2. Left In The Dark

Birth control pills?

Violet leaned against the door, her heart breaking into pieces.

What was happening?

Was her mind tricking her, making her imagine her husband's voice? 

Clyde would never-

The shock froze her, and she stood rooted on the same spot, her ears picking up the rest of their conversation.

“Quit joking, Clyde…” Cora said, her voice playful. “You and Violet are married. Why would you want a baby with me?”

“Marrying Violet wasn't my choice,” Clyde grunted as if merely mentioning her name disgusted him. “If she hadn't interfered, you'd be Mrs. Crawford instead of her.”

“Clyde, but your family likes Violet.”

“That’s because she fooled my grandfather!” Clyde's voice turned darker. “She’s a gold digger. I'm only waiting for the perfect opportunity to chase her out!”

Each word sliced through Violet's heart. 

Her shoulders trembled and her tears flowed like a dam. 

How funny. 

Clyde never loved her!

How did he conceal this hate so perfectly?

A gold-digger.

He was the one who took her to his family. 

Three years ago, she was no one in this country. 

Yet, Clyde never bothered about her origins. 

He told her as long as she could cure his grandfather's broken leg, he'd be forever indebted.

He said he fell for her at first sight and couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life with her!

Why?

Why did he lie to her?

Violet crumbled the pregnancy test results in her hands, the ache spreading across her chest, rendering her heart weak. 

As the sounds of her husband making love to another woman echoed through the office door, the promises he'd made her resounded in her mind.

'I'll love you forever.’

'You're the most perfect woman, Violet.'

'Believe me, I'll look at no other woman.’

'When our baby arrives, Violet… I'll announce it to the whole world.’

Ridiculous! 

Clyde only planned to destroy her womb. 

Didn't he care about the effect those birth control pills would have on her?

What if Violet died?

Would he ever care? 

Violet considered barging in there to catch them red-handed. 

Could she stand the disgusting sight, however?

Their moans alone made her want to vomit. 

Violet wiped her tears and walked away.

She'd run from the trap of an arranged marriage, not knowing she was running straight into the monster's den. 

Clyde had fooled her for a long time. 

What if she never ran from her family? 

Every hardship of the arranged marriage would be worth it compared to this deep betrayal. 

She came to this country under the pretense of studying and met the love of her life. 

Violet thought her story would be different from her mother's, but hers was even worse.

At least, her mother had a shoulder to cry on when her father broke her.

Her uncle, Liam, and his wife were there to stand for her. 

But Violet was the rebellious daughter who thought she could forge her own happiness.

Was this her repercussion? 

She came out of the elevator, her head lowered, her hair covering half of her face. 

At least, the employees wouldn't notice that she was crying. 

If only it would also conceal the air of gloom surrounding her. 

Her once energetic footsteps were now reduced to a sluggish trail. 

Surely, the employees could sense something was wrong,

And they didn't mind gossiping about it. 

“Why does Mrs. Crawford look sad?”

“Minutes ago, she was literally jumping in happiness.”

“Wait a minute… Do you think she found out?”

“Hey, don't say it-”

“But I think she just did!”

Found out?

About what?

Clyde's relationship with his secretary, Cora?

Violet laughed inside, her fingers balling into fists.

The whole world must already know about Clyde's relationship with his secretary.

She was the only one left in the dark. 

The oblivious wife who kept a happy smile on her face every day. 

When she reached the car, the driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror, frowning this time.

“Mrs. Crawford, you're crying too much. I hope everything's alright. Didn't you see Mr. Crawford?”

Violet sniffled, using a hankie to dab her puffy eyes. “Please take me to the judiciary.”

“Huh?” The worry in the driver's eyes increased. 

But he didn't say anything as he started the car. 

Shutting her eyes, Violet cuddled her abdomen, the betrayal cutting deep into her veins.

She'd never grieved this much before. Not even when her parents proposed that arranged marriage. 

Was this what they called a heartbreak?

In an effort to ignore the heartache, Violet strived to focus on the life growing inside her. 

Despite Clyde's efforts, she fell pregnant. 

Wasn't it a miracle?

“We'll be fine, Baby.” Resting back on the seat, She sighed. “He doesn't need us. We don't need him.”