A Good news Met With A Bad One

~Queenie~

"Congratulations Mrs. Aspen, you're four weeks pregnant." The doctor said with a broad smile, handing me a report, I was dumbstruck. 

Subconsciously, I reached out and took the report, and my other hand subconsciously went to my stomach to feel if it was true. Unlike before, she felt a faint heartbeat. 

"Are...you sure about this, doctor?" I asked, flustered. 

The doctor smiled at me. "I am very sure, Mrs. Aspen. In fact, I conducted the test three times and I still had the same result. If you're still not convinced, you can pay a visit to another hospital." 

I nodded with a smile. Biting down on my quivering lips, I stood up and walked out. 

I visited three more hospitals and got the same answer. I was overly excited as I tucked all the results into an envelope before walking home. 

I got home by seven in the evening. The gloomy house welcomed me once again. I glanced at the dining table and shook my head seeing the foods untouched. 

Nevertheless, I didn't let it spoil my mood. The maidservants all looked at me with hidden scorn, but just like before, I chose to ignore it. 

I stopped in front of the door I never dared to come across. With nervous hands, I reached out and turned the doorknob. The door gave way and I was met with a sight which made my leg wobble. 

I fell to the ground distraught. Right on my matrimonial bed was my husband and… my best friend. 

My chest tightened. The duo, after glancing at me, said nothing as they continued what they were doing. 

I stared in that position until they were done. "Alicia...you...you've been lying to me!" 

Velon ignored me and went to have a bath. 

As I spoke, I tried my best to keep calm but ended up crying profusely. My husband, who had gotten out of the bathroom, walked up to me and sneered. "What are you doing here, barren woman?" 

I had been enthusiastic to tell him the good news but after seeing the scene before me, I couldn't help breaking down again. 

"You promised to love me till eternity, Velon!" I screamed, but my words came out barely audible. 

Velon frowned and walked up to me. He extended his foot and pushed me down. "I've told you times without numbers to knock before you open my room's door! Has your barrenness also made you deaf?!" 

Alicia watched the scene before her with relish. She too got off the bed, wore something to cover her nudeness then walked over to my fallen figure.

"Tell her honey." She spoke dotingly. 

I opened my eyes at that moment to see my husband nod his head. "Alicia is pregnant with my son. She's three months pregnant. Apparently, I can't let my biological son's mother be a mistress, so we'd need to have a divorce." 

My eyes dimmed. Suddenly, I lost control and went berserk and tried to rush up at Alicia but got kicked on the stomach by my husband. 

I fell and recoiled on the floor. Holding my stomach in grief while praying my child was alright. 

Alicia however, had a panicked expression as she jumped behind Velon. "Did you see that honey? Because she couldn't bear you a child, she tried to kill the one you already have! What a vicious woman!" 

On the floor, I smiled bitterly. Once upon a time, Alicia was someone who needed help and due to my goodwill, I decided to lend a helping hand. 

I was a bit docile, I would always run to her whenever I faced any kind of problem with Velon. Every suggestion she brought on was always well received by my naive self. 

In time, she had managed to convince me to bring her into my home as she would assist me in dealing with Velon. Once again, I stupidly entertained the idea. 

Now, look where it has gotten me. I looked at my husband who had a murderous look on. This same man had showered me with love the first and second year of our marriage. 

In the second year, he suddenly became hostile to me. Beating me at every little provocation, but I stuck with him believing he'd change his attitude but the beatings became worse. 

"You know what, Queenie Knight? I need you to sign the divorce agreement. Now!" 

Saying that, he walked to his drawer and took the paper on top of it, then walked back to me. He flung it at me along with a pen. 

I looked down at the divorce agreement, he had already signed and the only vacant place was where I would sign my name. 

I laughed bitterly when I got the compensation he had given me. Looking up at him, tears fell from my eyes as I asked. "A hundred million? Is this all I'm worth in your eyes?" 

Velon sneered angrily. He was getting more and more upset with me. "I can increase it to Three hundred if that'll make you sign the agreement faster." 

I picked up the paper, and just when Alicia was getting excited, I tore the paper in half.   

"There is no way I'm leaving you with such a treacherous woman! Our three years can't just go down the drain! Velon, look into my eyes and tell me you no longer have any feelings for me?" I said bursting into tears. 

Velon stood rooted to the spot, his emotions flashing in his eyes. Seeing him that way, Alicia was about to say something when he left her hold and walked up to me. 

"Queenie Knight, all I feel towards you is repulsion. Not only did you fail to make me feel like a man that I am, you're also a disgrace to me!" 

After saying that, he reached out his hand and slapped me hard in the face. I fell, however, I got control of myself and clutched onto my stomach protectively. 

The slap wasn't the end of it, punches, kicks and the rest of them followed suit. Soon, I was covered in bruises.

.....

My eyes flew open in a dark cell, it was extremely dark that I couldn't make out the shape of my own hand. 

My sight which was blurry hadn't adjusted to the darkness when a fluorescent light lit up the place. It caused my eyes to shut back. 

Although I had been a housewife for three years, I wasn't stupid. After I brought in Alicia, the lights had been a frequent companion to me whenever I was imprisoned by Velon. 

I had initially thought the man was being heartless. But after seeing the female silhouette stride in, I suddenly realized it was all Alicia's plan. 

The light wasn't like ordinary lights but one that no matter what one did to evade it, would always cause one to stay awake. 

Thus, regardless of how many days I stayed in, as far as the light was on, I'd be forced to stay awake. 

"Why are you making things hard for yourself? Just sign the divorce papers and all these will end." Alicia tsked, standing before me. 

I looked up at the woman who had been acting weak and harmless for the past three years and broke down again. I hated myself for being too weak, easily fooled and easy to manipulate. 

"I'm talking to you!" Alicia sneered, grabbing me by my jaw.  

"What do you want, Alicia?" At this point, I was dispirited as I couldn't recall where I had gone wrong. "I gave you everything you wanted, I never withhold anything from you. Just tell me why you'd hate me so much to sleep with my husband?" 

Alicia pushed me back with great force and my body collided with the wall. Thankfully, its impact wasn't much. Hence, I felt no discomfort from the little being in me. 

"We both come from poor backgrounds, so why do you have to be the one who gets a lavish marriage? Get pampered and have anything you want. While I can only rely on you for help?" The woman replied with a smiley face. 

"So our friendship meant nothing to you. All you ever cared about was my husband and wealth?" 

"You're a stupid person, Queenie. I'm not surprised you got deceived by me..." 

She stopped talking when she heard someone walking towards the cell, with a sinister look, she reached out and gave me a light spank on the face which left a little mark. She turned to herself and smacked herself soundly. 

The sound made Velon hasten up. Simultaneously, the moment he appeared in the cell, he saw her move backwards while I reached out to stop her from falling. 

Anger brewed in his heart as he concluded that I had been the one who pushed Alicia. Without waiting for an explanation, he stormed towards me and gave me a loud smack on the face!