PROLOGUE

December 2022.

Lagos.

Lekki, Phase One.

 Danny's death

 On a Saturday evening, around 7 PM, the sound of an Afrobeat music played from the stereo console inside the house. It filled the air with warmth as the fireplace set the temperature in the large living room at approximately 39°C. The sound of water dropping slowly faded from the shower cap as Grace stepped down from the shower bath; she grabbed the towel from the hanger and wrapped it around her curvy body just at the top of her breast exposing her cleavage before she changed into a fur-like bathrobe.

 She walked to the living room and towards the center table made of fiberglass, she grabbed a bottle of red wine wrapped as a gift from its sender. On the voucher, it indicated the name of the sender with the initials J.R. at the top. 

 Grace popped open the bottle as she sat comfortably on the exquisite sofa while she poured herself a little into the wineglass, and then took a sip before she let out a pleasant smile from the curves of her lips. She rested her head on the cushion and covered her eyes with a sleep mask as she listened to the soothing sound of the background music playing in her ears. 

 Just a minute later, a text appeared on her phone and she didn't realize until after fifteen minutes after the sound of the doorbell rang. She pulled down the sleep mask over her long hair and stood up to walk towards the doorway, she checked the security system to identify the person who doorbelled. She smiled in excitement and pressed a button on the security system, it made an unlocking sound from the doorknob and the door opened wide. 

"I brought dinner." A young handsome man said in a husky voice. His features had an amorous look on his face. 

"The usual ?" She smiled. 

"Just the way you like it" He said, and walked towards her as he lifted her from the surface of the ground with his hands wrapped around her waist, and she took him with open arms as their lips made a gentle touch. She took the food package from his hands and went towards the kitchen to set the table.

 Afterward, they had dinner together and danced to the sound of afro-music playing in the background. A few minutes later, he took her in his arms and said; "You look absolutely gorgeous tonight"

"Am I?"

 He then placed a gentle kiss on her lips and hers parted in response. She took his jacket off and dropped it on the near couch, he lifted her once again and urged her towards the bedroom. She held onto him, and he felt her tight grip around his shoulders. And when they both entered the bedroom, he placed her gently on the bed and started kissing her by the neck and she let out soft moans. 

 He took off her robe until all was left was her naked body. She cried as he worked magic on her, she begged him more. He didn't hesitate any longer as he took off his clothes and they were both left naked, then he made tender love to her in such a way she had never done with any other man. She was submissive to him; an hour later, they were both wrapped in the comfort of each other's warmth. 

"Do you know what it is, that I long for each time I think about you" He whispered to her ears, and it sent shivers down her spine, and at that moment she felt the sudden urge to start what they had just ended.

"What's that?" she asked. 

"Moments like this, warm, safe, and free, for these things, I can give my life to you' he responded. 

She smiled and turned around to look him in the eyes and said, "And for those, I would give mine to you."

 At that moment, she knew she loved him, in ways she could never imagine, not even in the way she loved her husband. He gave her a different kind of happiness. He was the harbor for her sexuality, and he pleases her in ways she desirably wants with no resistance. Even though Grace was highly sexually driven, her husband could never match her sexuality, In other words, he could never give her enough.

 A few moments later, her cell phone rang; she jumped up when she saw the caller. "My God! I have to go" she slipped away from him. 

"Can't you just stay?" The man asked

"You know I can't"

"Is it the one you call your husband"

"Don't, you don't have to be like that"

"What! You don't even love him' he gestured with his hands, but she didn't seem to mind him. She quickly put on her clothes and bend over to kiss him before she left. 

"I have to go, I hope you understand," She rushed out of the house. 

 Fifteen minutes later, a noise erupted from inside the house, like the sound of glass being shattered continuously, it lasted for a couple of minutes. A bottle of wine had fell and it's content spilled all over the floor rug while it soaked with stains. At the far corner of the living room that spread out in a grotesque manner , was a lifeless body laying on the floor, the body of the man that Grace was with earlier.