Four

The atmosphere grew heavy with unspoken words and unresolved feelings, leaving his wife feeling even more anxious. Treasure asked him again, "Are you sleeping, Claire? Just tell me the truth, Blake." Her words had struck a nerve deep within him.

“What? You can’t be serious! That's a ridiculous question and it should be the least of your worries. And as far as the truth. Tell me something, Treasure. Can you handle the truth since you tend to live in fantasy land?”

“To be in love and happily married is not a fantasy, Blake. And yes, I can handle the truth over lies. Don’t tell me, you think it’s a coincidence that her celebration dinner was at the same place I was supposed to meet you? I can tell it was all planned by her. The way you two looked at each other and how you held her in your arms. And Blake, you kissed her! It was disgusting!”

Blake shook his head. “Believe what you want, I’m tired of this out-of-control jealousy and wild imagination. It was a peck on the lips.”

I stood up and walked over to him.

“You are tired? I think you got it wrong, Blake. I’m the one exhausted and tired of trying to please you. While you are busy cheating with Claire?”

“Claire is just a coworker. And what place do you have to accuse me?”

I scoffed. “I have every right! I’m your wife. And your whore gave me the evidence I need. You call her your coworker, and I call her a home wrecker!”

“You have a wild imagination.”

“You think I’m blind? You think because I’ve been a stay-at-home wife these past few years, I don’t know what I’m talking about, but I know what I saw tonight.

“What you saw is what happens when I close a successful deal. I celebrate!”

“You went to celebrate by cheating with another woman when your marriage is hanging by a thread! That’s so smart of you, Blake.”

“I can’t believe how you are twisting something so innocent around and making it dirty. What do you really want here? To push me away even further?”

“So, you admit it, you don’t care what I think, as long as it suits your wants. Typical.”

“I forgot I was supposed to be meeting you. Why can’t you accept that and leave this alone. I’m warning you. You don’t want to mess things up.” He looks at me, his expression hardening.

“Maybe it’s time for you to face the truth. Blake, it’s already messed up! And I’m done pretending everything is fine. What I saw tonight, you’ve gone too far, and I’m tired of living this way.” I said with tears forming in my eyes.

“I’ve gone too far, and I keep messing up? You want the truth, but I know you can’t handle the truth! But if you are ready to burn this marriage down to ashes, then let’s go for it! I’m tired of thi,s too! Maybe it’s time to let go.”

“And what truth is that? That you are cheating. Come on, come clean, Blake.”

Blake looked at me with narrow eyes as he fiercely hit the wall with his fist. Making me jump almost out of my skin. “You! I’m trying to spare you. In the beginning, I’m not going to lie, you caught my eye. But my plan was to have fun and mess around with you. So, you see, you should be grateful I married you.”

I was taken aback. “Grateful? You think I wanted this life? I had dreams!”

Blake dismissively says. “Dreams don’t pay the bills, Treasure. You better be glad you have a roof over your head.”

There’s heavy silence as I grapple with my emotions, anger morphing into hurt.

I quietly asked, voice trembling. “You don’t love me, do you? So, I guess that means you are ready to throw our marriage away?

Blake’s voice is cold, his face betrays nothing, as a smirk plays on his lips.

“Love? I married you to settle a debt. Your uncle came to us on his hands and knees at my mother’s funeral, offering you up as payment on behalf of all the money he owes us. He figured you could be useful to us around this house. When it’s feasible, I make deals like this all the time. Besides, I thought you could be personally useful to me. But I wasn't planning on going as far as to marry you. That was my father's bright idea for me to make you an honest woman by marrying you. So here we are. You wanted the truth, and I hope it sets you free.”

I blink, beginning to feel dizzy. His words came crashing like a wave. I stepped back from him. I didn’t recognize this man. My heart racing as my stomach began to release thunderous cramps.

My voice is trembling. “What do you mean? That’s it? I was just a transaction.

Blake leans forward, his tone icy. “I’m tired of pretending. Treasure, this was anything more than a business arrangement. Your uncle couldn’t pay, so here you are—living a comfortable life.”

I could feel a wave of nausea washing over me, as the cramps deepened within the core of my stomach.

I whisper. “I thought there was something real between us. I can’t believe I was a part of everyone’s evil plan.”

Blake says with an edge in his voice, “There was nothing real, Treasure. And frankly, I’ve been eyeing other women for a while. My secretary has been quite a distraction.”

The words slice through me like a knife, and I doubled over as if the air had been stolen.

I became breathless, “No… you can’t be serious.”

Blake shrugs casually, reveling in my despair. The moment hangs heavy with betrayal.

He then smirks, “If the special announcement you wanted to make, has anything to do with you being pregnant. I don’t want you or this child—if you’re even pregnant.”

My breath hitches, my heart racing at the confirmation of my worst fears. My eyes flood with tears.

I’m standing there choking back emotion. “I… I was going to confirm it tonight with you. I thought maybe you’d be happy!”

Blake laughs coldly. “Happy? You’re unbelievable. This was never about 'us.”

Suddenly, I feel a wave of pain washing over me, pain that’s too much to bear. I double over, gripping my stomach, feeling the realization of what this means.

My voice breaks forth with pain. “I can’t stay in this place with you. I deserve better!”

Blake’s expression darkens as he walks away, brushing past me towards the door.

He snatches his blazer off the bed, exiting the room, leaving me standing alone, drowning in heartbreak. The weight of Blake’s words echoes in the stillness around me, a blend of anger, sadness, and despair.

In that moment, I had no choice but to drop to my knees, grabbing my abdomen. The feeling of unbearable pain struck me with force. I had never felt anything like it before.

“Wait, Blake! Help, help me!”

Instead of Blake coming to my aid. I could hear his twin brother Jake yelling, “Blake, get back in here! Treasure needs you!” But Blake ignores him as he slams the front door. Jake rushes up the stairs taking them by twos. He enters the bathroom as I’m now wailing in great pain. He lifted me up off the floor. “Treasure, what’s wrong? Oh, my God! You’re bleeding! What happened? Treasure, where is Blake going? Did he hurt you? I’m going to kill him!”

The pain was so excruciating that I couldn’t answer any of his questions. “Please, call an ambulance. I don’t know how much longer I can hold on.”

Jake frantically pulled out his phone and called 911.