Elena sat there in her seat shell shocked. She looked at her drink, thinking that they must have added something in it, because there was no possible way to explain what she was seeing.
âBut how?â She thought out loud.
Elena watched as he fished for his phone from his pocket and began talking into it. She even leaned over into her seat, in an attempt to read his lips, but couldnât. He then raised his right hand in the air, as if waving at someone over.
Elena let out a breath. It was definitely Malik. He was dressed casually, in light blue jeans pants, white T-shirt and a leather jacket thrown over his arm.
Getting up, Elena was about to go over to him, but then a woman came up and they embraced each other. The blonde hair woman had a smile on her face when she pulled back from Malik, then hand him a few of the bags she was carrying. The woman then bent to pick up a puppy and Malik patted its head.
Elena watched as the husband kissed the woman on the lips she looked lovingly at him. And said something, he then opened a car door for her.
Elena shook her head, she thought she was seeing things and thought that that couldnât be Malik in any way. Her husband was dead, she saw his body was at the morgue that day and they buried him days ago.
âThat can never be Malik,â she thought.
Feeling sick, Elena placed a hand over her mouth, trying to not throw up what she just had.
ââThere is only one way to find out if thatâs him,ââ Elena then said to herself.
Elena hurried to her rental and drove like a maniac until she caught up with them. She made sure to drive in the other lane so it wouldnât seem as if she was following the silver Volvo.
Both cars came to a halt at a stop light and Elena pulled up beside it. The two cars were heavily tinted, so Elena couldnât make out the persons inside, and she didnât want to roll her window down and risk being seen if it really was Malik.
A car honked behind her and that was then she realized that the light had changed.
ââOh, fuck off, this is an important investigation being done.ââ
The Volvo soon stopped at a supermarket, and Elena waited until the couple went inside to do the same.
She took up a basket then hurried to follow behind them but kept her distance.
They went down aisle number 5 first and Elena stayed at the end of the aisle, watching them.
Elena quickly turned around and picked up a random item when the couple didnât seem to find what they were looking for and started to walk back in her direction.
After they had passed, Elena had no doubt that the man was Malik. He was wearing Dior Savage, and scent Elena came to know and loved.
She also recognized the woman as the one from the picture, she had stared at the picture so long and hard that she had no doubt in her mind that it was her.
Elena walked off when they turned to the next aisle, she just couldnât understand what was happening.
Malik was not dead, but he was with another woman.
âWho was that woman?â Elena questioned herself.
Elena let out her breath. âWhat if this person only looked like him?â she thought.
She once heard that everyone had at least seven people that looked just like them, but if this was the case, then it was uncanny how they both looked alike and even wore the same cologne.
Elena shook her head. âDonât be ridiculous, Ellie. That is Malik and no one on this earth can tell me that it wasnât him.â She told herself.
Again, Elena stopped and took up a random item, she hadnât noticed how close they were to each other, until Malikâs hand brushed against hers.
She swallowed hard, still not believing it. The man she had thought was dead and buried in the ground was here and now, in her personal space and breathing the same air she was.
Elena turned away a bit to examine the can of peas in her hand. Thinking that he was gone, Elena turned to place it back on the shelf and again, his hand brushed against hers.
ââSorry,ââ he said in his deep voice, and she closed her eyes.
There was no doubt now, and Elena didnât know how to react.
He turned to look at Elena when she didnât reply, and she thanked God that she had on a huge hat and sunglasses to try and hide her identity a bit.
Elena made a hmm sound then walked off putting the basket down, she didnât know what to do or think now that she had confirmed that Malik was alive and had another woman.
After getting in the car, Elena called Belinda and told her what had just happened. She had to move the phone from her ear as Belinda was yelling on the other end.
ââI donât want to go to the cops as yet.ââ
ââBecause I just feel as if I should dig around some more to find way what really is happening.ââ
ââNo, donât worry, Iâll be careful.ââ
Elena waited from them to leave the supermarket, so she could follow them home.
And even though she was aware that her actions were wrong, Elena wanted to get to the bottom of things. She wanted to know why Malik faked his death and was living another life with some woman.
ââCould I have been a horrible wife?ââ Elena asked.
Finally, they came to a halt outside a house, that looked very much like the one Elena lived in now. The only difference was the color, where hers was white, this one was yellow, and had an attic.
ââThis canât be happening,ââ Elena said, watching as they brought their grocery inside the house. Looking like a happy, normal, and loving family.
Elena was now back in her hotel room; she was pacing the length of the floor. Her mind was trying to process what she saw just now, she just didnât understand.
ââWhy would Malik do such a thing?ââ
ââIs it because I canât have kids?ââ
Elena stopped pacing then called Belinda who picked up on the last ring, upon hearing her voice, Elena began to sob.
ââBelinda, this is all so messed up. It feels as if I am in this crazy tv drama, why would my husband do such a thing like this?ââ
ââNo, Iâm not going to come home just yet. I need to get to the bottom of this.ââ
ââWell, I might just have followed them around a bit, maybe try to be friend the woman to get some information out of her.ââ
ââNo, no. Iâll be fine. I just have to wait until Malik is gone or that woman is alone before approaching her.ââ
ââOk, Iâll be safe. See you soon Belinda.ââ
Elena went to the buffet in the hotel, but after getting her food, all she did was play around with it. She pushed the mashed potatoes around the plate, thinking about how she would go about her task.
Maybe she could just go to the house when Malik wasnât there and break the news to the other woman.
Giving up on trying to eat, Elena got up and went to her room.
She took a hot shower, thinking it would help soothe her overthinking mind but if anything, it only caused her mind to race more.
The only thing Elena was grateful for; was that the moment her head hit the pillow. She was out for the rest of the day, but her reality sadly followed her in her dreams.
ââOh Elena, do you really think I loved you.ââ Malik laughed.
ââI had to fake my death to get away from you, I donât even know if you are a woman. So worthless, not able to bare me something as simple as a child.ââ
Elena jumped from her sleep, but the dream quickly faded, and she was knocked out once more.
ââSo, you are her?ââ The woman Malik had to run away from, he told me he loved me more.ââ The woman circled Elena as she had her tied up on a chair.
ââWhat should I do with you?ââ she asked before running a knife down the side of Elenaâs face.
Elena tried to scream through her mouth gag.
Malik entered the room then, Elena thought he would have helped but instead he laughed.
ââIf only you werenât so nosey.ââ
Malik and the woman began to kiss in the most disgusting way, making little noises as they did.
The woman then smirked at Elena and the moment she stabbed at her, she woke from her dream.