FORDDEN AFFAIR

CHAPTER 5

“William, what is this?” I stammered, looking at the two of them, her in a robe, him wearing his white shirt.

"Did you...cheat on me?"

William scoffed, "What are you going to do, Emily? Tell my father so he can take my company away? Keep dreaming."

I felt a lump forming in my throat as I struggled to keep my composure. "This isn't about company, William. This is about us. About our marriage, I remember very well that you said you could ignore me, as long as I kept quiet about your activities and that you wouldn't cheat. But you got married behind my back? Why?"

He laughed dismissively, turning to the woman beside him. "Look at you, running here because of a prank. Isn’t she adorable?" He gave her a high five, and they both laughed.

I could feel my patience wearing thin. "It's enough, William. I'm tired of your jokes and you treating me like trash."

His expression darkened, and he took a step toward me. "Did you, a mere omega, just shout at me?"

I stood my ground, refusing to back down. "Yes, I did. And I'm not going to let you treat me like that anymore. I am f*****g tired of everything.”

In a flash, his hand shot out, aiming to strike me, but I instinctively flinched and screamed. His laughter echoed in my ears, cold and mocking. Without warning, he pushed me, and I lost my balance, tumbling down the stairs. Panic gripped me as I clutched my stomach, trying to protect myself. Pain shot through my body as I hit the steps, one after another. I felt something warm and wet spreading beneath me, and terror filled me as I realized it was blood.

My baby. No…

The last thing I heard was a voice, distant and distorted, "Is she dead?" And then, darkness swallowed me whole.

When I opened my eyes, I was blinded by bright lights. Pain throbbed in my body, and I felt disoriented. The lights were too bright, and I drifted back into unconsciousness.

The next time I woke, the lights were still bright, but this time they seemed softer, and less piercing. I blinked, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils. I realized I was in a hospital. Machines beeped steadily around me, and an IV was attached to my arm. I tried to move, but a sharp pain shot through my body, and I groaned.

A nurse hurried over to my side. "Emily, you're awake. How do you feel?"

I winced, trying to find my voice. "What...what happened?"

"You had a bad fall. You've been in and out of consciousness for a while. Do you remember anything?"

The memories came rushing back, and my heart sank. "Someone...he pushed me."

The nurse's expression turned serious. "You're safe now. Just focus on getting better. The doctor will be here shortly to explain everything. Do you have any relatives, husband?”

“I do…but he won't come. He was the one who pushed me.”

The nurse hummed, “I see, there was a man here earlier to pay for your bills. He said it was a mistake. I am sorry that you had to go through that.” She empathized.

I wanted to cry, but my face twitched as I nodded weakly, feeling scared. The type of things a rich man can do would make someone as insignificant as me have their problem swept under the rug.

Though I was glad that I was alive, I feared what would come next. I placed my hand on my stomach. I had to live for my baby.

It's still an embryo. Hopefully, nothing happens to it.

The nurse checked my vitals and adjusted the IV before leaving me alone with my thoughts.

A few minutes later, the doctor walked in. "Hello, Emily. I'm Dr. Carter. How are you feeling?"

"Like I've been hit by a truck," I said, managing a weak smile.

Dr. Carter nodded sympathetically. "You had a severe fall. There was significant trauma, but you're lucky. It could have been much worse."

I looked down at my stomach, a wave of dread washing over me. "The baby...is the baby okay?"

"I am sorry, but we couldn't save the baby," the doctor said to me. "Your body was too weak to handle it."

I choked in tears, "Please tell me this isn't true."

"I am sorry, Emily." Doctor Carter said, sympathy in her eyes. "You aren't healthy. Depression, anxiety, eating disorder. The fall. Those things were not good for your body. Have you ever considered going into therapy?"

I shook my head. "I'm sorry…you told me to register for one last week. I just… I have been busy."

That was a lie. I had no money for therapy. William hardly ever gave me funds, and I wasn't allowed to work. All I was allowed to do was watch and listen to my husband's moans from the bedroom while watching p**n…or what if I was naive? What if that was another woman?

Dr. Carter sighed. "You can't go on like this."

I smiled weakly. "I will be fine, Dr. Carter. I am always fine."

He gave me a concerned look, clearly not convinced. "Emily, I’m going to administer a sedative to help you rest. You’ve been through a lot."

I nodded, too tired to argue. Dr. Carter gently injected the drug into my IV line. "Try to get some sleep. We’ll talk more later."

As the sedative began to take effect, he left the room, closing the door softly behind him. The hospital room was quiet, the only sounds were the steady beeping of the monitors and the distant murmur of voices in the hallway. I sat up in bed, hugging my knees to my chest, and finally let the tears come.

I cried for the loss of my baby, for the betrayal of my husband, for the years of my life wasted in a loveless marriage. The pain was overwhelming, and for a moment, I thought it might consume me entirely.

It might make me do things that I would hate. I had no lifeline anymore. Maybe I should just end it all.

But as the tears flowed, some of the weight lifted, and I could breathe a little easier.

The drug took hold, and my body grew heavy with exhaustion. I lay back on the pillows, staring up at the ceiling. Memories of William’s laughter and the woman in the robe haunted me. How did my life come to this?

I remember when we first met. William was charming, attentive, everything I thought I wanted in a partner. But it didn’t take long for his true nature to reveal itself. He was controlling, manipulative, and cruel. He isolated me from my friends and family, leaving me dependent on him for everything.

The realization hit me hard: I had to leave him. For my own sake, for my sanity, I had to get out. But how? I had no money, no job, no support system. The fear of the unknown was paralyzing, but staying with William was no longer an option.

As I lay there, drifting in and out of consciousness, I made a decision. I will find a way to leave. I would rebuild my life, piece by piece. The road ahead was uncertain, but it was the only path left to me.

The sedative finally pulled me under, and I slept fitfully, dreams of freedom and escape mingling with nightmares of William’s anger. When I woke again, the room was dim, the lights low. It took me a moment to remember where I was.

The hospital. Right, I had no baby anymore. Sigh. I lay there and stared at the ceiling.

I prayed for strength, and I prayed for death.