Chapter 2: His baby?

My heart skipped. I snapped in his direction. Tears brimming in my eyes.

" No...no. it's not what you think. The baby is not mine. But..."

I exhaled. I don't know why, but my heartbeat evens.

He grunted. " She was abandoned by the father of her child. Right now, she's distraught. If we could..."

I went down to meet him. At the foot of the stairs, I waited. Hearing his mother say on the phone that my sister's accident was staged unnerved me. Now, she's pregnant? For another man, but for some reason, he still cares deeply for her.

" The baby would need a father. She can't raise him alone. I'm thinking of bringing her here to make sure she's taken care of."

I chortled a laugh. Is he blind or just dumb? Or maybe, he thinks I am. " I could tell you that she has my mother to take care of her if it's really the case. But then, why should I care about a matter between lovers. Damian, since you want the child, just marry her and you both can have many more." I lumbered upstairs. This time, I am not dissatisfied with sleeping in a guest room. I am temporarily relieved.

Throughout our years of marriage, even when he was struggling with depression, he never spent a night on the same bed with me. Now, I'm grateful...no, I should be grateful, but it hurts.

Unable to sleep, I went online. Surfing the internet has been my painkillers and company for years. But today is different.

" To the best man anyone could ask for, heavens knows I can't do without you." A recent post on my news feed read. I was tagged. By none other than my sister.

And the image was of her and Damian in the hospital.

" Oh my god, Lisa's back!"

" I can't believe you're back together. You are really meant to be."

" You haven't aged one bit."

" He's such a great friend. Always have your back."

" I'm happy for you. It must have been difficult helping him back to his feet."

I felt my heart beat decline, like a straight line on a monitor. I put all the work and she gets the credit?

Our marriage was private. I haven't been the type to share my private life online, so I never did. Besides, I thought Damian needed to be away from public eyes.

But this is what I get in return.

" Congratulations!" I typed on the comment section and went offline.

Moments later, my phone buzzes. It's his mother.

" You should be resting. It's late. Your health should be prioritized." I spoke softly, mimicking Lisa's voice.

" Hmm. Thank you for always thinking of my welfare. Uhmm. I was notified of a post made by your sister and a comment you dropped on it..."

" Alright. Did I do something wrong?"

" No. Not at all. I'm just impressed with your level of maturity. It's good that you're not pushing or dragging the status with her online."

" I don't have to. We will soon be divorced."

She laughs. " I didn't think you still want to, given that Damian is hesitant."

I paused. So, is this why she's calling? Just to make sure I'm bent on proceeding with the divorce. " Well, it doesn't matter. Either way, I'm leaving."

" Okay. I will have my lawyer bring the document in the morning. If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell me. We Skywalkers are forever in your debt."

" That's reassuring. I should go now —"

" Wait...by chance, could you help me shop for some baby clothes tomorrow? You know I have been handling Damian's position. I have a lot on my hands, but I still want to surprise Lisa with some gifts. After all, she's welcoming Damian's baby!" She squealed.

My stomach churns. My mouth dried. A sharp migraine makes my head feel like it's exploding. " He lied to me?"

" Hello, Lucy. Lucy...are you there?"

" Yes...did you say the baby is Damian's?"

" Yes. He and I opted for surrogacy."

My head spins. My chest tightened. Tears trickled down my eyes. I thought that was all, but the bombshell descended moments later.

" But it just happened between them."

I laughed inwardly. It can only mean that my husband and my sister have been seeing each other behind my back.

I got up before the pet cockerel my mother-in-law instructed me to care for in the past few years. Rounding up with his laundry — I loved to wash and iron them myself. It gave me purpose and made me a tiny bit closer to his body— his food was done in no time. All his favorites packed into the two fridges.

The minute I saw him descend from his room, I took a moment to watch his legs. The way he strides. It makes my heart flutter. I had hoped it would be regular sightseeing at least. But fate designs differently.

" Where do I sign?"

He took a look at me and pointed at a space. I saw my name and didn't care to look at the heading. I scribbled my signature.

" See you," I said, grabbed a copy from him and disappeared into my room.

For the next few hours, I cried until sleep took hold of my eyes.

My alarm buzzed in my ears and sent me exiting the house. There was nothing to pack. I had bought nothing new in our five years together. But he never noticed. All the allowances were spent on the foundation. His love for the orphans was peculiar. I thought it would touch his heart. I was wrong as well.

" Did I even exist in the same room with him?" I scorned inwardly as I waited for the announcement for my flight at the airport.

I was about to turn off my phone when my mother called.

Gosh! I totally forgot to tell her Lisa was alright.

"Hi mom... sorry?"

" Sorry for yourself," she barked, dripping with venom.

" Lisa is your younger sister. The least you can do is be happy that she's getting back with her man."

" Her man?" I mumbled, more to myself than to the speaker.

" Yes. Everyone knows you are not even close to the high-profile model she is. The Skywalker family only considered you because you are her sister. You should be thankful!"

I was left speechless while she rattled on.

" Call your sister this moment and apologize to her."

" Why? I did nothing."

" You did nothing?" She scoffs. " Good grief! How's it I'm hearing you took the Hilton major shares and got the Norton estate transferred to you?"

"What?!"

" You are such a back stabbing b**ch!"

Did that come from my mother? Or didn't I hear it right?

" You signed the documents this morning. How can you go on pretending?" She snarked and hung up.

I shuffled through my bag just to be sure Damian hadn't mistakenly given me his business documents instead to sign. The announcement came, and I shoved everything back inside without looking.

Settled inside, I unsealed the envelope.

" Transfer Deed," was boldly inscribed on it. " Jesus Christ!" Not in vain. Not in vain.

" Where in the world was his mind?"

" How could he tell them I took it when the mistake was from him!" I fumed, burning inside. Sending it back upon landing was my next detour. I asked for money. I want no hand in these. Once I get to my destination, I am mailing it to him.

It was a long wait. But my anxiety was nothing compared to the pandemonium that ensued. The announcement came for us to grab our oxygen mask and get ready to eject from the plane.

I tightened my hands around my handbag and the parachute. This is the original copy of the transfer. I would kill myself if something happened to it.

Half an hour later, I had fallen several feet into a snowy forest.

Looking around, my feet froze, cramped and trembling. It comes again. Louder and closer. Before I could say Jack Robinson, my eyes settled on a shewolf leading a pack of scarlet-eyed carnivores.