Chapter 4

Amanda reached for the life inside her belly. While staring at the two worst people in her life, she was talking to her little angel to hold on. Just hold on, they'll get through this soon. And that he or she will never get the same treatment from the one who caused her so much pain and humiliation.

Keith had already made a choice. And Amanda thought even if she bled right there and then to gain even the slightest attention from him, it would be nonsense. Her husband had stood beside her ex-girlfriend while looking down at her.

Pathetic. She felt pathetic at the moment. It was true that the unbearable scene before her eyes had shattered not just her heart but also her hopes and dreams for their family. She was beyond ready to give it her all just so she can have her family back. She just wants to be heard, to be understood. But Keith had already closed the doors.

What’s the purpose of all the pain, the heartbreaks and the humiliation? Ah, Amanda thought of the small child growing inside of her. She thought that Keith would listen to her even just for once when he heard the knowledge about the child. Yet for the nth time, he rejected her and even sided with his lover.

He’s the worst. She’d done so much for this family and all he had to do was to ruin it.

There’s nothing to be fixed, Amanda told herself as she slowly stood from the cold floor and regained her composure. This is enough. She would never tolerate any more humiliation coming from those two.

Amanda stared at Keith and Sarah. She would never forget the faces of those who put her to shame. How dare they humiliate Amanda Munoz!

“You will never get away with this easily, Keith Harris. You will regret it, I am telling you that…” Amanda uttered in full conviction as she stared at the eyes of her still husband full of hatred.

“I am not warning you. Why would I? But mark my words, Keith,” she pointed a finger at his direction. “One day, you will come to me, on your knees, begging me for something that I have!” Amanda blurted out. Her voice was proud rather than shaken.

Keith kept Sarah at bay as he threw her a death glare. “Do you think I’d be rattled by some false presumptions?”

“Dream on, Amanda! You have nothing compared to me!”

“I said what I said, my still husband,” Amanda wiped away the invisible dust in her clothes. It had a dual purpose, to remain calm and hid her partly shaking hands. “I should take my leave now.”

“I don’t want to bother you nor your lover any longer.”

Still looking dignified, she turned her back on them and walked towards the only door in the office. She would never give them the satisfaction of seeing her in such a miserable state.

With all the courage mustered at the moment, Amanda walked slowly away from the two. The sound of her heels was all she could hear inside his office.

She stopped on her tracks and turned to Keith. He was still looking smug, proud of what he’d done.

“Keith, maybe you are right,” Amanda sighed and her eyes wandered at his well built office. “Maybe you are right that I have nothing and you have everything. Don’t bother looking for someone as low as me. You won’t gain anything. And I mean it.”

“And just like I already said,” Keith threw her that disdainful look. “You don’t have anything that I will be interested in, Amanda.”

“Be gone! And never show your face again to me and to this office!”

“Yes, I’ll do that,” a small, apologetic smile etched on her face. Not for the relationship that had now ruined but for the family she hadn’t saved for her baby. Amanda subtly caresses her still petite stomach where her baby resides. “Goodbye, Keith.”

Once again, she turned her back from them and walked away from all the reason she felt miserable that moment. Amanda turned back to the life she would’ve fought for if things had just aligned. But maybe, just maybe, they weren’t meant to be. Just like he always said.

Yet it doesn’t mean that walking away would release Keith and his woman from their sins. She pursed her lips hard as she tried not to cry. She’ll make sure to make them pay for the injustice and betrayal they showed to her. There’s no thing such as an exemption to the rule. Amanda promised to her still unborn child that she’ll exact revenge someday.

Keith had just had to wait.

As soon as Amanda came out from Keith’s office, she saw the curious stare from his staff. Their eyes showed instant judgement, that the wife must’ve probably learned the secret of her husband and so on. No one dared to speak to her. Nor they do not confirm anything. Their eyes showed that they knew what was going on inside that four corner of a room.

How despicable! She could see in her eyes how sorry they were. That another innocent woman was betrayed by her husband’s infidelity. Then there are others who thought otherwise, that she really deserved what she sowed.

Amanda tried to suppress the emotions that kept rising as seconds passed by. She will never cause a scene in public, most specially in the vicinity of KH Development Group. She will leave the building still with her head held high and would be unbothered by the hypocrites.

The thing was to be strong was even harder than she thought. She could feign that everything was alright and pay no attention to her surroundings but the truth was she still hadn’t mustered the art of deception. Amanda could deceive everybody that she had become immune to humiliation but not to herself. There’s always an end to every lie a person can take.

So she pretended to need the restroom to retouch her face even with no makeup and immediately looked at the door behind. Amanda took one of the cubicles and started releasing her heart out in muffled cries.

Then her phone rang all of a sudden. She was hesitant to answer the call but upon seeing Alma’s name, she instantly took the call.

“H— hello,” her voice cracked.

Alma had strong intuition. Her voice was worried. “Amanda, where are you?”

“A— Alma,” upon hearing her best friend's voice, Amanda immediately breaks down. She could no longer hold it to herself.

Then she realised she found herself in another pathetic situation. So where's Amanda Munoz who walked dignified out of Keith’s office and into his life?

Gone. Just like that she resorted back to her old self—the pitiful wife who was abandoned by her husband.

"Shhhh…shhh…stay strong Amanda. Don’t cry so much. Just think about your baby,” Alma was trying to soothe her. Her best friend was encouraging her to not stress out for the sake of the growing baby inside of her womb.

Alma was right. She’s not alone anymore. She had a baby who’s fully dependent on her, a small life that will soon be her little bundle of joy. And soon this child will prove that Keith was wrong and despite him coming back nor begging even on his knees, Amanda will never forgive him.

She’ll definitely get even with the bastard. And the ultimate revenge would be hiding his child who he already disowned.

Alma was on their usual place as they spoke. Her best friend urged her to come over so they can talk everything through and not over the phone. Still hesitant since she only wanted to go home, Amanda fixed herself in front of the mirror and told Alma that she’ll be at the place in a few minutes.

A few female employees were complaining outside the bathroom when Amanda opened the door. Suddenly, they apologised about the comotion and excused themselves upon seeing her. She was left alone once more but the incident was less of her concern.

Amanda left the building with a broken heart. Even if she wanted to move on, it’s not easy to forget the love that she cherished for three years. The whole three years. And if they’re married, Keith still has Sarah at bay. He really never forgot. And she was a fool to not see the signs.

Yet her ignorance had taught her that the child inside of her could save her marriage and the family. Or maybe she’s the only one thinking of saving it? Since Keith had already decided to end the marriage soon and will make Sarah as his wife.

Her love for him was clearly one sided. And not it ended the worst way possible.

The sky was clearly sharing her pain. Soon as she stepped on the concrete, the rain poured heavily. While others were running towards the shed to not get wet, she just walked as if she never cared. She felt the cold rain onto her skin, almost numbing the pain brought by Keith and his actions. And Amanda felt alone once more.

She was so oblivious of her surroundings that she failed to hear the crowd screaming at the back and loud screeching sounds of the tires. Amanda only noticed the fast car approaching when she was blinded by the headlights and the loud honk of the car’s horn.

Just when she thought that her life was about to end, the car was manoeuvred to the other side drastically and she escaped the inevitable death.

Amanda immediately covered her stomach as her limbs went limb. She suddenly dropped on the road as she stared blankly at the nearby car. She felt scared for the first time, not for the life of her but for the life of the child inside of her.

The driver immediately jumped off the car and ran towards her direction. Still horrified as to what had happened due to her stupidity, she cried as she bowed her head.

“I’m sorry…I’m sorry…” Amanda apologised to him, tears kept falling to her eyes that her vision almost became clouded.

But the man held her in her shoulders and helped her get back on her feet. He even checked her from head to toe if she sustained any injuries. She was beyond surprised and she couldn’t grasp the situation any more. No words had ever left her mouth until he asked her again.

His voice was low and soothing to hear. He was hell as worried. “Miss, are you alright?”

She nodded in response. He didn’t even slightly look convinced. “ Are you sure?”

The rain still hasn't stopped and Amanda cannot focus herself on what’s happening to her. Her eyes still clouded with tears, a few blink and she got a view of the man who’s helping her.

And she was shocked to see his face just a few centimetres away from her.