MARRIED TO A NARCISSIST, PREGNANT FOR MY EX’s CHILD

Dinner.

Selene's POV

The night crept in so fast that by the time I brought Amira back home, she was already fast asleep.

I changed her clothes and put her to bed.

Then I soaked myself in a hot bath, hoping it would calm not just my nerves but the raging storm that was brewing right under my nose.

I stayed there till the water lost its warmth.

When it was time for bed, I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned looking for the right position.

I thought of Rowland and how everything had escalated quickly.

Could he really have been telling the truth?

I sighed. It doesn't matter anyway.

Tom's voice drifted from the other room; he was on the phone.

I checked the time. I was correct; this was when he had his late-night calls.

It had to be Lisa.

A few years into our marriage, he had demanded separate rooms.

'For privacy', he said, but I knew better.

I clutched the pillow so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

I wanted to march to his room, pound on his door and ask him why he was doing all of this.

But I remained still, and soon enough, I drifted off to sleep.

I woke up with Tom already gone and a text informing me how he would be extremely busy at work and he would meet Amira and me at Mother's for dinner.

A part of me felt relieved that I didn't have to bring up the divorce, and another part was enraged that he shoved it right under the carpet like a piece of dirt.

I didn't take Amira to school, but I needed to be alone to gather my thoughts. I took her to the neighbours to be with the other kids, giving some silly excuse about how I had a lot of errands to run. Then snuck back into the house.

I sat at the patio gazing at the garden, the only place where life was allowed to just exist peacefully.

I sipped some more wine.

It was becoming a habit. A way to soothe my nerves.

My phone rang.

It was my mum.

"Hello, dear," her voice came through the phone.

God, I have missed her.

"Hello, Mum, How are you?"

"I am fine, darling. How are Amira and Tom?" she asked.

I paused. I wanted to tell her that Tom now had a mistress. For years I have wanted to tell her I was not loved by my husband.

But instead, I lied.

"They are fine, Mum. Amira is at school, and you know Tom, always busy." I chuckled.

Then silence. It stretched on for so long that I thought she wasn't there anymore.

"Hello," I whispered.

"You know you can come home, Selene. I am always here."

Tears stung my eyes instantly.

It was like she knew.

I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from crying.

"I know, Mom. It's fine, really."

She sighed.

"Okay, be sure to bring Amira by sometime. I miss my little angel."

My lips quivered. "Sure, Mum. Take care of yourself."

She mouthed a kiss, and the line went dead.

*****

"Lord"

I overslept. I had been sleeping a lot lately.

I guess it was the stress.

I checked the time and jolted. I had to get Amira ready for dinner.

I hated going to my in-laws. Tom's mother was a bit stoic. Just like him.

Everything had to be perfect; she never passed a chance to find something to talk about.

I picked up Amira from the neighbours; she looked fairly happy and wasn't happy about leaving her playmates.

"We would come back later," I said, when she protested.

I got her all dressed up, and in a few minutes we pulled up at Harold's mansion.

Tom's car was already packed to the side.

I took a deep breath behind the wheel and stepped out.

At the door, the chatter from inside was so loud I could hear it from outside. They had started without us.

I wished Tom's father was still alive; he would have never allowed all of these.

I knocked, with Amira draped on my arm.

Magarette, Tom's mother, swung the door open.

And just like she hadn't seen me, she reached for Amira.

"Grandma!" Amira exclaimed.

"Oh, Amira darling, you look so frail. Is your mother not feeding you well?"

I blinked to prevent my eyes from rolling.

"Good day, Margarette," I muttered.

"Good day, Selene." She gazed at me. "It's such a pity that you can't give Amira another sibling."

Her words felt like a blow to my chest.

My fingers curled. Tom had broadcast the news already.

I managed a fake smile and followed her in.

The chatter got louder and louder as I walked in.

I could hear a familiar voice.

I shook my head. "No, he wouldn't."

But as the dining area came into view, I saw her.

Sitting across from Tom, her arms folded across her chest like she belonged here. Clearly waiting, was Lisa.