BURIED AS HIS LOVE, REBORN AS HIS CURSE.

Calla's POV

The tray felt heavier than usual. I had to balance it against my hip while I reached for the doorknob, the smell of grilled chicken and cornbread mixing with the faint scent of Petra’s coconut body spray that somehow always lingered longer than it should.

She was in our room again! That bitch.

I paused by the door as soft moaning floated from behind it. What's going on??

“Ah—oh my God—it hurts… It hurts!” I heard Petra breathless moan. “Take it easy.. ahhh.."

My heart stuttered and I froze just hearing her traumatizing moans. Oh my goodness, is she and… Lucas? I didn’t wait as I shoved the door open with my hip, nearly dropping the tray, my heart pounding erratically."What the hell is going on?"

Lucas looked up, startled. He was crouched in front of Petra, one knee on the floor, a roll of bandages in his hand. She was perched on the bed in one of her ridiculously short silk gowns which was navy blue and clinging to every inch of thighs. She smirked as she took in my frazzled expression.

“She stepped on a glass,” Lucas said, blinking. “I know it sounded stupid. But she's crazy, I tell you. Who moans while she's being treated. Doctors should avoid you." He teased and she laughed.

" Yeah , imma one in a million. Can you imagine, I didn’t even see it,” Petra added quickly, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “It was tiny, but it sliced me like crazy.”

I stared at the scene, still breathless. The idea of them fucking each other refused to leave my head. God, am I really doing this right now? Since her visit, i can't seem to trust my husband anymore.

“You okay?” Lucas asked, brows pulling together. “You look… tense. Sorry about that. She's a crazy girl. She should get her fúcking head checked!” He laughed out.

Tense? His ability to joke in serious situations can be pretty annoying. I sighed out, trying not to think much. I was eight months pregnant, my feet were swollen, I hadn’t slept in three nights, and I just heard another woman moaning in my bedroom and it's a stupid joke??

Before I could answer, Petra tilted her head and smirked. “Wait, Calla baby,—what did you think was happening?”

Lucas chuckled under his breath, and Petra laughed louder, gripping his shoulder. “Oh my God, you thought—” She trailed off with a giggle. “Girl, we’re not that scandalous. You know I'm already engaged,right? Why would you judge me like this.”

“I'm not.. I'm not judging you!" I gaped, my face reddening.

" C'mon, cry baby, let me finish cleaning this up.” Lucas chuckled again, shaking his head as Petra wiped something off his sleeve with a towel. “You really thought we were messing around?” he teased, glancing over at me with a smirk that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Come on, bambi, you wound me.”

Petra threw her head back in a burst of laughter. “God, remember that time in Vegas—what was her name again? That bartender with the red wig?”

Lucas snorted. “Sasha? No, Samira. You kept calling her cinnamon swirl all night.”

Petra giggled,. “Because she smelled like a damn bakery! And you kept pretending you were on some undercover mission.”

“I was! Operation: Don’t Let Petra Get Us Kicked Out of Another Hotel.”

Their laughter filled the room again, making me feel invisible. My husband and I have never talked this way before. We've not even had a fun, crazy experience. I never knew Lucas was a chatty type until his best friend showed up.

Petra looked at me and smiled sweetly, almost pityingly. “You okay over there, sweetheart? You’re awfully quiet.”

I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “I’m fine.

I stood stiff, the tray still balanced in my hand, feeling utterly invisible. I understand they're childhood bestfriends but right now I feel like I don't really belong here when they're together.

I finally walked in and placed it on the side table next to Lucas’s laptop.

Petra looked at the food. Then at me. Her stupid smile dropped into a pout. “Wait, is that it?”

I turned my head slightly, pissed. “What?”

“I mean, where’s mine? I asked for roasted beans, remember? You said you’d make it today.”

My jaw clenched. I stared at her for a long second, unable to believe her guts. “No,” I said flatly. “I didn’t make it.”

She blinked like I’d slapped her. “Why not?”

“Because I’m tired,” I snapped. “Because I’ve been on my feet all day. Because you’ve been in this house for five days and haven’t done anything but drink wine and lounge around in your underwear while my husband plays nursemaid.”

“Baby,” Lucas cut in gently, raising both hands. “Come on. Let’s not do this.”

I looked at him. “Do what? Speak up?”

“She just stepped on glass,” he said soft, sweet tone. “She’s in pain.”

“She’s always in something short, Lucas,” I shot back. “And you always seem to be there to help her out of it.”

Petra rolled her eyes. “Wow. Hormones.”

“I’m not doing this with you,” I told her fiercely. “Just shut up and mind your fucking shit!"

Petra's eyes widened impossibly but she sealed her mouth shut. God, I'm sounding like a jealous wife who can't trust her sweet, caring husband but there's nothing I can do about it. Not when they're so close.

I turned to Lucas. “You brought her here to help me, remember? Because I’m pregnant. But I’ve cooked for you both every day. Cleaned. Washed. And now I’m supposed to make her lunch like I’m her maid too?”

Lucas stepped forward, lowering his voice like I was some cornered animal. “Calla. You need rest. Please. Don’t let this stress get to you.”

That broke something in me. He never calls me by my name. I stared at him—at his concerned face, his careful words. He always knew how to sound calm while my heart bled right in front of him.

I pulled away from his touch.

Petra let out a long sigh. “You know what? Never mind. I’ll Postmate it.”

She got up and walked past me—limping slightly, dramatically, like she’d just survived a car crash. Her perfume lingered after she left and I fought the urge to puke.

Lucas gave me a look. “She’s just trying to adjust. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”

“What of our anniversary? It's today. Dinner? Maybe something special?”

He looked struck in face, like he was dreading it. “Oh right. Shit. . I’m really sorry, but I won’t be able to make it tonight. Something urgent came up at work and I'm going to be out there all night. Look, I'm really sorry. The meeting with the board is urgent and can't be postponed.”

I wanted to scream as tears blurred my eyes.

“Hey don't cry. I hate that I have to miss this day with you. You’re the best thing in my life. I promise, I’ll make it up to you — a weekend getaway, just us, no distractions. You deserve the world, baby. I love you so much.” He hugged me, pecking my forehead.

I didn't soften in his arms, so he walked off to the bathroom afterwards.

I wanted to believe them, so badly. I wanted to trust his words. But deep down, I knew promises from him had become like fragile glass. They were beautiful to look at, but ready to shatter any second.

My phone buzzed sharply on the bed. I wiped my hands on my apron, glanced at the screen and saw Jade calling.

“Hey, Jade,” I answered, forcing a smile into my voice.

“Girl! When are you divorcing that asshole, Lucas?” Her voice was loud and I flinched.

Jesus! So loud. I covered my screen, rushing out of the bedroom.

I sighed out once I reached the kitchen . “Jade, come on. You don’t know the whole story. He’s not that bad.”

Jade snorted. “Not that bad? He brought Petra into your house! You know what that means.”

“He’s just helping me while I’m pregnant,” I said quickly, more to convince myself.

“Helping? Calla, he’s hiding something. Look.” She sent a picture.

I glanced at the screen: Lucas and Petra, smiling close, arms slung over each other’s shoulders like old friends, her lips were on his cheeks. Who does this with their best friend??

“It’s nothing,” I whispered, another scream threatening to explode from me. How dare that bum?

“Nothing? Please. I don’t trust them, and you shouldn’t either.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Why do you always have to be so dramatic?”

“Because I care! And I hate seeing you get played.”

I laughed bitterly. “Why don’t you focus on your own dying relationship and leave me alone?”

Jade gasped and I instantly regretted saying that. “Okay, damn. Harsh. But seriously, best, watch your back.” she cut the call immediately and I realized I just crossed a mind with my cruel words.

**

It was 9pm.

I needed air, just a break from the suffocating silence and tension inside the house. They both left the house and although I'm grateful for the silence, I felt empty. Today is our weekend wedding anniversary and I feel like shit. I feel miserable. Maybe I should just take myself out since the board meeting is much more important than our anniversary.

Grabbing my coat, I slipped out the front door, the chill hitting my face like a slap. I drove around lazily, knowing I shouldn't have done this at all. My belly hurts and a pregnant woman shouldn't be out here by this time– or driving.

My eyes spotted Lucas's car parked right outside a bar and my blood dried up. What's going on here? What is his car doing here?

Before I could stop myself, I got out of the car and walked closer, my feet hurting with every step I took.

The door swung open, and Lucas and Petra stumbled out laughing crazily. Petra was half-dressed in a slinky dress that barely covered her curves. Her hair tumbled wild, and she threw her head back, shaking her ass with reckless abandon.

“Shake that ass for me!” Lucas called, his grin cruel and wide.

Without hesitation, she twerked, hips swaying right in front of me. “Do you like that baby? Uh-huh.. you like it," she slurred, twerking even faster.

I stood there, speechless.

Lucas smacked her hard on the ass, laughter booming between them and I felt my heart crack into pieces.

I stepped forward, voice shaking but loud. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Lucas turned, his smile vanishing in an instant. “Oh, look who’s here. The fat, pregnant wife.”

The words stabbed me deeper than any knife. The fuck??

“I’m not fat,” I whispered, heart breaking. “How…dare..”

He sneered. “Yeah? Then why are you waddling like a damn duck?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to stop my tears.

“Get rid of her already, Lucas. I'm tired. Let's go on with our plan.." Petra slurred, leaning on him.

What are they talking about?? “What plans?"

Plans to get rid of me?

" We were going to kill you..” she laughed drunkenly and my eyes nearly popped out of its sockets.

Suddenly, a sharp, searing pain exploded low in my belly and I screamed. Oh fuck. My water broke.

“Lucas,” I gasped. “My stomach—it hurts. I think—” I looked down and saw the growing wetness spreading down my legs. “Oh my God. My water—Lucas, I think my water just broke.”

Lucas just smirked. Then—without a shred of shame—he turned back to Petra and kissed her, possessively. She twirled her arms around his neck and sucked back hotly while I stood there, struggling for air.

“Help me! Please!" I begged, as hellish pains filled every part of me “Lucas, please…” I went down, my head exploding with pains.