After lunch, I and Geoff went to Liberty Hotel as planned. I didn't tell him anything about the earring. I have to keep it to myself this time and observe things first. I trust my husband and I know he will never do things to upset me let alone cheat on me.When we arrived the hotel, we headed directly to our room. This room was exclusively for me and Geoff, so it is not rented out to guests. I was surprised to see some of our pictures framed and are displayed on top of the shelves."Do you like it?" Geoff asked. He gave me a back hug which made me feel pleased. All the confusion I had this morning about Erica disappeared."Yeah, I like it a lot.""I love you." Geoff said."I love you, too." I faced him and hung my hands on his neck. I kissed his lips gently. I had to stand on my toes so I can reach his lips. If I recall, this is the first time he said those words."You know what happens next right?" Geoff said, teasing his wife."I d
The Good NewsI and my husband spent the next day at the hotel. I don't know why I feel so lazy these days. He asked me to go out for lunch, but I just wanted to stay on bed and do nothing. He also sleeps a lot these days. I guess we are already getting old.We went home later that afternoon. We headed straight to our room and watched a movie. This is the best weekend I had so far with my husband. I'm not into shopping and I am not outgoing. Staying at home is basically my weekend routine and it doesn't have to change now that I'm married. I just need to do it with my husband this time which makes staying at home more enjoyable.Monday came by and we had to go back to our work. Even though I didn't want to get up, I didn't have a choice."Are you okay? You look pale." Geoff said looking worried."I'm okay. Maybe I will get a flu but don't worry. I'm strong and I can take care of myself." I answered."Why did you marry me if
Geoff was quiet after I said I was pregnant which makes me feel worse. I hang up and cried continuously. This was not the reaction I was expecting from him. Am I expecting too much? Is it the effect of being pregnant? I know we didn't plan to have a baby right after our wedding, actually, we never talked about it. I guess we were so impulsive with our decisions and we were not prepared for the consequences. In my case, I want to have a baby because I'm not getting any younger, but I haven't asked for his thoughts about it.I cried for I don't know how long. I didn't even have dinner. I heard a knock on the door which I'm sure was from Nancy. Maybe she thought I was sleeping so she didn't disturb me anymore.I don't know what time I was able to sleep. When I woke up the next day, I felt sadder to find out that Geoff didn't come home. I checked the time. It was already 5:30 in the morning. I feel nauseated and dizzy when I tried to get up, so I decided to send a message
The next day, Geoff and I went to Pines Advertising together. We arrived at the office early and as I expected, all eyes were on us. Initially, I planned to resign from the company but I realized it is not good for me to leave the company while we are on an important project, so I would ask Mr. Smith for an indefinite leave and would promise him that I will be available when I am needed. It would also be difficult to explain that I am pregnant to everyone when they never knew that I got married so we decided to announce our wedding in the company. For me, I don't mind not telling others about me and Geoff since I don't really care about what other people say and think about me but I will have my baby soon, I don't want other people to gossip about my baby even he or she is not yet born.Mr. Smith was pleased to see Geoff in his office. He was at first hesitant to accept my letter for taking a leave but when Geoff explained to him that I would be willing to help whenever I am
"This is Erica. You've been calling Geoff, right? He can't answer because he is with me."Are they really together? Is Geoff been lying to me the whole time? I try to keep myself calm. I know pregnant women should never be stressed. I should think more of the child in me.I called Nancy to distract myself from thinking negatively. I asked her to accompany me outside. I want to eat something delicious. Actually, I have been craving for cakes since morning. I want to eat strawberry cake. I wanted to ask Geoff to buy a slice for me this morning, but I didn't want to bother him. Nancy brought me to a famous cake shop downtown. I wanted to buy only a slice of it at first but since the strawberries on top of the cake look very delicious, I couldn't help but to be greedy and want for more. The cake looks very beautiful that I decided to just eat it at home.After visiting the cake shop, I asked Nancy if we can watch a movie."Are you sure you are not yet tired m
My world seems to crush when I got that message. I am not the type of person who gets jealous without any bases but this time, I'm starting to believe her. I got up immediately and opened the wardrobe. I took my luggage and started putting my clothes in it. I'm not sure where to go for now. All I know is I have to leave this place and the best time to do that is tonight. After moving here, I have so many clothes that Geoff bought for me, but I shouldn't bring any of them. All I need are the things that I will be using for the next days. I have some money in my bank account, and I can use that to stay hidden from all this crap while I'm thinking what to do next.After packing, I thought of how I can leave without being noticed. Nancy is sleeping in the sofa of this bedroom and I'm not sure whether I can trust her. Besides, I don't want to put her in trouble. I'm sure Regina is already sleeping at this time and the maids are also in their quarters.I sat down on the bed to think. I got t
I was discharged in the afternoon. The doctor advised me to take more rest and eat more. He said that my condition is quite sensitive, so he recommended me to stay on bed for my first trimester of pregnancy. Regina was also there and was talking to Geoff almost all morning. I saw her once looking angry while talking to him. I couldn't hear their conversation since they were almost whispering.Before I was discharged, Geoff already left the hospital. He said he is scheduled to have a meeting with the shareholders, and he can't cancel the appointment."I will come home as early as I can. If you need anything, you can tell Nancy. Sometimes, I get too busy so I can't answer your call." He explained. I couldn't feel the sincerity in all the words he said. I guess it is because I already have doubts about him. He also didn't explain why he didn't come home early yesterday like he promised. He didn't even apologize, something that I was waiting for him to say. I love him so m
Geoff came home late that night. I pretended to be sleeping when he arrived. He lied down on the bed immediately without even checking how I was. When I could hear his heavy breathes, I got up from the bed and took a blanket from the wardrobe. I can't stand staying beside him. The man whom I thought really loves me is the same man who would hurt me so bad. Everything is a lie and I will be so stupid to believe him again. I have to wait for the right time for me to leave this place and if I'm lucky, have my revenge.I woke up the next day with breakfast already set up on the coffee table next to the sofa where I slept. There is a fruit platter, bread, egg and bacon in different trays. No one would think that this breakfast is only for two people. It seems like it’s a meal for a big family. I could hear water running from the bathroom which I believe is Geoff. He is probably taking a shower now.I got up from the sofa and went back to the bedroom. I have to prepare
After almost a month, Geoff finally decided to introduce himself to Athena. I have been preparing her ever since because I know that someday, she would meet her real dad. Colin supported my decision of introducing her to Geoff. They have talked a couple of times about it. Geoff has invited him to have drinks and Colin never said anything bad about him during their meetings."He's a respectable man. He's too different from how I saw him in the past months. You know I had this image of him as a bad husband because of your story, but I think he's just manipulated. He was furious thinking that the woman she loved betrayed him." He said once before we went to bed."He was nice. I guess love can really make us a monster once we got hurt.""But I think I'm the one who benefited in what happened to the two of you. If Ericka didn't say nasty things about you, maybe you and Geoff are still together until now. Then, I wouldn't meet you in Marshville. I wouldn't be your second husband. So, I shou
I felt very light and dizzy. I didn't know what was happening. Everything around me was turning. I could see Ericka's back while she slowly disappeared from my view. Ericka was just here on the rooftop a while ago. She was here mocking and insulting me. I could hear her voice clearly. She was just here."Aaah!" I shouted as I got up. I was dreaming. It was all a dream. I woke up in a familiar room. It's the master's bedroom in Colin's apartment, it's our room.Colin rushed inside the room when he heard me screaming. He hugged me immediately and patted me in the back. "You're here now. You're safe.""Where's Ericka?!" I asked, panicking. "She's dead. She jumped from the rooftop in one of Geoff's hotels.""Where's Geoff?""He called me and asked me to pick you up. He said you lost consciousness. He told me about what happened to you the other night. You should've told me about your plan.""Sorry. Geoff asked me to stay with him. I thought it was best if I followed what he said.""I und
"Eat!" He said with a smile. He put some food on the plate in front of me."What are you planning? Please, I just want to go home. Ericka is the last person I want to see tonight." I couldn't help but feel scared. She is the person I trust the least and her presence means trouble. She has never liked me and the feeling is mutual. The best thing to do to have a peaceful life is avoid her."I won't let her hurt you. Don't worry.""I really don't wanna see her.""Why would you be scared? If you're telling the truth, then there's no reason for you to be afraid of her. Unless you don't want me to know that you are lying.""I never lied to you. Her mere existence reminds me of all the bad experiences I had after marrying you. I don't want to go back to that time again.""Just eat. The food is getting cold." He turned the video on his laptop. It's an English romance movie. I can't focus well on either eating or watching the movie. All I could think of is meeting Ericka and the trouble she co
There were many messages and missed calls on my phone. Most of them were from Colin and some from my mom. I was hesitant at first to call Colin and tell him I wouldn't be home for another night. Actually, all I want now is to be home and hug Athena. I felt so sorry for growing up without a father, but now that I heard Geoff's side of the story, I felt happy that he wasn't that bad of a father after all. I can't say that he wasn't to be blamed for what happened to us though. I didn't want to stay here for another night with Geoff. I can't fully trust him, but I don't have a choice. I need to be nice to him and get his trust, so I would be sure that I could get out of here alive. Ericka is a smart woman, maybe she is part of Geoff's plan of bringing me here. I still need to be careful with what I say and do.With hesitation, I dialled Colin's number. "Hello! My God, Jez where are you?" He answered the phone right away. I didn't even hear the ringing sound on the line."I'm okay. Sorry
"Please, let my hands go, then we can talk. I promise to be honest. I have actually always been honest with you." I was already begging. He could do anything he wants to me without me defending myself. I also want to listen to his explanation about what happened to us since I got pregnant."I don't know what to believe anymore.""I was your wife. You promised to protect and be with me. I have always trusted that promise. I escaped when I felt it wasn't safe for me and my daughter anymore. You saw how violent you could be when you're angry.""You're the one who made me angry!""I didn't do anything. Anywhere I went, I was with Nancy and the driver. You could have asked them what I did for you not to believe me.""They were your allies. Of course they would not tell me what you were really up to.""Nancy did her best to protect me from you, and so did the driver. They saw I suffered because of you.""Ericka told me your plans from the very beginning. She showed me pictures of you and al
Having a headache, I woke up in a small dim room. The curtain covers half of the glass window on the right side of the bed. Based on the light, it seems like it's early in the morning. I immediately got up from the bed, but my left hand was pulled by something. It was tied to a metal which was fastened to the side of the bed. I couldn't see it clearly yet. I could feel pain all over my body especially from my left hand where the metal was tied and my head. A pitcher of water and a glass were set up on top of the side table. The room seems like one of the cheap motel rooms you can rent while on the road. Outside the window, I could glimpse some trees and a view of the sky. I was still wearing the same clothes I had worn since yesterday. My shoes were neatly arranged on the side of the bed. My phone and my small pouch were nowhere. I could finally check my left hand. I was handcuffed with the other end attached to the bed. Where am I? I wanted to scream and maybe ask for help from anyo
The next day, I was so anxious waiting for a message from whoever has Nancy. I was still trying to convince myself that Nancy is just somewhere, calming herself down before meeting me. She would show up in our house unannounced anytime soon and say how much she misses all of us, especially me and Athena. I decided to be on leave from work indefinitely. I kind of blame myself for being so busy that I didn't spend much time with my family, including Nancy. It feels like I abandoned them just because I want to prove something to Geoff and Ericka. I got so busy avenging that I forgot the most important people for me.We also asked for Athena to stop going to school for the meantime. She sounded hesitant about the plan at first since she likes spending time with hwr friends, but later she realized that playing with her toys and reading books at home are more fun.Mom is sometimes suspicious of how I was acting, but I was happy that she didn't ask too many questions. I don't want to make he
The next day, I decided to take some days off to spend more time with Athena. I also would like to wait for Nancy and have a chat with her. We haven't talked for months now and partly I blame myself for being so busy that I never even tried to reach out to her. I never asked her how she is despite knowing that she comes home late almost every night for the past months and she sometimes doesn't come home. If only I tried talking to her, sending her a message or calling her, maybe this wouldn't happen. I still didn't tell mom about what happened and I don't have any plans of telling her.Two days has passed and no signs of Nancy. Her phone can't be reached and she also doesn't respond to messages. I was starting to get more worried but as Colin said, we should give her some space. She also needs time to think. We spent our weekend to an amusement park like what we promised to Athena. It was a happy day, but I can't totally ignore the worry I feel for Nancy. I don't know Cristoff's phone
Cristoff! I haven't seen him in ages! He was not that nice to me either when I was still living with Geoff. If I remember it correctly, the two don't really have a good relationship. I looked at Nancy in disbelief. "What is this guy doing here? Why are the three of you together?" To give her the benefit of the doubt, although I already know the answer, I still asked her that question. I am hoping, although it may sound impossible, that it was just a coincidence that he was with her and Athena."He's my boyfriend." She confidently said. I was expecting her to say more, maybe to explain her side why she didn't tell us about him, but she remained silent after."Since when?" I picked Athena up and carried her in my arms."Long time ago.'"Why didn't you tell us?" I said coldly."For this exact same reason. You will just ask me to stay away from him.""You saw how I suffered when I was with them. Didn't you learn anything at that time?" Cristoff didn't utter any word. He was just there, li