The call

Larisa stared in disbelief at the phone in her hand, double-checking the caller ID to make sure it was indeed Clara calling her.

Ashley silently mouthed the words, "What does she want?", her expression full of surprise.

Larisa shrugged her shoulders, silently mouthing the words, "I don't know."

"Yes, it's me, Clara...Marcellus's one true love," Clara said.

Larisa half-heartedly chuckled as she asked, "True love?"

Clara had been unpleasantly arrogant and rude as of late, even going so far as to get into a heated argument with Larisa the day before her wedding, unbeknownst to Marcellus. When Marcellus's father heard of the disparity, he had to step in, ordering his guards to put Clara in confinement until after the wedding.

"It would be best for all of us if you remove yourself from Marcellus's life. You're an obstruction to his joy and he never truly loved you from the start - you were merely an undesired present given to him by his father," Clara uttered from the other end of the line. "I'm the one he truly loves," she concluded.

Larisa bit her lip and retorted, "If he truly loves you as you claim, why is he always moaning loudly while we make love so passionately at night?" 

Clara cackled heartily from the other end of the phone before asserting, "You're nothing but a stand-in for me - a substitution that Marcellus resorts to whenever he's feeling randy or missing me. That's what he told me," she said with a mischievous giggle.

Larisa was speechless and at the moment she had no words to respond. She felt huge shame and guilt inside her and wished she could turn back the clock. But it was too late and she had to face the consequences.

At the end Clara spoke up again and said " I suggest you better sign those divorce papers since Marcellus is determined to start a new life with me " Clara said as she ended the call.

Larisa felt her heart break into pieces as she slowly put down the phone. It was at that moment she realized she was hopelessly in love with Marcellus and that he would never love her back.

Ashley flicked her gaze to Larisa, her expression full of curiosity, and asked, "What did she say?"

Larisa stayed quiet for a few moments before finally responding, "She said it's for the best that I sign the divorce papers, that I'm an obstruction to Marcellus's happiness, and that he never truly loved me."

"What?! It should be you threatening her, not the other way around! Forget about the true love part of it, you're his legal wife, Larisa. Clara's just his mistress," Ashley said, her voice rising in her fury. "Don't tell me you're seriously considering divorcing Marcellus just because of what she said?"

"I think it's what I have to do, Ashley," Larisa said, blinking her eyes in rapidly.

Ashley bit her lip before replying, "For crying out loud, Larisa. You need to stand up for yourself. Marcellus belongs to you now!".

Larisa ran her hand through her hair, somberly admitting, "But his heart isn't mine - I've been trying for two years to make him love me, and it hasn't worked." She took a deep breath.

"So you're giving up now? After two years?" Ashley asked, raising two of her fingers to emphasize her point.

"Ashley," Larisa murmured, "I'm pregnant. I just confirmed it at the hospital - I need to think of my baby before I do anything. Marcellus doesn't want me to have his child, but I do, and the only way I can keep this baby is by getting a divorce," she concluded.

"Wow!" Ashley exclaimed, placing her hands on Larisa's shoulders and shaking her lightly. "Congratulations! Looks like I'm going to be a godmother soon!" she said, smiling broadly.

Larisa chuckled lightly as Ashley shook her. "That's why I'm considering signing the divorce papers, even though deep down I'm still in love with Marcellus," she said, exhaling a heavy sigh.

****

After Larisa finished her visit with Ashley, she headed home and dozed off for two hours. The ringing of her phone shook her out of her sleep, and when she checked the caller ID, it was Anna Huxley, Marcellus's mother.

Larisa picked up the call, and then Marcellus's mother gently reminded her of the promise she'd made to visit her that day. "Oh, Mom, I'm so sorry - I completely forgot," she said apologetically.

"I understand, Larisa. Do me a favor and come visit me - I'm so bored," Mrs. Anna Huxley requested.

"I'll be there soon, Mom. Just give me an hour to get ready," Larisa responded, hastily standing up from the bed.

"I will, Larisa," Mrs. Huxley replied before ending the call. She had always held a special fondness for Larisa ever since she was a young girl, and she was overjoyed when Larisa and Marcellus tied the knot.

Larisa got dressed and called on James, her driver. She headed over to Marcellus's parent's mansion, its exterior design where as elegant as her beloved Marcellus's but with more flowers in the courtyard due to Mrs. Huxley's love of flowers

Larisa ventured into the living room. The walls were coated with a neutral shade and decorated with beautiful artwork, cozy throw pillows, and decorative accent pieces such as vibrant vases and sculptures.

She had a lengthy chat with Mrs. Huxley that lasted hours and had to be coerced into having lunch with her when Larisa stated she wasn't feeling hungry.

Larisa embraced Mrs. Huxley and kissed her goodbye before getting into the car. She was so worn out that she had to rest her head on the seat for a few moments.

Larisa's eyes began to drift close, solaced by the refreshing, soothing breeze coming in through the car window, giving her skin a gentle tingle.

Larisa closed her eyes and basked in the breeze, but the shrill ringing of her phone disrupted her peaceful reverie. She opened her bag and grabbed it, the caller ID revealing an unsaved number. She hesitated for a moment, pondering if it was Clara. Sighing, she picked it up, this time determined to fight back.

The caller asked, "Is this Mrs. Huxley?"

Larisa queried as soon as she realized it wasn't Clara, "Who are you?"

"It's me, Doctor Jane - you urgently need to come to the hospital immediately!"