Chapter 6

My fingers twitched, and it felt like my vision was doubling. The blazing sun was forgotten as ice wrapped around my veins. 

The field felt smaller now and with everyone watching me, I felt like disappearing into the ground.

My cheeks burned as I held the kids close but all I could focus on was Jaime walking away with Laura, his arm around her back like it was supposed to be there. 

He didn't even look back as he walked away, whispering something to her that I couldn't decipher. 

What in the world was going on? 

I looked around me, stiffening at the crowd that had gathered. 

Parents clustered in groups whispering amongst themselves, others held their phone, recording the moment with awe on their faces. 

"That's his ex-wife, isn't it?"

"Didn't she leave him when he was broke? Some rumor about finding another lover."

"Poor lady. I can't believe he left his wife for that."

I couldn't bear to listen anymore, my grip around Micheal's and Sara's wrists was trembling and I didn't want them to see me crumble. 

So I forced my legs to move, "Come on, let's leave."

I kept my head high as I guided Micheal and Sara toward the parking lot, but inside I was shattering into pieces. 

My driver, Daniel was already prepared, holding the door out as we approached. 

"Mommy, why is Daddy with Aunt Laura?" Sara asked, her small voice was filled with confusion. 

Micheal said nothing, but his hand tightened in mine.

"Don't worry, sweethearts," I said, forcing my voice to sound calm. I managed a smile though it felt like my face might break.

"Daddy's just going to sort some things out." The words didn't sound believable to my ears but I couldn't tell them the truth. 

What was even the truth? I didn't know anymore. 

We arrived at the car and Daniel made sure Sara and Micheal were situated properly before I climbed in.

"Drive, Daniel." I told him the moment I was seated and he nodded. 

My arms were wrapped around Sara the entire ride, Micheal's face was glued to the window. I had no idea what to say to them, maybe because I needed reassurance myself. 

"We're home, ma'am." Daniel called from the front seat and I looked up to see the large bungalow staring at me. 

The image of Jaime leaving with Laura flashed in my head again and I swallowed. 

"Thank you, Daniel," I said when he opened the door for me. 

Sara had fallen asleep on my lap, and the sight of dried tears on her cheeks made my heart ache in pain. 

I carried her in my arms and climbed down, Micheal quietly trailing behind me. 

"Is there anything you'd like me to do for you, ma'am? Daniel called and for a moment my step faltered. 

I stared at the ivory coated door in front of me, swallowing the ball of anxiety in my throat. Then I turned to Daniel, and pasted a fake smile on my face. 

"You're dismissed for the day, Daniel." I didn't wait for his reply, I walked inside with Sara in my arms and Micheal by my side. 

The moment I stepped through the front doors, it was a flurry of activities. 

I lay Sara on her bed and supervised Micheal's bath, then I went downstairs and sunk myself in preparing dinner. I asked Alba not to come, choosing to take my mind off the tornado around me. 

Before I knew it, time was far spent and it was approaching evening.

Dinner came and went but Jaime was still nowhere to be found. 

I put the kids to sleep and read them both a bedtime story but Jaime didn't come home. 

I sat in the living room wearing my silk nightgown, the one I'd put on hoping he might come home and we could talk properly. 

The dinner I had set aside for him was sitting on the table, the food long since gone cold. But it was nothing compared to the emptiness in my chest. 

The clock ticked, edging closer to midnight and I sucked in a sharp breath. The screen of my phone came to life and I picked it up immediately. 

'i won't be coming home tonight. Don't wait up for me, I got work at the office to do.'

"What!?" The words slipped out of my lips in a broken whisper. 

I couldn't bear this anymore. I couldn't sit here waiting like some abandoned wife, wondering where my husband was and who he was with. 

I rushed upstairs to change into something more fitting, then checked to see if the kids were still asleep. 

Once I was certain that the locks were secured, I grabbed my keys and left the house. 

The drive to the company was a blur of red lights and anxious hands gripping the steering wheel. I tried not to think about what he was up to but it was useless. 

Different images flashed in my mind, each one worse than the last and my stomach twisted with unease. 

When I pulled into the underground parking garage, the security guard at the gate recognized me immediately.

"Mrs. King! I didn't know you'd be coming in tonight." 

I forced a smile, "I'm here to see my husband." He nodded and I walked into the building with my heart pounding erratically. 

The main lobby was quiet at this hour. Most of the lights were off, but there were several dim bulbs lighting the space. I knew the company like the back of my hand so it was easy to navigate my way. 

I entered the elevator and my nerves returned again, the ride to the top floor felt endless but I used the time to compose myself. 

I had to ask the questions that were burning inside me without sounding like a hysterical wife. I needed to be calm and rational. 

The door dinged open and I stepped toward Jaime's office, my feet silent against the polished floors. 

I screeched to a sharp halt when I saw figures moving through the transparent glass walls of his office. 

My breath hitched when I realized what I was looking at. 

Jaime was standing close to Laura, they were talking but I couldn't hear the words. I wanted to march forward and burst through the doors when it happened. 

Lura's hand reached up and pulled him closer. Then their lips met. 

My breath caught in my chest and for a moment, the world stopped moving. I couldn't look away or do anything except watch as my husband kissed the woman who was about to destroy my family.