Chapter 2: The Other Woman

My sister was an actress. She was a child star. Growing up, there had always been a comparison between us. She was talented, whilst I only excel academically. She can dance. She can sing. She was a very good actress, and her trophies and awards can vouch for it.

Of course, that put me in a lot of pressure. I felt like I had to do better. I felt like I had to follow my sister so I wouldn’t be left behind. But no matter what I did, I never catch up to her. She was that good.

So when Elizabeth insisted to be a surrogate mother for my child, instead of finding another that lived overseas, I was confused.

Elizabeth was already living her best life. She was surrounded by acclaim, pursued by many bachelors, and in the peak of her career. Personally, any woman would’ve dreamed to be in her position. Even I, as a kid, hoped to be Elizabeth even for a day.

“Now I see it…” I whispered, inwardly realizing it.

“You know, Eleanor, I find it ridiculous that you’re here looking for your husband at this time of the day. What happened, are you in a fight?” She sallied, the corners of her lips mounting.

“Let us cut to the chase. I need to see him, Liz.” I repeated, impatient. “I won’t leave your house without him.”

“But he’s not here.” She sat on the sofa and crossed her legs, giving me a mocking look. “Eleanor, why don’t you just let him be? If he’s not coming home, maybe that just means he no longer wants to, did you not think of that—”

“I know about your affair with my husband, Elizabeth…” I held my breathe, and looked away. “I knew you never cut contact with him even after you gave birth to Elon, and not once, Liz. Not once did I ever ask you to go and leave us alone. But for my son…” My hands were already trembling. Confronting Elizabeth, facing their scandalous affair, and swallowing my pride. Terrible was an understatement. It felt like I was digging my own grave. “I beg of you, Elizabeth. Let me see my husband, let me borrow him.”

There was silence, before I heard her stood up. “And if he doesn’t want to see you?”

I returned my gaze to her.

“Our son is in the hospital, diagnosed with cancer. He would want to see me, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth gnashed her teeth. She leered at me, before she looked away and started walking. At the back of my mind, I hoped that I would feel a little ease. But as I watch my sister march upstairs, I felt belittled and mortified.

I felt more disgusted on the inside, wrecked, shredded.

I felt pain almost twice as I did when I first figured out.

I swallowed hard.

“Mrs. Alistair…” Alicia gasped, alarmed.

“You did not hear anything, Alicia.” I drew a deep breathe and turned to her with authority. “We did not come here today.”

There was reason I did not say anything up to this day even when I was already filled with hatred. I cannot ruin my sister’s career. I cannot taint my father’s reputation. I cannot put our son’s mental health on the line. Though both my sister and my husband deserves to be exposed, I cannot.

And perhaps above those reason, another was that I think it was also my fault.

My sister, Elizabeth came back several minutes afterwards with Damian. Both of them was silent and stoic, as if avoiding to show any hint of guiltiness, nor embarrassment. But I let it slide, for confronting the both of them was not the reason I went there.

I did not want to fight Damian. If possible, I wouldn’t talk to him. But as I looked at him as he gazed outside the window with perplexity and conflict, I could not help but open my mouth.

“Elon’s diagnosed with stage two cancer…” I softly said. “His headaches was getting worse, so I brought him yesterday for a check up but it turns out…”

I gulped. Tears started to build up my eyes so I stopped for a brief moment and looked up. The doctor’s words were starting to echo in my mind as I recollect what happened yesterday. And God knew I would literally break down in front of this man if I didn’t stop talking.

A stage two brain cancer? I never even knew he was sick, and it made me feel stupid and worthless. What was I doing all these time not knowing my son was already bearing such life-threatening disease? How could I have missed that… and I dare to call myself a mother.

“Please stay with him..” My voice was as thin as my strength to speak. “He wanted you by his side, and I promise you I wouldn’t have shamelessly ask for you in her house if it wasn’t for him.” I shut my eyes tight. “I will never tell a soul, Damian, nor will I ask you to stay away from her. But please, do not let our child down…”

My hands trembled. A tear managed to escaped despite doing my hardest to hold it all back. I was vulnerable. And I had always been. But this vulnerability, it wasn’t because of me but because of Elon.

“I’ll stay with Elon, and have my secretary look for a doctor that could help him.” I heard Damian say. “But I hope today would be the last time you’re barging to her house like that, Eleanor. If you want to reach me, contact my secretary.”

Barging?

“You weren’t answering my calls so I thought it was the fastest way of—”

“I also want us to get divorce, after Elon gets better. The papers are ready, so we should just wait until then.”