The Heiress He Lost, The Woman His Uncle Claimed

Camilla's POV

“Negative, Mrs Hartford"

The words settled before I let them sink, once again the test results were the same as always and my wish to have a baby for my husband Nathaniel, was blown to dust, again.

I blinked once

“Oh," I could barely hear myself say “okay."

Nodding as I readjusted on the examination bed.

“I know how much this means to you ma’am" the doctor added, softer now. “You've been very consistent with your checkup and I assure you that I will run the full panel again, hormones, the works…. You've been coming here long enough that the staffs already memorized your file”

Her hand came up my shoulder and squeezed lightly.

" We all want this for you. Considering the fact that everything appears normal”

Normal

What a cruel joke, If I was normal then why wasn't I like other women.

I forced my lips into something that looked like a smile. “Thank you"

I was tired of the tests and drugs and the smell of this enclosed white room but how was I supposed to keep my marriage to Nathaniel if I didn't give him an heir, after all that was the condition on the marriage contract papers.

The marriage I ran away from home to indulge in because of love.

Three years of marriage to produce an heir so he would secure his Inheritance and I agreed because I loved Nathaniel and at that time, three years was enough time for me to make him love me back and happily carry his babies.

I didn't think a month to the end of my marriage I still would be without a child and Nathaniel's love.

I stood before the doctor could say anything else. Before sympathy could spill into the room and drown me completely.

I couldn't afford to breath here, not where strangers could see.

On my way out, my phone pinged but it was a message from Mrs Hartford, Nathaniel's mother.

‘Don’t forget the dinner meeting like how you've forgotten to give my son a child, barren witch.’

I pressed my lips together and could only put my phone back into my bag.

The drive home felt like a blur that was put together by thoughts I could quite hold onto.

My fingers tightened around the steering wheel as I thought of ways to fix this.

Maybe I just needed more time, maybe he'll understand.

Nathaniel had always been understanding, he would pat my head and tell me it wasn't my fault.

I exhaled, I should call Sophia, my best friend since I arrived at Hartford’s family house, at least I could hear from her what I could do, she was the only one who understood me.

I dialed her number but it rang once and twice and three time without anyone taking the call, I tried twice before giving up.

***

The house was too quiet when I stepped inside, I had told Nathaniel on his way to work I would stay longer in the office but the news of the pregnancy tests needed me to wallow my self In pity in my house especially when Sophia wasn't taking her calls.

I dialed Sophia once again but then my brows knitted together at the sound of a familiar ringtone coming from upstairs.

That was when my eyes noticed the red bottom heels carelessly placed on the couch and the black plus size bra hanging loosely from the side of the television.

My heart stuttered.

Slowly and almost unwillingly, I forced myself to move further into the corridors, each step i took heavier than the last and the closet I got the clearer the voices became.

Were they intruders?

Nathaniel had complained about the load of work waiting for him in the office and how he would be home late.

I approached the masters bedroom, I and Nate's bedroom where the door was slightly open.

And through the small gap, my world finally came crashing down at my feet.

Nate who was suppose to be at the office stood there, his shirt half-unbuttoned, his hands on Sophia.

My best friend.

“Oh yes Nate.. Make me cum just like that…. Mhmm fuck, deeper daddy Nate, deeper.” her tempo increase.

My skin prickled at the sight of everything, the way she shudderd into him the way he held her, like he had every right to touch her, like he wasn't doing it in our home.

My breath caught, sharp and painful like glass cutting through my lungs and heart.

For a moment I just stood there, barely realizing my trembling hands until the door creaked slightly under them and they both turned.

Their eyes meeting mine but there was no shock nor guilt.

My teary eyes narrowed to Nathaniel who seemed irritated.

“You're back" pulling out of Sophia who rose along with him. “We weren't expecting you" his voice was calm, almost bored.

“You said you had a lot of work to do at the office" Sophia clung the sheets to her chest.

I blinked, my body felt numb, like my soul stepped out just to avoid feeling this.

“W-what is this…?” I finally managed, barely holding my voice together. “Sophia..?"

She stepped out completely unbothered but then Nathaniel stepped in front of her, possessively.

" Can you not look pitiful right now, you're making this more dramatic than it needs to be.”

Dramatic.

“What? Dramatic?.... Nathaniel I just came from the hospital.." my voice shaking now “I…"

“And are you pregant?”

My jaw clenched. " Are you even serious right now?”

He scoffed "why go there when it's evident you can't birth a child"

My heart dropped.

Nathaniel had always comforted me, told me we still had time and he wasn't even in a hurry.

But now.

It was all a lie.

Disbelief flooded my veins. “So what? You're cheating on me with my best friend because I can't give a child?”

" It's not cheating if he was mine first” Sophia argued, her words sent sharp arrows through my chest.

Meanwhile Nathaniel let out a homorless laugh. "Don't make it sound tragic Camilla, it's not like I'm fucking some outsider” he reached out for her and pulled her closer.

Sophia giggled and it dawned on me that whatever had been going on between then wasn't just a new thing.

“You knew what this marriage was from the beginning.” he added "the agreement is almost over and you haven't given me a reason to stay faithful.”

My heart ached now.

“I loved you,” I whispered, the confession slipping out before I could stop it.

Silence and then a casual shrug.

“That's your mistake."

I opened my mouth to say something but my phone buzzed in the pocket of my coat and the sound cut through the moment.

I reached for it to discard the message but my eyes slowly scanned through.

My vision blurred again for a second and then cleared.

Then the words of the text settled.

‘Addition test results have been completed Mrs Hartford. There is no fertility issue on your end, it's from your husband.’

Everything stopped.

This time something colder rose from within me.

I slowly lifted my teary gaze, my eyes locking onto him.

This man who had blamed me.

Humiliated me.

Betrayed me.

All while knowing the truth.

The dangerous realization that changed everything settled in my chest.

I was never the problem.

Suddenly the ache in my heart turned into something else.

Pushing my phone back into my pocket, I took one last look at Nathaniel and Sophia before turning to take my leave.

“Hey!! Where the hell do you think you're going to" Nathaniel yelled after me “you don't walk away when I'm talking to you…"

I walked out of the room without looking back.

Out of the life I had been desperately trying to hold together.

By the time I reached my car, my hands were no longer shaking.

I pulled out my phone and dailed a number I hadn't used in a long time.

The line rang once.

Twice.

“Hello?"

Her voice, when she spoke was calm.

"Prepare my divorce papers” I paused " this marriage ends tonight.”