Chapter 1

“Yes!” Camelia screamed aloud again as she stared at the papers with her. Her eyes remained glued to the paper, a bright smile on her face.

Finally, she got what she had always wanted! 

“Francis needs to hear this,” she said to herself as she got into the car, unable to control the tears that were streaming down her eyes. 

Five years of being called barren by her mother-in-law and watching the hurt in Francis' eyes had been unbearable. 

But now she had a life in her and she couldn't wait to break the news to him.

Camelia stepped hard on the accelerator, eager to get home, but she recalled the words of the doctor: to take things easy.

She took a deep breath to calm herself and made her way slowly to her house.

“Francis! Francis!!” She called aloud; immediately, she alighted from the car. “Is he home?” She asked the butler who came out from the door.

She couldn’t tell if he was home since his cars were still parked in the open garage just as it was when she left it.

The butler shook his head and stepped forward to help with her bag, “No, he isn't. He called to let you know that he would be home late.” Simone relayed and Camelia froze in her tracks.

For him to call meant he wouldn't be home till morning. No! She couldn’t wait that long anymore. It felt like her heart would explode any minute from now and it was with that sizzling feeling in her heart that she knew she was going to go to him herself. 

“You know what?” She turned back to the car, “Take my things to my room, I need to head to the hospital.”

With that, she dashed back inside the car and left as quickly as she arrived, leaving Simone to stare at her dumbfounded.

 ***

“One more round!” Hillary whispered excitedly into Francis' ears. Sweat beads formed around her face with her make-up smeared, but she was less concerned.

“Hillary!” Francis called out, his voice husky and full of passion. “You know it's dangerous here, someone could come in.”

“Shush,” she placed her finger on his lips and moved closer to him, “I closed the door tightly. Besides, surgery is going on; everyone is busy.”

Francis chuckled and gave her a deep kiss. 

It caused his stomach to stir; he wasn’t sure if it was in a good way, but the excitement and the spontaneity of the whole activity. 

This was what he liked about her, always going for it. Unlike his wife, Hillary was deceptive wholeheartedly, not a pretend do-gooder.

Hillary saw that he was distracted and rolled her eyes in displeasure, “Is there something wrong?”

“Nothing, I just remembered something.”

“You are not permitted to think of anything when you are with me. Definitely not her, you remember right?” She pouted her lips in pretence of annoyance, and it took Francis cuddling her for her to smile. He was going all in, she had done it first. 

                                                            ****

Camelia walked down the hallway in a hurry unaware of what waited for her five steps away. Despite knowing that Francis would frown at her presence since their relationship was meant to be a secret, she still couldn't help it.

“Francis!” She called out excitedly, the joy in her voice evident as she opened the door.

She entered his office, hoping to find him alone. But as she pushed the door open, what she saw took the breath right out of her.

Her husband, Francis, was tangled up with Hillary on the couch; her legs were draped over his waist and her body pressed against his in an intimate embrace. 

She stood frozen in the doorway for a few seconds, her mind refusing to process what was happening in front of her.

What was happening?

“Camelia!” Francis' head shot up, and he got up immediately, “Wh… What are you doing here?” He stuttered, unsure of how to act. 

Camelia frowned as her eyes roamed around the office. He was standing behind the couch, naked with only shorts on him, the office was littered with their clothes that lay scattered on the floor.

She moved her gaze to the lady still lying on the couch, “Hillary?” She whispered softly, her voice weak and cracked. Her eyes were becoming misty and her sight became blurry.

“Hello Camelia, you look fat,” Hillary said with sly and irritation clear in her tone. Francis leveled a warning gaze at her and she rolled her eyes.

She staggered backwards and held the knob tightly to secure herself. 

Camelia saw Francis approach her and when she thought he was going to hold her to prevent her from falling, he dragged her inside instead and locked the door firmly.

“Why are you here?” He threw at her, anger seeping out of his voice as he pinched the lines that creased in his forehead.

“Why am I here?” Camelia scoffed, throwing a confused look at him and then at Hillary who was still sitting on the couch, her body uncovered and naked.

She didn't look like she was going to leave and leaned backwards on the couch. Hillary crossed her arms around her chest and threw a provocative look at her.

Francis sighed deeply and stated coldly, “You need to leave.” 

“What?” Camelia opened her mouth in disbelief, unable to comprehend his words. The fact that she was still calm annoyed her and for that moment, she despised her calm personality.

“You heard what I said, got back home now!” His loud voice boomed around the office and she shivered in fear. He had never spoken to her that way before.

“You literally were making out with freaking Hillary! What are you angry at me for?” Camelia cried helplessly and it only made Francis even more angry.

“I don’t want you here! Go back home now or I will send you away myself!” He yelled, and she was devastated; his eyes carried deep hatred that she didn’t understand. No words left her mouth as she stared at him. 

Camelia wiped the tears on her face and quietly left the office, her head bowed in shame. Woe had become her. 

***

“What was the meaning of that, Camelia?” Francis said as he stormed into the bedroom, running his hands through his hair as he normally did when he was angry. His handsome face was twisted in a thousand emotions, hurt and anger being at the forefront. 

Camelia sat still, unmoving and unable to comprehend any of the things going on around her and wondered again why he was angry? Her happiness somehow turned sour and she hadn’t even gotten to share it before she was harassed by the awful sight of her husband with another woman. 

He had cheated on her! Her husband had cheated on her!

“Who do you think you are to burst into my office without knocking, have you forgotten about your rules?” He ranted while she remained quiet, sitting by the edge of the master bed. 

Her face was puffed and her eyes were heavy from crying all through the night. She had gone through the worst set of emotions she could ever feel within the last five hours. 

A lot of thoughts had seeped through her mind- from hurt to regret and finally blaming herself for being the cause of his infidelity. If only she had gotten pregnant quickly, this would never have happened.

‘My Francis would never cheat on me, it was a mistake.’ She told herself.

“This is the height of it, Camelia. I don't think I can take it anymore.” He continued but her mind was elsewhere. 

Francis paused, finally noticing her silence. He looked at her and saw that she was staring blankly into the air, “Camelia! Do not sit there like you are suddenly dumb!” He snapped, bringing her attention back to him.

She raised her head, slowly and looked into his eyes. “I forgive you.”

“I forgive you, Francis.” She repeated.

“You are pathetic,” He said in disbelief and stared at her again with pain only he could explain; she was unbelievable. 

She watched him reach for his bag and slip out papers, tears poured from her eyes. She was smart so she immediately knew what was in there but she didn’t believe it. It couldn’t be possible. Where was all this coming from?

He tossed the paper at her feet and she stared at it in disbelief. 

“I no longer want to be married to you.”