CHAPTER 1- Pregnancy

“Congratulations, Madam Julia!!!” congratulated the gynecologist. “You have been pregnant for two months!!!”

Julia Sigmund released a sudden sigh, tried opening her mouth to speak. But no words flowed out. Then with a little more strength she said it: “Preg..” but it came out hoarse, barely audible.

Her body did not know how to react, it just shut down. She didn’t know if she was happy or shocked, would her husband, Victor Robson, accept her child? Or would he reject it as he rejected its mother??

Her feet felt as if they were floating out of earth, as her heart throbbed loudly in her ears. A wide grin curved on her lips and she started to imagine her new romantic and merry life with her husband.

“Pregnant?” she murmured as she thought that she should tell Victor very soon. He would be a father…

Julia admired herself happily as she rubbed her belly and smoothed her shirt. She covered her mouth with her hand and suppressed her gentle smile that nearly escaped her lips.

“The baby looks healthy now, you shall take some fetus-protecting medicines,” claimed the doctor. “and have a supportive husband and family!”

Julia could not hear the doctor’s words, for her mind was scheming lovely family pictures… He would finally care about her…

…

…

At noon, and on her way back, she bought a couple of cakes and a bunch of sweets to celebrate this precious news.

With a twirl and a giggle, she opened the door of their villa, however, unexpectedly, the door was unlocked. It was not Victor’s habit to have less security, what if some burglars barged into their villa??

She clutched at the knob tightly, as her heart felt tight and she thought something was abnormal, and rolled it.

As she made her way past their bedroom and searched for Victor, she could hear a couple’s gentle and intimate moans and groans in the passion of lovemaking.

Her head turned towards their marital bedroom, and saw it was slightly ajar. She swallowed nervously as her temple drenched with sweat. From the cleavage of the opened door, she could witness her best friend, Monica Bennett, sleeping under her husband and clutching at his hair strands.

“Fuck me! Deeper! Harder! Victor…” Monica with her seductive and calm voice. “Deeper…”

No! It could not be!!

“Monica…” cried Julia as she stared at them shamelessly. “Victor…”

Julia’s legs moved on their owns as her hands took their own initiative to open the door crack. She tried to peer into the dim light of the room beyond, but it was not quite enough. She did not want to believe that her husband was cheating on her with her best friend. There was no way. She wanted to see them clearly. She did not want to accuse them under such a dim light.

She took a deep breath and nudged the door a little more; her chest felt like it could explode as she held her breath while the crack opened.

When she was sure that it was Monica in her bed with her husband, her hands clutched at her lips to bottle up her grasp of horror. Her heart shattered into pieces and shards, and Monica seemed to have seen her.

Monica turned her head towards the door with a smirk, and a freezing chill descended over Julia as she felt her legs weaker. She stood and stared as her eyes opened wide and her mouth gapped lightly in disbelief.

Julia wanted to scream in disbelief, to rage and to sob, what about her baby??? Would she tell him??? Would she tell him that he was a father and take her husband back from the witch’s hands?? Yet, she remained silent and closed the door as she balled her fists until her nails cut through her skin.

“Baby…” she thought as she rubbed her belly. “You are only mine…”

Her steps echoed loudly into their ears as she walked on the marbles of the corridor, down into the stairs and out into the sooty night.

Where should she go now??

Her father was dead, her mother was suffering from a great illness, her baby needed care, and moreover, she needed Victor’s money to treat her mother. What should she do now? Where should she go?

She walked along the dim street and her mind popping up with the seen she had witnessed. Even though he didn’t love her, she didn’t expect that he would cheat on her with her friend! He was so cheap!!

“Grandfather…” she made a call with her faint voice. For a moment, she could not utter the rest of her words, as her voice sounded to fade away.

“Julia! My granddaughter!! Are you alright???” Grandfather Sigmund could feel her misery; his worries seemed to rise in his voice and he could hear her clearly stifling a whimper. “What happened with you, Julia??”

“Nothing… Can I live with you?”

“Why all of sudden?? Did something happen with Victor?? Tell me, Julia.”

“Victor… Victor cheated on me… With Monica….”

“Oh my god!! No way!”

“I can’t tell my mom now… Her condition must worsen… Grandpa, I want to live with you…”

“You are always welcome into my house, but who will pay for your mother’s hospital fees?”

“I shall find a descent job and support her… Mother must be in an agony and pain, I shall do my best to pay for treatment. Her illness has worsened for the last years, and I only had Victor to support me… But now… I have no one…”

“Julia…. Grandpa shall aid you… Don’t you worry…”

“Grandpa… Thank you…”

Ever since Julia Sigmund and Victor Robson were married, he had only treated her as his sex toy and nothing more.

Their marriage was a contract offered by Grandfather Sigmund and Grandfather Robson, as they were quite a friends, and it was a deal to help her treat her sick mother.

Her mother had suffered from an autoimmune disease, and Julia was from a poor family, especially after her father’s death, so she could not afford the hospital bills. Hence, Victor had treated her mother with his wealth and had been loyal to Julia for his grandfather’s will.

Julia thought that she might receive Victor’s love, affection and care, since he adored and admired his grandfather deeply, however he had cheated on her and she decided to hide her baby.