Pregnant and betrayed, I decided to leave with my baby

Four months pregnant, I was rushing home to surprise my husband when I met a terrible car accident.

On the verge of passing out, I called him once..twice… thirty five times only for him to message me at last.

[Henry: Elena. I will not be home for your birthday this time so just eat the cake and get over it.]

[Henry: And no, the dinner I organised isn’t for you. It’s your sister Casey’s welcome party.

She just left her abusive boyfriend. She needs comfort, not your guilt-tripping.]

Tears of shock dribbled down my eyes as I barely held onto consciousness for the sake of my child clutching my belly protectively.

Wounded and hypothermic when I was finally taken to the emergency room and operated upon, a doctor approached me, her eyes sympathetic.

“Mrs. Arrows, I am sorry… you lost one of the babies.”

My world went still.

“No…t-there must be a mistake doctor..” I whispered. “I-I didn’t fall. I didn’t drink. I was careful.”

She hesitated. “We found traces of highly potent contraceptives in your blood. You have been on them for four years, unknowingly. That, combined with the delay in treatment… it was too much for the fetus...”

“Contraceptives?” I blinked. “No… I was taking vitamins. My husband gave them to me after every night we…”

And then it hit me.

The bitter tablets I used to gag on. The ones he insisted I swallow. The ones he claimed would ‘keep me healthy.’

Suddenly it all came crashing down to me, the pain and shock of betrayal from the husband who whispered sweet nothings into my ears as we made love, the one who said it didn’t matter if I could not give birth, the one who promised forever.

“Madam, maybe your husband never wished that you give birth to a child for him but your case is a miracle, out of two, one of your children has survived.”

At that moment I clutched my stomach protectively..

“My lovely child, your mother will protect you even if your father has not once loved us.”

__________________________

Three days.

That was how long I stayed in the hospital, bleeding and broken.

Three days passed but Henry did not call even once.

When the nurse wheeled me out there was no car waiting.

No flowers.

No “I’m sorry.”

Just the cold wind and a taxi I booked myself to home.

Devastation bubbled in my heart as I rushed home in numb coldness to seek answers from Henry.

Upon returning I saw the door open ajar and familiar voices chatted and laughed: Henry’s childhood friends, the ones I have hosted tens of dinners for, cooked and cleaned and served them like they were family.

“Henry now that Stephanie is back..” one of them said “You are finally free, man.”

Another chimed in with interest “Seriously, Alexander what are you gonna do with Lavina now?

There is no compassion here. Out of the two sisters Casey is like a beautiful fairy, the real princess of Davos Enterprises while that plain Elena is an illegitimate fake. I don't think it is difficult to choose.”

“Elena is infertile most probably.” someone else said casually. “I mean she miscarried one and had four failed IVF procedures? You will be stupid to waste your life on her.”

My entire body froze as I pressed myself against the wall, the cold seeping into my bones.

What did they say? My heart thrummed wildly in my chest as I clutched my mouth hard to stop the sobs threatening to break free..No…how could Henry let them say such cruel words, he would definitely speak for me.

“Who said I will waste my life?” Instead Henry chuckled softly, making my body freeze.

“I married Elena because I needed someone instantly to fill the void Casey left behind. Elena was the perfect replacement doll. The unwanted girl having similar features as Casey, I almost mistook her for being Casey several nights while I was drunk.”

My stomach churned as angry hot tears gathered in my eyes with horror. It was at that moment another blow awaited me.

“Like a stray she was so hungry for my love that no matter how many times I kicked her she always came back whimpering and apologizing, she was the perfect substitute.

Elena was never meant to stay in my life this long, afterall a toy always has an expiration date and now I am quite bored..”

Bored?

My body convulsed as I held onto the the wall for support.

After all these years of being husband and wife this was what he thought of me?

Was it all a game for him when he sweetly kissed me? When we made love and thought of names for our children?

Unable to bear anylong I turned to leave with tears streaming down my face as I clutched my mouth hard, but Henry’s next words made me freeze completely.

“Casey told me last night she still loves me. She wants to try again.

Build a family and have children. Until that happens I will just play house with Elena for a little longer.”

My entire body trembled as I stumbled back in horror.

A family?

Four years, that was how long I tried to conceive.

That was how long he kept saying ‘It’s not your fault. I’ll love you anyway.’ while lying all along and feeding me contraceptives.

And now he wanted to start a family with Casey?

And It suddenly dawned on me how I was a convenient tool for Henry all these years- an object to use and discard when he was done playing.

I ran outside with tears streaming down my face not caring of the cold rain seeping through my bones before completely breaking down on the pavement.

“My dear child because of my foolishness you have suffered. Your father has never wanted you since the beginning and I..I kept on dreaming..one of you died and the other is discarded like this…my poor children.”

Sobs racked my entire body as I cried for hours, not even realizing that the rain had long stopped.

Getting up with tremors in my body I clutched my pregnant belly protectively before calling my childhood best friend.

“Please help me erase my identity completely.”