I regained consciousness in a hospital bed feeling dazed and confused. The room was well-lit, and the clean scent of disinfectant overwhelmed my senses, almost suffocating me.
My pulse quickened as the accident flashed back into my memory, vivid and harsh.
The baby was my first concern.
Fear took hold of me as I touched my belly, dreading the worst.
“Hey, easy there,” came a familiar voice breaking through my racing thoughts.
It was Sally sitting beside my bed. Her presence gave me a bit of comfort, but I got more anxious when I remembered I hadn't told her about my pregnancy.
The weight of keeping this secret felt like a big rock was stuck in my throat.
She saw the fear in my eyes and helped me lie back down on the bed, putting her hand on my arm.
“Don't worry. The baby is fine," she said in a calm and reassuring voice, but I could tell she was worried too.
Her words brought me relief but also made me feel guilty. I hadn't planned to reveal my pregnancy like this to her, especially not under such dire circumstances.
Sally looked at me, concern etched on her face, her eyebrows furrowing.
"Why didn't you let me know you were pregnant?" she asked softly, her voice laced with a mix of hurt and confusion.
I gulped, feeling the weight of my hidden truth pressing down on me. "I didn't want to burden anyone, I thought I could manage myself, and… I wasn't sure if the baby would make it," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper as I averted my gaze, unable to meet her eyes.
I could feel the shame creeping in, the realization that I had kept such an important part of my life a secret from someone who cared for me.
She let out a sigh, disappointment flickering across her features but she was trying to grasp the situation.
"You should have told me," she murmured, her voice soft but firm like a gentle reprimand that cut deeper than I expected.
"Where's Jason? He ought to be here with you."
A knot formed in my throat at the mention of his name.
Jason!
His name alone brought a rush of conflicting emotions within me – anger, sadness, and a deep sense of betrayal.
I remembered the days that followed Laura's departure, how Jason had become more loving and attentive towards me, trying to make up for the neglect and pain.
His gestures, the dinners, the laughter, and the tender moments had given me a glimmer of hope that maybe we could rekindle our relationship.
But knowing that Jason was with Laura while I and his unborn child were on the brink of death made me realize that our relationship was built on shaky ground.
Jason's affection felt like a desperate attempt to hold on to a semblance of control, not genuine love or commitment.
I know that staying with him would only bring me more heartache and instability.
The decision to file for a divorce isn't easy, but it is necessary. I need to protect myself and my baby from the toxicity of our relationship.
“Jason… he's not here,” I said, my voice trembling as I hesitated.
The weight of my decision and the reality of my situation pressed heavily on my chest, suffocating me.
I had chosen to leave for the sake of my unborn child, to give us both a chance at a better life, free from the shadows of Jason and Laura's tangled past.
“I ... I have plans to end our marriage," I admitted, my voice quiet, barely above a whisper.
“Our relationship has struggled for some time."
“What?” Sally's eyes widened in shock, disbelief washing over her face.
“What went wrong?”
I took a deep breath, not knowing where to start. Feeling the enormity of my situation crashing down on me like a tidal wave.
As I was about to explain, Sally's phone suddenly rang.
She was a little annoyed by the interruption and wanted to hang up the phone.
“It's okay, just answer it,” I said
“Sorry dear, it must be work.”
She picked up and her expression suddenly changed, to one of concern and urgency.
When she hung up, I said, “You can go, babe, don't worry about me, I'll be fine.”
“Thanks, babe, I'll be back soon.”
She kissed my forehead and left in a hurry leaving me all alone with my thoughts.
****
"Please save her!"
"Wait outside! Only if you wait outside can the doctor treat your wife better!"
I heard a commotion and couldn't help but come out to see what was going on.
As soon as I walked into the corridor, I saw a tall man being driven out of the emergency room by the nurse.
My heart raced as I recognized that familiar handsome face, my brain was buzzing with confusion, as I stood there stunned.
Jason’s suit was wrinkled, and there was blood on his cuffs. It was an awkward sight because he is usually neatly dressed.
He waited outside with an impatient look, and his heart and eyes were filled with worry for the woman in the emergency room.
I had never seen him like this, like a trapped beast, raw and vulnerable.
I didn’t know what happened to me, maybe I wanted to grasp the last glimmer of hope.
I took out my mobile phone and called Jason. If he told me everything truthfully, it might not be too bad.
From where I stood I saw his hesitation to pick up, he finally answered after the third ring.
He didn't even let me speak and immediately said, “Hey babe, I'm sorry but I can't talk at the moment. I'm dealing with an emergency at the company. Let's talk later when I get back.”
After he finished speaking he hung up the phone on my ears without letting me utter a word.
The betrayal stung like a slap across my face and I couldn't hold back the tears in my eyes from pouring down.
I don't know how long it took, it felt like an eternity.
The nurse in the emergency room came out and called out.
"Is Laura's husband here?"
Jason strode closer, "Yes! I'm here."
The short answer was like a dagger cutting my heart twisting deeper with every passing second.
Not far away, he asked anxiously, "How is her condition? Is it serious?" His voice cracked and I could see the fear etched on his face, a reflection of the turmoil within me.
"She lost so much blood, what do you think? But fortunately, you brought her in just in time, she's fine now."
After the nurse finished speaking, as if she was afraid that he would be worried, she added: "The baby in her womb is fine too."
I stared at my reflection in the mirror and was finally satisfied. After what felt like hours of frantic searching, I had finally found a dress that would perfectly complement the earrings. Yes, those earrings – the ones I discovered hidden in Jason's pocket this morning.A pair of delicate and luxurious pearl earrings adorned with diamondsIt was created by my favorite designer, Kokichi Mikimoto, one of only five such earrings in the world. Jason is so thoughtful that he would secretly buy the jewelry I like and give it to me as a surprise on our wedding anniversary.Yes, I was sure he would give this gift to me tonight.I kept checking my dress and makeup in the mirror, and couldn't help imagining how stunning I would look in those earrings.My hands smoothed down the fabric of the dress, which clung to my body in a way it hadn't just a few weeks ago. I turned to the side, my eyes drawn to the slight, but unmistakable curve of my abdomen. A secret I had yet to share with anyone,
Liar.He said he would be back soon, but I was alone in the empty room all night.I couldn’t stop thinking about this as I dragged myself to Devine Corporation where I work. The company is owned by Jason's family and Jason is the CEO and my boss.Each step felt heavy as I walked through the corridors that once felt comforting. Now they seemed filled with echoes of unanswered questions.My best friend and colleague Sally Grey greeted me with concern as she entered my office right after me. “Ava, are you okay? You don't look well.”Forcing a smile, I nodded. "I'm fine, just tired."She eyes me skeptical but decides not to press further. “Well, you'll be pleased to hear that today they're announcing the new design director. It has to be you, Ava. You've worked so hard for it. Congratulations in advance babe.”“Thanks, Sally. I appreciate your support.”I am somewhat calm because I knew the position would be mine. Jason had assured me and I was ready to take on the responsibilities of t
I couldn't believe what I had just heard, Laura's words echoed in my ears like a thunderclap. I could feel my chest growing so tight that it became difficult for me to breathe.“You left me and married him, claiming he was the love of your life, so right now I don't care if you got divorced because of me or not.” Jason retorted, his voice laced with bitterness.Every word felt like a needle piercing my heart.“I was young and confused Jason. I'm sorry for the hurt I caused you back then. I thought I loved him but I never did, it was after I married him that I realized I left gold for bronze. Jason, it's you my heart beats for.” Laura sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks.I was breathless, eager to know how Jason would react to the pitiful Laura in front of him, but I was also afraid that his answer would make me a complete loser in our marriage.“It's too late Laura, I'm married.” Jason declared.I watched in a daze, hoping for something. I wanted to see Jason break free from Laur
The house was quiet as I slowly woke up, the soft hum of the morning light filtering through the curtains. I noticed the other side of the bed was empty and showed no signs of Jason coming in last night. I felt a pang of sadness within me as different wild thoughts ran through my head.The silence of the atmosphere was interrupted by a burst of laughter.I frowned, as I slipped out of bed and followed the sound, the laughter grew louder and mingled with the clinking of dishes.Pushing open the kitchen door I met a scene that stung more than a slap. Jason and Laura were standing at the counter their movement in perfect harmony like they had practiced this routine a thousand times.Laura leaned closer to Jason her hands brushing his as they worked together.Jason who always seemed so reserved was laughing at something Laura said. His laughter was so rich and genuine, a sound I hadn't heard often.A pang of jealousy pierced my heart."Good morning, Ava." Laura noticed me and showed a sw
The days that followed Laura's departure were strange. Jason became more loving and attentive towards me. He cooked for me, bought me flowers, and even took a leave of absence from work to spend quality time with me.It felt like the early days of our relationship. I felt that he was trying to compensate me for all the agony I had undergone during these past recent months. He could not have been more successful.After getting home from work, Jason changed his clothes and went to prepare dinner.And I rested on the couch and watched him busy in the kitchen.He was tall and handsome, and the sunset shone on him through the windows, creating a light halo that removed some of his coldness.He lowered his eyes slightly, and his hands with distinct bony fingers handled the ingredients skillfully.This scene gave me a feeling of peace.“What’s wrong?”He turned around and asked me in a gentle voice.“Babe, will you be able to accompany me to the hospital tomorrow for a check-up?”I decided t