Chapter 2. The Widening Gap and the Wedge In-Between

Pepper Ferguson POV

“Do I have to be there?” Victor asked. 

The annoyance in his voice was very palpable while we were surrounded by the silence of his car. 

He kept looking at his watch, looking bored and disinterested. 

“The embryos will be implanted today. I need moral support.” I snapped, sounding tough, but deep down my nerves are frayed. 

Victor scoffed at the snarky reply, unaware of the tumult raging inside me. 

For years, Victor and I had been trying for a child, all to no avail. We explored every option until we were down to the last one. IVF. 

“Do you need to get pregnant now?” He asked impatiently.

I closed my eyes, calling for inner composure, clearly guessing the words he had left unsaid. 

Do I need to get pregnant now that he already has an heir? 

A bitter smile crept to my face, but I was able to shut it in time to avoid verbal fights.  That’s what I had been doing these past weeks, trying to hold it in because when I try to reason out with Victor, it always ends up in a fight. 

I am so sick and tired of the arguments. Sick and tired of trying to fight my husband for my place.

“Dr. Grant said this is my last shot at becoming pregnant. If the embryo did not implant…” My voice trailed off, leaving the words hanging in the air. 

He grumbled and scooted to the far corner of the back passenger seat, leaving a wide room between us. He looked out the window while I looked at his reflection’s profile, feeling my chest tighten in bitterness. 

It was becoming glaringly perceptible that Victor no longer wanted to have my baby, but I couldn’t let this chance pass me by. 

The doctor said this is my best bet if I want to have children in the future, or I can kiss the dream of having a child goodbye. 

When we arrived at the clinic, the receptionist sent us to the waiting lounge.

“Dr. Grant will be with you shortly.” She assured us with a smile. 

A tense silence enveloped us when she left. To maintain our peace, I pretended to read through my messages. 

But clearly, destiny was not on my side because Victor’s phone rang ominously, slicing through the silence between us. 

Victor took his phone. Immediately, a knot formed on his forehead when he answered the call. 

“What happened, Maggie?” 

My gut tightened at the mention of her name. I tried straining my ears to hear their conversation, but only Maggie talks while Victor listens. 

A bitter smile wove its way to my lips at seeing my husband listening attentively to another woman. My musings stopped when Victor abruptly stood from his seat, almost knocking the chair over in his haste.

“Victor! “ I called out. 

He was already halfway through the door when he turned to me. 

“Colter was rushed to the emergency room. We need to postpone this for another time.” He said curtly before turning around to leave. 

The minute he disappeared from my sight, a lone tear escaped my eye. I brushed it away and took a deep breath to compose myself.  

Even at this crucial moment, the realization hit me hard. Victor would never choose me over Maggie and Colter.  

A few minutes later, I read a message from Victor. 

“Set an appointment for another time or better yet, postpone it indefinitely.”

I wanted to laugh sans the mirth because when he thought that this was inconsequential, it was a matter of life and death for me. I was already married to Victor when my tests showed that I had problems conceiving.

I might not have any other chance other than now. 

I heaved a sigh and heard the footsteps of the receptionist. 

“It’s your turn, Mrs. Gunner.” She informed me before looking at the empty seat beside me. 

“Should we wait for Mr. Gunner?” She asked. 

I shook my head and offered the receptionist a tight smile. “No. He won’t be coming. He had a work-related emergency.” I fibbed and followed her to the  OB’s clinic. 

My OB-GYN and friend, Dr. Mitchelle Grant raised an eyebrow when I entered her office.

“Alone again?” 

I waved her question off and marched to the examination bed in the corner of the room. 

“Let's get this party going,” I told her, hoping for a cheery note, but my voice noticeably cracked at the end. 

“You know, a husband’s support is very crucial at this time. His role does not stop at sperm donation.” Dr. Grant said in censure, while her back was to me. 

When she turned around, her expression mellowed. She squeezed my arm and said, “Stay strong. You needed it for the baby.” 

I bit my lip to choke back a sob and nodded before taking a deep breath. 

Despite constant assurances from Michelle that the procedure was painless, something inside me was breaking -that tiny glimmer of hope for a complete family is slowly fading given my husband’s callous disregard for this moment. 

His actions tell me that I couldn’t count on him when the baby arrives. 

Afterwards, I dressed up and tried calling Victor to tell him about the implantation, but I could not get through to him despite countless tries. 

When I finally got through, my heart sank in growing disappointment when instead of Victor, it was Maggie’s voice I heard. 

“I am sorry, Victor is resting.” She said, but she did not sound apologetic to me. She sounded smug.

I did not bother to respond. 

What can I say to the blatant disrespect? Nothing. 

But I could not blame Maggie. She was only mirroring Victor’s treatment of me.  

It was considerably late when I arrived home. 

I decided to walk to the nearest park to compose myself, but the moment I arrived, another surprise awaited me. 

Suitcases lined up the living room, and before I could ask a passing maid, my usually sweet mother-in-law explained. 

“Dear, Maggie and Colter are going to be living with us.  Colter had no nanny. I volunteered to take care of him since I have lots of time.” There was no mistaking the excitement in her voice.

“What? But I am Victor’s wife.” I protested.

What about propriety?

Me, Victor, Maggie, and her son under one roof with all that colored past between them. 

“And you had no say on who I wanted to invite under my roof.  If you don’t like the conditions here, you may leave.” Benedict Gunner, Victor’s father, thundered. 

He appeared out of nowhere and was looking daggers at me. 

I stepped back. I have always known that Benedict did not like me, and his statement was a not-so-subtle reminder that he can throw me out if he so desires. 

At that moment, the door to Victor’s private study opened, and he came out with Maggie. 

The four began talking animatedly before retiring to the dining room as if I were not there. 

When they left, I almost chuckled mirthlessly to the silence. Now, it was not only Victor who was casting me out but his parents, too.