Chapter 0002

GEORGIA, ATLANTA 2017

~SIERRA~

“Sierra, she’s back, everything between us ends today,” he said calmly.

“Who?”

"Oh, come on, you know who, don’t act stupid,” he said, sounding irritated. 

“The woman at the restaurant is Cassie?” I pretended to be clueless. I didn't want a divorce.

"Yes, and she’s back, you know what that means, right?” He looked at me, seeking confirmation, but I played dumbfounded.

“What happens to us, what we’ve built?” 

“There’s no us Sierra, when are you going to get that through your head? I’ve never lied to you about my feelings for Cassie,” he said with no emotion in his eyes.

“But you married me, I’m your wife now,” I muttered in a low tone. As much as I wanted to shout, I still felt a lot of pain.

“That’s why I’m suggesting a divorce. You will be compensated for the years you’ve been with me,” he said, and just as I was about to plead, the door opened and a middle-aged man walked in. By his dress code, I easily figured him to be a doctor.

“Mrs. Winters, how are you doing?” He asked, and I nodded.

“We have the results here, as per procedure, we always check for pregnancy in all our female patients.” He paused, then looked at my husband, who looked clueless.

“Congratulations! You’re five weeks pregnant,” he said with a smile on his face—the smile I wanted to see on my husband’s face, but who was I kidding? My husband instead had an angry face, the way his fingers ruffled his waves was proof of it.

“Fuck!” He cursed out loud.

The doctor, sensing the tension, said, “I know it’s overwhelming for first-time parents, but trust me, the process emerges from overwhelm to delight.” He then turned to me and said, “I’ll ask the nurse to prepare your leave, please excuse me,” and then he walked out.

When the doctor closed the door, my eyes wandered towards my husband, who was pacing, his hands scratching the back of his head.

“You need to calm down, it's just a baby,” I tried to joke. He turned and looked at me with cold eyes. “You are not happy about the baby, are you?” I asked even when I knew the answer to it.

“Happy? You are not planning to keep it, are you?” 

“What?”

“Exactly what you heard, I’ll not be tied down to you. Cassie is back, you can’t have this baby.”

“How many times are you going to repeat that? I know she’s back. Now what? I should abort my child because she’s back.”

“Yes,” he said with no emotion in his eyes. 

“Damian?” 

“I’ll arrange an appointment for you, you’ll get an abortion, and we’ll pretend none of this happened,” he tried to convince me.

“And what happens to me?”

“Nothing.  You'll keep being my wife for as long as you want, but in an open marriage, as you know well what I feel for Cassie.”

“What happens if I keep it?” I asked, wanting to know the consequences of challenging him.

“Then you should get ready to die single. I mean, look at you. Who would marry a woman who is plus size, unattractive, even the expensive clothes I buy don't hide it.”

“You’re wicked,” I said as fresh tears found their way to my cheeks.

“The choice is yours, after all, let me know what it’s going to be,” he said, waiting for my response. 

The three years I’ve been married to him were hell on earth. I knew what I was getting myself into from the beginning of this marriage but relied on the small hope that glimmered in my heart that one day he would change and love me as much as I love him. 

“You can cry afterward as of now, my friends are waiting for me,” he coldly said, his eyes looking everywhere else but at me. 

He hasn't even looked at me the way he looked at Cassie today. Even when he is horny, he just goes fast, wanting to get over with it, as if he's being forced.

“Why do you make love to me then, when I disgust you?” I asked a question I’ve lived with for the past three years.

“Because I respect myself enough not to cheat, even when I have the opportunity to, but my horny dick wouldn’t just stay in my trousers, right? That’s where you come in.”

“Damian,” I said his name in a low tone, and the door suddenly opened.

“Mrs. Winters, your papers to leave are ready. Sir, I’ll just need you to put your signature here, and then you’re free to take your wife,” the nurse said as she handed him a paper and pen.

“Yes, while you’re here, can you schedule an abortion appointment? We don’t need to tell you the reason we don’t want to keep the child, do we?” He said while signing the papers.

“Yes, but that’s solely the mother’s decision, if she agrees, then we can schedule an appointment right away,” she said, turning to me.

“Of course, my wife and I discussed it already, right, honey?” He turned to me, with a smile. It could easily convince me, but it wasn’t just about me, it was about the baby. I shook my head in disagreement and I heard him curse.

“Fuck! Find your way home,” he said, slamming the door.

I closed my eyes to let the tears in my eyes roll to my cheeks and the nurse came to my side.

“It’s okay, Mrs. Winters, he’s just too nervous right now, he’ll come around. First-time fathers always do this,” she tried to comfort me.

I nodded and placed my hands on my flat belly as I realized life was growing there. Next, we heard a soft knock on the door and Lily came.

“Sierra, oh my gosh, don’t tell me!” She screamed as she noticed my hands on my belly and I nodded.

“Wow! Congratulations!” She said and engulfed me in her arms.

“Wait, If you’re pregnant, then why is Damian so upset?” She asked and pulled away.

“He’s just too emotional, he’ll come around.” I lied, and she nodded while the nurse gave a small smile.

“Do you need help, maybe a wheelchair?” The nurse asked.

“Can I please stay the night? I promise to double the fee if necessary.”

“Of course. You’re still in a little pain, and you don’t need to double the fee, you’re under our care. Please excuse me,” she informed me, then walked out.

“Oh gosh, do you have a name?” Lily asked as soon as the nurse closed the door.