My vision blurred as I watched Caleb’s receding figure. He had turned his back on me and was now continuing his climb up the stairs - presumably to retire for the night - leaving me standing on the landing with my head tilted backward, chasing his rigid back with shadowed eyes.
I did not move from my position until he was well out of my sight.
Then, his words slowly sank in, and something in my head shifted.
Caleb’s brushing me off shouldn’t be the end of us.
Hurriedly, I followed him upstairs. My feet created a staccato rhythm as they landed hard on each step.
I went to our bedroom, disappointed to find it empty. My eyes swept over the still well-made bed and grimaced. The bed looked lonely, as desolate as I was feeling.
Since our heated row last week, Caleb stopped sharing the master’s bedroom with me. I thought it was his way of cooling his head off, of giving us space to think. I did not realize that he was already making a bold statement - that he was about to impose a permanent irreparable change into our lives.
With mounting urgency, I knocked on the guest room’s door next to the master’s bedroom. The door remained closed. It was as if Caleb was trying his hardest to ignore me.
My fists clenched.
If he is persistent, then, I’ll have to show him the meaning of the word. I pummeled on his door relentlessly until Caleb’s scowling face greeted me. His annoyed look did not faze me in the slightest.
By now, Caleb has changed into his pajamas. I noticed the dark circles under his eyes, and my heart melted.
“Caleb, can we talk this out? You can not just spring divorce on me. What did I do wrong?” I asked.
“Talking things out will not do us any good, Cassy. Let us just accept the fact that we made a mistake in marrying hastily. We were not meant to be so let us leave it at that.” He declared.
“But what about our baby? I am pregnant, Caleb.” I told him. This is my last ditch effort to save our marriage.
Caleb looked stunned.
For a moment, I thought I saw a softening in his expression. I really thought he would change his mind about divorcing me when he learned about our baby, but I did not expect him to be so callous about it.
Caleb snickered before telling me, “Abort the baby. I don’t care.” Then, he slammed the door on my face.
My chest constricted.
Suddenly, the air around me felt stuffy. It enveloped my body like a dense cloud obscuring my vision.
Immediately, my hand went to the front pocket of my skirt to dig out the ultrasound report from this afternoon’s check-up. I did not realize I had been crying as I thought about our child's future.
If I had known that this would have happened, I would never have consulted my doctor friend Tony Richardson to work my body up for conception. I should never have insisted on getting pregnant.
Caleb and I had a falling out a few months into our marriage when we learned that I was not carrying his heir, contrary to my earlier assumption that precipitated our rushed marriage.
I erroneously thought that if I worked hard to conceive and eventually get pregnant, I would repair the damage to our marriage. But it seemed like no matter what I did, our relationship was doomed at the start.
Caleb did not marry me for love. He married me because he thought he impregnated me after months of casual s*x with no label.
I do not know how long I stood outside the guest room, staring at the closed door, before I finally summoned enough strength to leave.
Morosely, I walked back to the master’s bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed, replaying the events that happened that morning.
My head reeled at how fast my life had altered. Just this morning, I was so happy after visiting my friend Dr. Tony Richardson.
For the past three years, he was my OB doctor, taking care of my reproductive health.
“Your hormones caused an imbalance in your reproductive system and impeded your ability to conceive.” He explained when I first went to his office distraught and broken-hearted upon realizing that I made a grave mistake of erroneously misconstruing my missed period for pregnancy.
“I can’t get pregnant?” I was shocked, never having thought of such a possibility.
He smiled as if to assure me. “Not right away. Your condition reduces fertility, but it does not mean that you can’t get pregnant later. We can work you up, and since you are young - and I presume sexually active given that you are newlywed, it is not impossible.”
There was no malice in his tone. More like a matter-of-fact statement, but I could not help blushing thinking about the nights I spent in Caleb’s bed. He was my first in everything.
Without Caleb’s knowledge, I secretly met with Dr. Richardson. After two years of relentless effort, my hard work paid off.
“Congratulations, Cassy. You are eight weeks pregnant.” Dr. Tony told me this morning.
In my excitement, I rose on tiptoe and placed my arms around his neck. “Thank you so much, Dr. Tony. This is such wonderful news.” I told him.
Clutching the ultrasound report to my chest, I heaved a long drawn-out breath.
“It seems like it will just be you and Mommy in the future, baby,” I said to the image in my hand.
Sleep becomes elusive after that. I curled up in bed, looking at my baby’s image with tears running from the corner of my eyes to my temples, wetting my pillow.
When I woke up mid-morning the next day, it was the shrill sound of the telephone rousing me from my sleep.
“Hello.” I winced, hearing the gruffiness in my voice.
“What are you still doing at my son’s house? I thought you had left.” The antagonistic tone in my mother-in-law’s voice had me bolting up from the bed.
Pressing the phone to my ears, I composed myself and greeted her warmly. “Good morning, mom.”
“Don’t you dare call me mom. You are not my daughter. You are just a lowly secretary who trapped my son into marriage because of a fake pregnancy. I’d say Caleb divorcing you is good riddance.”
Her declaration caused a ripple in my heart.
“What do you mean?”
“Stop acting innocent and sign your divorce papers. Caleb deserves a woman he could be proud of, not some conniving b*tch like you who lied and cheated on her marriage.”
Her words stung and against my better judgment, I felt my eyes misting.
“I did not fake my pregnancy, mom. I really thought I was pregnant.”
“Stop lying and get the h*l out of my son’s house!” She screamed before slamming the phone hard.
I looked at my phone in a daze. Somehow, Caleb’s mom’s tirade did not surprise me. Caleb’s mom did not like me, but she could not do anything three years ago to stop Caleb from marrying me. But even so, she would let her disgust of me froth her mouth every time Caleb brings me to her home. She did not want a lowly secretary for his son’s wife. Shaking my head from my trance, I went to the bathroom to do my morning rituals and then got down. “You look like h*ll." Mrs. West looked worried as she ran her eyes over my face. Feeling self-conscious, I tried to evade her scrutiny and asked what was on my mind. “Have you seen Caleb?” “He left very early this morning.” She replied. Then, in a kinder tone, she added, “Did something happen, Cassy?” I shook my head. Until now, I still could not wrap my head around the idea that Caleb is divorcing me. Turning around, I went back in the direction of the staircase. “What about breakfast, Cassy?” Mrs. West’s voice held me
After leaving Caleb’s building, I walked aimlessly, letting my feet take over and not minding where they would take me. My mind is in shambles. My phone rang and I took it to answer the call. “Cassy, where are you?” Tory. my best friend asked. She sounded frantic. I looked around me and saw an unfamiliar place. “I am not sure,” I admitted morosely. “Well, get the h*ll to this place.” She mentioned the name of a luxurious five-star hotel, before adding, “ Your man is being stolen by another woman.” I smiled wistfully. “A man would never be stolen if he was truly in love with his girl,” I said sagely.“What are you talking about? Your man is dating another woman and she was hanging by his neck as of this moment. Your man is cheating on you!” Disbelief colored Tory’s words.I could feel her seething in rage.“He’s not cheating. We are divorcing.” I admitted with a calmness that belied the wild beating of my heart. “What?” Tory could not believe her ears. “You are letting him d
Thirty minutes after nine the next day, I checked my watch for the nth time before consulting my phone for any messages from Caleb. A feeling of apprehension spreads all over my body because for the first time, Caleb was late for an appointment and he was never late. As in never. "Do you think he was suddenly struck by conscience and changed his mind?" It was Tory. We were talking on the phone when I mentioned Caleb's unusual tardiness to her. A shot of excitement rolled over my body when I heard the suggestion, but I dispelled the thought immediately. "I lived with the man for three years, and if there is anything I learned from him, Caleb never changes his mind once he makes a decision about something." We both became silent after that. Another minute passed before I saw a familiar black BMW parked outside the building. The door to the passenger side opened, and Caleb got out. As usual, he was dressed smartly in his olive green three-piece suit. I looked at my own attire
“So, where do you want to go to celebrate your single blessedness?” Tony asked cheekily, his eyes on the road. I mulled his words for a while and decided. “Can you bring me back to my hotel? I need to get my things and check out.”Tony was surprised. “When did you leave your home?” He meant the house I shared with Caleb for the past three years. “Yesterday. Right after our talk. I realized there was not much to keep me there, and it would have been harder if I did it today. It had become less of a home these past months. Besides, I have to say goodbye to Mrs. West.” At the mention of our housekeeper, my eyes turned gloomy.In my three-year marriage to Caleb, I had been quite attached to the older woman and considered her family.I impulsively offered to take her with me, but she declined my offer. She had been Caleb’s nanny since birth and could not leave her charge behind. Caleb grew up alone. His parents divorced when he was young, but he did not go with either of them. He
I was so stunned. I would never have thought I would hear those words coming from him. My shoulders shook with my knees. If it were not for Tony grabbing me from behind and making me lean on him for a while, my knees would have buckled, and I would have landed on the floor.“It’s alright, Cassy. I got you.” He whispered in my ears, drawing me back to the sofa to sit while we walked to the door and closed it gently. He went to the fridge to get me a bottled water, and I took a sip. A few minutes later, I rose to my feet. I walked to the door, beckoning for Tony to follow me.We were silent on the elevator. At the lobby, my phone rang. It was Tory calling. “I’ll take this to the car,” Tony said before he left, dragging my two suitcases behind him. I went to a secluded corner of the waiting lounge and talked to Tory. She wanted to see me. I obliged and mentioned the name of a high-end restaurant not far from the hotel before ending the call. When I turned around, I saw my fo
The car took a turn and went inside a gated resort. An attendant greeted us and showed us to our designated parking space. “Where are we?” I turned to Tony after he parked his car, clueless about our location. I had been in Glendale for a while but had not heard about this place until now. Tony smiled like he knew something I did not. “This is one of your brother’s newly opened businesses in the city." He finally admitted, turning the engine off. "Come.” He beckoned to me after opening the side passenger door.I followed him out and was surprised to see several villas with a spectacular view of the beachfront. “My brother owned this? Why didn’t he tell me?” I asked out loud. “Have you talked to him since you got married?” Tony pointed out to my shame. It was my fault that I lost contact with my family. I chose love over them. Ironically, after rejecting them, it would still be my family I would run to in the end. My eyes took in the large infinity pool and a mossy green
“To where?” I was reluctant to leave the resort we were in because I found the combination of the sea, the sand, and the sun to be quite relaxing, making the kink in my muscles start to loosen. For the first time in three years, I felt at ease and wanted to soak in the feeling, unwilling to let it go just yet. “I forgot that I have a schedule tonight. Don’t worry. I only have to show my face, mingle a little, and then we can go back here so you can relax.” Adam assured me when he saw my lack of enthusiasm. “Okay,” I replied. My voice sounded lame even to my ears. Even though I didn’t feel like going, I could not turn my brother down. This is the first time my brother has asked me for something, and I don’t think I have the heart to refuse him. Adam seemed to perk up at my reply which made me realize that this event is important. Otherwise, he wouldn’t insist on going with me. Right after, Adam called out to his friends to inform them that we were leaving for a while. Then,
“Burke.” “Kingston.” The two men exchanged pleasantries, their voices sounding suave and charismatic, except the expressions in their eyes were full of veiled animosity. Adam’s body became rigid, a sure sign that he was trying to hold back. I tapped his arm to let him know I was uncomfortable with the accidental bumping, knowing it could easily escalate into a heated confrontation and explode in our faces. Instinctively, he covered my hand and patted it, silently reassuring me. The action was not lost on my ex-husband’s keen eyes. He pinned me with an accusing glare that I did not miss interpreting because I lived with the man for three months, and several months before that, I used to work as his secretary. I have learned to analyze his expressions one by one, so I know every nuance, movement, or shift in his stance. I lifted my chin and met hi
Sigh. Have you ever felt that you have to go but cannot make that first step? That is how I feel today. Cassy and Caleb’s story has ended, yet I feel sad at the thought of saying goodbye. I started this story December 2023, and since then, it has brought me so many firsts: * First book with more than 200 chapters, * First book with 200k+ words, * First book with a banner promotion, * First book with highest reads at 70.2k to date, and * First highest-grossing book. This book wouldn’t reach those milestones if it weren’t for you. So, on this page let me thank some of the people who left their marks in my book: First is my editor Lyra Pinter. Thank you for the patience, support and tips you provided to make this book where it is at the moment. Also for GoodNovel. This platform gave me the opportunity to reach out to more audience. Thank you for the gems Chi, Lean Cantara. Jennifer Gonzales, Lhyn, Susan, Yolly Villanueva, Maria Theresa Sant
Cassy POVCaleb spun me around in excitement, and I squealed in delight. When the children noticed what we were doing, they abandoned the toys scattered in the playpen to run toward us. “What’s happening?” Oakley asked.From the background, I could hear my mom tell her. “You and Joachim will have a baby brother or a sister soon.” “Oh!” Oakley sounded surprised.By this time, Caleb had already put me down, and I was watching the enraptured emotion on my little girl’s face. A grin worked its way to her face, making her more beautiful in my eyes. She took her brother’s hand excitedly. “We are going to have a baby! Yay! I am going to be a big sister!” Oakley and Joachim jumped at the news. They were clapping, and so were everyone around us. Even Rosalie Kingston Pierre looked at us with a wistful smile. Greg and James, Caleb’s friends, proposed a toast.“Congratulations on the baby!” They both shouted and tapped their glasses with spoons.It created tinkling sounds that gave off
Cassy POVDuring the party, I could feel that something was bothering Caleb. It's not that I was suspecting him of anything. It was more like I was just puzzled at the antsy behavior. From time to time, he would leave me to talk on the phone, and my lips formed a straight line in displeasure. I am sure it was business, but can’t he postpone business for a while to enjoy the children’s party?“You look lonely, babe. Where is your husband?” Reynold approached me when he noticed I was standing alone in the corner, watching the event while my husband was out of sight. Caleb just stepped out of the room, purportedly to answer Gordon’s call, and it is honestly pi*sing me off. I shrugged my shoulders and looked murderous. The day began magnificently. Caleb and I rose before dawn and tiptoed our way to the twins' bedroom to spruce it up with birthday decor. We wanted to surprise the twins, and we did!The smile on their faces was priceless. Caleb and I could not contain our tears whe
Caleb POVWe started milling around, stopping by some tables to talk to some parents. From the happiness wreathed on the children’s faces, I could see that everyone was having a good time. My two best friends arrived, and I immediately snaked an arm around Cassy’s waist when I noticed Greg smiling at her. I still hadn’t forgotten what he told me before - that he had a crush on my wife. Cassy was surprised but did not remove my arms around her waist while we talked to my best friends. This alone made me shoot Greg a gloating look. If I didn’t need them for my proposal later, I wouldn’t have invited them, especially Greg, but they are the only people I could rely on.A crowd gathered around us, and my two best friends entertained them, allowing Cassy and I to extricate ourselves from the circle to welcome Adam and Cassy’s friends as they trickled in one by one. Martin Crest, Cole Higgs, and John Collins came in one after the other, bearing boxes of gifts for the twins. When Joach
Caleb POVWarmth filled my heart as I listened to Oakley divulge their wish for everyone to hear.My chest felt stuffy when I learned that their wish was me.Even though they did not know me or had no idea about me, my kids longed for me like I longed for them the past years.“I am happy, too,” I responded before grabbing them to kiss the top of their heads.Oakley climbed into my lap. Her little hand started caressing my face.“Thank you, Daddy! I love you!” Oakley declared.My shoulders started to shake. I don’t know what I did before to deserve these children, but I was so happy.“I love you, too, Oakley. You, Mommy and Joachim, are Daddy’s treasures.” I admitted and realized that my voice sounded guttural, even to my ears.I looked at Cassy and saw her smiling through her tears.I don’t think I will ever
Cassy POVDays passed by quickly, and before we knew it, it was already the kids' birthday.“Shhh!”Caleb said when I giggled because, for the first time, it was us barging in on them, not the other way around.The kids were still sleeping soundly.Oakley slept with her arms spread wide. She had kicked off her blanket to the foot of her bed.On the other bed, Joachim slept on his side, facing the wall.“I could not believe they were four years old.” I gushed.Caleb walked to the bed holding the cake we ordered at Felicity&rsq
Cassy POVUnfortunately, thechildren’splan to spend the weekend with their grandparents did not materialize because Mom and Dad told me they were leaving the next day.“Why? Thekids’birthday is only days away?”I could not hide the disappointment in my voice.The children look forward to having the family on their big day. They
Cassy POVI watched my parents, and the happiness radiating on their faces was enough to put a smile on my face.“Now, we can eat,” Oakley interjected.Her declaration broke my embracing parents apart.“Sorry, my little darling!” Mom said awkwardly, chucking Oakley on the chin.Oakley giggled and ran to the dinner table with Joachim in tow.The elder Burkes followed them and helped them with their seats while Caleb and I looked on with smiles painted on our faces.Then, I nudged him. “Tell me, how did Dad manage to order the flower arrangement this fast?&rd
Cassy POVThe children giggled, but they didn’t protest. They wallowed in the attention Mom gave them.“Come on, grandma, let’s eat,” Oakley said after a while. She scooted to the edge of the bed, her feet dangling.Dad took her little hands to hold her while she slid down the bed and her feet connected to the floor.“Wax, let’s go!” Oakley turned around and beckoned for her brother to do the same.Joachim followed Oakley. Dad helped him, too.They both ran to the door, trying to open it. They both jumped, hands touching the knob, but since they were not tall enough, they could not turn the knob open.