Two

Paula briefly opened her eyes, but all that was visible was darkness. Even though her eyes were opened, all she could see was a dark light shining from above.

Like a match connecting fire to fire, memories from yesterday flooded her mind. She clutched the cloth that was covering her body, forcing herself to stand up.

There was a slight antiseptic odor in the air that she could sense. It wasn't long before she realized she was in the hospital. She must have lost consciousness after viewing the message on Len's phone.

The door was pushed open at that very moment, revealing a man.

It was Len's secretary, Isak.

Paula's expression was one of disappointment, and all she could do was look away from the door.

"Mrs. Bertram , Mr. Len had a meeting to attend. He brought you to the hospital himself" Isak said.

Isak was always that way, attempting to defend Len's behavior and give Paula the impression that Len was not as cruel as she believed.

"Why didn't he stay when he brought me to the hospital? Why did he ...?"

Her eyes began to well up with tears, cutting short the rest of her sentence.

Paula was a sensitive person who would always cry at the slightest discomfort, so even though she hated these tears, there was nothing she could do.

Maybe that was the reason, Len always thought she was cunning whenever she was crying.

Pressing his lips together, Isak showed off the package he had brought. "I brought you breakfast. Mr. Bertram asked me ..."

"Len would never ask you to buy me breakfast. Don't try to justify his every action" Paula yelled, her eyes blazing with savage fire.

She felt a sharp pain in her mouth as she shouted. It was from the same spot where Len had struck her the day before.

Paula touched her cheeks only to realize it was swollen. She got down from the bed, put on her shoes, and cleaned the tears.

"I'm going back, tell Len I went back," Paula said, putting on her shoes.

"Mrs. Bertram ... err... I will drive you home. I just got back from the Doctor" Isak said, stretching his hand to help Paula. "He advised you to cease engaging in stressful activities, and you are... You are..."

"Pregnant?" Paula cut it, her eyes revealing a strange emotion. "I'm pregnant, right?"

Naturally, Paula had been noticing the change in her for a while, but she did not have time to check herself because she was so busy.

"Mrs. Bertram , please take care..."

"Don't tell Len about it. He wouldn't be happy" Paula cut in.

Isak pursed his lips, unsure whether to follow his boss's lead and listen to his boss's wife.

Isak had been Len's secretary for years now and he was also there when Len got married to Paula. He had also seen Paula receive the same treatment from Len every time.

However, he was just a secretary. He couldn't interfere too much in their affairs.

Paula didn't wait for his response, she sauntered out of the hospital room.

Isak went after her and later drove her home.

Paula had a nice breakfast, took a bath, and put on the dress she had not worn in a long time when she got home.

It was the gown her mother purchased for her just before she passed away.

After her mother passed away, Paula refused to wear the fabric; she kept it for years, but today, she felt a deep sense of bitterness in her heart, and she believed that wearing the dress would help her let it out.

Just when she was about to go out, her phone rang.

Looking at the Caller ID, a cold look flashed on Paula's face.

Paula said, "Hello," raising the phone to her ear.

"Sis," a soft, flowery voice called out over the phone. "I heard from Len that you fainted, are you okay?"

Paula clenched the hem of her dress. "Are you mocking me, Melissa?"

That is right... the Melissa Paula is speaking to is the same Melissa who texted Len yesterday.

Melissa and Paula are stepsisters. They do not get along too well, but the fact that Melissa was Len's childhood sweetheart strained their bond even further.

And from what Paula has been told, they had a deep love for one another.

"Sis, what do you mean?" Melissa spoke, sounding as though she was going to cry. "Len, my Sister thought I was mocking her. Why is she always so cold to me?"

Before Paula could understand what was going on, she heard Len's cold voice on the phone.

"I suppose you are all right now. Fainting for no reason and now insulting someone who cares about you. Tell me, Paula, when will you stop pretending?"

"Pretending?" Paula questioned, her lips trembling.

"You didn't know I was with Melissa, isn't that the reason you showed your true colors?"

Len's voice was filled with mockery.

"Len, how could you visit Melissa when I was on the hospital bed? How could you?" With sadness and rage in her voice, Paula spoke. "You know what, you can do whatever you want and I will do whatever I want."

Before Len could respond, Paula ended the call.

This is what she had been facing for the past few years. Paula endured everything just to be by his side forever, never took his cruel words seriously, never tried to think about the time he was with Melissa when he was supposed to be with her... Paula truly went to great lengths to retain the man she cherished.

But what did she get in return... Len's cruelty.

What more could she do to please him and to make him trust her?

Paula gave it a long thought but it appeared she had run out of ideas.

Len would never change. He would always choose Melissa before her, he would always visit Melissa on their anniversary and he would always mistreat her.

Paula picked up her bag and walked out of the house.

She has already made up her mind. She won't allow her feelings for Len to tie her down.

~Independent Hospital~

"Are you sure you want to get an abortion?" With sympathy in his eyes, Doctor Duane enquired. He had seen a lot of young women like the woman in front of him several times without a number asking for abortion for one reason or the other.

"Yes," Paula replied. "I want to get it as soon as possible. Don't ask of the Father, he doesn't want it either."

If Len knew she was pregnant, he would eventually force her to abort it. Why not abort it now rather than suffer the humiliation from him?

After Paula left the hospital, she went shopping and bought a lot of things for herself. She went to different restaurants and tried out different kinds of delicacies.

Paula had been keeping this money for herself to buy something tangible for Len on his birthday. He wouldn't appreciate it anyway. Why not spend the money on herself?

After making sure she was done, Paula returned to their Villa. It was a little past nine when she got home.

Arriving at the door, she was surprised to find the door open.

Was Len back?

Paula punched in the door code and pushed the door open. Len was seated on one of the couches in the living room when she arrived.

Paula halted in her tracks as their gazes met. She shifted her gaze from him, ready to scurry away with her shopping bags.

"Where have you been?"

Len's voice made her stop. She turned around, trying not to show a hint of fear. "As you can see, I went shopping."

"Is that why you came late? It seemed you weren't lying when you said you would do whatever you wanted. Are you showing your true colors now?" Len spoke harshly, his voice laced with harshness.

"Why? I can't show my true colors?" Paula answered, standing on her ground. "You asked me to stop pretending and that is what I'm doing. Are you satisfied now?"

Len was taken aback by Paula's response. He did not anticipate a response from her. No... Paula had never responded to him in that manner before.

"If you have nothing to say, I will leave," Paula said, turning to leave.

But Len Bertram wasn't the type to let go like that. He would never let her win. He would never.

"I received a call from the doctor. He told me you are pregnant" Paula stopped dead in her tracks at Len's words. "I don't want a baby from a cunning woman, Paula. I don't want..."

"Don't worry, Len. I also think it's bad to have your baby. I already aborted it. You can be rest assured" Paula said, her voice laced with indifference.

She walked into her room, not waiting for him to reply. As she locked her door, she fell to the floor and broke down in tears.