Chapter 2 He Brought A Snake Home

CLAIRE

Wait, wait, wait. Didn't I hear him wrong?

Charles is bringing his pregnant best friend home? To our home?

And she even has a special nickname for him? Chaz?

“I don't know if you have a female best friend, Charlie,” I said.

“Now you know,” answered Charles.

"This isn't right, Charlie," I said then. Clutching my waist and belly, I stepped out the door. "Why did you bring her here? She doesn't have a house?"

"I just–"

"Chaz, I don't think I'm welcome by your wife." The woman wiped her eyes where there weren't even any tears. She also made a sad expression and looked down as if I was evil.

Hello, I mean, who wouldn't be surprised? My husband said goodbye to me but came back with another woman who was pregnant too! Who wouldn't be shocked if they were me?

"Claire! Don't be rude to Eva. I brought her here because she was kicked out by her boyfriend. She was cheated on and now has no one to go home to. So she contacted me and I offered her a temporary place to stay."

"And it's in our home?" I asked incredulously.

Charles nodded emphatically. "Yes. This home is still in my name after all. So it's more like I'm letting her stay in my home."

It felt like a razor blade had suddenly cut my hand. It stung to hear those words from my own husband.

"This home is indeed under your name, but is what you're doing right? What will people say if they find out that two pregnant women are living under the same roof with just one man, Charlie?"

I thought Charles would ponder over my words as usual. But instead, he just walked right past me while hugging the woman named Eva into our home. And she deliberately nudged my arm so that I was pushed aside.

I was pensive on the spot while observing the two from behind.

Charles left me, who was pregnant with his child, alone, in the cold outside for another pregnant woman.

This was so funny. Really.

"I don't listen to what others say, Claire. Come in and close the door. It's already dawn. Go sleep in your room."

If I sleep in my room, then where will they sleep?

Oh I won't let him be with Eva.

That's what finally made me rush in and lock the door. I followed him up to the second floor where there were only two rooms, ours and our daughter's.

And Charles brought her into… our daughter's room?

Not accepting it, I blocked the door before she entered. "What are you doing? She can't sleep in our daughter's room, Charlie," I said firmly.

"She? Her name is Eva. She has a name and she's my best friend."

"Whatever her name is. But she can sleep in the guest room."

Charles clucked, his eyes bulging. "What's wrong with you? The guest room is downstairs. She's already here."

And what was even more annoying, the woman was actually clinging to Charles' arm making a spoiled expression. "It's okay. If I can't sleep here, then I can sleep in the guest room. Ugh but my stomach... really hurts."

"Look. Her stomach hurts. Do you have the heart to make her go down again?"

"But–"

"So what's wrong with her sleeping in this room? Our child isn't even born yet. It's only temporary, Claire. Cut the drama and step aside."

For the first time in our marriage, Charles pushed me. For the first time in three years of marriage, Charles was being rude to me.

It wasn't a hard push, but it made my body sway and my belly hit the door.

It was a push that seemed to be a warning that I should stay away from "that woman".

It was like saying "she’s also my woman".

It hurt like hell. Not only my body but also my feelings.

This never crossed my mind at all. Where Charles would bring another pregnant woman into our warm home.

I never imagined that the nursery we had prepared would be occupied by that woman.

It was like a storm that came suddenly, without warning. And I was completely unprepared for a storm of this magnitude.

Seeing how the two of them were so close and touching each other's skin was so upsetting. It made me want to slam whatever was in front of me right now.

But instead of raging, my body chose to stay still. While my mind was very noisy.

My eyes kept observing their movements. They are not bothered by my presence at all, even Eva is smiling very brightly, contrary to the expression she showed earlier when I disagreed with her sleeping here.

For God's sake, I'm not willing to let my daughter's room be occupied by her. The room that I designed with only a little contribution from Charles, not for that woman, but for my daughter.

Oh no! Charles is even now helping her to lie down!

Meanwhile a few hours ago he asked me to delay going to the bathroom. This is not fair.

Why is the man I love and love me changing? Was it me who didn't notice the change or did he change too quickly?

"Why are you still here? Go back to our room, Claire. I'll be here until Eva falls asleep."

"Why should I go back?" I asked softly.

"Because you won't sleep here either, Claire. Got it?"

I should’ve argued again. But my energy was gone because my body wasn't feeling well. And Charles didn't seem to remember that.

"Oh yeah, don't wait for me. Eva has trouble sleeping because this is a new place for her. So I'll be here for a very long time."

For a best friend? Is that justified?

I'm his wife and Eva is just his best friend. But why is it as if it's the other way around?

Charles, why is your best friend more important than your own wife? Did you even forget that the doctor told you to take care of me carefully for the sake of our child in my womb?

"Oh one thing, can you close the door when you go out? The light from outside is too glaring. Thank you," Eva said. When Charles wasn't looking, she stuck her tongue out at me. "Looks like he chose me."