Chapter 4

The limousine approached the villa just as James and Mona were finishing their throes of pleasure. Mona yanked the privacy curtain open. From the dashboard mirror, Ronica could see that she wasn't properly dressed.

Her lips were swollen, her hair tussled. She was adjusting her bra while her skirt was rolled high up her thighs. Her still damp lace panties were discarded on the seat. As if sensing Ronica's gaze, she naughtily flaunted it.

"We better hide this Jimmy. Here, shove it in my bra."

"It would be my pleasure."

Ronica's attention returned to her phone. She had just received another credit alert and a record of her first class flight ticket from her secret contact.

"What's so interesting in your phone?" James jeered. His voice carried a hint of jealousy but perhaps she was imagining it. He had Mona now after all. God forbid that he thought he could have them both.

"Just surfing the news," she smoothly lied. The car arrived at the villa doors and she smartly stepped out. She was right after all. The locks had been changed. She had to wait for the doors to be opened.

The butler opened the door from within and Ronica marched in while James assisted Mona as if she was a china doll. He helped her into what used to be their room. All of Ronica's things had been moved and haphazardly arranged in a dusty guest room.

Ronica was allergic to dust.

She ran out with watery eyes before she could suffer a deadly reaction and nearly bumped into James who was talking to the cook about Mona's favourite dishes. Since she barely reached his shoulders in height, he peered down at her.

"Are you crying? My gosh." He rolled his eyes and muttered something about how exasperating she was. He turned to the cook. "Prepare a dish for Ronica too. No gluten, no milk, no nuts. She's allergic to those stuff. Do not mix hers up with Mona's or I'll have your head."

The cook bowed hastily and scurried away.

"I'm not neglecting you Ronica. You just make everything so difficult. So stop crying."

As he stalked off, Ronica watched his departing back with disgust and disbelief. She made everything difficult? Throughout their marriage, he was the problem and now he was trying to make it seem like she was the demented one. She seriously needed some fresh air, a space unpolluted by him.

She found that space by the lake. It was a manmade lake, stocked with fresh water and maintained weekly by the groundsman. The crystal water reflected the night sky. James would never find her here. She unlocked her phone with plans to call her contact.

"Hey Ronica."

Ronica swerved around, surprised that anybody at all would conceive finding her here of all places. The surprise quickly faded. It was Mona whose eyes were bleeding with venomous disdain. Wearing an expression which was a far cry from how sweet she usually acted. Ronica could tell that Mona had followed her.

"I guess you needed a break from all of your pretence," Ronica told her.

Mona threw her head up in mocking laughter and boldly walked up to Ronica. The full moon illuminated her expression of blazing fury.

"It's not like I didn't warn you," Mona seethed. "You are just a freaking parasite trying to get in the way of me and James. Leeching off him and his family."

"What about you? Just what do you think you are doing?"

"I am giving James what he truly deserves. I am carrying his child. I have succeeded just like I promised you I would. So what if he stares at you when you're not looking or asks the kitchen to prepare a safe food for you? In the end, he's still giving you way below the bare minimum." She eyed Ronica condescendingly.

"Isn't it a bit unsafe to be outside where it's so cold? You have to think about your baby." Ronica deflected.

"Oh, that." Mona dialled a number on her phone that quickly went through. She put the phone on speaker for Ronica's benefit. "Jimmy boo, I'm outside by the lake, but I forgot to bring a coat."

"Alright, stay right there. Give me just a minute."

"Okay Jimmy boo." All the sweetness disappeared as she ended the call. "You do know if you call him he's not even going to pick. You should try it."

"Point taken. I don't have time for…"

Mona snatched Ronica's phone from her and dialled James' number before I Ronica could stop her. Then she put the ringing phone back in Ronica's hand as if it was a timebomb. But then, her smug smirk died upon her face. Ronica realized James had picked.

"Ronica, why are you calling me when we are practically in the same house?"

"I'm… I'm outside by the lake," Ronica stammered, caught off guard. "Could… could you bring me a coat?"

"My God, you truly are a piece of work. You knew you were going out and didn't even take a coat? Just stay where you are, I'm coming."

Mona was furious.

"But how…? Why would he…?"

"I'm his wife after all," Ronica interrupted, then took a brief glance at Mona's bare fingers. "I can see he hasn't given you my wedding ring yet. Mona, the truth is I'm the one his family knows. I'm the one the law recognizes as his legal wife. Have a child for him or have ten. They'll all be illegitimate."

Mona swung her hand to slap Ronica but Ronica caught her wrist.

"Mona! Ronica!" James called. His footsteps moved towards them.

Mona cackled. "Do you really think you'll win against me? James is mine. He'll always be mine."

She yanked away from Ronica and leaped into the lake the moment James stepped into view, with two coats draped on each arm.

"She pushed me!" Mona wailed as she flailed about in the freezing waters even though she could swim.

What could Ronica say? Mona was sure full of devious surprises.