Chapter 3: A web of deception

The months passed, and the world outside seemed to be slowly adjusting to the new normal. People were learning how to live with the pandemic, adapting to the isolation, the uncertainty, and the strange rhythm of their lives. Noel’s relationship with Robert grew deeper, though it remained, in her mind, a connection of respect and admiration—something akin to that of an older brother and a younger sister. Yet, there was a part of her that began to wonder about the nature of their bond.

It wasn’t a thought that came to her all at once. It grew slowly, like a seed planted deep in her mind, nurtured by her own confusion and curiosity. She had spent months with Robert, listening to his stories, hearing about his regrets, his dreams, his fears, and his love for his family. The more she learned about him, the more she began to see the complexities of his character—the depth of his emotions, the struggles he’d been through. There was a raw honesty in his words that made her question everything she thought she knew about love and loyalty.

But there was also something else. A small, subtle, almost unnoticeable tug in her chest every time she saw him with Jwell, every time he spoke about his family, every time he held his son in his arms. Something about him made Noel want to understand him better—not just as a family member, but as a person.

And then, the idea came to her. It was innocent at first, just a fleeting thought. She had no idea where it would lead. But it planted itself firmly in her mind, and soon she couldn’t shake it.

________________________________________

One evening, while everyone was inside, settling into their routines, Noel opened her laptop. Her fingers hovered over the keys as she debated for a moment. She had never really thought of herself as someone who would deceive anyone, let alone Robert, whom she had come to respect and admire. But there was something in her that wanted to test him—to see if the connection between them was something he would be loyal to, something real.

She created a new Facebook account, using the name “Roza” as her alias. She picked a picture—a beautiful, smiling girl—one that looked nothing like herself, of course, but was just enough to look convincing. She chose a few random interests, added some vague information about herself, and then hit "Send Friend Request" to Robert. She told herself it was just an experiment. Nothing more.

A few hours later, she saw the notification pop up. Robert had accepted the request.

Her heart skipped a beat. She knew what she had just done was impulsive and possibly a little foolish, but at the same time, there was a strange thrill in it. For the first time in a long while, she was stepping outside the lines she had always drawn around herself.

________________________________________

At first, the conversation with Robert was innocent enough. She didn’t dive into anything too personal. She kept things light, asking about his work, his hobbies, his thoughts on current events. Robert, kind and open as always, responded with his usual ease. He shared his thoughts about the pandemic and how it had changed the way he worked. He was cautious but friendly, polite, and respectful.

It wasn’t until a few days later that Noel decided to ask something a little more personal.

“So, Robert, what’s your relationship like with your wife?” she typed, her heart racing slightly at the boldness of the question. “I bet you two have a great bond, especially with little Arnold.”

Robert’s reply came quickly, almost as if he was waiting for the question. “Jwell and I have been together for years now. We’ve had our ups and downs, but we’re solid. We love each other, and we love Arnold more than anything. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them.”

Noel sat back, her mind spinning. His words were honest, open. It wasn’t what she had expected, but it was what she had hoped for—a sense of loyalty and devotion to his family. Still, a part of her felt a strange, unsettling emotion stir deep inside.

She pressed on, asking more questions about his work, about his dreams. She subtly wove in more personal questions, testing the waters. Robert responded with openness, his answers revealing pieces of his life that she hadn’t known. He shared his frustrations about being stuck in his current job, about his aspirations to move into real estate, about how he sometimes wished he had more time to spend with his family.

The more she talked to him, the more she saw how deeply Robert felt about the people in his life. It was clear he loved his wife and son, but there was something else—something deeper—that kept calling to Noel. It wasn’t just respect or admiration anymore. She was beginning to feel a sense of connection with Robert that was difficult to describe.

________________________________________

But something strange began to happen.

Robert, being the perceptive man he was, started to notice little things. Roza’s profile didn’t have many mutual friends, and the ones she did have seemed unfamiliar to him. He began to sense that something wasn’t right. His instincts told him to be cautious. Something about Roza seemed... off. She was friendly, but there was a subtle coldness in her messages. It wasn’t the kind of warmth he would expect from a stranger online.

One evening, as Noel was chatting with Robert under her Roza alias, he replied to her message with something that made her pause.

“You know, I’ve been thinking... something feels a little familiar about you,” Robert typed, his words almost teasing. “I don’t know what it is, but I have this feeling I’ve talked to you before.”

Noel’s breath caught in her throat. The jig was up. How had he figured it out? Was it her tone, the way she asked questions, the way she replied? Or had he somehow seen through her facade?

He continued, almost casually, “It’s probably nothing. But I’ve got a good sense for these things. I’ve been talking to my niece Noel a lot lately. And something tells me… well, this might be her idea of a joke.”

Noel froze, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. She had been caught.

“How did you know?” she typed, heart hammering in her chest. She couldn’t quite keep the tension out of her voice.

Robert’s response was slow, almost as if he was considering how to approach the situation. “I don’t know. Just a feeling, I guess. You’ve got the same curiosity, the same questions... the same way of talking. And I noticed your mutual friends on your profile. I know Noel's friends. So it didn’t take much.”

Noel felt a mix of relief and embarrassment. She hadn’t expected him to catch on so quickly, but at the same time, part of her was glad he did. There was something comforting in the fact that Robert’s instincts had been right.

“Sorry, Robert,” she typed, feeling guilty now. “I didn’t mean to trick you. I just… I don’t know. I wanted to understand you better. I guess I wanted to know more about you.”

Robert chuckled softly, his tone kind but firm. “No need to apologize, Noel. But next time, just come to me directly. You don’t need to hide behind anyone else to talk to me. I’m always here, whether you’re asking as Roza or as my niece.”

Noel felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. Even though she had made a mistake, Robert was kind about it. He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t upset. He was just... understanding.

“I will,” she typed, her fingers trembling as she hit send. “I promise.”

The conversation continued after that, but something had shifted between them. Noel had crossed a line by pretending to be someone else, but Robert’s reaction reminded her of why she had admired him in the first place. He had shown her a side of himself that was not just about being a father or a husband but also about being a mentor, a guide, and a person who valued honesty above all else.

And in that moment, Noel realized something: the connection between them—however complicated it might have been—wasn’t about testing loyalty or curiosity. It was about understanding. It was about two people, separated by age and circumstance, learning to trust each other, not through deceit, but through openness.

________________________________________

To be continued...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***