Chapter 2 The Wife or the Maid?
1110 Words
"What's wrong with you?" Brad looked at me, a bit surprised at how weak I seemed.
"You're back," I said softly, almost as if I were a woman caught in a lie, feeling guilty for being exposed.
I must look a mess right now—no wonder Brad's frowning. What's he thinking? Does he see me as one of those women who latch onto a man once they've tasted a bit of sweetness?
"Finally," Emily said, standing by Brad, arms crossed, looking down at me with a smug expression. "Now, ask Brad yourself who should be leaving."
"What are you talking about?" Maybe I looked too pitiful, because Brad turned his gaze to Emily, grabbing her wrist and pulling her out of the room.
"Get yourself together," Brad said before leaving. The door slammed shut behind him, and I looked up at the ceiling, forcing a bitter smile. I couldn't help but feel grateful Brad took Emily with him. I honestly didn't want to hear her voice anymore—it would just remind me that my marriage to Brad had begun because I had to replace her.
I still remember the moment my life took a sudden turn. I was just someone who wanted to join a singing competition to make some money for my comatose foster mother's hospital bills, but my life changed completely when Clara Garcia, Brad's mother, found me because of my voice, which sounded eerily similar to Emily's.
At that time, Brad had lost his sight in an accident, and Emily, his girlfriend, abandoned him before their engagement party.
Clara asked me to impersonate Emily, promising me a huge sum of money far beyond what I could ever win from a competition. The only catch was I could never publicly appear as Brad's wife, to avoid raising suspicions.
It seemed like such a sweet deal. I could resolve all my problems just by pretending to be someone else—and I'd even get a warm home in return.
All my hesitations disappeared the moment I laid eyes on Brad.
He was so handsome, but worn out. The bandages over his eyes couldn't hide his pride and vulnerability. "Emily? Is that you?" he asked, reaching out.
"Yes. How are you?" I replied, my voice shaky.
His face lit up, like sunshine flooding a dark room.
And at that moment, I shamelessly fell in love with him.
I told myself that no matter what happened with his eyes, I—"Emily"—would marry him and leave everything behind.
I played my part well, took care of him, supported him, and even became intimate with him in place of Emily.
But no one had expected that just a few months after our wedding, Brad would regain his sight.
The lie came crashing down, and Brad's anger erupted like a volcano. He seemed to hate me for deceiving him, or maybe he hated himself for falling in love with the wrong person.
I didn't know what Clara told him, but somehow, he allowed me to stay.
As punishment, he stopped showing me any tenderness, and yet I still foolishly hoped for his love to return.
And now, Emily had returned.
I was tired of living like this. I should have reconciled with the situation long ago. It was time for me to get up and leave—leave so the real man and woman could take their rightful places. Once I was gone, Brad could finally sleep in his own bed, at peace.
But the pain in my stomach was unbearable. I couldn't move. I tried to call out, but my voice was too weak to make it through the thick door.
I was going to pass out, but the sharp pains in my abdomen kept me conscious.
But no. I had to stay awake...
"Help me... it's leaving me," I weakly cried, tears streaming down my face.
'Somebody please help my baby... Help...'
I screamed inside my mind. I couldn't hear anything but the sounds of my heartbeat, but I could feel the vibrations of the floor.
'Brad, please, come quick. I need you. I'll apologize to Emily if that helps. She seems so perfect in your eyes. You two will live an even happier life.'
But then again, I thought of our baby...
I basically screamed inwardly, 'We have a baby now. I have to tell you. Forget the divorce papers. I'll stay here and let you see our child. You'll love him. Maybe at first, it'll be awkward, but you'll grow to love him. Baby, please, wait for your dad.'
My mind was a whirlwind. The world around me was blurring, but I couldn't move. All I could do was scream Brad's name in my mind.
Then, warmth spread down my inner thigh, and my heart nearly stopped. My hand instinctively went to my stomach, trying to protect the life inside me from slipping away.
'No, don't leave me now, not like this...' I pleaded inside, my heart breaking.
I could feel it fading, even though it was so small, its presence was linked to my soul. I felt useless—unable to be the wife or the mother I needed to be.
'Please, be strong. Be okay. Then maybe my marriage to your father can still be saved.'
The pain in my chest mixed with the pain of the child inside me.
Was the baby rejecting Brad as its father?
In a haze, I thought I heard the door open, but when my vision cleared, only Emily was standing there.
How pathetic... How could I look this helpless in front of Emily?
She sneered, "Why are you still lying here?"
Just then, Brad appeared behind her, looking slightly annoyed. "Didn't I tell you to wait?"
Brad was here for Emily, wasn't he? They couldn't even give me a moment.
I couldn't just lie here anymore.
I could already imagine how Emily would react if she noticed something was wrong—she'd say in that same mocking voice, "Your baby is gone."
And what would Brad do? Would he be relieved?
I wouldn't let them laugh at my misery!
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. I had to keep this secret hidden. I couldn't let them find out. 'Lily, calm down. Just move, get yourself together,' I told myself quietly.
"I'll be leaving soon." After the pain passed, I regained some clarity. I sat up, leaning against the bed frame and pulling the dark blanket over myself.
But my frustration boiled over again. "Speaking of leaving? You left blind Brad before your engagement—now that's a real legend," I spat out.
- Writer
