The shadow of his choice

“Congratulations, Mrs. Leah. You are two weeks pregnant!”

"My home doctor, Mr. Smith," he announced, offering me the pregnancy test report with a smile on his face.

“Thank you," I said with a smile and shook his hands in excitement. I did not want to show too much excitement in his office, but I was almost breaking with the news I just received now.

I have been married to Cole for 3 years. I did not know I was going to be pregnant now, but regardless, I was happy; this meant I was going to be a mother. “It’s a call for celebration." I muttered and gently massaged my belly.

I left his office, hoping to break the news to my husband, Cole, tonight. Maybe a baby would make his heart grow fond. I walked down the hallway, looking for Cole.

"Mrs. Bryan, you are back home." I turned to find his secretary, just around the corner, coming out from one of the rooms. He had a slightly worried expression on his face, but I did not think much of it.

“Have you seen my husband? " I asked, a little unsure if I was ready to face him.

His secretary cleared his throat. “He is in his private office, ma'am, and he asked not to be disturbed."

I moved past him. “Thank you," I said to him.

I moved as fast as I could to find myself in his office. His quarter was the largest in the house; art was used to decorate the walls, and chandeliers and beautiful lights were used for decoration. That makes everything look exquisite. I have my own quarters as well, just opposite his, but he never visits.

I was going to tell him about our baby tonight, and things would change between us. I smiled while putting my hands on my belly. I was excited today.

As I neared his office, I heard another voice that wasn’t his. I got closer to his door and placed my ear to it to be sure I was not hearing wrong. It was my stepsister Ana’s voice; she was giggling and moaning. Her voice sounded intimate. “Oh Cole, you always know what I like," she said. “You tickle my fancy," she continued.

“I should have been the one in place of my sister. You have always had your eyes on me, but my father gave her hand to you because she’s the elder one and also to save the family’s business."

"Ana," Cole’s voice called out; his voice was low.

My stepsister had just arrived from Europe, where she completed her education. I knew Cole was fond of her and they were close, but I did not know that they were lovers. To confirm what I am hearing, I decided to enter and see for myself what is happening inside the study.

I reached for the door and opened the door.

The scene before me sent shivers down my spine; Anna’s dress moved up her thigh, straddling his lap in his chair, his hand held her waist, and his head was buried in the cleavage of her breasts. His other hands were beginning to make way beneath her dress.

They did not see me at first. Then Anna looked up, met my eyes over his shoulder, and smiled. Before she started to act shocked, her smile nauseated me.

"Anna, you are here," she said while standing up from Cole’s lap, adjusting her dress. "Leah, it is not what you think," she continued.

“Anna, what are you doing here?” It was Cole’s voice. “I asked not to be disturbed; did you not see my secretary?"

‘What is this? ’’ I could not believe it after all these years; was he always waiting for her? How long has this been going on behind my back?

“I… I…” I struggled to form my words as the scene of what I just saw replayed.

“You what?” Cole’s voice cut me off from my speech. He stood up, adjusting himself.

‘There is something I need tell you, but first, what is this with my sister?’

“It is not what you think, Leah," Ana said, putting on an act and a pitiful expression

Placing his hands on her shoulder as if comforting her, he said, “Your sister is right. It is not as you think. I was only putting Leah through some work that she needs my assistance on," he said, his tone and expression indifferent.

“I know what I saw," I said, rage burning through me. “Are you trying to twist the truth?”

“Is this how you will treat your family?” I said, placing my hands over my belly and fighting back the tears that were threatening to come out, "No, I was not going to cry in front of them."

Cole moved closer to me. “I see you are tired, Leah."

I moved back to increase the gap between us. “What!”

“Yes, Leah, you are probably tired and seeing things; that is the reason you are misinterpreting the situation.”

I could not believe my ears. ‘I am pregnant, Cole. 'I finally let the words out; I could not hold it in any more.

His expression froze. He stared at me for a while before finally asking, “Since when?”

“I am just coming from the doctor's office," I said, staring back at him, hoping there was still a chance to savor what we had; probably he had reconsidered us.

"You are not keeping the baby." He let out

The word hit me like a blow as I went pale.