Betrayed by my husband

The room was quiet, only her quiet cries could be heard. The sound of his shoes against the marble floor as he got closer.

“Stand” 

She stood by the window, hands curled around the edge of the curtain, her body covered with bruises.

“I built you,” He said. “Everything you are, everything you own, it exists because I allow it” he said calmly.

His hand caught her wrist careful not to leave a mark where people could see. “Look at me” he demanded. She looked up. His face was handsome in a way the public adored. A man who smiles for the camera but was a monster behind closed doors. They had been married for five years’ now, no children, three miscarriages as a result of the abuse she faced. 

“Do you know what happens to women who forget their place?” he asked. She didn’t answer.

The slap came without warning. Her head snapped to the side, her vision blurry, she didn’t cry out, it only made things worse.

“You should be grateful I still keep you” He sneered.

He only kept her because she was the brain of his company, without her his company will fall and he was well aware of that.

He stepped back already bored. The abuse a routine in their marriage. 

“Clean yourself up” He said. “We have to go to the office tomorrow, try not to disgrace me” He said as he walked out of the home.

She sank to the floor, knees drawn to her chest, staring at the place he just left. Her body hurt, but it was nothing compared to the exhaustion she felt, the constant worrying, the knowledge that no matter how perfectly she played her role, it would never be enough. She had given him everything, connections, strategies, influence, wealth. She had helped him climb up the ladder after he was abandoned by his family. She dragged her feet to the bathroom, the hot water washed down, stinging her wounds. When she was done, she laid down on the couch in their bedroom, sleep far way.

The door opened without warning, her husband was back. He crossed the room and stepped in front of her,

“Stand”. She obeyed.

He guided her onto the bed. His hot breath on her neck, the smell of alcohol mixed with a flowery scent on him, her heart squeezed, he had been with a woman. His hand caressed her body, her body stiff as a rock, he pressed kisses around her body. She stared at the ceiling while he touched her. She did not cry. Her mind detached.

This is normal, she told herself.

This is marriage.

The heat she felt which once made her body tingle with excitement, disgusted her now. He moved with impatience, taking what he wanted, proving ownership rather than desire. When her body reacted betraying her, his grip tightened.

“Don’t pretend”, He muttered “I know you”. She said nothing. When it was over he rolled away without a word. Within minutes, his breathing evened out, heavy and satisfied.

The next day, she sat beside her husband in the car, hands folded, eyes forward.

The man they were meeting controlled the city in ways no title could explain. She knew his name but had never met him.

“You smile, you sit, you don’t embarrass me” Liam her husband said as they walked in.

 The meeting room was cold, all glass and steel. When the man finally entered, the air shifted. He was younger than she expected. His gaze shifted to her first not her husband.

“This is my wife, Natasha Smith” Liam said smiling. “She handles the internal logistics”

Natasha stretched her hand for a handshake “Natasha Smith” She said

The man stared at her for a while before accepting the handshake

“Lucas Wayne” He said

When the meeting ended, Lucas approached them.

“She’s wasted behind the scenes” He said mildly

Her husband stiffened, laughing awkwardly.

Natasha adjusted her clothes hoping that no marks were visible. She felt conscious, he stared at her like he could see everything she was trying to hide.

“It was a pleasure” her husband said

Lucas nodded and left.

Her husband left telling her to go to the hospital to meet their family doctor, who was Liam’s best friend. Liam made this so no one could question him about the bruises on her body.

The hospital smelt like antiseptic and lies.

Noah, her friend and her husband’s best friend sat across from her, his expression composed. He had been her doctor through the miscarriages. His voice soft when he spoke to her, Noah was her friend, they had met in college and he introduced her to Liam and he was the only one she could confine in.

“You are pregnant,” he said “Again.”

Her head felt dizzy, she saw the signs but she chose to believe that she just had a fever.

“You need to leave him Natasha, you can’t continue like this.” Noah said

“I can’t leave him Noah, I have no one” she said quietly, hands trembling.

“You have me, you have your family, they love you, just tell them, explain and tell them everything.”

“If you don’t, this child dies too and you might also” Noah said

“I can help you,” he continued. “There are ways, Quiet ways.”

She looked down at her hands “I want this one to live” she said quietly, tears streaming down her face.

“I really want this one to live Noah” Natasha said crying in his arms.

“I promise you, this one will live, I will help you” Noah said wiping her tears.

“We start now, I have a lawyer that can help with the divorce, but you need to tell your family about the abuse and we make this public” he said softly

She nodded.

Hope was a dangerous thing but she was willing to hold on to it.

The house was dark when she entered. Too quiet.

She climbed the stairs slowly. The bedroom door was slightly open. She heard laughter. A woman’s voice, familiar.

Her hand shook as she pushed the door open.

They were in her bed tangled up on the sheets.

Her husband looked up first, irritation flashing across his face. His cousin Ashley followed, the sheets barely covering her, eyes cold and unashamed. Natasha felt her world crumbling.

“What is this?” Natasha whispered.

Liam stood, unhurried “You are supposed to be at the hospital”

She backed away. “You” her voice raising “you touched her. In our… you said it was work, all those late night when you said you were working….” she hiccupped. “You were with her weren’t you?” Natasha screamed

His hand struck her face.

She stumbled

“You do not raise your voice and you don not question me” he said looming over her

“I want a divorce and I am going to tell everyone about this disgusting affair” she screamed getting up. Liam yanked her by her hair, she screamed, kicking, fighting for the first time in years. Ashley stood in the corner watching with a sinister smile on her face. How long has this been going on, Natasha thought, they had always been close almost like siblings, all this time. Natasha felt sick to her stomach.

She managed to break free after stabbing Liam’s leg with a broken piece of glass from the lamp he had smashed on her head. She ran and ran till she got into her car, Liam and Ashley running behind her.

The chase began, her car roaring to life and his also. She speeds up, head heavy and eyes blurry due to the blood. She tries called her sister, she calls her mum but no one answers, she tries again desperate,

“Please, please, answer, I beg you” she whispered as tears fell from her face.

 Finally, her sister answers

“Sidney please….” the impact came without warning; Liam had hit the boot of her car, hard, enough to send it spinning. Her hands slipping from the wheel. the car flipped. Water rushes into her car. She struggles to remove her seatbelt and get the door to open.

As the car sinks and darkness closed in, her eyes filled with regret, fear, she holds her stomach praying to whichever God or person that could help her.

“Please, please I need the baby alive, I need one last chance and I promise to destroy them all”

The car sinks as Liam and Ashley watch from afar.