Chapter 1

Alicia stood in front of the mirror, checking herself out for the one hundredth time. Her husband Adams had informed her that his parents invited them over for dinner tonight, and she was so nervous because she knew what his parents were like, so she needed to look really presentable to avoid getting them upset because they seemed to find little or no mistakes in anything she did.

She had been married to Adams for 3 years now and there was no sign of pregnancy. They've gone for different kinds of tests and the doctors told them they were okay. She had no idea why she wasn't getting pregnant. 

Adams had been patient with her, but she knew it was all an act. Time came, and he started joining his parents to curse at her and abuse her. 

She's an author and her career as an author was going downhill, she didn't want her marriage to follow suit either, but there was no choice. It was going downhill for sure.

A knock on her door jolted her out of her reverie, she took a deep breath before going to answer the door. When she opened it, she met the house help standing outside.

“Good evening Ma'am. Mr. Adams is waiting for you downstairs.” She informed her.

“Alright, I'll be there soon.” Alicia replied, while managing to force out a smile.

The maid nodded before leaving.

Alicia hurriedly went back to check herself out, she didn't look bad and was satisfied with her appearance, she just hoped her in-laws won't have anything bad to say.

She hurriedly grabbed her necklace and put it on, then she took her purse before exiting her room and going downstairs to meet her husband.

When she got downstairs, Adams didn't even spare her a glance and simply went outside. Although this act did hurt her, but she was already used to his cold behavior by now, she hurriedly went after him to avoid getting scolded.

The drive to his parents' house was silent, all through the ride, Adams didn't say a single word to her, nor did he even look at her, she wanted to strike a conversation with him, but she knew better not to since she knows he's only going to ignore her.

They finally arrived at his parents' house, when the car came to a stop, he simply got out, not bothering to wait for her. It's as if she's invisible to him.

Their marriage wasn't always like this, everything was once so perfect until Adam's parents began to demand for a grandchild, at first, Adams wasn't bothered by this, but his parents' words eventually got to him, and he also joined them in pressuring her to give him an heir. When she failed to give him a child, that was when her once blissful marriage turned sour.

By the time she went inside, she met them already seated in the dining room and the maids serving them dinner. 

“Good evening Mom. Good evening Dad.” She greeted, but Adams' mother glared dangerously at her.

“It's Mrs. Bridget or Ma'am to you, or do I look like your mother!” Mrs. Bridget snapped. “Do we look like your parents, or are you trying to curse us!?”

“I…I'm sorry, Ma'am.”

“Never in your life make the mistake of calling me Mom or calling my husband Dad, we'll never have been so unfortunate to birth a barren woman like you, you're nothing but a promiscuous woman, and you've brought shame and disgrace upon this family!” She cussed.

Her words pierced deep into Alicia's heart, causing her so much pain.

“I'm not a barren Mom, and it's not my fault that I haven't been able to bear children, God is the one who gives kids, so please stop saying such words to me every single time. It hurts hearing those words from you.” She cried.

Mrs. Bridget scoffed loudly. “Don't think your stupid crocodile tears will make me feel bad or hate you less, Alicia. And I'm quite sure you're familiar with the saying that goes 'the truth always hurts'. What I'm saying to you is the truth,” Mrs. Bridget retorted. “You're just a barren woman, you have no womb and everything around you is failing, you're just surrounded by negativity, and it was a huge mistake that my son Adams got married to a shameless and barren woman like you, now you've brought nothing but shame and disgrace to us!” She spat.

“All my mates brag about their daughter in-law giving them grandchildren, but you! I can't even brag about one child coming from you, just one! Whatever's happening to you right now is simply what you deserve, and I pray my son's eyes finally open, and he does the right thing by getting rid of a disgrace like you!” She seethed.

Alicia kept on shaking her head as hot tears streamed down her cheeks. She looked at Adams hoping he would say something, anything at all to defend her, but he remained unbothered and was simply eating his dinner. She looked at his father and the eyes that stared back at her was one filled with nothing but disappointment.

She couldn't bear to stay there any longer, she ran out of their crying bitterly.

The night was so cold and Alicia was literally freezing outside, but she didn't seem to care, after all, it wouldn't matter to anyone if she died from this cold.

It took a lot of time before Adams finally came out, he only looked at her briefly before going to the car.

Alicia stood up from the staircase she was sitting on, she wiped off her tears before going to meet him.

Once again, the ride home was in total and complete silence. When they returned home, Adams left for his room and didn't bother talking to her.

Alicia went to sit on the couch crying softly when her phone suddenly rang, she sniffed before fetching it from her purse, seeing it was her Doctor calling, she hurriedly answered the call. 

“Hello Doctor.”

“Mrs. Alicia…”

“The pregnancy test results are out.”