Chapter 2

CARA 

“I’m sorry Mrs. Richardson but your baby didn't make it.”

These were the first words I heard from our family doctor the moment I opened my eyes and saw myself in the hospital with a worried Jade beside me.

Two minutes after she announced my baby’s death I felt numb and unable to breath. The doctor had confirmed that I had indeed been three weeks pregnant but the fall from the stairs had resulted in early miscarriage.

 The tears won’t stop rolling down my cheeks as I thought of how I had found out I was pregnant and how I lost the pregnancy the same day. 

My hand had unconsciously been rubbing my stomach as I thought of what my little angel would have looked like. This baby would have been able to repair the broken bond between me and Henry. 

“Cara,” I heard my name.

Blinking as more tears rolled down my cheeks I stared at Jade as she pulled my hands away from my stomach.

 “The doctor is talking to you,” she said to me, her voice breaking at the end. 

I stared at the doctor unable to understand a word she was saying. I just watched as her lips moved without any words coming out.

“My baby,” I finally spoke. 

“Mrs. Richardson, you have to pull yourself together. You're still in a critical condition as you could damage your womb from excessive bleeding if you keep crying,” the doctor said and I finally heard her. 

A sad chuckle escaped my lips as I stared at the doctor, “What else do I need the womb for?” 

“No, sister, don't say that,” Jade said, crying. 

The doctor sighed, “Please, don't say that. Once you're fully healed it’s possible for you to get pregnant again.” 

My heart was filled with sadness as I gave her a sad smile and nodded. I knew Henry would never touch me again unless I got him drunk. 

This baby had been conceived four weeks ago when I got him drunk and slept with him. He had been too drunk to even make love to me. 

We stopped making love two years ago and it became an obligation for him. Then a year ago when Jade moved in with us he stopped touching me unless I got him drunk. 

“Rest, Mrs. Richardson. I'm so sorry,” the doctor said.

I nodded at her and noticed how she hesitated when she was leaving. It was like there was more she wanted to say. 

“What’s wrong, doctor?” I asked her, tiredly. 

The doctor stared at Jade then stared at me, “It’s something I would like to discuss with you in private.” 

I frowned, “Jade is my sister-in-law. You can say anything you want with her here.” 

The doctor sighed and I saw Jade standing up, “Don’t worry, Cara, I’ll leave.” 

“No, stay,” I insisted. 

The doctor nodded, “Okay, if that’s what you want. In the blood test we carried out we noticed traces of metamorphine.” 

I arched a brow at the doctor, “What does that mean?” 

“It is a fast acting drug that causes intense weakness, dizziness, and possibly knocks someone out in less than two minutes,” the doctor answered. 

I frowned, “What are you saying, doctor?” 

My heart was already racing with the dreaded thoughts in my head.

The doctor’s next words confirmed my suspicions, “It means someone poisoned you. The fall you had from the stairs was deliberate. Someone wanted you to lose your baby.” 

I shook my head, trying to dispel the thoughts racing through my head. Jade’s eyes was wide with horror as she stared at me.

“No, that can't be true, doctor. The only person who knew about my pregnancy was Jade and the servants in my house. One of the maids even prepared a tea to soothe my nausea. It’s just not possible, doctor,” I shook my head.

 No one would want to do that. Jade has always been by my side since she moved into the house. The servants have been sympathetic toward how my marriage with Henry turned sour.

 They were all happy when they found out I was pregnant today and I could vividly recall the horror on everyone’s face when they had seen me at the bottom of the stairs. 

The doctor sighed, “I just thought you should know, Mrs. Richardson. It might be worth looking into.” 

The doctor left me with Jade and I stared at her with a sad smile. 

“I think the doctor is too sad to tell me I'm a failure so she’s trying to bring up some crazy theory,” I said to Jade with a wry smile.

 Jade shook her head, “You are not a failure, Cara.”

 I shrugged, “Why isn't Henry here? Didn't you inform him?” 

Jade looked away as she stared at her phone, “I told him. Maybe you should call him.” 

I nodded as Jade dialed his number and placed the call on speaker, holding the phone for me.

“Henry,” I called out when the call connected. 

“What is it?” he asked me immediately, his voice sounding harsh over the phone. 

“I had an accident, Henry, I lost our baby,” I answered, my voice breaking at the end.

“Is that why you're calling me?” he asked, “To tell me about your failure? About how after five years you finally get pregnant and your bad luck made you lose it immediately, huh? You should be ashamed and never speak of this. You killed the child with your bad luck.” 

His words broke my heart as tears rolled down my cheeks, “That’s not what happened, Henry, the doctor –” 

“Don’t call me again,” he interrupted me sharply and the call ended with a click. 

Jade sighed and hugged me as I sobbed into her chest, “It’s alright, Cara, my brother is an asshole.” 

I didn't believe Henry would blame me for the loss of our child or refuse to come see me in the hospital. My heart broke as I wondered if we could still reignite our relationship again. 

After sobbing for a while I calmed down and wiped my tears. I was determined to get better and give my relationship one more trial. Like the doctor said, I could still get pregnant. 

“I have good news since today has been all gloom and doom,” Jade announced suddenly.

“What is it?” I asked, I could do with a bit of good news.

“Do you recall I told you I met someone that I've been dating for two years now?” Jade asked me.

I nodded, I could recall her telling me about the person she had been dating. 

“Yeah, what about him?” 

“Well he proposed to me a few days ago and now –” I interrupted her, squealing slightly.

“Oh my gosh, Jade! Congratulations!!” I smiled, hugging her. 

She showed me her ring. It was a giant emerald ring, a beautiful ring I once admired and asked Henry to get me for our fifth anniversary. He had asked me what I have ever done for him to deserve such a ring. 

“It’s so beautiful,” I gushed. 

She laughed, “Thank you, Cara. We’re actually doing a quick marriage at the court today then a big celebration within the week. I didn't want to ruin your anniversary so I hadn't told you but now I guess good news will cheer you up.” 

I smiled, “It has. Let’s go, I must attend the wedding.”

“No!” Jade exclaimed then laughed immediately, “I mean you have to heal. Don't stress yourself, you can attend the celebration.” 

I sighed and nodded, “Alright. You may go.” 

“Get well soon, Cara,” she smiled at me and left. 

Thirty minutes after she left I felt like I would die of depression or overthinking. I pressed the button by my bedside and summoned the nurse. 

I asked her to get my dress and told her I wanted to attend the wedding.

“You have multiple broken ribs and a fractured ankle, I don't think it’s a good idea, plus you've just had a miscarriage,” the nurse said.

I shrugged, “Fix me up and keep me in a wheelchair but I'm going to attend that wedding because if I don't I will die of depression or go crazy in this room.”

Thirty minutes of trying to convince me and I still refused to back down, the nurses helped me get dressed and wheeled me to the car. 

One of the nurses joined me in the cab as we drove to the magistrate high court where court weddings took place. I was smiling because I was going to surprise Jade. 

The cab pulled up in front of the court and the nurse helped me out. She wheeled me to the courthouse as I saw Jade standing in front of the judge. 

However before I could call out to her I saw the groom standing before her, smiling widely as the judge declared them a couple. 

“Henry?” I called out, my voice laced with disbelief.

Right before my eyes my husband was kissing another woman who wasn't me. He was kissing Jade, the woman who was supposed to be his sister!