CHAPTER 2: The Accusation

I stumbled back and rested my hand on the wall to support myself; I could not believe what I was hearing.

“What do you mean?” I asked him

“We are not ready, Leah; things like this take preparation, and we are not prepared, Leah."

I could not believe my ears. “I am not removing my baby," I said back

A flash of irritation crossed his face. Grabbing my hands, I could see that he was losing his patience. “Don’t make this difficult for the both of us," he said between teeth. “You are removing the child in your belly, and that is final.”

I could not control my tears anymore at this point.

“Sister, are you trying to play the victim? Are you forcing a pregnancy on Cole, or is this all a charade to get his attention?” She said, “Are you that desperate? Don't worry, I and Brother Cole were only discussing work matters and not what you are thinking, so please stop twisting the facts” Ana cut in.

"What are you even saying? Can you hear yourself?" At this point I was using all the strength I had in me not to launch at her; I wanted to slap that dirty mouth of hers.

Turning to Cole, she continued, “This is what I was saying; she is so obsessed and possessive of you that she can’t think clearly anymore, twisting the facts and even saying anything just to keep you at her side. She is crazy.”

"What did you just call me?" I asked, moving closer. I could not hold my anger in anymore; I walked up to her and slapped her so hard that my hand burned and her cheek turned red. Cole walked over, grabbed my hand, and roughly pulled me back.

I turned to Cole. “You do not want to, baby. "Alright, that is fine. My baby and I will have nothing to do with you; you can go ahead and have my sister to yourself all you want. "I continued, 'I am fine, I am not tired, and I know what I saw, Cole!'

"Behave yourself now, Leah. I will come meet you and we’ll talk,' he said as he walked to Ana to comfort her. Ana who was already crying and pretending to be weak. The sight irritated me. I took a deep breath, turned towards the door, and left for my quarters.

This is how I got to be treated; I scoffed, placing my hands over my belly. I wasn’t going to remove the pregnancy; I was going to keep the baby.

The next morning as I was going about my day thinking about what to do with my life moving on, Ana walked in

"Ana, why are you still here? I asked

"Oh, sweet sister,” she purred. "No good morning?” "Leah, that is rude. Mother raised us better than that.”

“Raised me?” I asked, wondering what she was scheming this time.

With a gleeful expression, Ana replied, "Interesting! Look at this. Where was this energy when your husband was with me last night?”

I closed my eyes; I was not going to give Ana the satisfaction she craves. She was feeding off this, and I was not going to indulge her. I turned and went to the kitchen to keep my mind busy; she followed me.

“Ana, get out of my kitchen."

Her voice barely a whisper, "Your kitchen," she repeated my words like they were the funniest thing she had ever heard, pulling out a stool and sitting on it. She asked, “Leah, look around you. What exactly is yours in this house? Because from what I see, nothing much.”

“I am still his wife legally.” I replied to her.

“Do you know what he told me last night? He said this marriage was a mistake; those were his words, not mine. I am just relaying the message.” She continued, her voice sounding genuine and almost kind, which was somehow worse. “Cole said he does not want the baby, that you trapped him and he has been trying to figure out how to…”

"Stop," I said, starting to lose my patience. She could have him all she wanted, but she should take the mention of my baby off her lips.

“How to get out without..." She continued.

I walked up to where she was seated and slapped her, hitting her head on the wall. Ana screamed and pulled a rack of the fine dishes close to her to the floor in a tantrum, picking up a broken plate and cutting herself with it.

I could not believe my eyes; I knew she was crazy, but I did not expect her to go as far as hurting herself.

Cole came in and saw the sight before him: Ana on the floor bleeding, her hand on her cheek and her perfect hair disheveled. ‘She said she had to teach me a lesson,' Ana said.

“No, that is not what happened; I did not do it." He shot a glance at me with a look that could kill, anger written all over his face, that sent fear down my spine.

“Lock her up," he commanded. without giving me a chance to explain what happened as he carried Ana off the floor.

“What!”