Justin hurried his footsteps outside just as after he saw from the screen that it was Regina calling. Cautiously avoiding letting me hear whatever conversation they would have.
Of course, I pretended I didn’t know it was her.
Following their conversation, Justin returned and promptly headed towards the walk-in closet adjacent to our bed to get some new clothes.
“Who called you just now?” I asked, pretending I was not aware it was Regina.
Anyone would easily say that I look so pathetic given how I actually tried to act like it’s fine when it’s not.
“There is something I need to see at the office.” Justin replied.
“In this early morning?” I asked with a soft grin on my face.
He was such a pretty bad liar. But even as a bad liar, I found myself always swayed by his figure that was just extremely perfect. His broad shoulders and his narrow waist. The muscles on Justin’s body were just the right amount, and he exuded sexiness. His extremely handsome appearance made him the dream lover of many women. Moreover, I would admit that this man was also good in bed.
After having sex for the entire night, Justin was called away by another woman early in the morning. And even though I knew that he was just lying to me, this feeling was very ridiculous.
“Some business matters doesn’t end at the strike of five, Margarette. You should know that by now, you’re married to a Montefalco. Our business are our blood, and we are the backbones of our business. I hope matters like this should never be questioned again.”
Although Justin’s tone may had been calm, I could still sense that he was pretty upset with me somehow.
“I’m sorry, Justin. I didn’t mean to ask—”
However, before I could even finish my apology, Justin promptly interrupted me. He then shifted the topic quickly by telling me, “I am sending my secretary to pick you up later, after lunch, to bring you to an ob-gyne. We needed to check if you’re truly pregnant.”
The way he wanted to know and assure himself that I am not truly pregnant made me almost want to roll my eyes. Good thing I still remembered that he was my husband, and that I shouldn’t ever do that to him.
However, it just upset me knowing that even though I am his wife, in the end, he still didn’t trust me and was afraid that I would lie to him.
I kind of feel saddened at the fact that Justin doesn’t trust me. He probably was thinking that I was only lying about not being pregnant so that I could hide this child and use it against him in the future. I found it absurd and pathetic of him.
Yet in the end, I knew that I had to comply anyway. “Yes.” I nodded obediently and didn’t refuse.
“Oh right, find a time to tell Grandma. Don’t forget.” Justin’s voice was still gentle, but there was no warmth at all.
And it left me slightly stunned. “Grandma’s health hasn’t been good recently. Are you sure you’re going to tell her so soon?”
Justin said calmly, “Yes, I don’t want Regina to bear the burden of being known as a mistress here.”
As long as we aren’t divorce, Regina would always be a mistress in our marriage. She was already an illegitimate daughter. If she were to be condemned as a mistress, she might not be able to take it.
He even disregarded Grandma’s health just to make Regina feel better. For the sake of his true love, Justin was quite cold-blooded.
Knowing that, I could tell that I have no match for Regina in Justin’s heart.
And all that I could end up doing now was simply smile and answer in a soft voice, “Okay, but I have to get ready too. Can you give me a few days?”
Justin leaned over and kissed my forehead gently. Following that, justin said softly, “Sure, but don’t disappoint me.”
His gentleness was like a knife that was slowly cutting my heart into pieces.
The smile I showed Justin was filled with bitterness, and yet, in spite of that, I doubt he’d even pay it any mind.
“Why would I? Haven’t I been obedient enough in the past three years? Have I ever made you angry?” I finally let out what was inside my thoughts without thinking of its consequences.
And Justin’s expression darkened with mixed emotions.
Indeed, as a wife, be it in daily life or in bed, I was impeccable. Especially in bed. No matter what outrageous request Justin made, I would agree to it and always cooperate with him while enjoying the pleasure. Most especially every single time he couldn’t bear to stop.
“Yes, it’s good that you know.” Justin retracted his thoughts to prevent himself from feeling more reluctant the more he thought about it.
Following that, Justin simply picked up his coat and left the room.
As I sat alone on the bed and looked at the empty room, it made me suddenly wondered was this going to end?
Then I smiled bitterly. “In the future, this room and this bed would have a new host. And it won’t be me.” I whispered in hushed tone while stroking the soft velvet bed I’m lying on.
After trying my best to calm down, I eventually stood up, took a shower, and changed into a set of elegant clothes before preparing to go see grandmother.
Unexpectedly, the Secretary was already standing by the car and waiting for me the moment I stepped out. I quickly changed from my usual obedient and sensible self as I rolled my eyes.
“What are you doing here?” I asked dryly even though I already knew why Claude, Justin’s secretary was here.
Claude simply smiled in return that it was making me feel like I wanted to disobey and run away from this man.
Although I always acted obediently in front of Justin, my feisty character shows in front of others whenever Justin was out of sight.
“President Justin asked me to bring you to the OB-Gyne clinic today, Ma’am,” he replied politely.
I knew I couldn’t win from Claude anyway so I opened the car door angrily. “Fine, I’ll go and see the OB-Gyne as you all wish!”
Acex Medical Hospital was the best hospital in the city and was ranked top three in the country. Of course, it was the most expensive. Justin would never send his wife to a cheap clinic.
And while I am still Mrs. Montefalco, it would only be fair to take advantage of these privileges as Justin’s wife.
Acex Medical Hospital was also a personal choice of mine since I trusted this hospital, knowing that this was the hospital from where my parents used to work and where I was born too.
When I was a very young kid, I remember that I would often come to Acex with my parents to play. The nurses and doctors there were very kind to me as they would play with me during their breaks while my parents were on duty. Whenever my parents were busy, they would help watch over me and take good care of me.
Even as I got older, the senior doctors and staff there still knows me and I know that if I communicate with them regarding about my pregnancy, they might consider working with me somehow to hide this pregnancy from Justin.
By the time that Claude and I were able to reach the hospital, Claude was being stubborn into following me around.
“Are you seriously going to follow me still? Even if I go to the women’s bathroom? Won’t you at least give me a little space?”
“Forgive me, Ma’am. President Justin’s strict orders is to escort you closely until we reach the gynecology department.”
Claude’s answer, however gave me an idea. “Did you say you’ll just escort me until we reach the gynecology department, right? So does this mean I would expect you not to come inside the clinic with me. I don’t wish other people to think you’re my husband. Justin would never like to know that.”
My words were more like a threat for Claude and he swiftly nod back to agree with me. “Of course, Ma’am.”
I simply leave things like that since I would have a more private conversation with the gynecologist without Claude entering the clinic with me.
That’s why when we both reached the front door of the clinic, I immedaitely faced Claude and pushed him outward, “Stop and stay here.” I told him.
Claude simply looked at the large OB-Gyne sign at the door and an awkward expression flashed across his face. He could only reply, “I’ll wait for you here then, Ma’am. Please call me right away when you’re through.”
I left Claude without answering him and I could tell from the last look on his face that he seemed to be confused why Justin would sent his secretary rather than him to accompany me at the gynecologist.
I couldn’t blame him, of course, we’re husband and wife, it would only be fair that Justin would be with me. But since Regina was way more important, I had already expected that he would treat me this way.
As soon as I stepped inside the clinic, I was instanted escorted by the gynecologist’s secretary to see my doctor who also happened to be my aunt. “Margarette is that really you? I thought you were someone with the same name!”
I simply smiled after seeing my Aunt Lou. “It’s me, Aunt.”
“Why are you here? Wait, Are you here to check if you’re pregnant?” My aunt, Doctor Lou, seemed surprised.
“I’ve tried it with the pregnancy test kit. I’m probably pregnant,” I said and I can see the cheer in her face. Unfortunately, I need to cut the sudden happiness after I added, “but I have a problem. I need your help to hide it from my husband and everyone else.” I then revealed a pleading look.
It was impossible for Doctor Lou to contain her shock. My parents were her teachers. Since the time that they had passed away, Doctor Lou had received very little information regarding me.Surprisingly, upon our unexpected reunion, I found myself in the midst of marriage and pregnancy. To complicate matters further, I now had to approach her with a delicate request - to keep my impending pregnancy a secret.She asked, “Why?”“I intend to retain custody of this child even though I am divorcing my husband. I refuse to entrust this child to my husband or anyone else.” I let Doctor Lou delicately place her hand on my stomach, her eyes brimming with the tenderness of a shared motherhood."You naive young thing. It is not solely your responsibility to care for the child. Furthermore, your husband is obligated to accept responsibility of the child too. Are you aware of how challenging it can be for a woman to lead a child after she has been divorced?” Doctor Lou's heart was filled with sorr
"Oh, what a surprise to see you here as well."I greeted her with a casual smile, not showing any particular interest.Regina observed my fragile demeanor. Her attire exuded an air of elegance and sophistication, reflecting her refined taste. It appeared that Justin had been quite generous with his financial gestures towards her over the years.I can't believe as these were supposed to be mine!"Indeed, I am afflicted with leukemia. Justin went out of his way to make sure I was admitted to this hospital and assured me that they are highly skilled in treating leukemia." Regina's eyes burned with a mix of envy and animosity, yet her voice remained detached."Leukemia?" I was absolutely taken aback."Yes. According to Justin, your parents were highly knowledgeable about leukemia and had a history of working at this hospital. Thus, numerous treatments and methods have been left behind by them who worked here before." Regina couldn't help but bring up Justin in every single sentence she ut
"Yes, I am aware." Regina pressed her lips together, responding with empathy.Unable to tolerate the wait any longer, I swiftly whisked Justin away from the hospital.As soon as we reached the exclusive restaurant I had mentioned, I wasted no time in placing a generous order for multiple delectable dishes. "Duck soup, prawn meat dumplings, garlic beef bone marrow..."These dishes are packed with essential nutrients.Once I placed my order, I made sure to inquire with Justin about his culinary preferences. "What would you like to have?" I asked him."Feel free to indulge in a delicious meal. I'm not hungry," Justin replied with a distant look on his face.I couldn't help but break into a warm smile. "Of course. Would you be interested in having dinner with Regina after you have already consumed enough food to satisfy your hunger? You could consider getting a meal for her. There is no doubt that the food served at this establishment is of the highest quality.”I attempted to bear with t
"I told you, don't be too greedy!" Justin's face was filled with a deep sense of sadness.However, fear did not consume me. I was on the verge of losing it all anyway, so what was there left for me to fear?With the child growing inside me and my last bit of self-respect on the line, I was determined not to make any compromises this time."I believe we don't need to finish this meal. I already lost my apettite." I grabbed my bag, my face devoid of emotion. Justin was fully aware of the depth of my affection for him.However, he had exploited my emotions, oblivious to the fact that I would also experience heartache.Once I left the restaurant, I took a moment to collect my feelings before returning to Montefalco's ancestral home in order to see grandma.Grandma was incredibly kind and loving towards me, just like a grandmother should be. Despite my disagreement with Justin, I couldn't overlook the significance of his grandmother.In addition, grandma has been experiencing some health i
“Mother, I’m here to see Grandma. Since Grandma is going to rest. I’ll go ahead now.” Even if Justin’s mom didn’t ask, I still told her the reason why I came.As she looked at me leaving, I could still see from my peripheral view how Justin's mom glared at me with such pity.I guess I was too sensible. I hid everything inside and never complained to grandmother. And I let Justin do whatever he wanted.“Would you like to spend the night here? I asked the kitchen staff to buy wild yellow fish. It tastes good,” Justin’s mom said calmly.Although she was asking for me to stay, her attitude didn’t change at all. It was still dull that I couldn’t tell whether she was asking that to me wholeheartedly or out of force.I appreciate the effort in whatever way she must have learned about the yellowfish. Perhap, my mother-in-law was only doing this because she pitied me, her thin and fragile-looking daughter-in-law, especially after asking me to stay and have dinner with them.And I somehow appre
[MARGA’S POV]Her son was really full of nonsense!However, it would seem that none of this reasoning from Justin would ever work for his own mother. Wilma looked at him coldly. “I am not your mother for nothing, Justin. I know how poor you’re in lying, so don’t pass the blame to your wife. You’re such a disgrace!”Although Justin’s way of blaming me for not being able to provide a child yet made me shock, I was even more surprised when my mother-in-law actually refused to believe her own son. She’s a very good lawyer after all.Justin frowned. “I’m telling you the truth, mother.”“Enough, Justin. I am no fool to believe your lies.”Somehow, Justin wasn’t lying about the part where he wanted a child. However, he just didn’t want to have it with me. As a matter of fact, he didn’t want to have this marriage with me at all, which was why we’re even having this divorce. I am well aware that if they were to discover the truth about me being pregnant with his baby, Justin would undoubtedl
[JUSTIN’S POV]With my mother’s connections, she could easily find many good men to introduce to Margarette.For some reason, the thought of Margarette marrying another man, with all her obedient and charming ways being monopolized by someone else, made me feel a little suffocated. I have to admit, even though we’re headed for a divorce, I still can’t bring myself to let another guy have her that easily. It’s like giving away a copy of Regina to someone else.Damn this possessiveness, creeping up again. Yet, I just turn my back on my mother, refusing to escalate the argument further. “I’m too tired for this. I’m heading up,” I say, quickly making my way upstairs to see Margarette in her room, ignoring my mother’s continuous rants.I needed to talk to Margarette, to reprimand her for the trouble she caused today. My original plan was to scold her for telling my mother about the divorce—it should have only been my grandmother who knew about it.It was reckless of Margarette to do such a
[MARGA’S POV]Last night was like a tug of war between Justin and I. When I thought about it, I never imagined that I would have the slightest bit of courage to respond to him in that manner. In addition to the fact that I was pregnant at the time, it is possible that the conflicting feelings that I was experiencing at the time were the cause of my irritation.It was a stroke of good fortune for me that Justin did not develop any suspicions on account of my mood swings. Being in the first trimester of my first pregnancy appeared to be crucial for me. I need to exercise self-control in order to avoid becoming irritable around Justin, as he might actually take notice of my behavior.As soon as I opened my eyes the next morning, I discovered that I was the only person in the room. Last night, Justin slept next to me, but when I woke up, I discovered that the space next to me was empty, and there was no sign of his warmth or presence. The fact that I continued to look for Justin despite
The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains as I stood in the kitchen, preparing Lucas’s favorite breakfast. William had already left early for an urgent business trip, his goodbye kiss a fleeting moment before he disappeared out the door.“I’ll only be gone for three days,” he had reassured me. “But if anything comes up, call me immediately.”“Don’t worry,” I had replied, mustering a smile. “Lucas and I will be fine.”Now, as I watched Lucas happily munch on his pancakes, his little legs swinging beneath the table, I felt a pang of longing for the normalcy of William’s presence. But Lucas’s giggles quickly distracted me.“Mama, can we go to the park later?” he asked, his big, hopeful eyes lighting up his cherubic face.“Maybe,” I said, ruffling his hair. “Let’s see how the day goes.”By mid-afternoon, however, something was clearly wrong.Lucas, who had been running around the living room playing with his toy cars, suddenly sat down, clutching his stomach.“Mama, I don’t feel
A few days had passed since that unsettling encounter at the park. Life had returned to a semblance of normalcy, but the sight of Richard and Sarah had left an indelible mark on my thoughts. William, ever protective, had brushed it off as a coincidence, but deep down, I knew it was more.I tried to distract myself with routine tasks, one of which brought me to the local supermarket late in the afternoon. Lucas was at home with William, and I had planned to grab a few groceries before heading back. The fluorescent lights of the store buzzed softly overhead as I wandered through the aisles, mindlessly adding items to my cart.Turning a corner, I stopped abruptly.There he was—Richard.He was standing in the produce section, examining a bundle of kale with the kind of intensity one might reserve for life-or-death decisions. For a moment, I considered backing away before he noticed me, but it was too late.His gaze lifted, and our eyes met.“Margarette,” he said, his voice low and steady.
The air in Vancouver had grown crisp, the kind of chill that hinted at the coming winter. William, Lucas, and I had settled into a comfortable rhythm over the past weeks, rediscovering what it meant to be a family. There was still tension at times, unspoken questions and lingering wounds, but for the most part, we were healing.Today, we decided to take Lucas to a park near the bustling city center. It was one of those sprawling urban green spaces, with wide paths for walking, a sparkling lake with ducks, and a playground teeming with children. Lucas had been ecstatic about the idea, and his excitement was contagious.“Mommy, watch me!” Lucas called, his voice brimming with joy as he climbed the ladder of a play structure. He waved enthusiastically before sliding down, his laughter filling the crisp autumn air.William chuckled beside me. “He’s got your energy.”“Or your determination,” I replied with a small smile, watching Lucas dart toward the swings.As Lucas played, William and I
The morning light spilled across the cottage floor, warming the wooden planks and bathing the room in a golden glow. I sat at the kitchen table, a steaming mug of coffee in my hands, watching the sun rise over the grove of trees outside. The smell of freshly baked muffins wafted from the oven, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I felt at peace.Lucas’s laughter carried from the living room, where he and William were busy constructing a makeshift fort from blankets and chairs. Their bond had strengthened over the past few weeks, and seeing them together filled me with a bittersweet mixture of relief and longing.Relief that Lucas was happy again. Longing for the kind of connection William and I had once shared.“Mommy!” Lucas’s voice rang out, pulling me from my thoughts. He peeked around the corner, his face flushed with excitement. “Come see our fort! Daddy William says it’s the best one yet!”I set down my mug and followed him into the living room, where William st
I stayed in William’s arms for what felt like forever, the warmth of his embrace slowly thawing the coldness I had built around my heart. His steady heartbeat against my ear was a quiet reminder of all the moments we had shared, the trust we had once built, and the love that still lingered between us despite the pain and misunderstanding.When I finally pulled away, I wiped my tears, feeling a mix of vulnerability and relief. William’s hand lingered on my shoulder, his thumb brushing lightly against my skin.“Margarette,” he began softly, “I’ll spend as long as it takes to rebuild what we’ve lost. But I need to know…do you think we can try again? Not just for Lucas, but for us?”I met his gaze, and for the first time in weeks, I let myself really look at him—not through the lens of doubt or fear, but with the eyes of the woman who had fallen in love with him in the first place. He looked tired, but his expression was open and raw, filled with an honesty I couldn’t ignore.“I don’t kno
The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the Vancouver skyline in hues of orange and pink. The warmth of the day lingered in the air, but my thoughts felt as cold as a winter wind. I sat in the living room, absently watching Lucas build a tower with his wooden blocks. His little giggles filled the room, but my heart was heavy with the burden of unresolved emotions.Aunt Lou was in the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared tea. The tranquility of the scene was disrupted by the buzzing of my phone. My heart sank when I saw the name flashing on the screen: William.I stared at the phone, debating whether to answer, but ultimately let it go to voicemail. I had made it clear I needed time. Yet, a part of me wondered if I was avoiding him not because of anger, but because of fear—fear that his explanation might force me to confront the possibility that I’d been wrong.The next morning, as sunlight streamed through the kitchen windows, Aunt Lou set down two steaming mugs of coffee and sat
The following day dawned with a heaviness that I couldn’t shake. Aunt Lou’s advice lingered in my mind like a persistent whisper: Start with yourself. But how could I, when the weight of everything felt so unbearable?I stood in the kitchen, idly stirring a pot of oatmeal for Lucas. He sat at the table, coloring a picture of what he proudly told me was “Mommy and me at the park.” His innocent smile tugged at my heart, reminding me that no matter how chaotic my life felt, Lucas deserved a mother who was present and strong.As the oatmeal bubbled, Aunt Lou appeared in the doorway, holding a newspaper in one hand and her ever-present mug of tea in the other.“Good morning, dear,” she said, setting the paper on the counter. “How are you feeling today?”“Same as yesterday,” I admitted, sighing. “Confused, tired, unsure about everything.”She nodded knowingly. “It’s a process, Margarette. You’re doing the best you can, and that’s all anyone can ask.”Lucas looked up from his drawing. “Mommy
The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains of Aunt Lou’s cozy living room, casting soft patterns across the wooden floors. I sat cross-legged on the couch, a mug of tea warming my hands. Across from me, Aunt Lou watched me intently, her eyes full of concern and patience.“It’s been days, Margarette,” she said softly, breaking the silence. “You’ve barely talked about what’s going on.”I sighed, staring into the swirling tea. “There’s not much to say,” I murmured, though the knot in my chest told a different story. “I saw William with that woman, Aunt Lou. She was fixing his tie, laughing like they shared some private joke. And William... he didn’t even look guilty.”Aunt Lou leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “But did you hear his explanation? Maybe it wasn’t what it looked like.”I shook my head. “I left before he could say anything. And now, the more I think about it, the more I feel like no explanation would change how I felt in that moment. My gut tells me so
The evening air was heavy with the scent of cedar as I stepped into my house in Anacortes. The soft yellow glow of the lamps couldn’t ease the turmoil inside me. My hands trembled as I closed the door behind me, my heart still racing from everything I’d witnessed earlier at William’s office.“Lena?” I called out, my voice wavering as I made my way down the hallway.“In here!” came her cheerful reply from the living room.When I stepped inside, Lena was lounging on the couch, her laptop balanced on her knees. She looked up at me, her face immediately clouding with concern.“What’s wrong?” she asked, setting her laptop aside and standing.I didn’t have the energy to answer her question directly. Instead, I blurted out, “I need your help packing.”Lena’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Packing? For what?”“I’ve booked a flight to Vancouver tomorrow morning,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “We’re going home.”Lena stared at me, wide-eyed. “Wait, what? Home? Why? What’s going on?