First betrayal

Thalia's Pov

"Eirik...." I wanted to call him to order, make him read my eyes and see how uncomfortable I was with all of these.

"Don't you agree, Thalia? Mirelle can help you with some things so you won't get too worn out." Eirik interrupted me again.

I scoffed in disbelief. All these years of me working alone; cleaning the house, arranging his wardrobe twice a week, cleaning our personal bathroom, taking care of our son and preparing our meals -- he has never mentioned anyone helping me.

But our son was involved and he is volunteering to allow Mirelle to help me. Did he think I was dumb? I sighed resistantly while feeling cornered so I nodded.

"That's great." Ianth clapped excitedly. "So, Aunt Mirelle is staying over at our house." He added.

I threw my head towards him. "No!" I refused immediately. Mirelle only came visiting for a few days and I was firmly against it but under the cover of taking care of Ianth, they wanted her to move in? No way.

"Thalia." Eirik called me, warning laced in his tone. "It is best for Ianth. He is just a kid." He spoke gently yet I knew what that held.

It held soft pressure. He was pushing it onto me. If I disagree again, Ianth will turn against me and I will be the physical enemy. "Just for a few more days." I reluctantly agreed.

A few days passed. Ianth got discharged from the hospital. Mirelle had finally moved in and I was bored with it. Eirik wouldn't talk about it so I decided to be quiet, for the time being.

"Sweetheart?" I called, entering Ianth's room. The first thing I noticed was his pajamas. "Why did you pick another pair of pajamas?" I asked, taking a seat beside him where he watched video games.

"Aunt Mirelle said the color is too bright for a boy so I changed them." Ianth responded.

I licked my lips, trying to control my anger again. This was the second time in the week. Mirelle was seriously trespassing and I didn't like it one bit. I tried to calm down with the thought of it being pyjamas, nothing serious.

But I snapped when my eyes caught the paint in the room. It had been changed from grey to white. When did this happen? "Ianth, did your dad repaint your room?" I asked.

Ianth was barely listening to me. "Aunt Mirelle slept with me last night and said the color doesn't suit me being a boy. Grey colors are boring so dad had it changed this morning." He replied.

Really? I chuckled. It wasn't the first time Ianth insisted Mirelle sleep on his bed for the night but Eirik had the paint of our son's room changed without informing me and according to Mirelle's preference. 

The discomfort in my heart grew bit by bit and it was hard to push away. I was becoming suspicious and jealous. Is there somehow else Mirelle wants from my family? She was slowly taking everything away from me.

About this same issue, I confronted Eirik about Mirelle taking Ianth to his daycare without much consent. He dismissed me as being oversensitive and irresponsible. 

Things are spiraling out of control and I couldn't do anything about it because the only person who was supposed to listen to me has been blinded too. What should I do?

'Anniversary' The thought suddenly crossed my mind.

For eight years of being married to Eirik, I always had a tracking calendar for our wedding anniversary date. My attention shifted temporarily as I began to think of preparing a surprise. 

My family is being carried away and it was my duty to bring their attention back. My family is mine and no one can take that away from me.

I retired to bed, glancing at Eirik who had slept without me. He must be tired, that was the excuse I made for him. I sighed and rested in hope that our marriage still matters. The surprise should be able to rekindle old memories and bring us back together again.

The next day, I got up very early and began the normal duties. I prepared breakfast before going back upstairs to get ready. 

"Why is breakfast still here? It has grown cold." I called a maid. None of them ate?

"Miss Mirelle took the young boy out for a ride." The maid explained.

I dismissed her in a careful manner. Mirelle again? She took Ianth out without permission and I was a certain percentage sure that Eirik had no idea about it.

I ignored the thought and hurried over to a jewelry store. Upsall Jewelry Store was the biggest in town and they always had perfect designs in which one of them would be unique for my wedding anniversary gift for my husband.

I walked into the store excitedly. I couldn't wait to select many pieces of jewelry.

"I want this one, the wristwatch!" The voice giggled and I paused.

It sounded so familiar that I was tempted to check. I parted my lips in surprise, seeing Ianth with Mirelle. They were in the same shop with me picking jewelry.

"Hello Madam Steele." The store staff greeted Mirelle who smiled widely, holding my son's hand.

Steele was my husband's name and it belonged to me, not Mirelle. The staff must have assumed Ianth was her son. I wanted to walk towards them so badly but for some reason I was unaware of it. I waited since they didn't know I was there.

"This wristwatch is a million dollars, a very fine piece." The staff showed a box to Mirelle.

Ianth clung to her like a fly. "Mom, you should get this one for dad." He said,

My heart ached at the way my son addressed another as his mother so affectionately and naturally. Who would believe she wasn't the one who birthed him?

"Ianth?" I called, my voice barely audible.

The two of them turned surprisingly. "Do you know her?" The staff asked.

"We don't. I am surprised she knows my son's name." Mirelle answered. 

I approached them slowly, "Sweetheart, mommy is here." Ianth backed away instantly.

"You are not my mommy!" Ianth screamed, clinging to Mirelle. "She is! She is my real mom!" He pushed me away with both hands.

My purse dropped to the floor. My heart shattered into pieces. The heartbreak was raw. I almost died during Ianth's birth yet he didn't hesitate to call someone else his mother. He denied me without a second thought.

I went back home in betrayal and humiliation. It stung hard. Eirik just drove in too. Great!

"We need to talk." I said, walking straight into the house.