2
1144 Words
Chapter 2
CHLOE DAVIES
TWO RED DOTS!
I'm pregnant!
I sat in the bathroom, eyes glued blankly to the pregnancy test stick in my hand.
A small smile crept up my face as new hope washed over me.
Right… Maybe… just maybe, this could save our marriage.
Justin could come around once he realises that I'm carrying his child.
I dragged in a deep breath, my fingers clutching round the stick like it was my last tiny hope… Actually, it was.
By evening as I set the table for dinner, Justin walked in.
I left everything I was doing, going to meet him in the living room.
“Hey, honey… You're back,” I wore a soft smile, taking his briefcase.
“Hmm…” he only hummed. No smiles like he always would. Not even another word.
“You look tired… I should go prepare your bath water,” I said, my voice almost shaky.
“I'll handle that myself,” his voice was cold, and almost dismissive… almost.
My chest tightened, and I bit my inner lip hard.
He took the briefcase back from me, turning to go upstairs.
“I made dinner… You should shower and come to the dining room. I'll be waiting,”
He didn't turn to spare me a glance as he walked away.
I sighed, staring after him until he was out of my sight.
My hand went inside my pocket, touching the test stick, my chest pounding.
Justin would be happy when he sees this. I told myself.
*****
We sat in the dining room, my eyes glued to Justin as he slowly picked at his food, like he didn't want to eat.
“What? You don't like the food?” My voice cracked barely above a whisper, my heart stinging.
He lifted his gaze to me, stared for at least three seconds, and without a word, took a spoonful into his mouth.
His expression didn't change as he chewed on the food… His face was blank.
I missed when he would smile and compliment my food as soon as he tasted it.
My eyes stung with tears, but I fought it back.
I shouldn't ruin this moment with my emotions.
Silence thickened between us, lingering for a moment before I broke it.
“Justin… There's something that I need to…” my voice trailed off as his phone started to ring.
“Excuse me,” he muttered, picking up the phone.
His eyes flickered with something I couldn't explain, before he answered the call.
“Louisa?” He said on the phone.
That name sounded like a bombshell, knocking air out of my lungs.
My jaw tightened, chest burning with anger. Louisa again?
“Who is this?” He said afterwards, shooting to his feet.
“What?” His expression changed into fear, his eyes widening with terror.
“I'll be there right away,” As the call was ending, Justin turned to leave.
“Justin…”
He halted abruptly. He didn't turn to look at me.
“You barely touched your food,” I said, my voice unsteady, chest pounding with pain and anger.
He turned to me, our eyes locked for a moment, then he said, “Louisa is sick… I need to go to her,”
My fingers tightened at my sides.
“Wh…what about what I wanted to tell you? What about—”
“That can wait, Chloe…”
I scoffed. It was ‘babe’ all these years, even behind closed doors, and now it's suddenly Chloe?
“What if it can't?” My lips moved, the words barely made it out of my mouth.
“Louisa is sick! I need to care for her. Don't be inconsiderate,” then he turned to leave again.
“Are you in love with her?”
He halted abruptly.
“Are you in love with Louisa?”
I thought I was prepared for the answer, but after I asked the question, fear washed over me. I was scared he'd tell me yes. It would really break me.
He turned to me, his eyes flashing softly with remorse, but I barely caught it before it slipped off, his face hardening again.
“What nonsense are you saying, Chloe? Louisa is my sister!”
“Your adopted sister! You both are not related by blood,” I reminded him, tears glistening in my eyes.
“It's always her… It's always Louisa every single time…” I said with a shaky voice.
“You've changed, Justin… You haven't been the same ever since she returned to the country… You've—”
“This is not the right time to talk about this. I need to go,”
“Did you ever love me in our three-year marriage?”
His eyes flickered with hurt and disappointment, then hesitation, before he said, “no,”
My breath caught in my throat, knees buckling beneath me. My lips parted, but no words came out.
“This whole thing was a contract…” he paused, closing the distance between us.
I backed away, my back pressing into the table.
“I told you from the onset that there would be no strings attached,” he said coldly, but his eyes said otherwise… or maybe, I was just making that up in my head.
“We are bonded with nothing but a pen and a paper…” he moved his hand to my face, finger brushing against my lips, face hovering over mine, and our breath mixing.
“I don't love you, Chloe. I never did,” Then he stepped back, looking away.
“What about everything that we shared? The s*x, the way you cared about me… everything?” I whispered, tears streaming down my cheeks.
“Don't let those deceive you, Chloe… You consented to the s*x…” he backed away.
“And every other thing… I did them because that is who I am, not because I felt something for you!”
My heart dropped inside my stomach, lips parted, but no words came out.
“Ju…sti—”
“And stop being insensitive and over dramatic. There's nothing between Louisa and me. I'm just caring for her because she’s my sister,” and with that, he walked away… not even so little as a glance back at me.
I broke down in tears, clutching the test stick tightly.
I should walk away now… but I couldn't. I couldn't leave the marriage just like that, because of the contract.
LIAR! IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CONTRACT, CHLOE!
My chest tightened.
Yes it really wasn't the contract… maybe something deeper. Perhaps the look in his eyes when he said he didn't love me.
His eyes said otherwise.
Yes, I was stupid… So stupid to want to hold on to that, but maybe… just maybe, our marriage still has little hope left…
- Writer
