Painful Betrayal 1

ELSA

I glanced at the clock on the wall, anxiously waiting for Jason’s return. It was past 4pm and he was yet to be back. I needed to break this good news to him because he deserved to know, even if he had been acting weird lately after letting his ex, Vivian live with us with claims of being stranded.

The tales didn't add up on her arrival but I just decided to let her be for Jason's sake but it seemed like she had vowed not to let me live peacefully in my matrimonial home as she always stirred a ruckus at any given opportunity.

I glanced at the test results I was holding and traced my finger across its edges nervously. In the past few days, I felt extremely dizzy, nauseous and tired. I visited the hospital and the doctor suggested a pregnancy test which turned out positive.

A joyful smile sprawled on my lips as I rubbed my palm on my still flat stomach. The satisfaction of knowing I had a life growing inside of me gladdened my heart and I was overwhelmed.

Today is supposed to be his birthday and a family dinner was fixed for the celebration, even if he wasn't really concerned about it. I knew his parents would arrive in no time but mine, I couldn't say the same about them considering the fact that they were never in support of my marriage with Jason.

I heard my phone ring from the room and I quickly ascended the stairs to grab it, thinking he was the one calling but I ended up disappointed, seeing the gardener's contact displayed on the screen. I sucked my teeth, exited the room and made my way down the stairs but paused midway when my phone beeped again.

I glanced at the screen, expecting a text from Jason but he wasn't the one and I sighed frustratedly. I heard footsteps and assumed it was Vivian walking around the house with her head high as always. I made an attempt to climb down the remaining stairs and my eyes widened in horror the moment I felt a violent push from behind.

I stumbled over, missing my step and I let out a piercing scream in fright as I landed on my stomach, hitting my head against the cold floor. The pain I felt at the instant was unbearable and I tried to take a breath but my lungs seemed to have stopped functioning.

I managed to turn with great difficulty as blood trickled down my face and there she stood with a fiendish smirk on her lips. I blinked weakly, staring unbelievably at her.

“You----” I tried to make a statement but it got stuck at the back of my throat.

My vision was becoming blurry and my head spun in a hazy spiral. The pain was so intense but I tried to fight for survival, at least for my baby whose existence I just discovered. I reached out for my phone that fell a few meters away but she was faster. She stepped forward and kicked it farther.

I laid helplessly in the pool of my blood, trying to remain alive. I struggled to breathe and I reached out for her leg with a pleading gaze but she kicked me hard and burst into a sardonic laughter. I coughed and spewed a mouthful of blood. My head felt extremely heavy and I fought to stay awake but my eyes rolled backwards on their own accord.

As the darkness crept in, my body became numb and I gave up all hope of survival till a faint voice sounded.

“Ma'am Elsa!!!” The voice reverberated in my head as I gave in to the darkness.

**********

I woke up with a throbbing ache in my head. My gaze squinted as I tried to adjust to the brightness of the room. My lashes flickered open and I scanned my surroundings. The walls were white and my gaze landed on the heart monitor.

“A hospital?” I muttered with a squinted gaze as I racked my head trying to recall all that happened. The memories came flooding and my heart skipped a beat the moment Vivian's face flashed in my head.

The heart monitor beeped and a female doctor hurried in immediately.

“You're awake,” She muttered with a wide smile as she approached me with some nurses behind her. I remained silent, gazing blankly at her.

“How are you feeling now?” She asked and I blinked, unable to process the right response to give to her.

“Where's Jason?” I blurted, out of blue and I could see the confused expression on their faces.

“Jason? That must be the man who brought you in. He's at the reception, I'll ask someone to inform him you're awake.”

My expression was about to become sullen but I cheered up the moment I was told he was at the reception. I thought he didn't come to check up on me.

“You’ll be fine, just relax, okay?” She had the warmest smile but I felt slightly uneasy.

“I'm fine already, I hope my baby is fine too?” I asked, feeling extremely weak as I sat upright with great difficulty but she looked away with dilated pupils.

“Are you feeling hungry?” She inquired and I shook my head in disagreement.

“Ma'am, my baby is fine, right?” I asked, rubbing my stomach with a faint smile but she tried to brush off the topic.

“Listen dear, you have to rest—-”

“Is my baby fine or not?” I asked with utmost seriousness, hoping it wasn't what I was thinking but she became silent and my heart palpitated.

“Doctor, how— is my baby?” I asked again, taking a deep breath to stabilize the rate of my heart beat, fixing my gaze on her to avoid missing any reaction.

“I'm sorry ma'am, but we couldn't save the baby,” I scoffed the moment she completed her statement and gripped the stethoscope around her neck like a maniac.

“Where is my baby?!!” I yelled at the top of my voice, panting heavily. The needle from the drip was piercing further through my veins but I couldn't care at the moment.

“Ma'am, you have to calm down for the sake of—”

“Give me my baby!!” I hollered further as tears streamed down my cheeks. My heart shattered into a million pieces and I lost the strength to keep tugging at her. I fell back on the bed, drowning in my emotions.

I didn't know which was worse between the physical and emotional pain, all I knew was that I felt like dying. The burning sensation in my chest wasn't helping and the ache in my head made me grip my temple.

“Ma'am, please try to calm down. I know how you feel.” She gave me a cold comfort but it wasn't sufficient.

“Oh! Here he comes,” I quickly prepared myself to hop into Jason's arms. All I needed at the moment was a tight hug from him. He always had the ability to lessen my burden and I knew this wasn't gonna be an exception but as I got off the bed, my pupils dilated when I saw the figure by the door post.