annoyed.
"Lastly, Ma, yes, he is my financial plan. I left my job because he is a shareholder of that clinic," I say calmly.
And then I turn and walk away.

My belly button is painful. The pain feels deep and uncomfortable. I even stopped by the pharmacy to get some pills, hoping they would help. I just need to get home and rest.
But it's getting worse now.
I groan softly, looking down at my feet as I walk slowly. Every step feels heavier. I should probably call Mtho to come and fetch me.
As I try to take my phone out of my bag, I bump into someone and almost fall. Strong hands grab me quickly before I hit the ground.
I sigh softly.
"I'm so sorry," a voice says. It's a man's voice.
I raise my head and look at him with a small, tired smile. His eyes widen suddenly.
"Uhm…" I say softly, but another wave of pain hits me. I press my hand lightly against my stomach.
The man keeps staring at me. It's like he has seen a ghost or something. The way he is looking at me makes me uncomfortable.
I wave my hand slightly in front of his face.
He blinks rapidly and clears his throat.
"I'm so sorry… it's just that you… you really look like my granddaughter," he says, still staring at me carefully.
Granddaughter?
If I wasn't feeling this sick, I would have asked more questions. But right now, I feel terrible. The pain is making it hard to even think properly.
"I'm sorry, I'm rushing somewhere," I say quickly as I move past him.
He is a stranger. And it's not safe talking to strangers in this country.
My phone.
I need to call my chauffeur before this pain gets worse
.
.
.
I feel a hand rubbing my stomach.
I slowly open my eyes. And freeze.
Sphephelo.
I try to move, but I can't. My body feels heavy and stiff, like I am trapped inside it.
"Hi," Sphephelo says softly.
His voice sounds calm, almost gentle, and that scares me even more.
I feel his hands moving slowly up my stomach. I try to speak, to shout, to say his name but nothing comes out. My throat feels dry. My voice refuses to work.
"You thought you'd get away from me?" he says softly.
I try harder to move my arms, but they won't listen to me. It feels like I'm fighting against something invisible holding me down.
His hands finally reach my neck.
He starts massaging it slowly, gently at first, like he cares. Like this is something normal.
Tears gather in my eyes.
Then his fingers tighten.
"You thought you'd get away from me?" he repeats, but this time his voice is cold. There is no softness in it anymore.
His grip becomes harder.
I need to fight.
I can't show him that I'm scared. I'm not afraid of him. I refuse to be afraid of him.
I close my eyes, still feeling his hand around my neck. I need to let go. If I show him I'm scared, he will keep doing this. He will never stop.
I force myself to breathe slowly.
I let my body relax, bit by bit. Slowly. Like I'm giving up.
I let myself sink.
Then, I feel a hand rubbing my cheek softly, gently.
I slowly open my eyes.
I'm at my flat. I look around quickly, trying to understand where I am. My breathing is heavy.
I sigh in relief.
Diamond is sleeping next to me.
It was a dream. Just a bad dream.
I stare at the ceiling for a few seconds, trying to calm myself down, trying to shake off the feeling of his hands on me.