You're Not Leaving

The next morning, Audrey woke up to an empty house. Derek was already gone. Thank God. Seeing his face first thing in the morning would have ruined whatever sanity she had left.

She had cried her eyes out last night and could not fall asleep until after five am. Her eyes still burned, her head ached and she was tired. Tired of crying. Tired of hurting.

She needed to clear her head before she completely lost her mind. And there was one Audrey way she knew to clear her head. 

Shopping.

More specifically, shopping for antiques.

It was a habit she caught from her grandmother. Whenever things got too difficult, Audrey found herself wandering through antique stores, searching for forgotten treasures.

So she got dressed, grabbed her keys, and left the house. She would deal with Derek and Regina later. Right now, she simply needed to survive, especially for her baby.

The thought made her hand drift unconsciously to her stomach. A tiny life growing inside her. A tiny secret. One she still hadn't told anyone. Then another thought struck her.

Today was April fifteenth. Regina's birthday. The realization hurt more than she expected. Usually, Audrey would have spent the previous night at Regina's house. They had done it every year. She would be the first person to wish Regina a happy birthday. Then they would spend the entire day together. Shopping, eating, traveling, laughing. Ten whole years of friendship. Gone, just like that.

Tears burned her eyes and she blinked them back immediately. Get yourself together, Audrey.

After shopping for hours, she finally headed home. However, the moment she stepped through the front door, Derek's voice rang through the house.

"Happy Birthday, Regina!"

Audrey froze.

Confetti exploded from above and when her gaze lifted, Regina stood at the top of the staircase leading to her matrimonial bedroom. Her hand covered her mouth dramatically. "Oh my God, Derek!" Her face lit up. "This is so beautiful!"

Then she rushed toward him and wrapped her arms around him, holding him far longer than any woman should hold her best friend's husband.

Audrey stood frozen on the spot.

The living room was covered in decorations. White and brown balloons everywhere. Those were Regina's favorite colors.

A broken laugh threatened to escape her her throat. This was unbelievable.

"What is going on here?"

Both heads turned and Regina's face immediately brightened. "Audrey!"

She screamed in excitement as though nothing had happened. As though she hadn't shattered her life into pieces. As though she hadn't been sleeping with her husband.

Regina hurried over and reached for her hand. Audrey jerked away immediately. The fake innocence made everything hurt even more. It was like someone pouring salt directly into an open wound.

"I asked a question." Her voice was dangerously calm. "What is going on here?"

Regina blinked. "What do you mean?"

Her fake smile widened. "Derek threw me a birthday surprise, obviously." The sweetness in her voice was almost nauseating.

Then Regina tilted her head. "How did you even find out?"

Audrey frowned, her face contorted in confusion, "Find out about what?"

Something had changed. The mask disappeared. The sweetness vanished. And for the first time, Regina showed her true face. A hateful smile spread across her lips. "That Derek and I are having an affair."

Audrey's eyes widened in shock. The room spun and she stumbled backward, her legs suddenly felt weak. 

"What?" The exclamation came out in a broken whisper. 

Regina's lips curved into a full, evil smirk "It wasn't like we were really hiding anything though." She laughed and wrapped her hands around Derek's arm, "Not when you're so gullible."

Each word struck like a knife slicing through my heart.

"How did it take you three whole years to figure out your husband and your best friend were fucking?" She sighed dramatically. "And you wonder why Derek lost interest in the marriage? When you're this dumb?"

Something inside Audrey snapped, she became blinded with rage, her whole mind went blank and before she knew what she was doing, her hand lifted to slap Regina across the face.

But just before her palm touched her face, Derek's hand caught her wrist, gripping it so tightly that she flinched in pain.

"If you lay your hand on her, I will end you right here and now." Derek growled, the fury on his face was unmistakable.

Audrey stared at him. "Derek..." She hated how broken and helpless she sounded. But that alone couldn't even describe how she was feeling. Her heart was shattered into so many pieces.

They weren't even hiding anymore. They were proud of it. They were so brazen and bold about betraying her, breaking her, destroying her.

Her gaze shifted toward Regina. And there it was. That smile. The one she was trying—and failing—to hide.

Something inside Audrey went cold. "You disgusting pieces of shit."

Derek finally released her hand, stepped away from her and wrapped an arm around Regina's waist, pulling her closer possessively. "This is why you should have treated me better. You'll never be like Regina but you could have tried." He shrugged. "They say you don't know the value of what you have until you lose it."

Then he smiled. "Luckily for you though, you haven't lost me yet."

Audrey's stomach twisted. Then he said the words that made her blood run cold.

"Not until you give me a child."

Everything inside her stopped. "A child?"

Derek frowned as if she were the unreasonable one. "Why are you acting shocked?" His expression remained completely serious. "Did you think I'd let you leave my house without giving me a child?"

Audrey stared, words completely failing her.

His voice hardened, "After spending money on you for three years? After living under my roof for three years? After enjoying a luxury life as the Lockwood's daughter-in-law?"

His eyes narrowed. "You think you can just walk away?" A cruel smile spread across his face. "Not even in your wildest dreams, Audrey."