Novels by Jera J.

She stared at him."... What do you mean by ‘yet’?"They both stood still in the absence of words. Damien placed his briefcase on the armchair before letting out a slow breath."I never said I was divorcing you.""But you were discussing divorce papers with another woman.""You shouldn't have looked at my phone.""So that's your answer?"He looked away."You invaded my privacy.”A bitter laugh escaped her lips."Privacy?"She took a step toward him."You've been having an affair for two years. You brought your mistress into this house. You kissed her in your office where anyone could have walked in. And you're talking about privacy?"Damien pinched the bridge of his nose."I don't want to argue.""But I do”, her voice rose."I deserve to at least know what's going on.”Yet again, silence settled between them.She looked at him trying to see if he would soften up.She had loved him for years. She had walked away from her dream to be a global jeweller because she believed loving him w

The next day after Violetta came for dinner, the house was unusually quiet. Cindy was awake and her tiny giggles echoed through the living room as Daisy chased her around with a clean towel after breakfast.It was Shirley who had gone quiet.She simply drifted around the house in silence. She folded laundry and watered the flowers by the front porch.She later helped Cindy put together another crooked castle from wooden blocks.She did everything she was supposed to do…nothing more and nothing less.Damien noticed everything but he simply chose not to mention it.He buttoned the cuffs of his shirt as he descended the staircase.His briefcase rested beside the front door, ready for another day at Schrett Holdings."You have a meeting with the board today," Shirley said without looking at him."I know.""There'll be traffic on the expressway so take the other route.""I know that too”, he replied and that was the extent of their conversation.He picked up his briefcase and walked towa

Two days passed and Damien never said a word about the incident.Everything had happened just forty eight hours ago, yet he carried on as though none of it had ever happened.Every morning, he left for work at exactly eight and he would return every evening, just before seven.They ate at the same table and slept in the same room with their backs against each other and a curtain between them. This was the new norm since Damien made love to Shirley three weeks ago in a drunken state. But between them, silence had become another person in the house.Shirley had stopped asking where he went after work and she stopped waiting for him to return home. Even her tears had become scarce…all that was left was emptiness she could not explain.The only person who still managed to draw a smile from her was Cindy.The little girl sat on the kitchen floor, surrounded by wooden blocks."Mommy, look."Shirley turned from the stove."I built a castle", Cindy said, proudly holding up a crooked tower

Damien rushed out of the office."Shirley, wait!" he called, but she was too crushed to hear him."Let her be," Violetta said, catching his arm."She was bound to find out anyway.""But not like this!" Damien snapped, slamming his fist against the wall.Violetta barely flinched.Instead, she folded her arms and watched him with a calm smile."You feel guilty. Don't you?""Of course, I never wanted to hurt her.""No." She stepped closer. "But you still lied to her."Damien looked away.The image of Shirley standing at the door refused to leave his mind. He looked at the lunch bag on the floor, he recalled the disbelief in her eyes. For the first time in years, he questioned himself.Violetta cupped his face, forcing him to look at her."Stop doing this.""Doing what?" "Punishing yourself", she replied. "I have a wife.""Oh please”, she snorted, “we both know your marriage died a long time ago."He remained silent."You didn't kiss me because you wanted to hurt Shirley."She ran a h

The next day, Shirley threw up before sunrise. She barely made it to the bathroom when the nausea finally eased. She remained kneeling on the cold floor with one hand pressed against her stomach.A smile tugged at her lips despite everything.Two pink lines.She had checked the test three times the previous night to make sure she wasn't imagining it. It read ‘pregnant’ and her heart leaped for joy. She closed her eyes. For a moment, she allowed herself to forget Damien's words from the night before.“A baby”, she whispered with her hand on her stomach. Maybe this was the fresh start they needed…perhaps this child would remind Damien of what they once had.But the hope was foolish and she knew it.Still, she couldn't stop herself from holding onto it.Then a knock sounded on the bedroom door."Mommy!"Shirley quickly stood."I'm coming my love."She rinsed her mouth before stepping out.Little Cindy was already waiting outside in her pajamas.The two year old immediately lifted her

"Wipe this off, you dimwit!" Damien roared and the room went quiet for a minute. Shirley flinched at the sound of his voice. The crystal decanter had slipped from her hand the moment one of the men pushed back his chair. Whiskey splashed across the fancy table, soaking the expensive table runner she'd spent an hour ironing that noon."I'm...I'm sorry.""Sorry won't clean my table."Her cheeks burned and without another word, she hurried toward the kitchen, trying her best to hold back her tears. She grabbed the nearest rag, wrung it under running water, then returned before Damien had the chance to call for her again.Everyone in the room stared at her. She bent over and wiped the table with trembling hands, praying nobody would speak.But no such luck."Is your maid always this clumsy?" a man sitting near the fireplace asked.Before Damien could answer, another replied, "that's his wife."The room erupted."Wife?" the first man repeated between laughs. "Damien, man, you could d