If I was feeling heartbroken at first then I'm not sure of the right term to use for how I felt as those abominable words spewed from his lips. It left like a knife had been plunged into my heart, turning and twisting in a way that sent immense pain through me. My hands quivered and it seemed like I would have a seizure as I watched Ralph cup the woman's cheeks in his palms, their naked body glued to each other, making me nauseous.
"What baby are you talking about?" I demanded. I know that was a stupid thing to ask but it seemed to be just the question I needed. I couldn't believe it. There was no way Ralph would hurt me. I thought as my eyes trailed down to the woman's flat belly, a trail of hope engulfing me. There was no way she could be pregnant. Ralph had specifically told me he didn't want a child.
But then, as much as I tried to convince myself that what I heard was a lie, Ralph's expression remained unchanged.
"Is it a joke or are you really this dumb," Jane sneered as she turned to face me. Her smile was finally gone but in its place was a disgusted expression, which made me feel like the dirtiest thing to exist. Her well-carved eyebrows jammed together in a frown and god….she looked so pretty even when upset that I was left feeling more insecure. I was an excuse for a woman when compared to her.
Jane squeezed her face even more, but then, she suddenly broke into a smile, her slender fingers rubbing her flat belly in a circular motion. She expelled an airy breath as she sashayed her way towards me, her steps slow and calculated.
"Ralph has always been mine right from the start, sweetheart," Jane said, her voice having a bored tone laced to it. "We had a little misunderstanding but we are good now. Couples quarrel, right?" She raised a brow at me as she twirled a lock of her hair, her gaze fixed intently on mine.
"And you wouldn't want to separate two people who are so in love with each other, at least not with a child on the way," She added as she smiled at Ralph who grinned from ear to ear like a love-smitten puppy.
"Thank goodness you came at the right time as we just finished discussing how to end whatever you think you have with him. Ralph has one heart and I'm sorry darling, but it belongs to me."
As Jane went on nonstop to ramble about how I was pathetic and Ralph was hers, my whole body went numb as I stared at the man whom I had given myself to, body and soul. A man whom I have loved unconditionally and he stared right back at me, his eyes filled with disgust and hostility. Was this the same man who promised me forever, the reason I left home, and is now seen as the 'black sheep of my family'? Where had I gone wrong? What had happened? He'd assured me of his love just yesterday.
My head swirled as a migraine hit me, causing me to shut my eyes. I willed myself to move, to get out of that place but it seemed like I was suddenly standing on glue as my feet refused to bulge. A lump formed in my throat, grasping my neck in a firm grip, and as much as I swallowed, it only worsened. On opening my eyes again, I was filled with disappointment as the scene played out before my eyes. Somehow, I had wished to wake up from this nightmare with Ralph lying behind me, his slow breath fanning my ears.
"Tell me it's a lie, Ralph," I demanded as reality began to dawn on me. This was no dream. I was losing him. Ralph was leaving me for real. I forced a gulp down my throat as an attempt to prevent my tears from escaping.
"Just tell me it's a lie….Please," I continued.
I know I sounded desperate at this point but I didn't care. Ralph was my life and I would die if he left me. I couldn't see Jane but I knew she was watching me, I could feel her intense gaze on my back.
"We can put this behind us. We can pretend like none of this happened. We can start all over again."
Rushing over to him, I made to hold his hands when he forcefully yanked his arm away, his deathly stare stripping me of every self-worth. As if he couldn't bear the sight of me for one more second, he retreated to the bed where he picked up his boxer briefs from the floor. Just then, Jane's view came into sight as she obstructed my view of him, her hands akimbo and a mocking sneer etched to her lips.
My eyes followed Ralph's every movement as he pranced up and down in the room looking for something. Soon he retrieved a chequebook and scribbled something in it.
"Quit the pretense, Amelia. We both know you are sticking around for the money. How about I make this fair? Here's fifty thousand dollars, take it as your compensation. That way, everybody gets what they want and is happy."