I wasn’t supposed to come home early from work, but I wasn’t feeling well. I came back and heard a noise, familiar sounds. I followed them to the pool, only to see my husband, Timothy Balor, kissing Sandra Amos. They didn’t see me, but I stood frozen, watching. They broke the kiss, and Sandra asked, “What about your wife?”
Timothy laughed and said, “She loves me too much to leave. Even if she caught us now, she wouldn’t do anything.”
I couldn’t stay quiet. “Really?” I said, stepping forward for them to see me clearly. Both of them turned to look at me, shock all over their faces.
“Eden, what are you doing here so early?” Timothy stuttered. “And don’t get the wrong idea. We were just talking about business.”
Business? Did he think I was stupid? Maybe I was, for believing in him all this time. Living like his maid instead of his wife, while he treated me like I didn’t matter. But this? This was too much.
I stormed out, leaving them by the pool. I went straight to our bedroom, my chest tight with anger and pain. I wasn’t going to cry. Not this time. I grabbed my suitcase and started packing. Timothy thought I couldn’t leave him? That I would stay even if he cheated? Was that how little he thought of me?
For years, I had been the one to apologize, the one to fix things, even when he was wrong. But no more. I couldn’t live like this anymore.
I sat on the edge of the bed for a while, my mind racing with memories. When I finally felt ready, I grabbed my luggage and walked downstairs. But as I reached the living room, I saw my mother sitting there with Timothy. Sandra was gone, but it didn’t make a difference.
My mom’s eyes widened when she saw me with my bags. She stood up quickly. “Eden, what’s this?”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t even look at her properly. This was the same woman who always told me to endure, to stay no matter what Timothy did. She wanted me to keep suffering in silence.
I tried to walk past her, but she grabbed my luggage, stopping me. Timothy finally spoke, his voice sharp. “What do you think you’re doing?”
I scoffed, shaking my head. “What does it look like? I’m leaving this fruitless marriage.”
My mother crossed her arms and glared at me. “Take your luggage back inside,” she commanded. “You’re ungrateful and disrespectful to me and your husband. When will you learn respect?”
I kept quiet, but her next words made me snap. “If you walk out of this house, I’ll stop paying for your father’s hospital bills,” she threatened.
I turned to her, anger boiling inside me. “He’s still your husband! How can you use him to threaten me?”
She slapped me hard. My face stung, but her words hurt more. “The moment your father had that accident and lost the use of his legs, he stopped being my husband,” she said coldly.
Her threat worked, and I hated it. She wasn’t bluffing. My mother would leave my father in that hospital without a second thought. They’d won. For now.
Dragging my luggage back inside, I walked straight to the bedroom. Timothy followed close behind.
“Eden, do you really want to leave me?” he asked, standing by the door.
I ignored him and unzipped my bag, too angry to speak.
Then he said something I never thought I’d hear. “I’m sorry.”
I paused, confused. I turned to face him. “What are you apologizing for, Timothy? For ignoring me? For the years of pain? Or for cheating on me with Sandra?”
He sighed and rubbed his temples. “I’m trying my best here, Eden.”
I laughed bitterly. “Your best isn’t enough. It never has been.”
His words only fueled my anger, so I stormed out of the room and grabbed my car keys. My mother was gone, and the house felt stifling. I needed air.
At the hospital, I went straight to my father’s ward. He was asleep, his face peaceful despite everything. I sat beside him and whispered, “You’ll be okay, Dad. I promise.” Even though he couldn’t hear me, I needed to say it.
As I stood to leave, a wave of dizziness hit me. I grabbed the wall to steady myself. Since I was already at the hospital, I decided to get checked. The results shocked me. I was pregnant.
I stared at the paper in disbelief. Pregnant? Now? How could this be happening? Timothy didn’t love me. He treated me like a maid, not a wife. How could he ever love this child?
I didn’t know what to do, but for now, I decided to keep it a secret.
When I reached my car, a cold metal pressed against the back of my head.
“Don’t move,” a deep voice said from behind.
I froze, my heart pounding. Was that a gun?
