THREE

Cara’s POV

Tears of rage fill my eyes as I remain frozen by the door, unable to move. 

My husband and my best friend. 

I feel my throat close up even more as the thought sinks further into me. 

My husband and my best friend!

How could they do this to me? How could he do this to me? Why? Why today of all days?

I don't gather enough courage to break into the room. I don't want to face the aftermath of this. Their moans continue to grow louder and fill my ears even more, torturing the depths of my soul. Here I am, standing right at the door of my bedroom, unable to enter because Henry had decided to hurt me this much. 

Of course. It was why he decided to stay home today. Because he already planned to do this with Patricia today. And he thought I wouldn't find out, which I truly wouldn't if I didn't get the news about my pregnancy and rushed hom from work today. 

Their moans subside and now all I can hear are their loud and satisfied pants. It's like listening to nails on a chalkboard. Every second I remain by the door, my heart breaks even more. 

“So I have something to tell you.” I hear Patricia say. “You know how I said I wasn't feeling too well and may need to see the doctor?”

“Yeah. You thought it was some strong kind of flu.” 

Well, I went to the clinic yesterday. Turns out it wasn't the flu at all.”

“It wasn't?”

“Far from it. Henry, I'm three weeks pregnant!”

I feel my body stiffen even more, disbelief crashing into my face. No. no, this is not happening. 

“Are you serious!” I can hear the elation in Henry’s voice and my heart breaks even harder. 

“You're going to be a father!”

“Oh, come here baby!” I hear Henry say and his voice is followed by fits of loud laughter in the room. I shut my eyes, desperately trying to fight the tears threatening to escape them. For some reason, the excitement in Henry's voice hurts even more than the cheating itself. 

“I'm going to be a father, finally!” Henry says again and I hear the sound of kisses and moans penetrate the air.

“I don't know Henry. I'm sure this is a good thing but—what are we going to do about Cara?” 

The rage in me builds up even more and I feel my hand reach for the doorknob. That bitch. 

“Why are you worried about her?” I can hear the disregard in Henry's voice. 

“Well, she's my best friend and I can't hide this—us from her forever.” 

“Enough with Cara, Patricia . I'm in a good mood right now. Stop mentioning her name because it's making me sick.” 

I can feel my grip around the doorknob loosen again. Has he always felt this way about me? Have I always made him sick?

“Well, she's still your wife whether you like it or not.” Patricia says, and the faux concern in her voice builds the rage in me even more. 

“I don't care. She might as well be house furniture. After years of being married to her, she still hasn't given me a child. That's no longer a wife. That's just a useless piece of trash I can't wait to throw out.”

“I know right? Such a waste of space. She might as well retire into a forest and live with the animals at this point.” Patricia continues. 

“Just seeing her always makes me angry. I can't wait for her to do something that'll let me chase her out of my house. Then we can actually have time for ourselves. 

Like a straw breaking the camel's back, Henry's words push down all the courage I need into me and I twist the doorknob. The door pushes open and I walk in, my eyes glued to their shocked faces. 

“Cara.” Patricia calls, bringing the sheets up to her chest, utter fear written on her face. “Cara I can explain.” 

I turn to Henry, whose face is just as white as Patricia 's.

“Cara, I can explain.” He says, raising an index finger. 

“There are seven rooms in this house, Henry. You couldn't do this anywhere but our bedroom? In our bed? Have you really lost every respect for this place, that much?” The words flow out of my mouth, almost incoherently, as I stare at both of them. The pain in me continues to rise. “How could you do this to me?” 

A wave of silence only coated by my deep breaths fills the room.

“And you—” I turn to Patricia , moving closer to her. 

“Don't touch her, Cara.” I hear Henry call out, his voice firm and solid.

I stop walking and turn to him. “What?”

“I said, do not touch her. She's pregnant.”

Words freeze in my mouth as I watch my husband stare me down with the most deadly expression in his eyes. 

What is happening?