CHAPTER 1 – CAUGHT IN THE ACT

TILDA

The noise from downstairs signaled James’s arrival, and hurriedly, I ran down the staircase to welcome him with the great news. At last, we could have our own child, something we had both always wanted.

Stepping into the living room, I froze instantly.

There, sprawled across the couch, was my husband, James—naked and tangled in the arms of my half-sister, Kristie.

A sharp pain tore through my chest at the gut-wrenching sight, and my vision became blurred. Slowly, hot tears spilled down my cheeks, each one burning with betrayal.

But they didn’t stop; they acted like I was invisible, giggling and moaning as they carried on with their disgraceful act.

It can't be James and Kristie, they were the two people closest to me. I trusted them with everything.

Suddenly the air turned suffocating, and all I wanted was to get away. Surely, my imagination was playing with my head. James cannot betray me; the love we share was too strong.

Moments later, I was all alone, wandering in the street, and mumbling.

Why? My heart was bleeding, trembling, cracking and shattering at the same time.

“Hello, my lady,” a young man approached me from behind.

My first reaction was to scream, *go away* but helpless, I fell into his strong arms, surrendering. His warmth masculine smell providing the comfort I so much desired.

“I don’t deserve this,” I sobbed.

“I know you don’t, Tilda,” he whispered.

My body stiffened. How did the stranger know my name? However, I was drunk, way too drunk to care.

“You shouldn’t let go of yourself this way?” he said, worry laced in his tone.

“Kristie was supposed to be my sister,” I whispered. “I shared everything with her. Why would she do this? Why with James?”

He sighed. “They are the losers here, Tilda. It is late and you shouldn’t be out here by yourself.”

I never expected an answer, at least not from him. But his voice felt soothing, reassuring. Something in it that made me trust him. “Please take me, I want to be far from them,” I begged, clutching on to him tightly.

The next morning, I woke up in an unfamiliar room with an uneasy feeling.

“What am I doing here?” I glanced around, my memory a haze, my body tense.

I took the note on the table and stared at the words.

*Wait for me, Tilda. I will be back soon.*

My pulse quickened. Who was he? I needed to leave this place, and ignoring the servants who tried to stop me, I rushed home. It was just a bad night, and everything would return to normal as soon as I am with James again.

But the moment Kristie opened the door, the unease resurfaced.

“What do you want here, Tilda?” she sneered.

I frowned. “Kristie, why are you here so early?”

She scoffed. “You reeked of alcohol, Tilda, return back to where you came from.”

“Oh, Kristie, I think something is messing with my head,” I confided in her, my eyes probing for James. I was supposed to be the perfect wife, how did I get drunk and find myself on the bed of a stranger? “Where is my husband?”

“You returned, Tilda.” James appeared at the top of the staircase, dressed in pajamas, a cigarette dangling between his fingers.

“We thought you will never do.” He sounded indifferent as he made his way down the stairs.

I felt an instant relief by his presence. “James, I don’t know what happened, nothing seems to be making sense anymore.”

I rushed towards him, but Kristie stepped forwards, wrapping her arms around his waist.

“Kristie,” I stuttered, glaring at her. She jokes too much, and so I turned to James. “I can explain everything, James. This morning...”

James cut in. “It will all make sense soon, Tilda.” He exhaled a puff of smoke.

“I swear I don’t know, I woke up and... and,” I hesitated.

As much as I tried, last night remained a hazy blur. My stomach twisted. “This isn’t real. It’s all in my dream. Soon I will wake and it will be alright.”

“You want to know what’s real,” Kristie chuckled, placing her hand on her stomach. Her eyes gleaming with triumph. “I’m pregnant. James and I are having a baby,” she announced.

“Kristie,” my voice suddenly became hoarse. “He is... my husband...”

James scoffed, glaring at me with revulsion. “It has always been your fault, Tilda. All these years you kept me childless. I have Kristie now.”

I held my head, it was pounding fast. Memories from last night, the ones I had been desperate to escape, came flooding in. I had seen them, James and Kristie, on this couch, making love. I got myself drunk as a result.

Then the stranger from last night, he too was real. Who was he and how did he know so much about me?

Tears flowed freely.

“Yes Tilda, no one wants a barren woman. Real women like me should have the men,” Kristie ridiculed me.

In my desperation, I reached for James, grabbing his hand. “But I went to the doctor yesterday, James. We can fix this and I will carry your child. I was going to give you the news. The IVF this time is with guaranteed result. You don’t have to wait anymore.”

“You’ve got your chance, Tilda. Now I don’t want you no more. Leave and never come back,” James pushed me hard, sending me crushing on the floor.

I recoiled in fear, scared of what he might do next. Nevertheless, as tears blurred my vision, I begged earnestly. “I got nowhere, Please don’t send me away, James.”

“No one wants you, Tilda,” Kristie spat. “Leave you pathetic fool.”

I scrambled to my feet. “I did everything for you, James. I can do more. Please don’t do this.”

He looked away like I wasn’t even there.

The intensity of my desperation increased. “We can fix this and pretend it never happened. I know you are disappointed in me, but this time will be different.”

A slow smirk curled on his lips. “We are already divorced, stupid. You signed the papers.”

James was in charge of everything I owned, and all along, I signed whatever document he brings without a second glance. He tricked me.

My blood turned cold. “No, I didn’t...” the words caught in my throat.

Kristie tossed a stack of papers at me. “Here,” she said smugly. “Your divorce papers. You don’t belong here anymore.”

I trembled as I unfolded them, my eyes darting across the words. It was real, and James had taken everything.

My world shattered.

A choked sob escaped my lips as darkness closed in. The last thing I heard before everything faded was Kristie’s victorious laughter.

And then, I collapsed.