CHAPTER TWO
975 Words
I couldn’t reject the offer, even if I wanted to. Blake’s anger had always been deadly, and I didn’t want to be on the receiving end of it.
A few weeks ago, after another failed IVF attempt, Blake was furious with me. Throughout the ride back home, he kept calling me names, driving recklessly, and slamming the steering wheel to blow off steam.
We had traveled to another state for the IVF procedure because the doctor there was the best in the country. Blake had spent millions of dollars to make the appointment happen. We were expecting a positive result but ended up with the biggest disappointment in history.
“You are worthless. I curse the day I fell in love with you. You should have died in the accident with your parents.”
I sat in the back seat of the car, crying my heart out because of the insults. Every word that came out of his mouth added to the hole in my heart. The pain I felt that day was unbearable.
I stayed silent throughout the ride home, my self-esteem lower than the bottom of the ocean. I felt useless, worthless, insufficient. I questioned the universe for placing a barren curse on me.
Blake abruptly stopped the car a few miles from the house.
“Get out!” he suddenly exclaimed.
I was frozen in shock, watching his every move like a deer caught in headlights.
“Isn’t being barren enough? Have you suddenly gone deaf too? I asked you to get out of my car before I do something we’ll both regret.”
I hurriedly rushed out, trembling in fear.
It was pouring heavily outside, but Blake didn’t feel an ounce of pity for me. He drove off at full speed. His car splashed dirty water from a puddle all over me.
I was left alone in the pouring rain, wearing a flimsy dress that was no match for the intense cold.
Blake knew I was terrified of lightning. It was a phobia I had never gotten over. That day, I was forced to face my fear as I walked back home in the storm.
When I got back, I was drenched to the core, shivering like a leaf in the wind. I had a nasty cough and a runny nose. My teeth chattered, goosebumps covered my skin from the harsh weather, and my legs trembled from the long journey.
All I could think about was escaping to the warmth of the home I had shared with Blake for years, sipping hot coffee wrapped in the comfort of my blanket.
You can imagine my shock when I got home to find the door locked. Blake hadn’t returned like I expected. He had taken a detour.
I had left my purse in the car when he threw me out. I had nowhere to go. I leaned back against the wall and slowly slid down, placing my head on my knees in a protective manner.
The sky poured heavily as I cried my heart out. For the rest of the night, I was alone and outside.
Blake didn’t show up until the next morning. His car pulled into the driveway and he stepped out, ignoring my curled-up form on the ground.
I didn’t receive an apology from him. Nor did I get an explanation. He didn’t even acknowledge me. He simply unlocked the door and walked in. I didn’t fail to notice the lipstick stain on his white shirt.
He had left me outside to be with another woman. That was just one of many times he had cheated in the past few months.
The first time I found out about his affair, he was remorseful. He begged me for days, promising to be a faithful fiancé. He even went as far as getting me roses to make up for it. He claimed that grief over my barrenness had pushed him to cheat.
“I couldn’t help myself, Layla. I thought I could find comfort in another woman’s arms.”
I believed him. I felt bad for him. I forgave him easily. I even apologized for disappointing him with my barrenness.
But he did it again…with no remorse this time. No apology, no guilt.
I didn’t confront him, which only made him more confident. Eventually, I became numb to it. I stopped crying when he came home late. I stopped crying when I didn’t see him for days, knowing he was with another woman. I comforted myself with the thought that we would be getting married soon and that our union would end his endless cheating.
Instead of confronting him, I took my sorrow to my best friend, Camila. I told her everything Blake had been putting me through. I cried on her shoulder. I confided in her about my infertility. She comforted me and even advised me to leave him multiple times, saying it was clear he no longer loved me. She urged me to call off the wedding, claiming that marrying him would be my worst nightmare.
And all the while, she was the one sleeping with my fiancé. She was stabbing me in the back while pretending to heal my wounds.
I agreed to attend the wedding as her bridesmaid, knowing I would pay dearly if I tried to resist.
The wedding was in two days. Everything that was meant for me was quickly converted into Camila’s.
The dress that had been specially designed for me was given to her. The names on the invitations were changed, and new ones were sent out.
Blake didn’t trust me, so he made sure I was locked in the house.
“I don’t need you. Camila wants the wedding to be perfect. Until it’s over, you’ll be monitored to ensure you don’t run away from serving your best friend as a bridesmaid.”
- Writer
