Episode 3

Nadia

He saw me.

But he didn’t stop.

He leaned in deeper, gently cupping the woman’s face like she was his precious gem.

I stood rooted to the floor, arms limp at my sides. My eyes twitching with tears. Eventually, they broke apart. Laughing. 

Then his eyes slid back to mine and he began walking toward me, drink in hand, the music suddenly non-existent.

“Let’s go outside,” he said casually, grabbing me roughly by the arm. 

I opened my mouth, but I found myself unable to speak a word. My lips trembled from holding back everything I wanted to scream. I let him drag me silently until we got outside.

“Are you stalking me now, Nadia?” There was no remorse in his voice, instead he sounded pissed.

“How did you even get here?” He asked again “looking like that,” the lady suddenly appeared by Greg’s side. Her hands nestled fondly on his arm.

“Thelma,” he cooed and allowed her to kiss him.

My eyes widened with realization as I looked at her thoroughly. 

“Take a picture, it would last longer,” she sneered and laughed. I gasped in response and instantly snapped my head towards Greg.

It couldn’t be right? I pleaded with Greg with my eyes. I hoped the letter T was someone else. I didn’t even think too much of it and why would I? How was I supposed to know that the T was from Thelma. Thelma Cross.

The woman who got away. Greg’s missing ex.

Instead of Greg to look guilty from being caught. He was irritated by my presence.

But I was his wife.

I swallowed hard, fighting to stay composed. “I wanted to talk to you.”

Greg sighed, disturbed. “And somehow you reasoned that now is the time for that? After the stunt you pulled?.”

Shame engulfed me as he scoffed but I was already trying so hard here.

“It is.” I said firmly, holding his gaze.

His eyes darted away and it was my turn to sigh.

“I’m sorry about the hospital, I would never try to embarrass you. I know you hate the media and you think I called them but I—“

“Hate the media?” Thelma suddenly interrupted and looked at Greg then laughed long and hard.

“My Greg doesn’t hate the media, that’s why I invited them,” she said and it was my turn to look disturbed.

“And what an embarrassment you were! Getting your hands on my Greg like something important, it was disgusting to watch on the news,” she spat and Greg grabbed her hand and kissed it.

I gasped in pure shock. Anger started to boil in my veins.

“Greg,” I suddenly called his attention. Something in me wanted to show Thelma that the bond him and I had was not something as fickle as a silly kiss.

“We are about to have a private conversation, could you ask her to leave?” I demanded. A foreign feeling built up in my chest as tension suddenly rose.

Then without a moment’s thought, Greg doubled over cracking with an uncontrollable laugh.

Shock coursed through me in an instant. What was so funny?

“Look at you go!” Thelma suddenly said clapping her hands and I shifted on my feet.

“Greg…” I called again, this time my voice wobbled.

“Oh shut up! Nadia,” he said my name like a disease.

“She really thought she had your ear, hilarious” Thelma cooed and laughed softly into his chest.

My heart was pounding now. Greg wouldn’t do this to me.

“ Do you know what your problem is, hmm? Nadia?” He suddenly attacked and I tried to blink the tears away even as my throat tightened.

“You never listen, Nadia. That’s always been your problem.”

I shrunk. 

“You never know when to stop,” he said, like he was done putting up with me. “I’ve tried, haven’t I? I’ve tried to be there for you. Through everything. But you're always asking for more, more, more!”

My lips parted in surprise as I listened to him.

“I don’t know what gave you the right to come to the hospital and now here but you need to leave,” he continued, “Now.”

“Leave?” I repeated but he was too busy kissing Thelma’s hands to pay me any attention.

I didn’t know when I snatched his hand from hers and tugged it towards myself.

“ I am your wife!” I shouted. I have had enough of this rubbish.

Greg snatched his hand back and pushed me in the process.

“In what world?” He asked and Thelma sneered.

What did he mean by that!?

“Greg. Enough of these games, the bond we have is not something that is as fickle as that kiss. I can forgive you and we can become a family again…we can go home,” I whispered but I felt my hold on him fading.

I didn’t know what was coming over me but I couldn’t lose him. Not after everything. Not like this.

“Greg…” I called but he was holding Thelma by the arm and walking away.

“Greg!” I yelled in disbelief. Just when I thought I had nothing left, my hands rested on my stomach “I lost the baby!” I screamed without thinking.

Greg stopped in his tracks, his body went rigid and it took a few seconds before he turned around.

Greg has always loved the idea of having kids, it was the one thing he always talked about.

The one thing we had in common.

“What?” He asked and I swallowed. This wasn’t how I wanted to tell him about our miscarriage.

I stepped forward, my legs wobbly.

“That was why I was late to your report. I left the doctor’s office and it was bad, Greg,” my voice shook uncontrollably.

“This miscarriage was really bad, I may not be able to…” quiet sobs escaped my throat and my shoulders started to shake. 

I reached out to Greg for comfort but suddenly, a small smile spread across his face.

He evaded my hug and threw his hands up in the air like he’d won.

“Thank Goddess!” He shouted. Thelma laughed. I stood there, arms outstretched and horror plastered on my face.

“I was beginning to think, it wasn’t going to work,” he said to Thelma and she nodded in agreement.

That what wasn’t going to work?

I looked at Greg in confusion and shock and pain.

“You needed to focus on helping me heal. I don’t know who told you I needed a half baked breed bearing my kids. I was the one who terminated that pregnancy,” he said and my blood went still. 

“I told you, those drugs would be stronger. And she’s so dumb she didn’t see you put it in her food,” Thelma cackled in happiness as my world went still.

Greg…had caused the miscarriage?

“I couldn’t let you overshadow me when you’re nothing but a place holder for us,” Thelma suddenly said and rubbed her stomach in unison.

My eyes widened in horror. Was she…

No. No!

He didn’t… he wouldn’t!

I shook my head violently, trying to erase the jaw dropping revelation.

“You’re lying.” I suddenly said and Thelma scoffed.

“You would never harm your own child,” I spat and he leaned in closer “wanna bet?” 

I stepped back beyond horrified.

“And buckle up because we have a new house mate,” he gestured to Thelma and she giggled.

“You can’t do this. You stood at the altar and promised me, Greg. You said we’d fight for each other. You said I was your fucking home.” I roared.

Something flickered in his eyes, giving me some sort of hope.

“Please,” I whispered now, desperate and shaking. “We survived so much together. Remember? My parents disowned me. It was always you and me against the world.”

His gaze didn’t soften. Instead, it hardened.

He stepped back, letting out a breath like he was bored. “Actually, there was no marriage, Nadia.”

The ground shifted under me. “What?”

He chuckled bitterly, sounding annoyed. “It was never legal. I never filed the papers. You wanted the dress, the photos, and the ceremony, I gave it to you. Our marriage is fake.”

My knees gave out, and I crumpled.

I couldn't feel the coldness of the concrete under me. Couldn't feel the sharp sting in my still raw abdomen as I folded myself on the floor. All I felt was my breath leaving my lungs.

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “You’re lying.”

He shrugged like it meant nothing. “Well…”

My thoughts flashed through our five years of shared laughter, storms weathered together, arguments that ended in apologies, the soft kisses we shared. Our losses. All of it… fake?

No. No!

I folded into myself, pressing my forehead to my knees as silent tears poured freely. The shame. The grief. The humiliation..

A long, dramatic sigh sounded from above me.

“Oh, come on,” Thelma said, rolling her eyes. “Is she always this dramatic?”

I didn’t move. I made no move to answer.

She clicked her tongue in irritation. “One would think you’re the one who’s pregnant, the way you’re acting so extreme. Honestly, Greg, how did you put up with this emotional mess for so long?”

Greg remained silent.

Thelma scoffed again, stepping closer. “You’ve cried enough for ten women. It's pathetic, really.”

Still I didn’t respond. I just needed to stew in the sorrow of what I'd just realised. Everything had been a lie. But my silence seemed to irritate her even more.

“Oh, for goddess’s sake, get the fuck up!” she snapped. “No one’s going to pity you. You were just a placeholder and a useless one at that. No wolf, no powers. So of course he’d move on. You should too.”

I heard her heels click dangerously close.

“I mean, look at you,” she said coldly. “Crumpled on the floor like trash waiting to be taken out. It’s embarrassing.”

That struck something in me and I stood up from the floor, dizzy from everything that had happened to me today. But before I could fully stand, Thelma pushed me, hard.

The world seemed to turn upside down as my foot slipped.

Everything happened too fast.

There was a sharp animalistic cry that didn't sound like mine, then the crack of bone against stone. My head slammed into the edge of the garden step behind us, and everything went white.