LOGINI don’t know how long I lay there sobbing last night, even long after Jason had left the room and I heard his car driving off into the night. I had thought last night—with the dinner and all that he was starting to see reason and know not even knowing that he was cheating on me
Cheating on me
I choked down a sob as I applied mascara to my face to cover all the bruises that Jason had inflicted with his whole hands, while I was disappointed I still couldn’t help but feel like this was my fault—why could I not give him children? Was it that hard?
I couldn’t even call my parents and tell them what was going on because they are going to do anything to keep me married to Jason. After all, his family paid mine in millions who the hell was going to stop wanting to be benefiting like that. Well that left me with one person I could trust…….Rhea.
Rhea was my best friend back in grade 4, and we have been best buddies ever since. We were practically inseparable, even now—she was the one I trusted with my problems. Maybe if I go to her she would have a good advice for me, Rhea was a therapist and relationship expert, I haven’t told her about Jason and I. I liked to keep what happened in our marriage private, between the two of us but after what happened yesterday I couldn’t hold it down anymore.
I picked up my expensive hand bag and headed to the garage. My driver Roberts was already waiting for me, I lowered my head hoping he didn’t see the bruises on my face or that the mascara covered it up.
“Good morning Ma’am” he said.
“Good morning Roberts” I said raising my face and his brows furrowed. He opened his mouth to say something but he just nodded and opened the door for me. I sighed in relief, I didn’t want to many questions and I didn’t want to explain how Jason had beaten the shit outta me then publicly announce that he wanted a divorce.
Gods, could the week get any worse.
Roberts drove in silence, with one or two glances at the rearview mirror. It looked like he had one or two to say .
“I heard you and Boss arguing yesterday” he started and I laughed—boss? Funny
“There was nothing Roberts” I said and he raised a brow, as if that was an obvious lie, as if my mascara covered bruised face didn’t hide it well enough.
“If you say so, I heard something about a divorce” he countered softly and I scowled, angry at him for reminding me, angry at Jason, angry at life at fate.
“Just drive Roberts, thanks for letting me know that you were eavesdropping” I shot out and he nodded solemnly. I felt guilty talking to him like that Roberts was nice and always wanted to k ow if I was doing okay but for now I was in a mess and I needed to talk to my best friend, she was the only one who could get me out of my mood or give me an advise—something I needed so much right now.
The car stopped in front of the familiar house and I stepped down and turned to go in.
“Should I wait outside for you ma’am” he asked and I shook my head.
“No need Roberts, I will be fine thank you” I said and he nodded and drove off. When I knocked on the door it opened instantly and I grinned when I saw her, her eyes lit up.
“Jesus Vee, long time. What are you doing here?” She asked and I smiled at her.
“Just in trouble and I need your help, like old times huh” I smile at her and jiggled her boobs, “Besides you owe me you vixen” I added and she shook her head.
“Girl you don’t let go eh? Come on in, bacon is on the gas” she said and we walked in. She stared at me and she suddenly frowned.
“Vee?”
“Umm yeah?” I answered and she cocked her head to the side.
“What happened to your face?” She asked and I looked down. Suddenly the urge not to tell anyone what was going on in my marriage nagged at me again.
“Nothing Ree, nothing” I said and Rhea eyes narrowed and she frowned.
“You have a black eye, I know makeup well enough to know that, and you suck at mascara” she retorted and glared at me.
“I said it’s nothing” I snapped and he chuckled.
“Since when did you defend a black eye?”
“It’s not a black eye” I ground out and she nodded—I sighed in relief, then;
“Did your husband give you that?” Sha asked and I froze, why was she always damn right.
“No, why would you say that, and I don’t have a black eye” I insisted. Rhea stared at me like she wasn’t convinced then she nodded, she stood up and pulled open a fridge and poured me a glass on wine.
“Here drink up, you look like hell” she said and I nodded my thanks. She got up to answer a phone call while I stared around. She wasn’t with anyone and she looked to be doing okay, I suddenly wondered if I really even needed a marriage but I kept thinking of Jason, I couldn’t leave him. I still loved him even after all he did last night.
Something caught the corner of my eye and I raised a book on a shelf and slipped out the photo underneath and my blood ran cold.
In the picture was a recent photo of Jason and……..
Oh my God
Rhea
Rhea was the one Jason was cheating on me with.
Veronica’s POV. “Four!”“I got you. Come.”His hands wrapped gently around me, my weight shifted to him, with a quick sweep, Four lifted me off the floor.The paparazzi crawled closer, their lights flashing to my eyes, zapping my vision.My hand instinctively covered my eyes, Four saw me. “Hey! Take your cameras off her or I swear to God, I'll break that thing.” He roared. The paparazzi, an older man, far fragile than Four, hesitated. Even after the second warning, he leaned in closer with his camera right in my face.“This is your last warning, old man.”And when He didn't listen, Four flung his free hand across the side. The other paparazzi were quicker, leaping back before four could reach them. The older man was not so lucky.When Four’s hand returned, his camera was shattered into pieces, lying wasted on the floor. Air escaped the old man's throat. He fell to his knees quickly. “What the hell did you just do?!”Four ignored him. His free hand supported my back. “That'll teach
Veronica’s POV My stomach, with each passing day, grew like a child too well fed, the doctor said it was a sign of a healthy bump but my irk for an oversized belly didn't leave me.I loved my size from the front view but from the side, I looked like an overly grown baby seal.Ridiculous….Even Four laughed once when I stood in front of him holding my baby bump.“How many months is it now?” he asked.I shrugged casually. “Could be three or four. I'm not so sure.”I lied.It should have been four months and three weeks if I wasn't mistaken. I just did not want to share. Somehow, sharing meant I had to tell Four just how long I had been in his house.“It's wonderful that you're fine.”“Thanks.”“You're welcome.”“Yeah,” I said before I turned away.With the time we spent together, I thought we would at least be nicer to each other.Four was not as expressive as I thought he would be. In fact, he grew colder.By the end of our conversation, he grabbed some water and started down the ha
Veronica's POV. “You have got to be kidding me.”Four’s eyebrows wiggled on the top of his head. He pointed to his biceps and then to my eyes. “You see how rock hard I am?”Rock hard?I wasn't expecting… what the heck he pointed at.I shouldn't have paused either. That was the beginning of my mistake.I should have brushed past him when I needed to and taken the sting with me from before.I took the chance to reach for something when I had the chance to but when Four said ‘Rock hard’, my body betrayed me before my mind could catch up.Heat rushed to my face, of course, my chest tightened. For one reckless sound, I thought– stupidly, foolishly– that maybe I'd been wrong about him.That may be the distance and the whole detachment I was trying to have for him, the careful way he was being with me… maybe there was more.I hated myself for how fast my hope bloomed with me.I hated how I forgot myself so easily with them. I turned back to him slowly, my voice barely steady. “What did you
Veronica's POV. Day 2 of not giving a fuck even though I wanted to give many fucks…“I'll be going to the hospital today,” I told Four on my way to grab milk from the fridge.He didn't flinch. Barely even looked at me the second time.“Okay.”Okay?I took his comment like it was a shot to my chest, the fridge did not feel so cold when I dipped my hand inside, I grabbed the milk and poured the amount I needed before I slipped it back inside.“You're having cereal?”“Yes?” I raised a questioning brow. “Shouldn't I have cereal?”“Well, I heard the nurse say something about how fattening it can be when you become addicted to it. Weight gain is cool by me, I'm just saying.”My forehead wrinkled. I wasn't sure if he was genuinely concerned or trying to have a conversation with me since last night.“Thanks, I'll keep that in mind when next I'm taking cereal, I'm just running late right now and I need to eat.”“Alright.”I sat by the dining table eagerly, taking my phone out of its place. Wh
Veronica’s POV. The strangest thing about pain was how quickly it learned to behave.By the next morning, it wasn't loud anymore. It didn't sit on my throat or burn behind my eyes.It simply existed– steady, dull, obedient. Like something that had decided it would stay but Southern asks for attention either.I woke before four, that alone was new.Usually, he was already up, already moving and halfway through his routine by the time I stirred.Not today, he slept on– one arm flung over his eyes, chest rising and falling in an even rhythm.For a moment, I watched him, memorising the version of him that didn't know I was awake.This was the man I was beginning to imagine things with. Not futures— just moments.Comfort. Warmth and being seen.I slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to disturb him. The floor was cold beneath my feet, grounding. I wrapped my sweater tighter around myself and padded my feet into the kitchen.No pancakes this time.I made tea instead. Let it stay longer t
Veronica's POV. I laid there longer than necessary, staring at the ceiling after Four's footsteps faded down the hall.‘Friendship.’If we were even that…the word settled in my chest like a final verdict between both of us.I stopped myself from crying. Not right away anyway, I let the ache sit, heavy and undeniable, until I couldn't pretend it was just myself being sensitive from the pregnancy. I had been doing that a little too often, the excuse was getting old.“He doesn't see you that way,” I swung my legs off the bed and stood, smoothing my sweater like it could smooth me out too.“Face it.” I told myself, “You like him much more than he likes you and you know how dangerous that is. Look where it got you the first time.”The truth was that there was no cruelty there, no villain and certainly no hatred. It was just a matter of imbalance between me, the girl who had always been a lover and him– Mr Four.By the time I stepped back into the kitchen, I had practised my smile twice i







