Chapter 47

Kiara, had been working with Martha, her housekeeper, for a few years now. During this time, they had built a strong relationship based on trust and respect. Kiara knew that Martha was a single mother with what she had told her the previous day and often struggled to make ends meet. So, when Kiara arrived home from work, she decided to share the wealth with Martha.

She called Martha into her office and asked her to sit down. Martha looked a little nervous, wondering what the conversation was about. Kiara smiled at her and said, "Martha, I just wanted to say thank you for all the hard work you do around here. You make my life so much easier, and I really appreciate it."

Martha smiled back, feeling relieved, and said, "Oh, it's my pleasure, Kiara. I'm happy to help out."

Kiara continued, "I also wanted to give you something as a thank you. I know that you're a single mother and have a lot on your plate, so I hope this can help make things a little easier for you."

She reached into her desk drawer and pulled out an envelope. She handed it to Martha, who looked surprised. When Martha opened the envelope, she saw a check for a substantial amount of money.

Martha gasped, "Kiara, I can't accept this. This is too much."

Kiara insisted, "Please, Martha, I want you to take it. You work so hard, and I want you and your family to have some financial security. Consider it a bonus for all your hard work."

Martha was overwhelmed with gratitude and tears filled her eyes. She thanked Kiara repeatedly and promised to put the money to good use.

As Martha left the office, Kiara felt a sense of satisfaction. She knew that she had made a difference in Martha's life and that the money would go a long way in supporting her and her family. It was a small gesture, but one that would have a big impact.

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Kiara sat on the couch in her living room, staring at her phone as it rang incessantly. She knew who it was before she even answered, but she picked up anyway.

"Hello?" she said, her voice shaky.

"Kiara," Lucas's voice boomed through the speaker. "How could you do this to me? You know I can't live without you."

Kiara sighed, knowing where this was going. It had been three months since she had left Lucas, but he still couldn't accept it.

"Lucas, we've been through this. I can't be with you anymore. We're just not meant to be together."

"Meant to be together? What the hell does that even mean? You're just throwing our marriage away like it was nothing. You can't do this to me."

"I'm sorry, Lucas, but I have to do what's best for me. You're not good for me, and I need to move on."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Kiara thought maybe Lucas had finally accepted it. But then he spoke again, his voice low and menacing.

"If you think you can just leave me like this, you're wrong. You're going to regret this, Kiara. You'll see."

Kiara's heart raced as she hung up the phone. She knew Lucas had a temper, but she never thought he would threaten her like this. She felt a sense of fear and uncertainty wash over her, wondering if he would act on his threat.

She sat there for a few minutes, trying to calm herself down, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Lucas was watching her, waiting for his chance to strike. She knew she needed to take action, to protect herself from him.

Kiara picked up her phone and dialed the number for the local police department and she knew that by now, they would have alreasy been tired of her incessant calls about the issue but one thing she wouldn't do was to give up. She explained the situation to the operator, and they sent a patrol car to her house to take a report. Kiara felt a sense of relief as she spoke with the officer, knowing that someone was on her side and taking her situation seriously.

After the officer left, Kiara sat on her couch, staring at the phone, waiting for it to ring again. But it never did. She realized that Lucas was just a small part of her life, and that she had the power to move on and make a better life for herself. She made a vow to herself that she would never let anyone else make her feel afraid or powerless again.

Kiara sat down with a heavy sigh, feeling drained and tired from the day's events. Martha, looked at her with concern and asked, "What's wrong, Kiara? You look upset."

Taking a deep breath, Kiara began to recount the events of the past few weeks. "It's Lucas," she said. "He's been calling and texting me constantly, threatening me for leaving him."

Martha's eyes widened in shock. "Threatening you? What kind of threats?"

"He's been saying things like, 'You'll regret leaving me,' and 'I'll make your life a living hell,'" Kiara explained. "He's also been showing up at my work and my apartment unannounced, which is really starting to scare me."

Martha listened intently, her brow furrowing in concern. "That's not okay, Kiara and you need to report to the police."

Kiara shook her head. "I have involved and to be honest, i think they are tired of me at this point. I'm hoping he'll stop if I just ignore him."

Martha frowned. "I don't think that's a good idea. You need to take this seriously. What if he does something drastic?"

Kiara sighed. "I know, but I just don't know what to do. I thought leaving him would be the end of it, but now I feel like I'm trapped in this nightmare."

Martha put a comforting hand on Kiara's shoulder. "You're not alone, Kiara. I'm here for you, and we'll figure out a way to keep you safe."

Kiara smiled weakly, grateful for Martha's support. "Thank you, Martha. I don't know what I'd do without you."