The Mistress

Mazikeen

When I get home, Edward is waiting. I’m not sure why he is home early today, so I stand looking at him, waiting for him to explain.

“Your mother and father are coming by, so you need to cook for them, and they are bringing someone as well, so cook for five,” he says. Me cook...of course, it’s me who needs to cook.

“She should have given me notice,” I say as I begin to take out the food. I hate that she just does this, and then I’m expected to cook a perfect meal for her.

“If you ever answered to her, maybe she would do,” he states and sits. He watches my every move as I cook, and I don’t understand why she is coming tonight.

Nearly two hours later I am setting the table and putting food on it before rushing to get everything ready while Edward relaxes like it’s nothing. Then again, I’ve lived this life for over ten years now.

Going to the bathroom and wash my face and hands. I walk down and find my mother and father already sitting at the table; the woman they brought is sitting next to Edward.

“About time, Mazikeen, we’ve been waiting,” my mother complains.

“I had to get ready. I just finished cooking,” I explain. I take a seat next to her now that the woman is in my seat. She’s about twenty-two and truly stunning.

We begin eating, and my Mother asks Edward about his work. He smiles and discusses it with her.

“I’ve offered to do some work on Mazikeen before things get worse,” he says, and I sigh.

“Oh, that’s nice of you, Edward. You’re lucky, Mazikeen,” my mum looks at me. Lucky? How is him wanting to cut my body lucky? This conversation needs to change.

“I don’t think we’ve met?” I look at the woman.

“Oh, Mazikeen, this is Lucinda. We got speaking, and well, we came up with a solution to your baby situation,” my mum says, and I turn to look at her.

“What baby situation?” I ask.

“You can’t have a baby darling, it’s been ten years.” She looks at me with a small, sad smile, and it pisses me off.

“You assume I’m the one at fault?” I ask, feeling anger build within me.

“Well darling, Edward isn’t going to be, let’s be honest. He keeps his body in perfect shape and on top form. You’ve had a few rough spells that clearly have impacted your body. Let’s not forget the surgery you had when you were younger that could have caused damage and stopped your ability to have children,” she says, and I glare at her.

“Mother! There is nothing wrong with my body. I asked that we go and get tested to see what the issue is,” I say and turn to Edward.

“Darling, stop getting worked up. I understand it’s hard to know you can’t do what all women can, but your mother found a solution,” he explains.

The issue isn’t me! How can they just assume it’s me? I sit and look between them. Of course, it’s me, at least in their minds. My parents can’t see a single fault in Edward; any issues in our relationship were down to me.

Purely me, never him, I should have known this would be another thing that I failed at, that is all my fault.

“Lucinda is moving in here,” my mum explains, and I turn confused.

“Why?”

“Because she can give you and Edward the baby you want. She has agreed to have Edward’s baby and give it up when it’s born,” she says.

“So rather than finding out the issue and possibly doing IVF with me, you’re going to do it with a random woman?” I ask, staring at him and feeling my heart breaking.

“No one said IVF, the baby will be conceived naturally. That is why she is moving in,” my mum’s words have me stand.

“Are you joking!” I shout.

“Mazikeen that is enough, sit down now,” my father shouts.

“No! Who does that? Oh, we can’t have kids and rather than finding out why, I’m going to bring another woman in to sleep with!” I scream and step away from the table.

“Darling, you need to calm down.” Edward looks at me.

“Calm down! I want that woman out of this house now! If you want a baby, we find out who is the issue and fix it, not bring in someone.” I scream and turn to look at her. “Get out now!”

Edward grips me and pushes me back. “Don’t you dare take out your anger at her! She’s offering to have a baby for you, and all you can do is see the bad? She is staying. This has already been arranged. Me and your parents have spoken of it multiple times. I’ve met Lucinda many times before now. Stop this tantrum,” he screams, and I step back.

“Tantrum! We’re married, and you’re happy to sleep with a random woman,” I shout. He moves and grips my hair, pulling me to sit at the table.

“You will stay there until we discuss this fully.” His words are loud, and my head drops.

“Mazikeen, Lucinda is giving you a baby; you should be thanking her and grateful she is taking your place in the bed,” my mum speaks, and I don’t reply because all I will do is scream.

I listen to them discussing it, and I can already tell they planned it all. She brought her clothes and everything. I’m now apparently sleeping in the guest room because it’s not relaxing enough for Lucinda and won’t help her get pregnant.

How did things suddenly take this turn? In twenty-four hours, he wants to do surgery on me and now essentially has a mistress with whom he aims to get pregnant.

“Answer me this, how is this any different to surrogacy?” Edward looks at me.

“Are you joking? That’s medical. They don’t actually sleep together, Edward! That’s how it’s different,” I state.

“This cuts out the costs of the medical side Mazikeen. Which we need to do as if it works, we will have a baby to support as well,” he says. Of course, he is trying to save money and cut costs.

“I’m going to bed,” I say as I stand, and Edward stops me.

“Guest room, I will join you there later,” he explains, and I pull away from him and walk upstairs. Stepping into the guest room, I can already see all my things.

They planned it and moved everything while I was out. Fighting back the tears, I get ready for bed and climbed into it.