Regret? A Little too late

Ivy's POV I grinned as I read the message on my phone. Two years, and I could never get used to how he sent even his private texts through his secretary. I slowly caressed my showing bump with a smile on my face. “You are finally going to meet your dad,” I muttered with a smile on my face. It's been three months since I called to tell him about my pregnancy. Surprisingly, he never called back, just left a message that he would be back and how excited he was. It hurt at first that he didn't fly out from his business trip right away to see me. But an excitement shot through me as I thought of the surprise he might have prepared for me. That was just Caleb; he made sure to make up for any mistakes he had done. The doorbell rang, making me smile even wider. 'That must be the dress,' I thought, he never wanted me to worry about what to wear. I always wondered if I had known about the pregnancy before he left…maybe he would have stayed. But it didn't matter, as I found out myself when I was two months along. It was a miracle I wanted to share with him; he didn’t know how far along I was. Just thinking of it made me feel like his work was more important than I was. That was a score I would have to settle with him after he came. “Martha? Who is at the door?” I asked slowly, making my way downstairs. “Mrs. Richards, it's a package for you,” she answered as she handed it to me. I smiled to myself as I saw his name on the card. As the car pulled into the company parking lot, I smiled as I saw flickering lights on the floor I was headed to. 'Too much for a surprise!' I giggled softly to myself. “Ma'am, let me help you in,” Mr. Gregory, my driver, said as he offered his hand to guide me. “No, but thank you, I'm fine,” I politely turned him down with a smile. My flat shoes hit the floor, the cool air of the night biting into my skin. The blue glittering dress reflected like the stars through the night lights. I walked towards the entrance for an unknown reason; every step I made felt tense. I hadn't seen him in months; maybe that was why I felt butterflies in my stomach. Yes…butterflies, that was how he always made me feel. As the elevator door opened into the venue, I wore my best smile as I headed to the door. Security at the door knew me, so they didn't stop me, but I couldn't help but notice the confused looks on their faces. As I made my way through the crowd, murmurs followed me with every step. 'Yeah, I know, I'm excited too,' I replied to them in my mind, doing a dramatic rolling of my eyes. The stage was just a few steps away as the guests clapped. There it was…the banner: “THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME A DAD, MY LOVE.” My heart skipped a beat as I felt my stomach flutter as my eyes searched for him. He certainly knew how to apologize. I smiled as my wandering eyes locked with his. I smiled happily as I walked towards him, but the dampened look on his face made me slow my steps. He looked angry confused, or I would have described the look as lost. As he averted his head, I followed his eyes as they landed on a woman who held his hand. A woman I knew all too well, his secretary. Her once flat stomach already big and showing. I forced my legs to make steps forward. As the guests realized what was happening, they made way, each of them giving me a look of pity. “Caleb? What is this?” I forced the words out, my mind expecting a reasonable explanation. “Ivy? What are you doing here?” My husband asked his voice plain and calm. His response shed some light on what was happening here. “I asked a question, Ivy.? Who told you to come here?” He asked once again, his voice calm and controlled. That got me, his calmness. Did he have a conscience? The audacity of him to ask me that! “Caleb? I asked, What the hell is happening here!” I burst out, my finger pointed to him. At that point I didn't care if the doctor said I should avoid anger and rest more for the sake of the baby. “Calm down, Ivy. I just gave your husband what you couldn't give him,” Janet, his secretary, replied, batting her eyes at me in mockery. I felt as if air had been knocked out of me. Before I knew it, I delivered a hot slap on her cheek, making her squeal in shock. “Who gave you the right, Janet?” I asked my anger uncontrolled. After two years we finally had a baby, and to think my husband had a mistress. “Ivy Williams!” Caleb's voice came full of raw anger as he raised his hand, ready to beat me. He had never addressed me by my maiden name…never. I felt my anger subside in me. “Caleb?” I called, my voice pained, my heart aching. “Don't call my name. Janet is carrying my baby, and you have no right to hit her!” He said his eyes bored into me. I staggered back, my strength failing me as I looked at the people before me. “Wha…what about our baby?” I asked almost like a whisper as my hand slowly caressed my little bump. I looked into his eyes, something crossing in them as he scoffed at me. “Come on, stop pretending; you're not pregnant! I called the doctor immediately I heard the news, and he confirmed it” He answered, his voice flat and emotionless. The question that lingered in my mind was finally answered. I could see clearly why he never checked up on me. “No…that's not true. I am three months along. How could you do this to me?” I explained as I looked at them in disbelief. The room suddenly felt tiny, and the surrounding air started feeling insufficient. “Stop pretending , Ivy; you are just delusional. Let's see if you are pregnant!” Janet's voice rang in my ears, and before I knew it, she pretended to touch my stomach. As she got close to me, she pushed my stomach so hard that it felt like a punch. I closed my eyes tightly from the pain as I felt my body falling. “Aah” a scream echoed through the room, but it didn't come from me despite the pain I felt. Before my mind could process anything, I heard my husband's voice. “Quit pretending, Ivy! You'll be facing my lawyers soon; I'll make sure you rot in jail for hurting my fiancée” he threatened as he held onto his mistress, who feigned distress. “Cal…" I tried calling, but my voice failed me as I felt a warm fluid make its way down my thighs. “No…no…" I stuttered as I looked around me for anyone who would help me. But instead they gave me pitiful looks as they followed the couple of the day towards the exit. This was it; my baby was gone, and I was going to follow too. I felt my head get dizzy. How could Caleb do this to me? After everything I had done for him, he repaid me with betrayal and callousness. A sharp pain crossed my lower back and abdomen, making me scream. “My baby…please hel…help” I muttered to anything that could hear before I passed out in total darkness.