03. As if cheating wasn't enough
1237 Words
Audrey
The baby shower was held right there at the mansion.
And my consent wasn't even taken. They didn't bother asking for my opinion on any of it, not even the color theme. Everything was already laid out for me.
If it were a surprise I wouldn't feel so downcast, but it was a way to show me that they have the upper hand in my marriage. I don't have a say.
“Ma'am, can you please stop crying?” The make-up artist's patient, though frustrated voice made me look up. She had been applying powder to my face, but my tears kept messing her work up.
“Sorry.” I sniffed.
“I know a baby must sound like a lot, but trust me, they are the sweetest thing you would ever wish for.” She said in concern.
“Thank you.” I forced a smile at her.
When I was finally finished with my makeup and had put on my already laid out clothes, Enoch walked in. He wore a dashing suit and a perfect smile. He politely asked the makeup and stylists to excuse the room.
“You look good.” He said, his hands were on my shoulders, they felt like thorns on my body.
“Want to ask me not to embarrass your family again?”
“If necessary.” He paused, “ But I also want you to sign this.” He placed a familiar brown file on the table before me.
I opened it slowly, swallowing a huge lump in my throat.
I brought out a document, and it reads DIVORCE AGREEMENT.
“What's this?”
“You wanted to divorce me.” I kept quiet and watched him in the mirror in front of me. “I saw this in your dresser at home," He said,
“It was months ago.”
“You still wanted to divorce me, didn't you?”
“I… I don't know.”
“Good. I already made it easy for you. I signed it.”
I whipped my head around to look at him, hoping he was joking, but he was serious.
“You can either sign or not; the choice is yours. Just keep in mind what you would be losing.”
Enoch was talking about my father.
“You are blackmailing me to my father.”
“No. I'm giving you a choice.”
He patted my shoulders again, stiff and threatening.
“I need some air.” I finally brought myself to say. I couldn't cry because it would surely piss off the make -up artist. But I desperately need to get away from him.
I walked out of the mansion altogether. I just need to get away from everything. I wish I could just leave, but that would be selfish of me. I still need to think of my father and, more importantly, my unborn child.
I strolled into the garden, walking towards the artificial running stream at the far side of the house.
I sat down by the water, the fresh breeze calmed me, and the sound of the rushing water blew away all the noise and pain I'm wallowing in.
I felt at peace but lonely.
I have always been alone. It's nothing new.
I sat on the grass and stayed there for over 30 minutes. An hour? I don't know.
“You should go back now. It's freezing.” I heard a male voice say. I blinked my eyes towards the voice. It was Sebastian.
He was also seated on the floor, his booted foot stretched out in front of him while the other was bent and folded inward, forming a gentle arch at the knee.
He was casually drinking from an iron flask and was staring unblinking at me.
Has he been watching me all this while? Or he just got here and doesn't want me to stay around him? I wouldn't be surprised by that, though. Everyone around here doesn't like me.
“Hi, sorry. I didn't realize you were here.” The atmosphere was chilly, and I must have spaced out so much that I hadn't even noticed my body was already very cold.
He didn't say a word, but his eyes never left me, and I nervously placed my hand on my little bump. His eyes followed the movement, and I bit my lower lip, trying to contain my anxiety of being so close to him.
“Don't apologize. It doesn't look good on you.” He stood up and started walking closer towards me. His strides are sinful and tempting.
Go away!
But he kept on advancing till I could catch that marvelous cologne of his again, and it took God almighty for me not to back down and run off.
He removed the black leather jacket he had on and handed it to me.
“I said it's freezing.” He repeated slowly.
“And you shouldn't be running from your baby shower.” He said, his ink dark eyes peering into my soul, then he strolled off.
I stared at the jacket in my hands and, without thinking twice, I wrapped it around me, trying very hard not to sniff at his smell as I walked back towards the house.
“Where were you?” Enoch ran towards me when I entered the venue for the event. Everywhere was decorated beautifully, and a big sign read Mother to be.
“I was…”
“Never mind." He cut me shut and slipped a sash on me with the same mother to be writing on it.
I smiled for the first time despite what I was feeling. But the thought of my baby growing in me was everything to me.
My smile, however, didn't last when I saw another woman wearing the same sash with the same writing Mother to be.
I stared in horror at her as I noted the blonde hair and slim frame.
It was the woman Enoch was having s*x with in his car.
Mrs Windsor walked up to me and traced who I was staring at. She smiled at the lady, a smile so bright she never showed me.
“That's my daughter in law.”
Uhhh?
“She's going to mother the child after the divorce between you and Enoch is finalized.”
I jerked away from her hold immediately.
“What?” I shouted. “You want Enoch's mistress to take over my child from me?” I was in utter disbelief. These people are insane. Totally insane.
“Enoch, what does she mean by that?”
“Calm down, Audrey. You wanted a divorce before, right? You can't expect me to leave my child with you, too.” Enoch said, I couldn't believe my ears. I was literally jumping from frying pan to fire.
“No! My baby is mine. Mine!”
This was never a choice. It had already been planned out. I never had a choice in the matter.
Is this the acceptance they give me? To get rid of me and take my child away from me. My baby has been a huge reason I have held on all this while. It ha
d been the reason I hadn't walked away, even when he threatened me with a divorce.
But I will do anything for my baby.
That's my strength they don't know about.
I have had enough.
- Writer
