Chapter 1

Luna's POV

"You ill-luck bitch!" He slaps me hard across my cheek the moment I step out of the theatre in a wheel chair.

My head spins in confusion. 

"Why didn't you push? Do you know the amount I spent on you is enough to do some important things?”  

I tilt my head in wonder, lips twitching in shock. I can't even comprehend. 

“What's wrong hun?”  I'm forced to ask. 

Three hours ago, I was fighting for my life in the labor room before the doctor suggested an emergency Caesarian section.

They had called Edward a million times but he never picked any of his calls. 

While my breath was failing, I was presented with the consent form. 

Since he wasn't here, I had to sign. 

But the good thing, I survived and my baby survived which should be a thing of joy to any new father but instead he's slapping me. 

I need an answer. Because seeing this, anyone will think he's out of his senses. 

His mom is even here, folding her arms across her chest, not stopping him. 

What I'm thinking now is, is he doing this because I didn't seek his consent? 

But we'd called him countless times and he didn't pick. 

Or is he so obsessed with giving birth naturally? 

Or is it the higher amount of money spent that is his problem? 

But that's from my purse? Why should it bother him so much? 

Tears soak my eyes as I sit here in confusion. The nurses gawk wide in confusion as well. Everyone is speechless. 

“Why did you just slap me?” I repeat, lingering for a response. 

But he's gritting his teeth with his fists so tight. 

“Why?” I insist. This isn't how I planned my new motherhood to start. 

"Is that the compliment you should be giving me?" I moan, insisting. 

"Compliment?" He sneers, leaning towards me, wanting to strike me again but some hands grab him from the back. 

My eyes which were shut in reflex open quickly. 

His mother. 

"Honey, don't do that. You see, she just gave birth." She whines. Her tone is so fake. 

My face squeezes so tight. She's not even trying to hide the mockery. 

"You've seen what she has made us spend?" Edward barks. 

"Calm down!" She palms his chest. 

"Where's the baby?" She asks me next, looking more anxious than expected. 

A little frown rushes down my face before I point to the front. 

"He's being taken to the ward. He's fine." I simply say. 

A few meters away, a nurse is cradling a baby taking it to the ward I was going to before this unfortunate event took place. 

Celine turns and rushes after the nurse. His son doesn't spend a minute after his mom leaves, he turns and storms away. 

I'm here, staring in a puzzle.  The last gesture I capture from him becomes the cold stare of his furious eyes. 

I palm my chest, trying to control the raged breath. 

“Is that how they've always treated you?” The nurse by my right asks. 

The one behind sneers. “Why would you have a child for such a beast?” 

But little do they know that the man they are calling beast was always the sweet, cherishing husband I'd always fantasized about. 

The one who didn't let me do anything while I was pregnant. Who would wake up at any time of the night to make my cravings. 

Even his mom who's now siding with him used to massage me, assure me of her love. 

These people were a great family to me aside from my birth family. 

So now these nurses are saying these, I can do nothing other than stare into the air wondering why the change in a twinkle of an eye. 

I shake my head bitterly. 

I find myself muttering. "Don't worry, it's gonna be alright. Maybe it's the stress of being a new dad." 

What can I say? 

It's the only reason to come to mind. 

I heave heavily. 

I arrive at the ward to meet them holding the baby, they were smiling and playing with him. But me who gave birth to him, they won't even look at. 

This becomes my ordeal for the next six days here. They'll come, get the baby from me, play with him, discuss whatever they want to discuss and leave right after. 

I'm sunk in despair and depression seeing the man I love with all of my heart slowly drifting away from me without knowing the cause. 

Today I'm set for discharge, they arrive early in the morning. Seeing them walk through that door, I inhale deeply, sighing in weariness. 

As usual, neither speaks to me. They get my baby and her things and are turning right away but my distorted voice rings in shock. 

“Are you both leaving without me?” 

The first moment I saw them, I believed they were here to take both me and the baby home. 

Edward turns slowly with an irritated look. 

"Don't you have the legs and the brain to trace your way back home?”  

My jaw drops to the floor. Mr. Right is saying this? 

Unbelievable! 

He even cuts on sharp, not waiting to see me talk. 

“Make sure you return home early enough to breastfeed the baby. A cab will be sent to pick you up."

"A cab? What happened to your car? Why can't I come with you guys?” I insist. 

He shoots a dagger glare that forces my lips shut. 

“Who's going to wait for you to pack up?”  

Another lame excuse. 

How long will it take? 

It's here it hits deep that there's something going on which is making him behave this way. 

All the excuses he's been giving are just for coverup. 

I sit up, gawking at the door after they leave. My breath escapes. My body stays still, literally feeling like I'm dead. 

"Fuck. Is this for real?"  

A quick jolt rushed into me and I leap up. 

No! I can't delay. 

I rush to the bathroom to have a bath. Coming out, I dress and begin to pack my stuff. 

I hang my bag over my shoulder, rolling the other luggage. I leave the room, straight to the bursar downstairs. 

“Hello,” I call on her and she raises her brows. “Am I all cleared? I'll be leaving.” 

“Just a moment. Give me your name.” 

I give her. 

Luna Emrys. 

I'll gladly pay whatever bill might be left since this is a big deal for Edward. 

Just a moment of responsibility and he's acting up. 

She checks and says, “All cleared.” 

“Pretty good.” I sigh. 

"You're free to go, ma'am. Congrats on your newborn baby. Happy motherhood."

“Thank you.” I force a smile, not sure if I'm going to really smile as I'm heading home. 

What I should be hearing from my husband, from my mother-in-law yet a total stranger is saying it. 

I flip my brows in gloom. So I rush out to get a cab. 

At the roadside, I stop to hail for a taxi. Now inside, my heart is beating twice as fast, especially as we're close to home. 

The driver pulls up safely, I slide out a dollar note, thanking him. 

Reaching the stately apartment we live in, I decide to use the back door. The shortest for me. 

The cry of my baby is the first thing I hear. My burning heart cools a bit. I hasten my steps a bit. 

His cry pumps a strange kind of energy in me. 

Closer to the house, another thought rises in me in his defense. 

“Maybe, his investment had crashed or something.” As an investor, this could contribute. 

Whatever it is, I'm home now. I'm going to know. 

Then I hear hushed tones. My feet naturally halt. They are in there alone, why speak in a hushed tone as if conspiring. 

To confirm, I go into tiptoe mode, so they don't hear. 

It's really hard not to suspect at this point. 

Then I hear. "How are you gonna tell her there'd be no wedding….on that day?”  

It was Celine.  

My brain naturally pauses, rewinding to ponder. 

"It's as simple as fuck.”  Edward cuts in. “I don't have money. We've already spent much on her complicated birth.” He says it so easily.

Why? Like why? Do I not matter to him? 

If money is their only problem, I want to walk in there and let them know I'm footing all the bills. 

Or have they forgotten who I am? Will I plan the wedding of others with success, coming to mine, it becomes a problem? 

No! Never!! 

I'm already taking two steps towards the door when I hear his mom. 

"Good the way things are and she's even an event planner, let her plan the wedding for me. I can't wait."

I halt. 

For me? Did I just hear for me? 

The statement repeats over and over again in my mind to show it's not a mistake. She doesn't rephrase. 

“I can't wait for our big day. Mwaaaah!" Lips snap in on the cheeks. 

“What? Edward?”  

My eyes blurs. 

Thw next thing I'm thinking is, “Am I sure I'm not hallucinating?” 

I begin rubbing my eyes. My legs weakens and I can barely stand. 

My brain at this point is striking on so many things, searching for answers. 

I recall. He's kissing his mom? That looks so weird, coupled with the words. 

No! It can't be his mom. 

Besides being hard to believe. It’s confusing the more. 

I'm barely through this when I hear. 

"Baby we can't really wait. In fact, just let her plan the wedding, then pick me as your bride, kick her out and boom.” I hear the hit on the desk. “We will make a great family.” 

Eeeeehh! 

I'm finished!