Chapter 1
Joanna's POV
My mother was pregnant with my husband's child.
I had overheard them myself, speaking in low tones while holding each other passionately.
I remember shaking from betrayal and hurt that I went ahead to confront them immediately.
“How could you do this to me, mother? And you, Calvin, why did it have to be my own mother?” I barked out as tears trickled down my face.
They were shocked to see me at first but it was quickly covered by a look of indifference and irritation.
“It’s wrong to listen in on people's conversation, Joanna, and stop making such a fuss” Calvin berated while standing in front of Sandra, my mother protectively.
I exploded in pure rage and stormed towards them, “A fuss? Oh dearest husband, you have no idea what a fuss is, let me show it to you”
I swiftly bypassed Calvin to get to my mother and I grabbed her roughly while tears continued to spill from my eyes.
“Sandra, why? Just tell me why?” I couldn't dare to call her my mother, a mother wouldn't do this to her child. I had chosen to be blind, to not see the handwriting on the wall. The exchange of passionate glances, the increased care for each other and subtle body languages. All the while I thought it was just a good mother in-law and husband relationship, I even felt proud to see them get along so well.
I was so stupid.
It only took a few seconds before I was grabbed by Calvin and flung to the ground. I could barely react to the impact before a hard slap landed across my face. I whimpered in pain and held my hot cheek while I sent a deadly glare towards the ‘couple’
“How dare you touch her, you barren piece of shit?” he seethed, eyes red and angry. I have never seen him this angry, is that how much he cared for her?
“Yes, I'm in love with your mother and she's in love with me too. You have ran out of time, Joanna. You couldn't give me a child for one year but your mother is pregnant for me already. You both are nothing alike, I regret ever getting married to you when your mother was right there” he spat out.
His words pierced me repeatedly in the heart. I had given my all in this marriage but motherhood wasn't on my side, it was beyond my control but I still got mocked for it and even physically abused. Now the worst was happening right in front of me…
I could see my mother from the corner of my eyes, with a smug look on her face. She has always been like this but I failed to realize it. She was a pretty young woman, having had me out of wedlock at 15. She always attracted eyes, even now when she was 38 and I was 23, everyone always asked if she was truly my mother. And then the flirtatious movements she also used when I introduced my male friends or boyfriends. I remember it all clearly now…
“Jo, your mom's pretty hot, I've got to admit. You both look nothing alike, damn. I wonder if I could get her number” one of my teenage ex boyfriends had said with a playful chuckle.
I had laughed along thinking it was a joke but was it really? Because he ghosted me immediately after and weeks later I saw a text on my mom's phone from him.
“Oh, Marcus? I know you both are not together anymore but he's a good kid, I couldn't just block him. Besides, his mother is a good friend of mine” that was her excuse and I believed her.
Just like she sneakily stole my boyfriends in the past, she was doing the same to my husband.
“Stop glaring at her, wretch” another slap landed on my face from Calvin, then another and another. My mother watched on as my husband beat me up for her sake till I passed out.
When I came to, I was still on the ground. I could hear their giggles from the living room downstairs, they were watching a movie and having a good time.
I had nowhere to go but I couldn't stay here either so I struggled and packed my belongings. I was about to pass them quietly when Calvin called out, “Where do you think you're going, who is going to cook dinner? You don't expect your pregnant mother to cook do you? No wonder your womb could never hold a child. You know nothing”
“I want a divorce, I want to leave” I blurted out in a shaky voice, my eyes avoided their piercing mocking gaze.
There was silence and then the two burst into laughter that lasted for a minute, I stood there feeling small and helpless.
“Is she really your daughter, Sandra? How come you're so smart and she's the opposite” Calvin commented.
“Definitely not my genes, must be her sickly late father,” Sandra added.
That struck a nerve and I immediately responded sharply, “Dad is not dead, he is just in a coma and will be awake soon” my voice carried hope but deep down, I didn't completely believe it. My dad has been in a coma for over a year after being involved in a ghastly car accident, and of course my mother didn't care and was busy gallivanting around my husband.
“Joanna, you will go back inside and prepare dinner if you don't want me to call the doctors to pull the plug on your father right this minute. Or have you forgotten that it's my money that has been taking care of him in the hospital?”
I trembled with helplessness at his words, I knew he was dead serious about his threats. I couldn't even leave this god forsaken marriage because of my ill father. If only I hadn't abandoned my career as an actress to become a housewife for Calvin in the name of love, I wouldn't be depending on him for my every need.
I was brought back to a memory from two years ago when Calvin and I first met.
