He Couldn’t Forget, She Wouldn’t Forgive

LAYLA "Oh s**t!" I grunted, opening my eyes weakly and sitting up on the bed. An irritable sensation surged within me to my throat, and I felt the urge to release whatever was clogging me and causing irritation. With the remaining strength in my body, I dragged my empty self to the bathroom, stooped low in front of the water closet, and emptied whatever was irritating me. Well, I didn't find anything except a little liquid. That was expected. I had been throwing up for days. My appetite was lost, and my body had become as light as a feather. I thought I was down with a fever, but there wasn't any improvement in my health despite taking medicine. Standing and moving away from the water closet, I went to the sink and washed my hands and mouth to remove the sour taste in it. Beads of sweat shrouded my forehead even though the air conditioner was working perfectly. Glancing at my reflection in the mirror, I pushed my head backward, closed my eyes, and sighed deeply, my shoulders dropping rhythmically to the sound. I refused to think about it. It cannot possibly be pregnancy. I can't be expecting a baby. With another deep sigh, I unlocked my eyes and removed the pregnancy test strip I had kept in my back pocket. My weak stare fixed on the strip with a myriad of thoughts roaming in my head and mind. Do I want to do this? Do I want to raise my hope for the umpteenth time? Am I ready to be disappointed as always? "This will be your last time, Layla. If it comes out negative as usual, just accept you are barren and stop raising your hopes every freaking time," I told myself in between my mumbles as I removed the strip from the pack. I peed into the little transparent container I found in the pack with the strip and inserted the strip in it. Removing it, I placed it in the space beside the sink and waited for a minute as it was indicated in the instructions. Waves of fear flashed across my eyes as I skimmed over the strip. Multitudes of emotions sizzled within me. It could be good news or the usual bad one. Inwardly, I wished it could be true. It meant a lot to me. It could save my marriage. It could make my husband love me. Three minutes passed, and I anxiously picked the strip up. Turning it, my eyes fell on the "Positive" inscription. I was dazed for a few seconds. I was seeing things, right? Shaking my head, I pinched myself aggressively and groaned softly when the sharp pain pierced into my skin. "It is real." I wasn't seeing things. I was indeed pregnant. My perfectly molded lips curved into a delightful smile, and the paleness on my face instantly dissipated. I was restored to life. "Where the hell are you, Layla? Get the hell out of your room, you murderer." My husband, Bastian's voice, ripped through the air and pulled me out of my reverie. His timbre was fierce and rude, but I didn't notice that because of my excitement. My eyes widened when I heard his voice. It would be best if I surprised him with this great news. He would be over the moon. Snatching the strip from the sink, I rushed out of the bathroom and bumped into him the moment I stepped into the bedroom. "Bast....," I lifted my head, smiling sheepishly, with butterflies dancing in my eyes. The remaining word got stuck when he grabbed my arm violently and pulled me closer. "You didn't go to the hospital yesterday. You refused to give Rina some of your blood," he fired. The hands of trepidation gripped me as I looked into his darkened eyes. Fireballs rolled in them, revealing his inexplicable anger. He looked like he could pounce on me and claw me with his fingers. I gulped. This man didn't see me step out of my room for seven days yet he was never worried. He didn't even come to check on me, but he was quick to storm into my room when he found out I didn't give his beloved lover some of my blood. Anger coursed through my veins, and the urge to spit in his face swelled within me. I managed to control my emotions. It wasn't like I could do that. I was scared of Bastian Avery. A snort of disbelief crept out of my lips. "This is the first time I haven't given her blood since I started three years ago, and you didn't bother to ask why I couldn't do that?" My voice was shaky, pain and disappointment vivid in it. My hands shook tremendously as my emotions enveloped me. I tugged my dress tightly, trying to prevent anyone from seeing it. He scoffed, his eyes mocking me. "Why should I care about your motherfucking ass? You have only one assignment, Layla... Just one f*****g assignment and that is to give Rina some of your blood monthly." His voice was indifferent and plain. There wasn't an ounce of emotions in them. It hadn't changed. He still viewed me as the woman who got married to him because of her own selfish interest. "And I have been doing it for years. For three years, Bastian. I have been giving her for years. You should know something must have stopped me from going there," I spoke back, tears shrouding my vision, but I leaned my head backward and blinked them back to their space. He chuckled. The sound of his chuckles transmitted chills down my spine. He squeezed my arm and shook it roughly. "Something must have stopped you from going, of course. And that will be the rotten wickedness in your chest. You are so wicked that you want the little girl to die. Do you think that will make me love you? Do you think eliminating Rina would make me become yours? You are just a pathetic gold digger who is ready to do anything for money," He hurled abusive words like him, each prodding into my skin like a dagger. My heart was constricted as I felt a wrenching pang of pain there. It was as though I was being pricked with tons of needles. Breathing was difficult. Tears laced in my eyes. This was the same man I loved. At the same time, his sister and his mother strolled in, their expressions filled with mockery. They stopped a few steps away from us and folded their arms, waiting to watch the drama that was unfolding. Shutting my eyes, I swallowed hard and gathered strength to say, "I have been sick for days." I opened my eyes back, and I was met with a worried countenance. Scratch that! I was seeing things. I didn't see it again when I decided to glance properly to be sure. "I planned on going to the hospital tomorrow to give her the blood," I explained even though it was needed. "Lies!" Hazel, his sister, chipped in, making a smug and hissing irritating noise. "You are just a f*****g liar. You are sick, yet you had the strength to attend a party yesterday," she lied without batting an eye. I couldn't react. I never expected anything less. Hazel hated me as much as her brother did. Everyone in the Avery family hated me, my guts, and everything about me. All because I got married to their son. All because I loved him. "What is wrong with you?" He asked; I could swear that I heard a kind of affection in his voice. Hell No, Layla. You just heard wrong the second time. Bastian Avery can never be worried about you. He can never grow any affection for you. "I am pregnant!" I muttered in my head. I couldn't dare say it out. This wasn't the right occasion. Not when he was still pissed about his beloved. "Nothing. Just some fever!" I responded. The moment I gave him the response, he hissed and shoved my arms away angrily. It was so sudden that it made me stagger. "Ahah!" I exclaimed. "You made Gina lose her pregnancy because of a fever? A f*****g common fever? You couldn't go to the hospital because you had a fever, yet you could attend the party. You made me lose my first child because of a fever?" He spat in my face, his eyes getting darker and the atmosphere of the room chillier. The hair on my body stood, and goosebumps covered me. I hadn't seen this side of him. And what the hell did I just hear? Gina was pregnant? She was pregnant for him? Gosh! When did all this happen, and why was I just hearing about it? "Oh my God! You mooch! What did my family do to deserve this level of wickedness and witchcraft from you? You made me lose my first grandchild because of a fever?" His mother dashed toward me, held my arms, and pulled me violently. "You took my son's source of happiness. Why are you bent on ruining this family?" She cried, hitting me. "What are you even saying, mother?" Hazel snapped. "You are merely enabling her lies. She didn't have any stupid fever. I saw her go out of the house yesterday. Don't fall for her pathetic acting." She attacked without sparing me a rod. "Hazel! Why do you have to do this? We both know you are telling a lie," I mumbled, my brows raising in disbelief. What have I ever done to this family? Was it a crime that I loved their son? Was it a crime that I fell in love with? "Shut your filthy mouth, Layla..." He growled, his eyes shooting fire. The lines of his veins are popping out of his skin. "You are a murderer, and I will make sure you pay for it. You shall pay for killing my child," he vowed with menace in his voice. At this point, I knew there couldn't be any redemption. He hated me, and nothing was going to change that. Will everything change if I tell him about my pregnancy? Will he be happy that he has another child after losing one? My eyes fell on my belly and I felt a surge of hope. I shouldn't give up on us. This child came at the right time for a purpose. And that was to mend the relationship between its father and me. I would be able to win Bastian's love if I told him he would become a father soon. I just need to wait for the right atmosphere and time. "Let's go to the hospital," he mumbled, snatching my hand and dragging me out of the house. "What!" My eyes dilated. Does he care about me? Does he believe what I said? Is he taking me to the hospital for treatment? "This time, you are going to give her two pints of your blood." His words drifted into my ears and forced me to stop in my tracks. "What!" I spurted out. The urge to laugh at myself swelled within me, but I was forbidden to laugh in that condition. Did I just think he cared about me? Oh! Your poor heart, Layla. You are just a second option. Scratch that! Even a second option got more life than me. You are just a nothing. You are nothing to Bastian and his family. "You heard me, Layla. Do you have a problem with it? You don't want to carry out your duty? Have you forgotten this is the only reason I agreed to marry you and endure your bullshit?" He fired angrily. His eyes were void of emotions, and his voice was filled with spite. "Bastian, I am very sick right now. Let me recover for today. I will go to the hospital to give her the blood myself tomorrow. Just spare me for today," I pleaded, tears lurking in my eyes and ready to pour in a blink. I couldn't believe what was happening. I was scared for my unborn child. How could I donate some blood in this condition? And he just asked for two pints of blood. A f*****g two pints of blood just because I missed a day. "You are leaving with me to the hospital right now," he let out, as a matter of fact. His voice was clear and authoritative. He continued to drag me to the door. "I am really sick. I might lose my life if I donate some blood in this condition," I told him, pulling my hands. "I don't care if you die, Layla!"