Chapter 2 Two

Nymera Lancaster POV:

“Mera, you're back? How was the new case today?”

I had barely closed the door when the scent of roasted garlic and butter hit me, and then his voice came up as well.

Robert.

He emerged from the kitchen, apron still tied around his waist, holding a wooden spoon in one hand. His gaze immediately fell to my belly, his tone softening into that sweet tenderness, and now, it disgusts me. “And how's my boy doing? Did he kick today?”

My boy.

The word stabbed into my heart, the hurt, worse than a dagger piercing into one's heart. A cruel joke after the worst bitter truth I had come to accept today. My fingers trembled as I gripped the folder of photographs tighter. I could feel the heat again, threatening to choke me, but I forced my feet to move, to carry me into the living room with no hopes anymore.

He sounded like he was the only love I could ever ask for. So perfect. How perfect and prepped.

“Are you okay, baby?” He came closer, reaching to touch me, but I stopped him coldly with my hands pointed out. My hand moved on its own, flinging the photograph across the space between us as it landed sharply like a slap against his chest before scattering to the floor.

The color on his face drained the moment his eyes caught the image, the wedding photo. Him, in the same black suit I thought was worn only for me. Him, standing beside another woman, his arm wrapped proudly around her waist.

His mouth opened, then closed. The spoon in his hand fell to the floor.

“You…” The words came out as a whisper at first before I sucked on my tooth trying to force back my tears. “You've been married for five years.” My chest rose and fell with the effort to force myself to breathe, to not collapse right there on the hardwood. “Five good years, Robert. And I was too blind to see it. I should've known when you came into my life so quickly…when you proposed barely six months after we met. It was too perfect, too good to be true.”

His lips parted, his eyes holding so many emotions at once. Panic, shock, and perhaps words to put in. “Mera, listen. It's not what you think….”

“Not what I think?” I cut him off, giving out a bitter laugh that came forcefully out of me. “I sat across from your wife today, Robert.” I shook my head as I walked slowly down the stairs. “Your wife. She told me everything. She looked me in the eye and said she's suing me—the side chick—for ruining her marriage. She told me about your three children. Do you hear me? Three!”

I reached into the folder, yanking out photo after photo, flinging them onto the coffee table. A smiling woman holding a baby. Robert stood beside her, pride fixated on his face.

I watched as his hands shook as he reached out, but I slapped his fingers away.

“You had one child before you ever married me. Another, when you were already married to her. And a third just three years ago.” My voice broke, my legs trembled, but I continued. “Tell me, Robert…what…what was I? A placeholder? A woman you could charm into giving you what she couldn't?”

He flinched. His shoulders lowered, and then he straightened, weaving another lie as easily as he has always said it. “Mera, it's true that I married her. But we're separated. I'm filing for divorce. She couldn't give me children, not the way I wanted. And then I met you, and everything changed. You have me hoping that I never married that woman. You have my love.”

His voice softened as he stepped closer. “Don't stress yourself, baby. It's not good for the child. You know I love you. You know I have always loved you.

I laughed again amidst tears as I could feel my heart aching badly, like I could die in a minute. It was tight. So tight. My hand darted to the bookshelf, pulling down our framed family photo—the one where he held me close, his hand tenderly on my stomach as if I was everything he ever owned.

I held it up for him to see. “Do you even remember this? The day we took this picture, you told me I was the only woman who had ever made you feel whole. You were smiling, Robert. And all the while, you had three children hidden away!” I yelled out, my hand holding onto my chest as I couldn't take it anymore.

I couldn't take in the pain.

I can't. I can't look at this man!

“You're harming yourself.” He whispered out desperately, reaching out to me again. “She couldn't give me a son, Mera. That's why I…”

“Don't.” I raised my voice, cutting him shut as tears reached the corner of my eyes. "Don't you dare reduce me to some womb to breed your fantasy of a male heir. Don't you dare stand there and pretend this was love.”

But he tried again. His hands cupped my arms. “I wanted more. I wanted us. I love you, Mera. Please, believe me. I love you. I swear that I wanted to have this discussion with you, but I didn't want to stress you or the baby.”

The frame in my hand slipped away as I yanked his hands off me. I was drained, and I couldn't… I couldn't even hold onto the tears anymore as I let them slip down my face.

His presence suffocated me. I couldn't breathe. His lies… everything suffocated me.

“No! I can't! I can't! I can't stand your lies. You disgust me!”

And before he could try and reach out to me again, my palm flew across to his cheek, a loud snap echoing in the room. His head snapped to the side, his eyes wide in shock.

I pulled free from his grasp, gripping my rumbling stomach while I bolted out. It felt like my water had already broken. Water was dripping down my thighs as I stumbled out into the car.

I was going into labor.

Everything. Everything wasn't making sense anymore. I felt like a woman losing her sanity slowly.

“Hospital. I need to get to the hospital.” I muttered out the word, igniting the engine with teary eyes.

The phone on the passenger seat buzzed, vibrating against the leather. My best friend's name flashed across the screen, and I reached out for it desperately. I wanted her comfort. I wanted her words. However, taking a glimpse out of the road to check where the phone was, the wheel jerked under my trembling hands, and before I knew what was going on anymore, a horn blared out too loud, and lights flashed too bright and too suddenly.

“Wait!” I screamed out loud enough for my lungs to give out.