Chapter 5
“What’s wrong with you? Don’t you know she’s pregnant…” Josh’s voice faltered when he noticed me. “Natalie… Why are you here?”
His eyes darted with guilt and panic, “Natalie, don’t misunderstand. She’s just my secretary and since she’s pregnant with no one to take care of her, I’m simply fulfilling my duty as her boss…”
He stepped closer, attempting to explain, but Tatiana groaned in pain behind him, “My stomach hurts…” she whimpered.
Josh stopped mid–step, his expression twisting in worry, “I’ll explain everything later, Natalie,” he said apologetically before turning to scoop Tatiana into his arms and hurrying toward the obstetrics department.
Tatiana glanced over his shoulder, flashing me a smug smile, “You’ve lost.”
That night, Josh didn’t come home. For the
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first time, he didn’t even send a message.
I curled up on the edge of the bed as my phone vibrated repeatedly. Tatiana had sent a barrage of photos and texts.
When I turned 20, Josh, then fervently pursuing me, he had given me twenty extravagant gifts, saying they were to make up for the birthdays he hadn’t spent with me. Now, he had gifted Tatiana 1,001 items, claiming she was ‘one in a thousand.‘
He had promised to take me to see the aurora borealis for our honeymoon. That trip was postponed because of work, yet he had taken Tatiana to Iceland to fulfill the promise he’d made to me ten years ago.
He had once vowed that I was the only one he’d ever love, yet in just the past six months, he had indulged Tatiana’s desires everywhere, from the office to parks, stairwells, woods and even cars.
The next day was my mother–in–law’s birthday. She had never been fond of me,
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but since I was leaving, I felt it necessary to bid her farewell.
When I arrived, the house was filled with laughter. After two days of absence, Josh was there, holding Tatiana close as they approached his mother.
The woman who had never treated me kindly now held Tatiana’s hand with affection, “What a wonderful child! You’re clearly blessed. Once you give birth to our family’s eldest grandson, I’ll gift you an entire building!”
She slid a diamond bracelet into Tatiana’s hand and continued, “Now this is what a proper daughter–in–law of the Arkin Family should look like. I told you before that you should never marry the daughter of a widower. At least you’ve come to your senses before it’s too late!”
That diamond bracelet was an Arkin
Family heirloom, traditionally passed to the daughter–in–law.
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Josh, who once stood by me, nodded in agreement for the first time.
I closed my eyes, but no tears came. Taking a deep breath, I walked inside..
Josh spotted me and rushed over, his face filled with awkwardness, “Natalie, you’re here…”
His mother scoffed, “I’ve taken to Tatiana immediately. Since you don’t plan on having children, why not just raise hers as your own once it’s born?”
I stared at Josh, my voice void of emotion, “And what do you think?”
He tugged at my sleeve, his tone pleading, “Natalie, you’ve always said you wouldn’t have children and I have to give my family an explanation. This way, isn’t everyone happy?”
Everyone but me. I forced a calm, detached smile, “If you’re fine with it, I have no objections. Whatever makes you happy!‘
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Josh froze, caught off guard by my easy agreement. Joy flickered in his eyes, “Natalie, I knew you were the best!”
Not the best, just the easiest to bully because I had no one to rely on.
I glanced at the joyous gathering one last time, turned away and sent every
screenshot and video Tatiana had gleefully forwarded me to my lawyer.
I typed to my lawyer, [I want to sue him for infidelity and for orchestrating my grandmother’s death.]
Grabbing my suitcase, I took a final look at the home where I had spent the past ten years. Now, it was desolate and empty. Resolutely, I stepped into the waiting car parked at the blind spot of the corner surveillance camera.