"I want to divorce Caleb,mum.We've grown distant over the years and if I stay with him any further,I might lose my shit."

My mother immediately blew up."You want to divorce Caleb over something so trivial?"

Trivial?Was she being serious right now?

My breathing halted,and my chest felt heavy,as if a lump of resentment had formed.

"Trivial?How is my welfare trivial?"I asked.

"Are you crazy?"She fumed,her face reddened with anger."Do you think you can divorce Caleb?You're blind,and once divorced,you'll be damaged goods.No one will want you,Elise.Can't you use your head?"

I told my parents about Caleb's infidelity.I thought they would support me after hearing about his actions.But her words pierced my heart like a knife.

"Mum,just because I'm blind doesn't mean that I have to be subjected to a life of servitude just to please a man who is now my tormentor."

She scoffed at me,"It doesn't change the fact you're blind in an eye!What do you think marriage is,Elise?Marriage isn't always rosy.It's a bed full of thorns.All you have to do is know how to lay on it."

"And I'll say this again,just because I'm blind doesn't mean I have to settle for less or be trapped in this hellhole called a marriage with Caleb."I sighed,massaging my temple.I was beginning to have a headache."Mom,I want a divorce,and I won't keep this child."

My mother slammed her cup on the time with such strength that it shattered,and began scolding me without caring about the shards of glass on the table.

"Can't you see your situation?Women like you are a dime of a dozen.You're lucky to have married someone as wealthy as Caleb."She softened her tone,grasping my hand."Men stray sometimes,but as his wife,you can't change that."

"And don't let that woman have his child;we can't divide the property between your child and hers if she gives birth.Your brother needs Caleb's help with his wedding,so don't mess it up."

"Mom…"I whined.

"Fine.I'll call Caleb and talk some sense into him."

Watching my mother rush to speak with Caleb,I felt despair.This couldn't be my life right now.I couldn't believe it;I refused to believe it.

I always knew she didn't like me,but I never thought she'd sacrifice my happiness for Caleb's wealth.

I packed my bags to leave,and there he was,standing at the door,his eyes dark.He was probably happy that no one was supporting me.

"No one supports your divorce,so stopped causing a scene.You're embarrassing your family."

I knew it.He was happy.He knew my mother was greedy and wouldn't accept it,that's why he didn't say anything in his difference when I told her about the divorce.

My mother pushed me toward the car.

"Please be patient with Elise,Caleb.She hasn't fully grasp the reality of marriage,okay?"

"Mom,I will."He nodded,a gentle smile on his lips.

Getting into the car,I saw a makeup pad and some potato chip crumbs.

He was mocking me.It was evident that he was or else if he had even the slightest bit of respect for me,he wouldn't have let me see those things.

"Don't be jealous,Elise,it doesn't look good on you.Besides,Ava wouldn't complain like you,"he said,clenching his hands on the steering wheel as he drove out of my family's home.

I found a flimsy bra in the seat crevice.

Caleb's face changed,giving off a shy smile.

"Ava chose it for you.Do you like it?"He asked me,waiting eagerly for my response."You know you've got bad taste when it comes to these sort of things.You should learn from Ava instead of always going against her."

Usually,I'd appease him,but this time,I asked,"Whose taste do you find appealing?Ava's?"

His expression turned cold.

"Can you be more open-minded like Ava?She's only trying to be nice."

This was a hand me down gift.She had already worn it and I could tell because it was a new bra,the tag would still be on it.

This was the highest insult I could take.I had become an object of ridicule for them to the point that she gave me her bras?

How messed up was that?

"Disgusting,"I said,before tossing the bra out of the car."I guess she doesn't have great taste either."

The atmosphere in the car became chilly…way too chilly.He was furious and probably going to do something stupid.

I clutched the handle of the door as he sped up.He was driving at a speed that was dangerous for the baby's health.

"Slow down,Caleb.I'm uncomfortable…You're going to hurt the baby."

He saw my distress,and went even faster."Let's teach you a lesson since you don't know how to respect and appreciate when people help you."

"Stop…"

He sped up even more.I hit my head on the backseat.My head was spinning and I felt like vomiting.

"Oh no,I'm not going to stop.I'm going to teach you a lesson.Tell me,have you had enough?Are you learning your lesson?"He yelled at me,his countenance still the same.

My stomach churned."Stop...I'm pregnant…please…"

He sneered."Are you still pretending?"

When the car came to a stop,I hurriedly got out and vomited.It was relieving to puke my guts out.At least I wouldn't feel like I was about dying.

From where I stopped,I could see him taking out his phone to film me.

I choked as I began wiping the residue of the vomit with the sleeves of my shirt.

"What are you doing?Why are you filming me?"

He smiled sinisterly,his brows arched."Now,who's more disgusting,huh?You or Ava?"

It turned out he was taking revenge for Ava.He was taking it out on me for tossing away the so-called lingerie she gave me.

My vision was almost blurred by the tears as they kept streaming down my cheeks.He was so quick to defend her and then give me crap for speaking against her.

I choked on my sob and I struggled to speak.But Caleb didn't seem to care,he was only interested in taunting me and making my life a living hell.

"Why are you doing this?Why are you hurting me to please her?!"I yelled.

"Does it hurt that much?Ava doesn't mind when I speed..."

"I am pregnant and she's not.Maybe you should take that into consideration the next time you decide to speed to the moon."I jabbed.

He stopped,remembering I was pregnant.He handed me a box of strawberry-flavored milk from the car.

"You're right.Ava said morning sickness is normal during pregnancy,and you should be treated delicately.So drink up."

This milk was her favorite.

One time at the party where I first met Ava,everyone drank except Caleb,who held a carton of strawberry milk.

Someone joked,"Caleb's being thoughtful,bringing milk for his pregnant wife..."

Apparently the joke went over his head,and he couldn't even resist the urge to embarrass me.Without a second thought,he handed the milk over to her.

"Special delivery for you."He smiled at her and she blushed.They were flirting with each other in front of me and our mutual friends.

"Shouldn't this be for your wife?She's pregnant,"she said,trying to sound nice and considerate.

"Just take it.I'm sure Elise wouldn't mind,"he said,dismissively,without looking at me.He was already eating from the palm of her hands.

Ava glanced at me nervously."I really do not want to offend your wife,Caleb."

Caleb sneered."Oh,she knows her place.Do you think she'll fight you for it?"

"I just think it would be rude,Caleb,"she said,hiding a sly smile that disappeared as soon as it appeared.

"I'll fight for you."

That night,I decided to leave early,feeling uncomfortable.He remarked,"You're blind in one eye,can you even see the road in the dark?"

His words exposed my insecurities.Everyone's gaze fell upon me,making me feel like I had a target on my back.

He continued,"Are you trying to make a scene?Do you think the world revolves around you just because you're pregnant?You're really overreacting."

"Caleb…"I muttered.

"You don't need to come to these gatherings anymore.Ava's enough."

That night,Caleb humiliated me.Now,he'd achieved success and treated me like trash.Like I meant little or nothing to him.

From that day on,everyone knew his intentions with Ava.He even kept a stash of strawberry milk in his car just for her.

I stared into his dark,soulless eyes that were targeted towards me.

"You don't need to give that to me.Save it for your sweet little Ava.I'm sure she needs it more than I do."

He crushed the carton and poured milk all over my head.

"See,that's the kind of thing that makes me want to strangle you.You don't want the milk,huh?"

This sticky,disgusting strawberry flavor.It would have been great if it didn't look like Ava was the brand ambassador for the drink.It was always Ava.Ava this.Ava that.I was sick of it.

"No.I'm pretty sure that darling Ava would need that.She seems to live off it.So you wasting it on me doesn't do her much good,does it?"

He sneered."Elise Grey,you're despicable."

"I am despicable because you made me this way,Caleb!!"I screamed,milk residue still dripping over me.

"Ava told me to take care of you,and you're being unreasonable."He chuckled."Can't you just be as sweet as Ava and stop nagging about everything."

"I married you,gave you a child,while she has nothing.I must love her,understood?That way she has something to hold on to."

"It's always Ava.Ava this.Ava that.Why don't you go ahead and marry her!"I couldn't take it anymore.

During my prenatal checkup,he ignored my pleas.Now,because of her words,he obeyed.Eating from the palm of her hands.

Tears mixed with milk streamed down my face.Suddenly,Caleb's phone rang and judging by the way his face softened,I had a pretty good guess about who it was—Dear Ava.

Her tearful voice came through the phone.

"Caleb,I'm so scared...There are thugs here."

"Don't worry,I'll be right there.Just give me a few minutes,"he said,soothingly,trying to calm her down.

He opened the car door.I realized he planned to abandon me.

"Where…where are you going?"I stuttered.

"There are no taxis around."He scowled."And Ava needs my help."

"Why didn't she call the cops,huh?You just want to be the hero in her story and the villain in my story,Caleb."

"Don't be so dramatic,Elise.I'll be back for you."

The deserted area seemed creepy.What was a pregnant woman going to do alone here?

I grasped his hand."You can't leave me here,I'm pregnant."

He snapped."Don't use the pregnancy to guilt trip me into taking you.Ava is in danger;you can handle yourself,but she can't."

He pried open my fingers,and left me all alone.After a while,the rain poured down,and I called him,my voice trembling.On the 99th call,he finally picked up.

"Caleb,my stomach hurts...there's no one here."I whimpered.

But Ava's voice came through the line,"Baby,can we see the underwater aquarium again?"

Caleb laughed."At a time like this,you want to go see the fishes?"

She giggled."I think it will help with the nerves.I've never been faced with thugs before."

Caleb's passionate breath followed."Sure.We'll go there in a bit."

"Is Elise still on the road?Will she be okay?"

He chuckled,his breath heavy with emotion,"You're thinking of others at a time like this?You're so kind."

She giggled,"I'm not in a hurry.Go check on your wife;she's pregnant..."

Caleb's response sent chills down my spine:"She won't die.I'm pretty sure that she can do without me for a while."

"Caleb!"I yelled.

"What,Elise?"

"Help!"

I slipped,rolling down the slope,and watched as Caleb got into the car and drove off.

I winced at the pain coming from my stomach.I touched my stomach but the pain only intensified and out nowhere,I saw blood pooling from beneath me...