Double News

Kate watched the clock tick on the wall. Alex was supposed to be home by now. She had changed into her nightdress, sitting patiently on the couch and waiting for a husband who didn't want her anymore. The house was big, too big. She sat in the silence of their mansion, surrounded by everything she could ever want, but it didn't matter in the end, nothing did, when there was no one to share it with.

She gasped in surprise when Alex drove into the driveway. She was losing hope already, but he came back home tonight. Kate immediately went to reheat the food she'd prepared over an hour ago. Everything had to be perfect for him.

"Honey," she smiled, meeting him at the doorstep before taking his coat. "I prepared your favourite--"

"I'm not hungry." Her husband's gruff voice cut her off before she could finish. Stung, she tried to hide her hurt. "But after such a long day at work, you would be tired and hungry--"

Alex's features did not soften. Her husband's handsome face stared back at her like she was a pest. "If I needed someone to tell me when to eat and sleep I would have married my mother."

Kate bit back the tears that wanted to spill. They never moved him. If anything they just made him more irritated. He left her standing there before stalking to his room. They didn't share rooms again.

Kate remembered when he came home drunk one night, about two months back. His breath had stank of alcohol when he had grabbed her with more force than was necessary. Kate had been shocked when she felt his arousal pressing against her ass. It's been what, weeks, months? Since her husband touched her.

She wished he weren't drunk, she wished he had gone in more gently. But Kate couldn't help the moan of pleasure that escaped her throat. When he entered her in one swift stroke she bit her lip in delight.

His movements got urgent, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She raked his back with her fingers. She met his thrusts with equal hunger. He shuddered on top of her, emptying his seed deep inside her. For one shiny moment, Kate allowed herself to think she'd gotten her husband back.

"Miss you, sweetheart." He whispered tiredly before settling into a deep sleep. Something cold and alarming had seeped into Kate's heart, she wasn't sure if he was referring to her.

The memory hurt as Kate lowered herself onto the couch. This has been her life for the past ten months. And she didn't know if she could keep holding on to the pieces of her life. Then some things began to change.

---

"How did it go?" Evelyn asked her on the phone. Kate could hear the breathless tension in her step-sister's voice.

"I'm pregnant," Kate whispered, hardly daring to believe it herself. "Oh, Kate! That's wonderful news, have you told Alex yet?"

"No," Kate sighed, "I'm still in shock, I feel like if I close my eyes I would wake up from this dream. The doctor told me I was a month late. Evie, I didn't know I was pregnant..."

"Oh my goodness, sweetie," Evelyn said, "After waiting this long, it must feel so unreal. But it's your reality now, so get used to it. Soon we'll know if it's a blue or pink onesie we should buy."

"Thank you, Evie," Kate giggled, wishing Evelyn were here with her. They were very close even as kids. And Evelyn meant the world to her.

She rubbed her belly affectionately, feeling very lucky. She couldn't wait to tell Alex the news, she could imagine the joy that would light up his face. Perhaps he would behave more kindly towards her. Perhaps he would love her like he did at the beginning. Perhaps the past would be forgiven and everything would change.

Kate couldn't believe her luck. Just when she thought all hope was lost, when she dismissed the morning sickness she was having as a case of the flu, when she dismissed her missed period as a late one, she realised her body was beginning to change.

She kept this suspicion to herself, better to be sure before she told him anything. So far, he'd been patient with her even when his mother kept putting pressure on him. And now, it was finally time to celebrate their win.

She was scrolling through her phone when a notification popped up on the screen. CEO Billionaire was seen with a mystery woman in New York's finest restaurant. Kate's heart went into overdrive. She kept a hand on her chest as if it would slow her breathing. She immediately clicked on the article, her eyes scanning the page so fast the words jumbled into a blur.

But the juicy bit stood out. Alex was having an affair. The picture of them in the restaurant was blurry but there was no mistaking Alex's handsome profile. But no matter how she zoomed the picture, the lady's face didn't show because of the angle of the shot.

"Oh, God no," Kate covered her face. "This can't be happening." Why, when? She knew the signs were there but she chose to ignore them, maybe if she pretended long enough her marriage would work. Maybe if she begged him hard enough she could rewrite the past.

She didn't know when her tears began to fall.

The baby, Kate thought worriedly, the doctor had advised her to stay away from stress. It was hard but she made herself wipe her tears and get her emotions in check.

She would wait patiently for Alex to return, it could be a lie--gossip blogs trying to destroy her marriage. No, she would hear Alex's side of it and he would assure her it was a rumour and nothing more.

It was quarter past six in the evening when Alex pulled into the driveway. Kate had dried every trace of tears on her face. She had combed her hair neatly and looked the picture of normal.

She even pecked him on the cheek when he walked into the living room, she tried to make small talk, asking him about his work, how his day went.

She was rambling and she knew it. "Kate," he began slowly. "We have something to discuss."

"I have something to tell you too, Alex--"

"I have heard enough! I'm done Kate, this marriage, it hasn't been one for months, not after everything."

"You cannot mean what you said."

"It's over, okay," Alex said, looking at her. There was no remorse on his face, just cold determination.

Kate knew then that the game was over. "So it's true," she whispered, holding herself together. "You've been cheating on me."

His face took on a wretched and haunted look. "This marriage has been built on lies, Kate. Things could never be normal between us."

The words were cutting, painful. And unreal, Kate wished she had more words, she wished she could spill all the hateful things she'd swallowed for so long but everything was happening too fast and she didn't know how to catch up.

"It's happening Kate, and nothing can stop it," Alex said, before walking out on her.