2. Calvin Anderson

"Yes, mother." Jen said, "Cassie is the worst thing that could happen to our family. I mean, she is utterly useless. She doesn't keep Calvin happy. Even after three years of marriage, Calvin doesn't care about her. He wishes every day that he could marry Becky instead. How I wished it was Cassie that suffered in the accident instead of poor Becky." 

“I agree.” Fiona sighed, “For the past three years, I've been sick of waiting for an heir. Cassie is useless as it is, but I’d expected that she could at least give me a grandchild. She is honestly good for nothing.” 

Anger arose within me upon hearing her words. I didn’t know what came over me, perhaps it was the threat I felt in Becky waking up, or the false allegations of my incapability of childbearing, or that I was utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally to tolerate them anymore, that I sought to give it back to them for once. 

Without giving it a second thought, I walked out of the kitchen and into the living room, ready to face the two evil women in the house. 

“Well, if you’d ask your son, you’d understand why you’re not getting your heir.” I said, grabbing their attention.

Fiona was surprised to see me, but I detected a hint of satisfaction in the small smirk that was forming on her face. She was satisfied that she could finally stir a reaction in me. All along, that was what she was aiming for. 

 “What do you mean?” She asked with a frown. 

“I mean that your son doesn’t want to give you an heir anytime soon.” I said. "He's the reason we're not having a child. Not me!"

“That can’t be true.” She said, “He said that you’ve been trying for months-“ 

“Trying for months?” I repeated with a bitter laugh, “No. We haven’t even tried once, Fiona." 

It was true. Although we had been married for nearly three years, he never once agreed to have unprotected sex with me. Everytime I tried to escalte things between us, he would take a step back. It would break my heart that he didn’t fully accept me as his wife, and that he wasn’t ready to start a family with me. I had countless arguments with him about the same, but they got me nowhere. 

“But..” She stammered, “He said that you were-”

“He lied.” I said, “I wanted to have a baby for months now. It’s him that’s not ready to commit. So if you have any problem, you have to take it up with him.” 

FIona widened her eyes in horror, looking over at Jen in appallment. Her face turned red as embarrassment

and her eyes burned with anger. “You!” She yelled. “Of course he doesn’t want to sleep with you! He never loved you!” 

Her words felt like a slap on my face. The truth was, she did not reveal anything I didn’t know before, but the bitter reminder of it always managed to hurt me. There was nothing else in the world that I craved for more than the love of my husband. 

“I don’t blame him for not wanting to start a family with you. You trapped my son and got married to him.” She said, “He had no choice back then, but now, he can get rid of you very soon.”

“Yes,” Jen added, “Becky is going to wake up soon, and Calvin is not going to waste another second to dump you for her. Our family will finally be complete.” 

I couldn’t help but widen my eyes at her words. Despite how much I tried, her words managed to get to me, as deep down, I knew that she was right. Despite all these years, I stood no chance against Becky, the woman Calvin truly desired. If she was indeed going to wake up, it was only a matter of time before he left me. 

I’ve known Calvin for five years, and it was always Becky that his heart sought for. Even when she was well, it was only her that he desired.

"You think just because Calvin married you that he will be with you forever?" Fiona taunted me. "He married you because he had no choice. You were a cunning bitch that made a cruel deal with him. You thought he would forget Becky eventually, but he didn't." 

No, I want to deny all of this. I have my reasons. Becky, my best friend, unfortunately went into a coma three years ago. Calvin was heartbroken, but he married me anyway. I thought that overtime, he would forget her and make space for me in his heart, but clearly that didn’t happen. He was still keenly watching over her, awaiting her recovery. 

I had nothing against her, and I desperately wished that she woke up and got better, but I couldn’t help the sorrow that would bring to my life. Like Jen said, there was a high possibility that Calvin would change his mind about our marriage. 

Tears welled in my eyes as I contemplated the possibility of our separation, and right then, the door on my left blasted open. To my surprise, it was none other than my husband.

Calvin Anderson.

He scanned the room, his face hardening with a frown. His eyes finally landed on me, narrowing with anger.

"What’s going on here?" he demanded, walking toward me.

"Your wife’s been bullying us all morning!" Fiona said, earning a glare from me. What a liar. "She won’t leave us alone. I think she wants us to move out."

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "I never said anything like that."

"Why would she admit it in front of you?" Jen added, pretending to act casual.

I sighed, exhausted from their lies. I couldn’t deal with this anymore. I turned and walked upstairs to my room. Once inside, I let my tears fall. The frustration, anger, and helplessness I’d been holding in finally poured out.

Since marrying Calvin three years ago, my life had been like this. It wasn’t perfect before, but at least I had the freedom to do what I wanted without constant rejection. I loved Calvin more than anything, but being married to him had caused me more pain than joy. Even as a child in the orphanage, I’d never felt so helpless. Now, surrounded by all his wealth and success, I felt completely empty. I had nothing of my own to cherish.

The door suddenly opened behind me. I wiped my tears quickly and turned around. Calvin walked in, heading straight for me. Before I could say anything, he grabbed my arms and pulled me against him, kissing me forcefully.

"Calvin, what are you doing?" I yelled.