The Therapist

The rain hammered against the tinted windows of Victor Adebayo’s sleek black SUV as it sped through the bustling streets of Lagos. Claire sat stiffly beside him, staring out the window, her mind racing with the events of the past week. The therapy sessions had been growing increasingly tense, but nothing compared to the confrontation earlier that day.

Victor’s words echoed in her mind. "No one plays me, Claire."

She had always known Victor was a ruthless businessman, but she never imagined the depths of his cruelty—until now.

Victor’s voice broke through her thoughts. “I suppose it’s time you know the truth, Claire.”

Claire turned to him, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. “What truth?”

Victor chuckled darkly, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. “The reason Daniel came crawling back into your life. You think it’s fate, don’t you? Some grand romantic reunion?”

Claire stiffened. “What are you talking about?”

Victor sighed, as if preparing for a performance he had long rehearsed. “Years ago, when I was building my empire, I had... obstacles. People who stood in my way. One of them happened to be Daniel’s father.”

Claire felt the blood drain from her face. “What?”

Victor’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his expression impassive. “I needed a business deal to go through. His father refused. I made sure he wouldn’t be a problem anymore.”

Claire’s heart pounded in her chest. “You’re lying.”

Victor turned to her, his eyes cold and calculating. “Am I?”

Claire shook her head violently, her voice shaking. “You expect me to believe that you… you killed his father?”

Victor sighed. “I didn’t pull the trigger, Claire. But I made sure the right people did. It was just business.”

Claire pressed a hand to her mouth, bile rising in her throat. The man she had been married to for years had orchestrated a murder—of someone connected to her past.

“Why are you telling me this now?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the rain.

Victor smirked, his gaze returning to the road. “Because I want you to understand something. You think you can leave me? That you have options?” He shook his head. “You don’t. You belong to me, Claire. And so does everything you think you hold dear.”

Tears welled up in Claire’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She turned back to the window, watching the rain blur the city lights into streaks of gold and red. The escape she had dreamed of suddenly seemed impossible.

Marcus paced his office, his nerves frayed and his thoughts a tangled mess. He had replayed Victor’s words over and over in his mind since Claire’s panicked call earlier that evening.

“He’s dangerous, Marcus. You don’t understand. He killed Daniel’s father!”

Marcus had heard a lot of confessions in his career, but this? This was something else entirely.

He sat down heavily in his chair, rubbing his temples. The more he got involved with the Adebayos, the more he realized just how out of his depth he was. These weren’t just a wealthy couple with marital issues—they were dangerous people playing a game where the stakes were life and death.

His phone buzzed, jolting him from his thoughts. It was Claire.

“Marcus,” her voice trembled. “I need your help.”

Marcus exhaled slowly. “Claire, listen. I don’t think you realize what you’re dealing with. Victor isn’t just controlling—he’s a criminal. If what you’re saying is true, you need to be careful.”

“I can’t do this anymore,” she whispered. “I thought I could handle him, but I can’t. I need to get out.”

Marcus closed his eyes, his mind racing. “Claire, running won’t be easy. He’s watching you.”

“I don’t care,” Claire said firmly. “I just need to leave. Tonight.”

Marcus hesitated. He knew helping her escape could mean signing his own death warrant, but a part of him—the part that still believed in saving people—wanted to help.

“Okay,” he said finally. “Meet me at my office in an hour.”

As Marcus sat waiting in his office, he found himself staring at his reflection in the window. He looked tired, haunted. Somewhere along the way, he had gone from being a marriage therapist to a pawn in a deadly game.

He poured himself a drink, letting the burn of the whiskey momentarily distract him. He was no hero, and he certainly wasn’t a saint. But was he willing to let Claire suffer under Victor’s thumb?

For the first time, Marcus wondered if anyone in this twisted mess deserved saving.

Claire? She had married Victor for money and security, fully aware of the kind of man he was.

Daniel? A manipulative opportunist trying to cash in on Claire’s misery.

And himself? A man who had allowed greed and desperation to cloud his judgment, dragging him deeper into this nightmare.

A sharp knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. He walked over and opened it, finding Claire standing there, drenched from the rain, her eyes wide with fear.

“I don’t know where else to go,” she whispered.

Marcus stepped aside, letting her in. “We’ll figure this out,” he said, though he wasn’t sure he believed it.

Meanwhile, across town, Victor poured himself a glass of wine, watching the storm rage outside his penthouse window. He could feel the walls closing in, but he wasn’t worried.

He had always been two steps ahead.

And soon, Marcus and Claire would learn that the hard way.