Chapter 64

After a few minutes of mindless entertainment, Lisa decided to satisfy her growing hunger.

She strolled into the kitchen, opening the fridge to find an array of leftovers. A tantalizing aroma wafted through the air, drawing her attention to a container of homemade lasagna.

A triumphant smirk played on Lisa's lips. "So, the good-for-nothing girl can cook," she muttered to herself, amused by the discovery.

Thereafter, she grabbed a plate from the cupboard and served herself a generous portion of the lasagna.

She sat at the dining table and savoured each bite, impressed by the flavours that danced on her palate.

"Well, well, Noemi. You might have lost your man, but at least you left behind some decent food," she commented with a self-satisfied grin.

As she indulged in the stolen feast, Lisa's mind wandered to the unfolding drama. She couldn't care less about the destruction she had left in her wake; all that mattered was that she had what she wanted.

Back on the city streets, Jacob was determined to rescue whatever remained of his shattered life.

The city lights blurred into a mosaic of colors as Jacob drove in his car, his eyes scanning the busy streets for any sign of Noemi.

He placed a hand on the steering while the other was busy dialing Noemi's number. It rang and rang still no response and after a while after many unanswered calls, her number became unreachable.

Jacob hissed loud and there was the phone on the seat beside him with rage.

The persistent honks and distant chatter of the urban landscape seemed to mock his futile pursuit.

Jacob kept driving, grappling with the uncertainty of Noemi's whereabouts. "Oh I messed up, I need to find her." he said to himself.

As the car navigated the curved streets, Jacob's mind raced with regret and anxiety. He took his phone from where it had dropped, fingers trembling as he dialed Noemi's number repeatedly, it began to ring again.

Each attempt sent him to voicemail, a cruel reminder of the depth that had opened between them.

"Come on, Noemi. Pick up," he mumbled, he stared at his phone as if sheer resolve could make her answer.

The car drifted through familiar neighbourhoods, some places where Jacob and Noemi had shared laughter and dreams.

He gazed at the passing storefronts and parks, which were haunted by memories that now felt like fragments of a shattered past.

After an hour of aimless driving, Jacob then decided in his mind to head toward the places they visited often.

The hospital where Nathan had been treated, the park where they had their first date, and the bistro where they spent lazy Sunday afternoons. Each location bore the scars of his indiscretions.

Desperation fueled Jacob's decision. He decided to check Noemi's favorite spots as well, hoping that in the city's vastness, he might stumble upon the woman he loved.

Meanwhile, Jacob's desperate search led him to the park where he and Noemi had shared countless moments of joy. He scanned the familiar benches and pathways, his heart pounding with a mixture of hope and dread.

Jacob resumed the search, retracing their shared memories in hopes of discovering where Noemi might seek solace.

Jacob's phone buzzed again, this time with a call from Mark, whom he had promised to see and discuss how to get him established.

"Mark, have you seen Noemi?" Jacob asked urgently.

That was his first statement after he answered the call. His voice was shaky and loud. He did not bother to exchange pleasantries.

"I was not married to Noemi, you were. So I should be the one to ask you that kind of a question." Mark responded, he wondered.

"Please be serious, have you seen my wife today?" Jacob asked again, his heartbeat continued to race fast.

"No, man. I just got home. What happened? You sounded concerned and like someone in trouble?" Mark's voice held a mixture of concern and confusion.

"Mark, you can not understand. And you are right I am in trouble." Jacob said amidst tears.

"Trouble? What happened? What about Noemi? Mark sounded from the other end.

"Don't you worry Mark, it is not something I can handle, I think." Jacob defended, he's not sure of what he'd sound like by the time he explained to his best friend.

"C'mon Jacob, I know something is amiss and it has to do with either you or Noemi, your wife. So tell me, let's get something done right away." Mark said, with a sense of determination in his voice.

Jacob heaved a sigh, and he decided to tell him, hopefully, Mark could have a solution.

After hesitation, Jacob briefly explained the situation, "Mark, I messed up big time. She knew what happened." Jacob continued, "Lisa is pregnant for me and Noemi knew this morning, I'm confused and don't know what to do."

"Lisa? If I am not mistaken, that is Noemi's best friend right?" Mark said, trying to process what his friend just told him.

"Yes, I was not able to resist her temptation," he said and sounded sorry. "I thought I could hold on to my promise when I decided not to allow such a thing again. But I met myself doing it with her again and again and I couldn't stop or say no. Please help me. What should I do? I love my wife so much."

"Oh, man! No, this is wrong. How could you allow that with your wife's best friend? I expected more from you and not like this."

Mark felt disappointed, he knew there must be something else to the matter that could make his friend do such a disgracing act than meet eyes.

"Where is Noemi in all of these? Where's the woman you claim to love so much?" Mark inquired.

"Immediately she eavesdropped on Lisa and I. She took a few things of her belongings and left the house." Jacob explained, his soul was full of regret.

"Lisa was in your house to discuss such an issue and you allowed her. What happened to meeting outside, maybe at the Park or a restaurant?" Mark said, he began to sound angry.

"I even tried to stop her but she wouldn't stop shouting. This made Noemi hear what we discussed and left." Jacob replied, his expression mixed with regret and shame.

Mark sighed. "How were you so careless? I am sorry, Jacob. But you need to find her and fix this."

"Yes, I'm on the street to find her, thank you." he said.

Jacob, determined to heed his friend's advice, he pressed on, navigating the maze of city streets hoping Mark was beside him to search together.

The evening began to stretch before him, a canvas of uncertainty waiting to reveal Noemi's elusive presence.

Back at the apartment, Lisa's smug pride lingered as she reveled in the aftermath of her calculated disclosures.

She felt unstoppable, basking in the chaos she had unleashed upon Jacob and Noemi's once serene life.

As she lay and did nothing on the couch, a sudden realization struck her. The walls seemed to close in, and the silence became oppressive. Lisa's gaze shifted to the remnants of the lasagna, now a bitter reminder of her hollow victory.

Her triumph over the couple's turmoil began to lose its luster. An unsettling feeling crept over her, a sense that the consequences of her actions might extend beyond the realm of her control.

She wondered why Jacob was still outside on the street looking for Noemi, while she sat down watching TV.

"What if he has found her and she has forgiven him?" She thought to herself.

She needed to know what was going on, she stood up and reached for her phone inside her hand bag.

(Ringing)... She placed her phone close to her ear, it rang severally without any response.

Inside the car, still checking around, Jacob's phone began to ring. For a moment, he shifted his gaze from the road to the phone beside him.

Jacob let out a long hiss when he saw the caller ID, Lisa on the screen. He did not bother to touch the phone and left it to continue ringing.

Lisa became angry, she had expected Jacob to pick and he did not. After a few minutes, she decided to wave it away and focus on what she was seeing and make merry for her achievement.