Chapter 3

Jenny’s POV

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't sleep. Not after what I heard. I laid on the bed with my hand rubbing my stomach. Even though it's been a few days since I found out about the baby, I could already feel its presence. I don't know how far along I am. I should schedule an appointment with the doctor for a full check-up. Thinking about the baby was the only thing that could comfort me in the night. I still feel uneasy without Marcus. Despite what he said, my feelings for him are unwavering. I love him very much, and I don't want to lose him.

He will understand when the time comes and he will accept the baby. I will just have to figure out a way to make him understand. I can't lose my baby or him. I will do whatever it takes to keep my marriage and my baby. I shut my eyes and kept rubbing my belly, trying to get myself to sleep. At that moment, my phone started ringing. I reached out quickly, thinking it was Marcus's call to check on me. My face fell upon seeing the caller ID. It was my best friend. I was hoping that it was Marcus but I still took her call.

“ Hello. Why are you calling so late at night?”

“ It might be late for you, but it's certainly not late for your husband. Do you even know what he is up to.”

My husband? Alarmed, I sat up on the bed so I could probably properly speak to Hailey.

“ Hailey, what the hell are you talking about? Stop beating around the bush and get to the point,” I said, nervously.

“ I can't believe you don't know what is going on with your very own husband. It's all over social media. While you are busy playing the perfect wife at home, someone else is crawling back into your husband's life.”

I was getting frustrated by Hailey’s words. She still wasn't getting to the point and I don't understand what she was saying.

“ Tell me clearly, Hailey. What are you saying Marcus has done? What's all over social media.”

“ Oh, Jenny. One could swear you live under a rock girl. I am talking about your husband's first love, Anna. She is back in town and your husband threw her a welcome back party. Pictures are posted on social media and everyone is raving about them. Don't tell me you seriously didn't know that Anna was back.”

I froze after hearing that name. Anna is back. No, no… that can't be. When she left, I thought she would never come back, let alone get in touch with Marcus.

“ Hello! Are they still there?”

“ Uh... listen, Hailey. Let me call you back. I need to do something first.”

Before she could say anything more, I cut the call. No, this can't be happening. There must be some sort of misunderstanding about the whole issue. How could Marcus lie to my face to go and see his first love? I can't believe that. He can't do that to me.

I anxiously bit my nails while staring at my phone. Hailey said it's all over the socials. She wouldn't lie about that when I could just check for myself. I wanted to check, but I couldn't even stand the thought of it. What if I see it? What will I do? Can I handle it? But not checking is making me anxious, and now I won't be able to sleep for sure. Let me just check. Maybe Hailey is mistaken and Marcus just bumped into Anna at the gala dinner. Right. It must be a coincidence and the media just blew it out of proportion just for buzz.

I swallowed my fear and mustered the courage to check it out. I wish I hadn't, but how could I have kept ignoring it? Hailey was right after all. Marcus lied to me just to go out and meet Anna. All the pictures and videos were posted by Anna with the caption,“If he is yours, he will find his way back to you.”

Tears fell out of my eyes as I kept scrolling through the pictures. I was focused on Marcus. He had a dazzling smile on his face. He looked genuinely happy. That was a smile that I hadn't seen in a very long time. He didn't even smile for our wedding photo yet for Anna, his eyes were sparkling through the shot. My heart couldn't take it anymore. I threw the phone at the wall in a fit of rage.

Even if I tried to deny it, it was clear that he still had something for her. I was the only fool who harbored a useless hope to finally gain my husband's love. Everything was just a lie and I refused to see it. I cried into the pillow until it was soaked in tears. My hopes and dreams were shattered, and my future was uncertain. With Anna’s return, what would happen to our marriage? Would Marcus leave me for her? All those questions tortured me to sleep.

I woke up in the morning, my eyes heavy from crying. My body was in pain from sleeping in fetus position for so long. I didn't have the energy to get out of bed and face the day. What would be the point of it all? After a while of pointless pondering, I figured I should just take a bath and see what I can do. There is no point for me to wallow in self-pity.

I got out of bed and dragged myself into the bathroom and prepared a hot bath. I immersed myself in the water and closed my eyes to relax. I felt the tension in my body disappear, but the pain in my heart had no cure. I cried and I couldn't stop. What wad happening to me? When did things start going wrong in my life? Not long ago, I was happy after finding out I was pregnant, but everything got ruined after that. It was truly unfortunate.

Once I was done bathing and getting ready for the day, I planned to distract myself by spending the day painting. I loved painting, and it helped me feel better almost every time. As I was planning to do that, I heard the doorbell ringing. I groaned in frustration.

“ Who is it now?” I mumbled under my breath in annoyance. I was not in the mood for any visitors. Marcus hadn't come home yet either. He must have had a blast with Anna. Why the hell would he think of the wife he lied to and left at home? The more I thought about it, the more irritated I got.

I went to open the door ready to lash out at whoever had come, but I swallowed my words as soon as I saw that it was grandmother. I was not expecting her to come and visit me. Could it be that she saw Marcus and Anna on social media? I hope not.