Sweet Lies

It was Miranda Hart's wedding anniversary today and she couldn't wait for Gerald, her husband to come home. It was a very special day for both of them because, apart from it being their anniversary, she was also carrying his child. She still smiled whenever she thought about it. She had found out she was pregnant a few weeks ago, but she decided not to tell Gerald immediately. She wanted to surprise him today, on their anniversary. She couldn't wait to see the look on his face when she told him. “Madam, I have made all the necessary arrangements you asked me to,” Melissa the house keeper said. Miranda looked at her and smiled before nodding earnestly, she couldn’t help the joy she felt when she thought about Gerald’s reaction. “Thank you, Melissa.” Melissa returned the smile and gave her a small nod before leaving. Miranda looked down at her phone. It was almost 7 p.m. Gerald should be home soon. She got up and walked towards her drawer. She opened it and brought out a small bottle of perfume. It was a new fragrance she had recently gotten. Gerald loved the fragrances she used and she was sure he would love this one too because it was different from the others. And it was her first time wearing it. She sprayed some on her neck and wrists before taking a small sniff. She smiled brightly, hopefully, Gerald would like this one too, she thought. After making sure everything was ready, she went downstairs and sat in the living room to wait for him. Her phone suddenly buzzed. She looked at the screen and rolled her eyes when she saw the caller. Alessia, Again? “Seriously, Alessia? How am I supposed to concentrate on my anniversary if you won't stop calling?” The call connected and Alessia immediately started talking. “Is he back yet? Have you told him? What did he say?” She asked all the questions at once. Miranda sighed. If Alessia was standing in front of her, she would have probably smacked her head. “I haven't told him yet.” “Is he back?” “No.” There was a short silence. “He isn't back yet?” Miranda frowned slightly. “No. But he should be back soon.” “What do you mean soon? He is working this late on your anniversary? Tsk, tsk. Men are so unreliable.” Miranda smiled. She could already imagine Alessia clicking her tongue. “Are you fine though?” Alessia suddenly asked. “Yes, I'm fine. Why won't I be?” “Your reports weren't exactly the best last time.” Miranda sighed and rubbed her forehead. “I told you I'm fine, Lessie.” “You better be. Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, must happen to my god babies.” Miranda looked down at her stomach and laughed. “Sheesh. What do you mean god babies? It's just one.” She placed a hand on her stomach and rubbed it gently. Just then, she heard the front door open. Her head immediately turned towards the entrance. Gerald. “I'll call you back. Gerald just got back.” She ended the call before Alessia could say anything else. Miranda quickly got up and looked towards the door. Gerald walked into the house and her smile immediately brightened. “Welcome home, honey.” She walked towards him and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. But Gerald didn't return the smile. He just looked at her for a few seconds before walking past her and heading upstairs. Miranda stood there, watching him, her smile slowly disappearing. Maybe he was just tired. He had been working all day, after all. She tried not to think too much about it. “Madam.” Miranda turned around. Anthony, Gerald's personal assistant, was standing behind her. She hadn't even noticed him come in. “Anthony?” “Madam, I—” “Is Gerald okay?” she asked quickly. “Did something happen at work?” “No, ma'am. Nothing happened.” Miranda looked at him for a moment. He looked a little nervous, but she didn't think much of it. “Sorry. You were saying?” “Yes, ma'am. The boss asked me to give this to you.” He handed her a folder. Miranda looked at it before looking back at him, she smiled a little. “Thank you.” Anthony nodded, giving her a confused look. Miranda looked at the folder again, It was the approval for the design studio. She had been waiting for it for a while, so maybe Gerald had decided to surprise her with it. She smiled to herself and held the folder closely, it was very important to her and it was all thanks to her husband. Why didn’t he just give it to her himself, though? She shrugged and headed upstairs. She was almost running by the time she reached their bedroom. She opened the door slowly and was faced with Gerald’s back. “Gerald?” Gerald turned almost immediately, The moment Miranda saw his face, her smile disappeared. He looked angry, very angry too. Miranda moved towards him cautiously, her heart beating faster than usual. “Darling, is anything the matter?” “Everything is the matter, Miranda.” His voice was cold, nothing like her husband. Miranda stood there, confused. “What?” “Everything is the matter. Every damn thing is the matter.” He pointed towards the bed. Miranda followed his hand and looked at the decorations. The flowers she had arranged into a heart shape, the candles. Everything she had spent hours preparing for him. “You don't like them?” Gerald scoffed. “What are these useless things?” Miranda stared at him in surprise, she couldn’t understand his attitude. “You just have to tell me if you don't like them. You don't have to call them useless.” Her voice sounded smaller, she tried to suppress the sadness in her heart. She looked at the flowers again and looked at Gerald worriedly, it wasn’t like him to act his way. “Did I do something wrong?” Gerald laughed coldly staring at her like she was a thorn in his flesh. “Do you ever do anything right?” Miranda's eyes widened. She didn't understand what was happening. “Everything you do is wrong,” he continued. “I'm tired of pretending everything is okay when it isn't.” “What are you saying, Gerald?” she asked, her voice shaky, unable to suppress her emotions. “I'm tired of this whole act we have going on. “What act? We are married.” Miranda said moving closer to him, she moved to touch his hands but Gerald shot her a warning look as if daring her to touch him. Miranda’s heart broke and her voice trembled as she spoke. “You're calling our marriage a joke?” “Yes.” The answer came so quickly that Miranda felt like someone had poured cold water all over her. “A joke that has been going on for too long,” Gerald said. Miranda looked at him in disbelief and held her chest as she felt her emotions overwhelm her. “Gerald…” “I'm ending things.” “What?”