ALINA'S POVWhen she had gotten out of bed that morning,she had found Micheal's side of the bed empty.She cranked the ache in her neck from staying so long on the couch.She had had a good cry with her best friend Samantha who was her roommate back in university.They had formed a strong bond during those formative years.Trailing downstairs to the kitchen,she found it empty.Had he gone to work?Glancing up briefly up at the aesthetically placed wall clock that over looked the chandelier that spoke volumes of how wealthy her husband was.The clock read 7:34am.She frowned in confusion. Why did he have to go to work so early. And he didn't even have time for breakfast.She spent the rest of the day cooking,cleaning and glancing through the stack of magazines that's had been strategically placed beside the couch.He had thought it through well enough.From the dressing room,to the magazines and the kitchen pantry everything screamed of planning.She had taken the whole afternoon and the re
MICHAEL'S POVHe awoke to find himself surrounded by porcelain walls.The mixture of the antiseptic and the bitter scent of soaps filled his nostrils. He raised his arms to cover his eyes from the intense glare of the overhead fluorescent light."Micheal?"He blinked once to clear the fog that had clouded his eyes."Are you okay?"He turned to see the direction of the voice.He winced at the sharp pain that glazed through him."Are you okay,Micheal?"He saw Alina hovering over him deity concern etched unto her tired eyes.Her eyes were reddened.She looked disheveled."Micheal,please say something"she cried with worry laced in her voice."Are you alright?"she repeated."Water.."he croaked.She stared at him confused for a minute before rushing over to the round table that had been placed in the middle of the room.She poured him a glass and headed back towards him hurriedly. After he had had a gulp of water,he tried to sit up but she placed a hand on his shoulder urging him against his a
ALINA'S POVShe was still reeling with fear at the memory of seeing Micheal drop unconscious in front of her.She felt helpless,her heart was driven by fear as she gripped the phone as she had the conversation with the 911 correspondent.Her hands trembled as she lifted him up in her arms following the instructions that was being given.She had let out a sigh of relief as soon as Micheal finally woke up about three hours after he had been rushed to the hospital."Are you okay?"she had asked rubbing away her tired eyes.After the doctor had pleaded with her to leave the room,she had been suspicious about the news.But earlier on ,she had been reassured that he was doing okay.That everything was fine because he had been brought in earlier on before it was too late.Even when she had asked him about what the doctor had asked,he had inadvertently dismissed her concern.But she felt otherwise. There was something sinister about the way he spoke that gave her the impression that he was going
MICHEAL'S POV"what secret are you hiding?"She questioned with tear glazed eyes. He felt his heart wrench as he watched the tear fall down her cheek.But he couldn't tell her what it was.He frowned."There is no secret"he stated firmly, busying his hands by searching for something on the coffee table."Then what does the message mean?"she insisted."None of your business" he snapped."Am your wife!even If we're to live our seperate lives,I still deserve to know what you could possibly be hiding from me"she explained,trailing behind him as he stomped out of the living room towards the kitchen."Alina!"he shouted.He spun around so fast he was afraid that he might have suffered a sense of whiplash."Why do always make things so difficult?"he asked as softly as he could."I'm just trying to understand you"she answere, her voice broke with each word spoken."How do I get it through your thick skull that we are nothing more than business partners.There is nothing about me that you should
ALINA'S POVShe winced in pain as she rubbed the ointment on her burned flesh.The scar was growing worse and she knew that the household remedy she was currently using wasn't going to be able to help her in the case it became infected and that could lead to the high possibility of leaving a scar.Later that morning,after Micheal had left for work, she had rushed out of the guest room she had chosen to sleep in because of her throbbing hand.She couldn't bring herself to tell him about what his mother did to her .Only because she knew she could handle a little bit of her hatred towards her because she was going to try her hardest to try to make her like her.And she never wanted to be the cause of any sort of discomfort for him.She had ordered for some ointment off an online pharmacy and they were going to deliver it to her soon enough.Using the opportunity of waiting,she got ready for the day and decided to prepare dinner, which on this day was chicken casserole.Her mother's favourite
MICHEAL'S POV"I missed you Micheal"He swallowed.Hard, masking his internal turmoil. "What are you doing here Paulina?"he said wryly."I came back to see you again.I'm sorry about what I did.I shouldn't have left like that"she whined tracing a hand along his chest.He scoffed."You want me to seriously believe that you came here for me?After disappearing for almost two years?"he pointed out.Her mouth opened to say something but no words came out."How do you expect me to believe that?"He continued."There's no way that we're going to put things behind us and move on if you still hold your grudges"she said,wrapping her arms around his back and resting her head on his shoulder. "You have got to be kidding me.How do you expect me to believe you when you know what you've done"He dragged her arms from around him and put some distance between them."You still love me,otherwise you would have thrown me out by now"She said ignoring his distance and wrapping her arms around his back and r
ALINA'S POVShe watched as Micheal stared at her with an accusing gaze like she was indeed guilty.She couldn't help the tear that threatened to fall knowing that her husband,who was supposed to be on her side saw her as guilty."Micheal,I can explain.."She began by taking a step towards him"Then explain!explain Alina,explain why you had chosen to push my mother down no matter what she had done to you"He shouted,causing her to take a step back. From the corner of her eyes,she watched her mother-in-law's lips widen in a triumphant smile."Its not what it looks like"she defended.He scoffed,running a free hand through his hair in frustration ."What does it look like?Do you know the scene I saw when I returnd?When I walked through those doors?"he stated."My mother was on the floor,Alina.And unless you tell me she pushed herself down,which would be a complete and utter lie,which I wouldn't even believe,I would like you to explain"He informed her,giving her a disappointed look."Micheal
MICHEAL'S POVHe watched as a tear trickled down her cheek as an emotion akin to pain flickered through her eyes and made his heart constrict in his chest."Alina!speak up now!"He commanded.She wiped at the tears that had stained her cheeks."Is everything I heard here true?"He asked.She sniffed and raised her eyes back up to stare up at him in utter disbelief."And if I said yes, would you condemn me?Don't you even want to know why? Or what happened?Do you think so lowly of me that you see me as someone capable of such of a thing?"she stated."Are you not going to a knowledge the fact that you are the one wrong in all of this?who the hell lets another man into their matrimonial home?"he asked in disbelief.She threw up her hands and down in exasperation."For the last time,I didn't let him into our house.I was picking up something I ordered and we were just having a conversation until your mother came in and blew up everything into different proportions"she let out a frustrated sig
ALINA'S POVWhen she opened her eyes she felt her eyes sting at the brightness of the over head light. She raised a hand to shield her eyes."Alina" She heard Micheal whisper breathlessly.He let out a sigh of relief.She turned to see her mother and her fiance on the couch seated, holding hands with worried looks on their faces. Her hand instincitivley came up to her belly. "The baby is doing okay" he told her, reading her mind. He gave her a wide smile."My beautiful daughter,how are you feeling?" her mother said, sniffing.She was by her side in an instant."Water" She croaked out.She stretched to get her a glass which she drank generously like she had been in a desert."Mum, what are you doing here?" She asked once she was satisfied."Don't you want me here?" Her mother questioned."No, no, that's not the reason. I just thought that you shouldn't have been so worried " She said weakly."I almost didn't. I came to your house and found that it was empty. I had to call Micheal who
ALINA'S POV"Ma'am, don't you want to see Micheal? he has been downstairs all night waiting to talk to you" Martha said as she walked in holding a tray of breakfast for her.She took the tray from her, forcing a smile."Thank you Martha, that will be all." She said dismissively.Martha stood for a few more seconds, about to say something but reluctantly walked away without saying a word.She let out a tired sigh as soon as the door shut behind Martha. She buried her face in her palms and cried like she had done all night. She felt the embalming of a headache reminding her of last night's cry.Her mind wandered to the confident way the woman, Paulina had told her about the baby.***FLASHBACK***"You can't be serious" She chuckled."Do I look like am joking?" Paulina said, sneering back at her."That can't be. When did this happen?" She questioned.Paulina puffed her chest,digging into her purse with a triumphant smile playing on her lips. Almost as if, she had been waiting to hear tha
MICHAEL'S POVWhen he returned home that day he was extremely tired. He dragged his feet across the flight of stairs with a backward glance at the clock to see it read 10:09am.He paused in his tracks.It was too eerily quiet.He frowned in confusion. It was never this quiet. Usually, whenever he got back she was always perched on the couch munching on whatever she craved at that moment.He spun around at the foot of the stairs, his eyes darting around the room in search of anything, even though he didn't know what exactly to be looking for . Right on cue, Martha walked in from the kitchen pantry holding a bowl of chips and guacamole decorated beautifully in a flower patterned tray. "Hello sir "She greeted with a sad smile on her face as she hurriedly walked past him .His frown deepened.His arms stretched out reaching out to still her actions."Are those for Alina?" He asked.She stared up at him questionably for a while before nodding in response.His eyes widened in fear."Is som
MICHAEL'S POV"What happened?!"He shouted."I have no idea! One minute she was with me,trying to start a fight with me.Mind you,she insulted me. And the next thing I know,She's on the floor." She stated."That's not possible mum!" He retorted."It cannot be just an accident! And who the hell is this woman?!" He shouted."She was just helping me out when Alina was busy insulting me.She was defending my honour. We should be grateful to her son. Come on,say Hi to her."His mother urged.He glared straight at the blushing woman and looked away as soon as she smiled shyly at him."Mum please leave "He instructed.His mother gasped in disbelief."What? Why?!" She cried."Is it because of that thing?"She said with her face scrunched up in a wealth of disgust, pointing in the direction of the emergency room behind her.Micheal paced the length of the waiting room, taking deep breaths as he turned to still his laboured breathing."Son, you cannot possibly be worried. After all ,the baby isn't y
ALINA'S POVWaking up that morning had been relatively quiet and peaceful,apart from the fact that Micehal had to rush out that morning without even a passing greeting even while she had called for him from the kitchen. Her belly was growing bigger and her waist line had grown thicker as she felt the weight of her baby while parading around the house in comfy sweatpants before settling on the couch.Her mother was supposed to come help her out today. And her gynecologist had said she was doing extremely well taking care of herself and the baby.She let out a frustrated sigh as a repeat episode of her favourite series came on.The house was relatively lonely and quiet on most days just like they were now.The only solace she had was either reading to her baby or watching a tv show and whenever her mother was less busy she would come over to keep her company.She smiled at the sound of the doorbell and without hesitation padded briskly towards the door without looking at the intercom, un
MICHAEL'S POV.His bag slipped and fell from his hand as he froze in shock.She had on a sly smile."What?" he asked in disbelief."You heard me." She replied, giving him a sly smile."Yes we made a baby that night you came over at my place." She explained.Micheal padded towards the living to see Alina seated in the couch flickering across the TV channels smiling distractedly.He breathed out a sigh of relief. She was out of earshot and thankfully was so engrossed in the TV program that she couldn't have heard anything that had been said a few minutes ago.His hand reached out to clutch her arm and dragged her upwards towards his study. Giving Alina a forced smile when she sent a worried glance their way.Paulina protested all the way till they were safely in his office. "Why are you acting suspiciously?" She said wryly. "It's not like she had any say to what happens in this house, you're the head of the house." She stated matter of fact."What was the meaning of the rubbish stunt
ALINA'S POVShe had been shaken up after his mother's visit. But the past three months have been quiet and distant.Micheal had seemed more distant than normal. He had chosen to spend his days at work and he was rarely at home. Even when he was home he was distant, he only spent silent hours eating and once dinner was over he was leaving without so much as a word. She wished he would at least open up and let her know what was bothering him but he was sworn to silence. Everything had relatively stayed normal except her mother visited more often.She had chosen to come to terms with the fact that Alina was pregnant and there was nothing that could be done now.She still didn't like Micheal but she was careful not to be present whenever he got back from work.She was nestled on the couch watching a rerun of the show "housewives of Johannersburg" When the knock sounded on the door.She paused the show and headed to the intercom to see who was knocking.It was a unfamiliar face.She frowne
MICHEAL'S POVA FEW DAYS BEFORE..."Paulina what are you doing here? In my bed?" He asked panicked as he looked under the covers to find that she was wearing nothing underneath.He quickly closed it,wrapping the bedsheets around him sarong style as he jumped out of the bed trying to get some distance away from her. She had on a satisfied smile and he could clearly recognize that smile from all the times they had made love in the past. He chastised himself inwardly for being unable to erase that part of his past and memory."You're the one in my bed " She clarified.His eyes darted around the room and his eyes widened in recognition."How did I get here?" He asked in disbelief."I brought you here. You needed a place to sleep because you were drunk and I couldn't let you drive home like that. So I offered to bring you to my room, and it's a small apartment, I don't have a guest room at the moment. "She stated sitting up and letting the duvet slid down her breasts without the least bit
ALINA'S POV"No! No! Please, somebody help me! Please! "She cried as she fought and scratched whenever she had the opportunity to. But she wasn't strong enough. She felt powerless and helpless. "Felix stop! Please am begging you" she pleaded, her eyes streaming down with a pool of tears. She felt her body loose all its energy as he inserted himself into her. She was numb to the pain now as he begun to move. She was at the brink of giving up when she heard a voice. His voice guiding her back."Alina, am here. No one is going to hurt you,I promise. Am here now" She heard him speak softly as he shook her slightly until the scene before her had begun to change. The disgusting smile of Felix atop her slowly disappeared and she found herself lying on the bare ground staring into nothingness.She finally opened her eyes to find Micheal's face towering over hers. His forehead were creased in worry as he stared intensely into her eyes. He gave her a warm smile and lifted her up in his arms