Chapter 1

I enabled my husband's unfaithfulness. So much that on our eight anniversary, he brought another woman home. I knew about his past affairs but at least he had the decency to try to hide them and to avoid knocking them up with pregnancy. Maybe that was why I could tolerate him this whole while.

My husband, James Simmons, broke the rules for Mona, his secretary. He publicized his relationship with her even though he was married. And now? She was two months pregnant with his child.

As soon as they set foot in the house, James started dishing out orders to ensure Mona's ultimate comfort. He was so cool rubbing his infidelity in my face as if it was the new normal. Mona shot me an unapologetic look as she sat like a queen untop a sofa and maids brought to her an array of teas, juices and wines for her to choose from.

"Mona eats all kinds of food which will be good for the baby so from now on, even the foods Ronica is allergic to will be allowed in the kitchen. I also can't allow the mother of my child to be lonely so pack your stuff into the guest room Ronica. Put all your musical instruments in storage. Mona and I need the space for a nursery."

"There's other rooms," I tried to protest but it was no use.

"There may be other rooms but Mona wants that one," James snapped giving me a dirty look for daring to argue.

In my own marital home, James had just afforded me the highest disrespect. Little did he know that in my heart, I was determined that this would be the last. When I came out of our room, it was with a suitcase containing my most precious belongings. I moved with fluid purpose towards the main door. The household staff watched me with stunned gazes. They hoped James would stop me.

"Mr Simmons…," the head butler trailed off.

"Jimmy dear, I don't want to come between you and— her." Mona tried to play pacifying saint to disguise the hate she had for me. She considered me a competition and in truth, she hoped James would not listen to her pretentious pleas. James did not disappoint her.

"She'll come back," he sneered. "Where else can she go? She won't last the night out there."

He wasn't lying. I had no street smart. But it was just James assuming that I was kicking myself out into the streets. He did not yet know that since he first flaunted Mona, I had already begun planning my permanent exit from his life.

"Wait," James snapped when I was one foot out the villa doors. "Give me your wedding ring. The mother of my child deserves nothing but the best. If you behave, I'll get you a cheaper one later."

I did not hesitate in taking the ring off. I flung the priceless emerald jewellery at his feet. I was planning to toss it anyway, but whatever Mona wanted, Mona got. "Happy now?"

"Wait!" Mona feigned timidity. "Your shoes are very beautiful."

I stiffened.

***

"Your necklace is so pretty," were the first words Mona said to me when James introduced her to me as his mistress two months ago. I had attempted to be cordial by thanking her but she soon made it clear that she was not giving a compliment. She would not stop talking about how pretty it was until James relented and asked her if she wanted it.

"Yes, Jimmy boo! I want it very much."

"Well, Ronica. You heard her," James quipped.

I lost my cool. A grievous mistake on my part. "I'm not giving my necklace to the woman you are cheating on me with!"

WHAM! Right there in public. James' slap sent me sprawling. He pinned me down and yanked the necklace. It cut my neck as it came loose.

"Thank you very much Jimmy dear," Mona had giggled as she held her hair aside so James could put the necklace on her while I watched. Since then, any thing of mine that Mona claimed to like, Mona would get it. It was non negotiable. If Mona suddenly liked the deep blue sea colour of my eyes, then I would be certainly doomed.

***

"The shoes are really beautiful." Mona pouted.

"I'll buy you one just like it," James said with a tone that matched my stiffness. The thing was James knew that the glass shoes on my feet had been my parents' most prized possession, a heirloom passed on from daughter to daughter. I would be totally mad to just let it go.

"The shoe is a collector's timepiece. You won't see anyone like it anywhere else in the world. Oh Jimmy dear, that's what makes it even more beautiful. Prove your love for me."

"Name your price," James automatically told me. I scoffed and Mona began to sob. I knew they were fake sobs. "You are stressing the mother of my baby and that's stressing the baby too. You don't even have a family anymore so why this pitiful act? They're just shoes and if Mona can't have them, how dare you think you are worthier?"

James explosive rage overwhelmed him and he shoved my chest. I tipped, losing my balance. I fell backwards, skidding gracelessly down the villa's steps. My glass shoes shattered. The shards embedded in my feet.

"Send for the family doctor!" James roared.

"Oh Jimmy dear, it really hurts." Apparently, a little glass shard had somehow flew all the way from where I was to cut Mona's ankle— which was really a tiny cut she had just made with her fingernails.

James was too blind to sense the deception.

The family doctor brushed past me on the steps like I did not exist and I watched James lead him to Mona's side as I faded in and out out of consciousness.