Chapter 3

“Good evening, Dad,” I say reluctantly; the last time we had met, we ended up exchanging unpleasant words and have spoken since then.

“Good evening.” He says sternly. It was so hard to believe this was the same loving father I had grown up with who had changed all because of money.

Jason gives me an encouraging nod and hurries away back to Alexandrina's side like a dotting husband

Of course, it had to be about her, “Why didn't you tell me this was going to be a dinner with my family?” I whispered to him, but he ignored my question and placed a hand on the small of my back, guiding me to a seat opposite my father.

“Good evening, Dad,” I say reluctantly; the last time we had met, we ended up exchanging unpleasant words and have spoken since then.

“Good evening.” He says sternly. It was so hard to believe this was the same loving father I had grown up with who had changed all because of money.

Jason gives me an encouraging nod and hurries away back to Alexandrina's side like a dotting husband.

I could see Alexandrina glare at me because Jason was giving me attention. The moment I got seated my Dad banged his hand on the table, his face red in anger.

“Why do you always have to be so rude and unreasonable. If not for Jason, you'd have walked out of here laughing like a lunatic.”

I could see Alexandrina give me a wicked smirk; she enjoyed seeing me and my family fight because of her.

I took a deep breath trying to still my raging temper within me. First, at myself for believing Jason wanted to treat me to a nice dinner, then at my family's endless greed.

Feeling calm enough I spoke in a controlled tone.

“First of all, you are all insane, not me. In fact, I may be the only one with a brain in their head here. Alexandrian has no right at all to my inheritance, she's not my blood sister even, not from my father or mother.”

The whole room gasped, and their mouths fell open at my declaration, but I refused to be deterred by their reactions. “Yes, I said it! She's only my step-sister because her mum here married my Dad.”

My Dad stood up angrily, “Why do you have to be so damn selfish Celestina! You're so heartless; how can you say such hurtful words to your sister when she's pregnant? You know her blood pressure is fluctuating.”

On cue, I see Alexandrina put a delicate hand to her forehead, “Dad, don't worry, it's fine….I don't feel so good.”

Her chest heaves up and and down faster as though she was finding it harder to get air. I rolled my eyes in irritation, I couldn't hold it anymore.

“Stop faking, Alexandrian; we both know there's absolutely nothing wrong with you.”

The words were barely out of my mouth before I felt a sting on my face; I staggered back, falling to the floor. I cupped my cheek in hurt and raised my head to look at my father who had just slapped me.

“How dare you speak to your sister. You don't even know what it's like to be pregnant so how would you know what the symptoms are like?”

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to shed them; I wasn't going to give them the pleasure of seeing me cry.

I looked to Jason who was glaring at me while holding Alexandrian, “You know what, they were all right about you. I set up this dinner so you could be reasonable and do the right thing. But your selfishness wouldn't let you, now you've upset Alexandrian, and she's pregnant.”

But… she's faking.” I said with a broken voice my throat tight with tears.

“I don't want to hear a single word from you. Just get out.” Jake says in a stern voice; Alexandrian smirks at me briefly but quickly goes back to her fake act of not being well.

I stand up from the ground unaided, “Can't you alll see, you're all being blinded.” I say trying to make them see reason with me.

Angela immediately fakes a worried face, “Jason, I hope you still have the medication the doctor gave you. She's looking a bit crazy right now, I think you should sedate her.”

I feel enraged at her words, “I'm not crazy, I'm merely mad at you all.” I say raising my voice in anger.

Blinded by anger and tears, I didn't notice Jason come up behind me till I felt the prick of a needle and a liquid inserted into my body. I turned around, and my last blurry image was Jason injecting me with a strange liquid.

I wake up with a banging headache, I lift my hand to block out the intrusive ray of sunlight. Forcing myself to sit up, I take in my surroundings only to realize I'm back in my childhood bedroom.

“Shit,” I mutter to myself, I look at my arm where I was jabbed to see the angry red dot. I wondered what exactly Jason had injected me with; my head still felt foggy.

Suddenly my bedroom door opens with a gust of wind. Alexandrian walks in wearing a sundress, looking all bright and glowy due to her pregnancy.

“Hope you slept well bitch.”

“What do you want Alexandrian?”

“Well, I came to warn you to share the inheritance with me or I'll take everything you hold dear. You'll literally watch me live your life from the shadows.”

I look at her like she's a clown and chuckle, “And they call me crazy.” I say under my breath which angers Alexandrian.

“I've already started. This baby belongs to Jason, and I have him wrapped around my little finger. Just watch and see…”

I didn't want to hear it to the end.

Her words struck a barb; I just need to get out of here; I stand up suddenly despite the dizziness, bracing myself on the bedframe.

Alexandrian immediately throws herself on the floor and starts screaming. “Aha, Aha she hit me.”

I look in shock, I decide to ignore her and leave, but Jason and my family rush to the room.

“What the hell did you do?” Jason says his teeth clenched in anger.

I gave Jake a hurt look. Was he so blinded by his feelings for my sister he would jump to baseless conclusions?

Alexandrian continued screaming like she was in severe pain; my Dad and Angela rushed to her side, comforting her.

“I did nothing; believe, me; she's just faking as, usual." I almost scream.

Alexandrian responds in a low hurt voice, faking tears. “How can you tell such a lie? I only came in here to comfort her and tell her I love her regardless of her refusing to share. She called me a bitch and pushed me to the ground, threatening to make me lose the pregnancy.”

My mouth fell open at her lies, “You surely don't believe that Jake; you've known me for five years. I've never exhibited such character.”

But Jake stared at me, not moving; his fists were clenched in anger. I was scared he was going to slap me as my father had done earlier.

“Shut your lying mouth up, just because you don't have a children, you want to ruin it for Alexandrian. Get out of here this minute or I'll be forced to throw you out!”

I couldn't believe the hurtful words Jake had just hurled at me; my voice broke as I spoke.

“I'm your wife, Jake, you should believe me!” I tried reaching for him but he threw my hand away like I had some contagious disease.

“Get out, I'll have to speak with your doctor about your crazy behavior. You're becoming too erratic.”

I opened my mouth to respond,but I felt strong arms around me, and in an instant,I was lifted off the floor by the security man.

“Take this piece of trash out.” My father said with spite as I was being carried away.

I was thrown out of the mansion to the main street; the security man cast me an apologetic look before turning away and leaving me there.

I felt too hurt to even cry; my family and my husband had cast me aside all because of Alexandrian. Luckily, I was still holding my purse; I took it out and ordered an Uber.

I was leaving tonight, I wasn't going to sit around and let my family treat me so unfairly.

The Uber arrived, and I entered rattling out my address. When I arrived home, I couldn't hold the feeling of needing to throw up. I ran to my bathroom sink, but it was dry sobs that racked my body.

I guess my heart waited for privacy before I could fall apart. When it was over, I gripped the marble, sinking. Looking up at the mirror, I couldn't recognize the woman staring back at me with red eyes and deep eye bags.

I looked pale. I turned on the tap, splashing cool water on my face; I had cried enough. It was time to move on before I got locked up in an asylum.

Taking out the bright red lipstick from my purse, I wrote on the mirror a message for Jake, ‘I know the truth, I'm gone for good.’

Entering the bedroom, I took out the divorce papers and signed a copy leaving it on Jake's side of the bed. Packing a few necessary stuff, I headed to the airport.

Luckily the flight I had booked earlier was bumped up an extra day, making it tonight. With one last look at my bedroom, I dragged my box out of the house.

I was mid-ride to the airport and realized I had forgotten the new full dose of medicine; the ones I had on me would only last a few days. Oh well, I can get a prescription when I get to the new country.

I sat at the airport waiting for my flight to be called, I noticed a couple with a pretty daughter running around, and my heart lurched painfully. That could have been me and Jake if we got our marriage right.

I felt the sting of pain, but I quickly blinked it away; the airline announced my flight. I took out my cellphone and, blocked the funds account I had given my family access to, and deleted my married status from my profile.

Feeling satisfied, I followed the others to board the plane, taking me to my new nontoxic life.

My phone vibrates in my trouser pocket, but I ignore it; all my attention is fixed on Alexandrian. I held her hand comforting her and rubbing her belly.

Fresh anger fills my heart as I remember Celestina attacking my wife and unborn child.

I don't know when Celestina had turned into this selfish and vindictive person.

She used to be really sweet and kind; I remember when I met her, I was in student loan debt and broke. But she didn't care about my status, despite being rich, she cleared my loans and helped me get a job.

Everyone in her family wasn't fond of her and spoke ill about her, but at the time, I was too blinded by my feelings to care.

Not until Alexandrian opened my eyes to how selfish and manipulative Celestina was and how she bullied and mistreated her all her life.

“I think you should get that, your phone keeps buzzing,” Alexandrian says.

“Okay, darling,” I say as I lift myself up and fish out my cell phone from my pocket. Only to see five missed calls from my mum.

Panicking, I call her back. “Hi mum, is everything okay?” I say fearing something bad has happened.

“You tell me?” My mother responds, sounding upset.

I kiss my teeth in frustration, “I'm kind of in the middle of something important; what are you talking about?”

“Why did your wife Celestina change her marital status from married to single? You never told me you were having issues.”

My heart skips a beat, “what? We don't have any issues, Mum; she's probably doing that to get my attention.”

"What's happening?"

Alexandrian says, giving me an inquisitive look.

“I'll sort this out and call you later, my mum.” I put off the call, wanting to disregard what my mum had just said. Still, it bothered me slightly in our five years of marriage; Celestina had never argued with me on anything.

She wasn't even one to make a fuss, upset I opened my social media account to verify.

“What's going on?” Alexandrian asks in an irritated voice, angry that my attention was elsewhere other than on her.

Sometimes I found this trait of hers annoying.

“My mum said Celestina changed her profile from married to single.”

“Oh, that's great! Now we can lock her up in an asylum and get married. Call your lawyer immediately; you need to declare her legally insane so I can have access to the company.

I look up from my screen, what does she mean by ‘I’?

“Oh, sorry. I mean, we can all have access to the company.” She smiled, correcting herself.

I felt slightly irritated at her selfishness; checking my phone, I confirmed the single status. Feeling uncomfortable I called her number it was unavailable.

I stood up and grabbed my keys, “I'll be soon I need to check on Celestina.” I announced.

“Why? But I need you here. She's just doing it to get your attention and take you away from me.”

“Damnit, Alexandrian, think of someone other than yourself, and remember Celestina is my wife.”

Alexandrian gave me a hurt look, but I didn't have time to deal with her incessant demands for attention.

I turned to leave the room at the door. Mr White(Celestina's father) burst into the room, almost hitting me in the face. “She blocked our access to the funds account!”

“What?” Alexandrian stands to her feet.

“Don't you understand, Celestina fucking blocked out access to the funds? I tried her number and got no response. We're broke!”He announces.

A chill ran up my spine; I raced to my car and stepped on my engine, heading home.

On getting home, I raced to the bedroom, but there was no sight of Celestina. “Celestina!” I screamed.

But silence was my only response, I opened the bathroom door and saw bold writing in red on the mirror.

I fell to my knees when I read the words, my wife had left me.