Did you take any abortion pills?

Aurora’s Pov

Last night was terrible and all I needed to do was to force myself to sleep. The conversation between Lucas and Marian was unbearable. I can't comprehend how she managed to make Lucas laugh so much that I could hear them from our bedroom. Or maybe my ears were just more sensitive because my husband is involved with another woman. Is Marian now employed at my husband's company? Or do they enjoy going out together and returning as a pair? I need to find a way to separate them.

With a sense of reluctance, I found myself seated on the edge of the bed, deviating from my usual routine of reaching out my right hand to the other side of the bed and embracing my husband. Lucas remained fast asleep, leading me to wonder if this meant he hadn't departed from Marian's company on time or if I had awakened unusually early.

Imagining Lucas and Marian being together fills me with the fear that my husband is currently being unfaithful. I got up and went to the bathroom, taking a seat on the toilet. The first thing I noticed was my pregnancy test kit. With hesitation, I picked it up using my right hand. Lucas and I had been hoping for a pregnancy. I hope my weight gain isn't hindering our chances. I inserted the pregnancy kit into my vagina, and my mind wandered off, losing track of time. When I finally removed it, I couldn't believe what I saw.

"Could I be pregnant?" I exclaimed. Doubt still lingered in my heart, wondering if leaving the pregnancy kit inside for too long affected the result. I decided to do another pregnancy test using my urine. As I pulled out the pregnancy strips from my urine, there were two red lines.

"I'm pregnant!" I exclaimed with excitement. This is what Lucas had been hoping for. When I came out of the room, Lucas was still sleeping. I immediately thought of going to the kitchen and being the one to make today’s coffee and break the good news to him. I retreated and made my way to the kitchen.

After spending approximately five minutes in the kitchen, I became aware of approaching footsteps, and my initial assumption was that it was my husband after he didn’t see me in the bed. However, to my surprise, I soon recognized Marian's voice engaged in a phone conversation.

".... Charlotte, guess what? Lucas, my sweetheart from high school and college, has managed to get me a job at his company. Our old feelings always resurface when we're together. Although he's married to a plump woman, I believe he only married her out of pity. She's not what he truly desires. I know Lucas is ashamed of her in public, and he's convinced her to be a full-time housewife. If you don't want your fiancé to leave you, watch your weight. A round, overweight woman won't always be able to seduce her husband. You should see her, one of her cheeks is like a doughnut..."

The word "doughnut" slipped from Marian's lips, causing me to drop the pot's lid in my hand. It crashed loudly onto the floor, and I overheard Marian walking away from the kitchen.

Why did she have to make that call near the kitchen? Was it a deliberate attempt to insult me, or was she trying to ensure no one overheard her conversation? My suspicions were confirmed—Lucas is ashamed of me, which is why he doesn't want me to work. But my pregnancy is about to change everything. I took the two cups of hot coffee and hurried back to the room immediately to break the news to Lucas.

As I reached for the doorknob, I discovered that he was about to open the door himself.

"Wow! You surprised me,” he widened his eyes and smiled. Then he took his coffee and placed an affectionate kiss on my forehead making me forget his time with Marian.

“How was your night honey?” He asked.

"It was the best night because I have some great news for you."

"What news?" he asked and this time holding my waist with his other hand.

"I'm pregnant."

"Pregnant?" he exclaimed. I didn’t know when he placed his coffee on the stool and he swiftly lifted me off the floor, effortlessly carrying me despite my weight. His joy was palpable.

"This is what I've been waiting for, finally," he said, taking a deep breath, possibly from the unexpected exercise of lifting me.

"If it's a girl, I'll name her Jasmine."

Just then, his phone began to ring, and he turned to answer the call.

"Sir, your name has been nominated for the Best Achievers Award. A VIP table has been reserved for you and your wife."

"Okay.." he ended the call, turning back to face me. Observing him during the call, I realized this might be the perfect opportunity to discuss working with him at his company. And as I pondered, he seemed to sense my contemplation.

"What's on your mind? Tell me, I'll do it for you and our baby," he reassured me.

"I want to work in your company, accompany you and be there with you," I said.

"How many times do we need to discuss this?”

My request seemed to change his mood. Internally, I reasoned that if I resorted to nagging, he might reconsider and allow me to work at his company especially now that I am pregnant for him. Nagging had never been my approach with him since we got married, but due to my desires and Marian's comments to her friend, I was willing to manipulate the situation. This marked the first time I stopped having meals with him.

"It's been three days since you stopped eating with me..."

"You know what I want," I replied, crossing my arms and avoiding eye contact as he stood in front of me in my room. I noticed the tension in his twisted eyes as he turned his back to me, seemingly traumatized. Without concluding our conversation, he left the room.

On the fifth day, as I hoped he would have changed his mind by then, something unexpected happened. It was 4 a.m., very early in the morning, when I suddenly experienced a sharp pain in my lower abdomen.

"Honey! Honey!" I shouted, and he turned himself on the bed to hold me. Then swiftly he took me to the hospital. Before we even reached the hospital, I was already bleeding from my vagina. After the medical tests, while lying on the bed, Lucas and the doctor entered the hospital room, and the doctor asked.

"Did you take any abortion pills?"

"Pills?" I raised my voice.

"We found traces of abortion pills in your blood. That's what caused the miscarriage."

When the doctor mentioned miscarriage, I saw the change in Lucas's facial expression. He was simply waiting for the doctor to leave the room, and I knew something terrible was about to happen.

"Is this the worst you can do? For five whole days, you refused to share a meal with me and talk to me, and then you resorted to taking abortion pills to destroy our baby because you want to work."

He hadn't even finished speaking when hot tears began streaming down my face, blurring my vision.

"I never took any abortion pills!" I cried out, but he left without listening. He was a man of few words, and he had made his point clear before walking away.

Upon returning home, I discovered that he had locked himself in his private room, something he has never done since we got married. I noticed Marian in the living room, leisurely painting her nails, and there was a hint of satisfaction in her expression. Did she know what had transpired between Lucas and me?

The next day was the award ceremony, and Lucas didn't utter a word to me when I came from the hospital. This time, he ate the meals cooked by Marian. I felt like nobody in my own house. I could understand Lucas's anger as he had longed for me to conceive, but what he didn't know was that I hadn't taken any abortion pills. This was just a coincidence.

It was 6 p.m., and as I looked out of my window, I saw Lucas and Marian elegantly dressed. Marian had simply taken my place at the award ceremony. She wore a striking red gown, and as she entered the car, Lucas assisted her in arranging her long dress into the car before driving away. I watched through the window, feeling like a maid. I went to my bed and wept even more intensely. After crying for a long time, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

"If my husband doesn’t want me to accompany him to the award ceremony because of his anger over something I didn't do, would it be wrong for me to be among the audience, applauding him as he takes the stage?"

I promptly stood up and hurried into the bathroom to freshen up. When I emerged, standing in front of the mirror, the first thing I noticed was that my eyes were bloodshot. I hastily put on my gown, not doing it for anyone but myself. My plan was to attend the event, applaud, and return home before Lucas arrived because of the love I have for him.

I arrived at the award venue around 8:45 p.m. and took a seat at the back, feeling like a forgotten island. Fortunately, it was during the award presentation.

"...for the most prestigious CEO of the year, the award goes to Mr. Lucas Rutherford, the CEO of Macpet Investment."

A wave of applause filled the room, and I joined in, clapping eagerly as he made his way to the stage. As he reached the microphone, preparing to speak, a hush fell over the crowd.

"This award is dedicated to someone who has been by my side through thick and thin, and it is only right to acknowledge her tremendous support. I dedicate this award to Marian Desmond for helping me reach this point..."

My heart shattered into pieces, and I couldn't bear to wait for the rest of his speech. I swiftly left the hall, feeling the heaviness in my chest as I drove home. Unable to go to the room upstairs, I sat and waited for Lucas to return, determined to express exactly how I felt.

After a few hours, I heard the sound of his car pulling into the driveway. I rose from my chair, and as he opened the door, I approached him. Marian stood by his side.

"I was there, and I heard who you dedicated the award to..."

"Are you stalking me? I am divorcing you." His words hit me like a bombshell, and he stared into my eyes, devoid of any emotion.

**************

Author’s pov

It had been a year and a half since Aurora received divorce papers from Lucas. The very next day, she left the country and made a firm resolution never to depend on anyone else for her financial well-being. Embracing her new life and freedom, she pursued her dreams and enrolled in the professional exams Lucas, her ex-husband never wanted her to take. However, this time, in honor of her late mother, she used her name. Aurora's determination paid off, as she emerged as the top graduating accounting student. Soon enough, one of the respected financial firms offered her immediate employment.

Aurora's transformation wasn't limited to her education; she also focused on improving her physical appearance. Shedding pounds of fat, her waistline now boasted an elegant curve, creating a captivating hourglass figure that demanded attention. Her legs appeared fresh and elongated, having shed excess weight. With almond-shaped eyes framed by long, dark lashes, each blink held an irresistible allure. Aurora's sensuous lips, perfectly shaped nose, and radiant chin added to her captivating beauty. Her past marriage had taught her the importance of caring for her skin and maintaining a healthy body shape.

Aurora was still lying down when the sound of her phone ringing woke her up. It was morning, and she had stayed up late working on some accounts the previous night. As she woke up, her gaze immediately fell upon the calendar.

"I have the day off today and tomorrow, so why is my boss calling me?" she wondered.

Without delay, she picked up the call before it ended.

"Hello, Miss Daisy. Our firm has secured a major contract with Macpet Investment, and the board of directors has unanimously agreed that you are the best candidate for the job. They want us to conduct an audit of the company's accounts."

"Macpet?" Aurora's voice quivered with surprise.

"Yes, it is owned by a billionaire called Mr. Lucas Rutherford."