Natasha POV

“You need to pay attention to what I have to say. Mira will be staying with us,” he yelled. “Also, she’s knows well about her food, so I’d like you to get used to preparing the dishes she loves. Did you hear that?”

I stood there, staring at my husband and listening to everything he had to say, since I didn’t have the courage to oppose him.

“And again, she’s not used to sleeping alone, so I’d like you to pack your things and leave our room. There are other rooms, you can sleep in any of them,” he added.

Without bothering to respond, I picked up my suitcase that I had already prepared and walked toward the door.

“Ma’am, you don’t…” our butler tried to stop me, but Lorenzo was loud, his mocking laugh stopping her.

“Let her go, stopping her makes her feels too important. But I am very sure she wouldn’t last some hours out there before she comes back crawling to apologize,” he said.

Suddenly, everyone burst into laughter. Tears stung my eyes as I struggled to understand how my own husband could humiliate me like this.

Before I could reach the door, they placed a two-million bet—wagering that I wouldn’t last a day without coming to beg Lorenzo. The truth was, they were unaware that this time, my mind was made up. They were too caught up in the idea that I had no one to turn to, but this time, I was ready to prove them all wrong. I was leaving, never to come back again.

Just as I opened the door, he called out to me. “Natasha!”

Then I turned to face him.

“What if you leave the amulet?” he asked.

“Why should I give you my amulet? It belongs to me” I looked down at my wrist holding onto it.

“Mira needs that more than you do. She’s been having terrible dreams, and it’s bad for her condition.” He said. The amulet was the only thing my mother had left for me, and I was surprised Lorenzo would even demand that I give it back, knowing how much I loved and cherished it.

My eyes were red, filled with unspoken feelings. Did he really expect me to hand it over? I shook my head as I took some steps backward.

“If you can’t give it out freely, name your price, I’ll pay for it,” he said. It was saddening that he thought he could buy out all my years in this marriage. Literally, I couldn’t put a price on the emptiness and pain of wandering through a loveless marriage.

I recalled when Mira demanded for a dress I was putting on, Lorenzo had demanded I take off the dress and give it to her. Before I could even say no, he strip off the dress that I was wearing and I was naked.

Knowing what would happen if I refused, I reluctantly took off the amulet and handed it over to him.

“I wish the child in your womb is fine. I pray he or she is safe and sound.” I told her. Though it hurts me a lot that he’s treating me this way but I tried not to let it show.

To ease himself of his guilt, he offered me what he termed a “prime opportunity.”

“If you act well, the child can also be yours,” he said.

I swallowed hard, and then he took the amulet. Immediately, the one on Mira’s waist fell to the ground and broke into pieces. A shard cut her leg, causing her to bleed so much.

With a look of sheer panic on his face, Lorenzo swept Mira into his arms, cradling her as if she might shatter at any moment.

“Come on! Call the doctor!” he screamed at the butler to call the family doctor.

Everyone turned to me and gave me a mocking look. It isn’t their fault, because I also found myself laughable. I remembered last night when I got a stomach attack—Lorenzo didn’t bother about me. He simply commanded the butler to sanitize the entire building so that I wouldn’t affect Mira and her baby.

I took the suitcase and was about leaving when he furiously held my hands and commanded. “Who told you that you can go? Apologize to her right away.”

This look really awkward, I should apologize to her for what?

Suddenly, he punched me in the face and kicked my legs, causing me to fall to my knees.

He accused me of being responsible for what just happened and without arguing, I apologized to her.

I grinned knowingly. ‘Sorry’ has become my default phrase since marrying Lorenzo. Whether Mira misses her doctor’s appointment or Lorenzo oversleeps for a meeting, I’m the one apologizing. It's like I'm responsible for everyone else’s actions.

Even if Mira vomits after eating a meal she’s prepared herself, I still say sorry.

Lorenzo woke up late and missed his business meeting—I say sorry.

It’s no longer a new thing to me. I’d gotten used to it.

Taking a deep breath, I went on my knees as if I were greeting an empress.

“I’m so sorry. I never mean to hurt you, ma’am.” I turned around to face Lorenzo. “Are you okay with this?” I asked him.

His gaze fixed in on my knees pressed against the broken amulet.

“To hell with this pretense… no one’s going to sympathize with you!”

Before I could even say a word, the family doctor walked in, pushing me out of the way and rushing to where Mira is.

It's clear now. I was no longer a priority to Lorenzo.

Chapter 2

Natasha POV

Since it seemed Mira was all he cared about, I stepped out of the door. I hadn’t even come out of his residence when I heard a car horn honking in the darkness.

Suddenly, I saw a taxi parked a few steps away from the gate, and with that, I hurried, hoping to get inside the taxi when all of a sudden, two chaperones appeared from the darkness. They held me firmly and carried me back into the residence.

I was taken into his library and Lorenzo had my both hands tied to my back.

All of a sudden, he asked someone to put a string into my vein.

Outside the half-opened door, I overheard the doctor's voice, “Mr. Lorenzo, despite the fact that both Madam and Miss Mira have RH-negative blood, madam has a long-standing heart problems. Forcing to draw blood, could cause her severe shock. It’s best if she’s been taken to the hospital for…”

“I don’t think trying to convince me about this is necessary," Lorenzo snapped, not showing a sign of remorse. “Just make sure that Mira gets well. Leave the rest for me to handle.”

I heard his footstep drawing near, and then, I gently close my eyes.

“Does it hurt?” His tone, for once, was laced with tenderness.

“Hold on, it’ll be over in a short while.”

I turned my face away, since I was not ready to waste a single word on him.

By the time they’d pulled 800cc of blood, my lips had already turned blue.

At that moment, I heard a weak cough echoed from the owners chamber—it was Mira.

Immediately he heard it, Lorenzo pushed the doctor’s hand and commanded him to draw blood two times as much. The doctor soaked in perspiration, and gave him another warning. “If I continue with this, madam might perish.”

Lorenzo paused for a while before replying unemotionally, “ Mira is with child, and the baby takes priority.”

“ Even at that…”

Without sparing a second, I cut in. “ Follow his instruction. But immediately this is over, just allow me to go.”

He turned his gaze to my bloodless face with flashings of anger in his eyes. He opened his mouth about to criticize me, I know he was ready to ask me if I’d had enough of this childish outburst of anger and if I really mean to leave our home over something so minor; just then Mira whispery voice lecture from the owners chamber. “Lorenzo...”

Just then, he left me behind and went into the owners chamber to meet his mistress.

A few days passed.

Just as I opened my eyes, I saw myself in a hospital room and still felt really weak due to the shock.

As I opened my eyes, I saw Lorenzo sitting on a chair with some documents in his hand.

Just then, our eyes locked for a while.

Emotionless, he collected a plate of porridge and walked up to me to feed me.

I felt a little bit uneasy and nodded my head in disapproval. “Allow me do it myself.”

I thought he was going to say something but he didn’t, he just watched me reluctantly as I ate half the plate of porridge.

After a while, he asked “I want to know if you’re feeling unwell anywhere?”

I ignored the question and instead, I said, “hmm… I really need my phone.”

I could tell that my voice was too cold since he’d frozen for some time before calling the butler to bring my phone over to me.

I quickly took my phone from her hand and checked it, only to see a lot of missed calls.

“Tell me who’s been calling you?” Lorenzo’s voice cut in surprisingly.

I was taken aback by his question since I know quite well that he never used to ask questions like this.

I felt very much provoked, and my anger was visibly displayed in my eyes.

“It’s obviously somebody you don’t know.” I told him plainly.

He got up from the chair and walked closer to me. He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, learning over me with an icy, piercing gaze.

“Natasha, I wanna know for how long do you plan to continue with this stupid act?”

“ I gave you a finger and you are trying to take the whole hand?”

Back then, when he got provoked, I’d replayed my mistake in my mind and at the end, I wanted to fix things up by pleasing him, so peace would reign. But now, I reluctantly pointed to his ringing phone and said, without hesitation and emotion, “it’s Eva your mistress.”

Immediately I mentioned her name, his countenance change and a smiled played on his lips. Without bothering to take a second look at me, he walked through the corridor to take her call.

Just as he left the room, my ringing tone blare loudly.

I took a deep breath in, and then I pressed the answer button and placed the phone close to my ear.

Before I could even say a word, the voice from the other end chimed in, laced with anxiety and urgency.

“Weren’t you supposed to meet with me, Natasha, why did you decided to change your mind?”

“Not at all, I didn’t change my mind as you’re thinking… Something came up,” I stated.

“Something came up? And what’s that? In short, I’m coming back. I’m heading home straight away… by flight!”

Chapter 3

Natasha POV

I continued the call, my voice almost a low whisper

“I understand, but... just give me a few days. That’s all I’m asking for.”

“I’ve heard you.” He agreed, and suddenly, he ended the call.

By the time Lorenzo entered the hospital room, I’d ended the call.

He realized the small smile that beautified the corner of my lips. It was a smile he hadn’t seen in my face for a very long time—then a weight settled on his chest.

But he had just assured Mira that he would come home soon to sing soothing, melodious songs for her and the baby.

I guess that was the reason why he didn’t bothered asking to know who I was speaking with.

I know he was thinking it’s possibly my cousin, the only female relative still in contact with me since we tied the knot. At the end of the day, I would be left without any close friends.

Without hesitation, he walked to the table where he kept the files and gathered them. Then, he hissed coldly, ‘’Natasha, something came up at the office. I’ll come back here by tomorrow.”

In a split second, the following day passed, and the day after, and the day after that. Yet, he didn’t show up.

Rather, all thanks to common contacts, I kept seeing videos of him and Mira.

He lavished her with attention, taking her to galas and fine dining experiences.

He looked like a teenage boy in love, showing her off to everyone like she was the greatest treasure on earth.

The very day I was given the green light from the hospital, Lorenzo posted a nine-picture collage on social media.

As the sun dipped into golden hour, they were in their own little world, he gently held her cheeks tenderly and then, they sealed their love with a kiss.

Then I left a comment: ‘I wish the both of you a blissful relationship of affection and a fantastic bouncing new baby on the way.’

Some minutes later, my phone’s ringing tone blare aloud. I look to see who the caller was, and it was Lorenzo, so I decided not to pick up the call.

Some minutes after that, I went to the doctor and finished the discharge process alone. As I came out of the office and stepped past the OB-GYN department, I saw Lorenzo sitting on the couch with mira sitting next to him.

I listened to a nurse at the nurse’s station speaking kindly to Mira.

“Mrs. Lorenzo, you won’t mind me saying that your husband loves you so much that we often see him coming with you every time, and he even warms the ultrasound gel himself so you won’t feel cold during check-ups.”

The surrounding expectant mothers turned their gaze to her, admiration evident on their faces. Instantly, my hand moved unintentionally to my stomach.

Just then I recall…

A child once visited this place.

On that fateful day, I had an accident and suffered a miscarriage due to excessive blood loss. I pulled out my phone and gave Lorenzo a video call, crying.

Surprisingly, all I saw was a bare Mira on the screen, smirking big time as she said, “Mrs Lorenzo your husband lost a game to me, so as penalty, he’s at the moment tied to the bed. So tell me, is there anything you want to tell him or something you need from him?”

I felt really hurt and I said nothing, instead, I ended the call.

It wasn’t even up to a minute when Lorenzo called back.

I couldn’t help but stared at him with tears in my eyes holding Mira in his arms, without feeling any guilt, he lost his temper.

“You’re a pitiful excuse, Natasha. Always causing problem!”

Coming back down to earth, I was about to take a roundabout way, however Lorenzo came toward me with that frosty demeanour and shot back, “why are you just standing and staring at us like a fool?”

Shocked, I managed to explain.

“No offense meant, I literally just happened to stumble upon this. Sorry if I interrupted anything.”

His face was painted with displeasure, and as soon as she heard that word from me, I sensed a flash of jealousy danced in her eyes. She held his hand a bit tighter and smirked at me sweetly. “Mrs. Lorenzo I sincerely want to thank you for the blood donation; the truth is, if not for you, I would have still been dizzy today. You’ve actually saved me and my unborn child!”

“Lorenzo wouldn’t it be nice if you bring her home? Please?’’

Lorenzo affectionately touched the tip of her nose and softly said, “ my darling, your wish is my command.”

Since I’d wanted to return to the house to gather my things before now, I accepted Mira’s offer.

Right inside the elegant automobile, an awkward silence filled the air not until, as fate would have it, I caught sight of something wedged between the seat covers.

A pair of wet panties.

“Oh my goodness!” Mira sucked in a breath. “How come this is in here?”

Then she turned to him, her eyebrows furrowed at him. “Lorenzo, didn’t you tell me that you already took care of it?”