Chapter 2 Payback

In my haste to make a run for the bathroom, I almost fell flat on my face. I managed to untangle the bedsheet around me and within seconds, I was kneeling before the toilet bowl and puking my guts out.

"Mrs. Baldwin?" A gentle voice called.

"Almost done." I replied amidst vomits.

My maid, Lisa, waited until I was done. I flushed, then gently stood to go rinse my mouth and wash my hands by the sink.

"Yes, Lisa?" I turned to her when I was done.

"Your tea is ready, ma'am. It'll help calm your stomach." She said.

"Thank you. Where's my husband? Did he return home last night?" I was still weak but my stomach was stable a bit.

Christian had not been home last night. Due to my morning sickness and other pregnancy-induced factors, I had been unable to wait for him.

"I think he's in his room." She commented, following me obediently back into our matrimonial bedroom.

"In his room? You have no idea if he came into our room last night?"

That was new. Why was he in his room? We both had our separate rooms but we rarely used it. Every of our belongings were here in our bedroom.

"No, ma'am. Shall I go make breakfast?" She asked.

"Yes, thank you." I watched her walk out of the room.

His room? Since when? Maybe he had a long, tiring day. I took some of the tea. Waited for my stomach to calm before taking my morning bath.

Lisa was yet to serv breakfast, so I decided to go see my husband as he was yet to come see me. On reaching his door, I heard low noises.

Was he in there with someone? What was that noises? Was he watching TV? Then I heard giggles. What the hell?

I knocked. The sounds ceased but he did not open the door. I knocked again. "Christian?"

I heard shuffling of feet and he opened the door, but it was only half an inch. "Hi."

"Uhm...who are you with? I thought I heard voices." I frowned in perplexity. As though my heart knew something was not right, it began to beat fast.

"That was probably the TV." He replied.

"Why don't you just tell her the truth, Chris." A female voice spoke from inside the room.

"W-what... w-what..." I pushed past him and entered the room to see... "Your ex? What is going on here?" I was struggling not to tremble.

There must be some kind of logical explanation.

"Hello, Hailey." She waved at me from the bed, wrapping the sheets around her tighter.

"A-are y-you n-naked?" I just wanted to be sure. I didn't know.

They both chuckled. I turned to Christian.

"What's funny, Christian? What's happening?! Don't stand there and laugh!" I swallowed tears, blinked my eyes to keep from bawling.

"Because you keep acting dumb and asking stupid questions when it's all laid out for you." He smirked.

Properly observing him, I now noticed he was clad in just his undershorts.

"You're..." I pointed from him to the girl. "B-but you said she is your ex."

"Well, I lied. She was never my ex." He shrugged.

Pain squeezed tight. I rushed to him and began hitting him, I could not hold back the tears anymore. "Y-you...w-why would you do this to m-me? I'm your w-wife!"

He pushed me roughly, I fell to the ground, hitting my waist on the floor. A sharp pain spread in that area instantly, my wails only got louder.

"Did you remember you being married when you had a one night stand with a total stranger on our matrimonial bed?!" He yelled, anger spread his features.

"W-what? N-no. I...I thought you'd forgiven me. I...it was a mistake. I told you, p-please don't d-do this." I shook my head, crying profusely.

Pain rocked my system both emotionally and physically.

"Hear her, Denise. Forgive her." He directed to the girl on the bed, there was taunting in his voice.

"She must be delusional." Denise mocked, laughing.

I helped myself up with some difficulty because of the pain. "Why are you doing this, Christian?"

"You fucking cheated on me and got pregnant. Now you're refusing to abort it. You expect me to put up with you having another man's child and raise that bastard with you?!" He pointed at my stomach.

I was speechless. Tears could only fall. What was this? What had I done to myself? I could not defend myself. He had seen me in bed with another man.

I could not lose my marriage, I really loved him. I went on my knees. "I'm s-sorry, babe. P-please. I can not defend myself but p-please, forgive me..." I sniffled. "I... k-know you're still angry but p-please. I guess we're even now. You've paid me back, p-please let's just move on."

"Exactly. We should definitely move on." He walked away from me and went to join Denise on the bed.

He kissed her cheek while I was still on my knees, I must look foolish and pathetic to them in that moment.

"What are you trying to say?" I was almost afraid to ask but I had to know.

"You should move on with your pregnancy, and I move on with my company and my new woman." I watched in despair as his hand rubbed her arm affectionately.

The sight was blurry. "What do you mean? The company is not yours, it's m-mine."

"You must be really dumb, Hailey. Remember you signed over the papers to me."

"O-only because you said the board would not respect your decision until they see proof you really are in charge."

"And you bought the lie, fortunately for me." He chuckled.

"For us, baby." Denise corrected, her lips widened in a victorious smile.

"Oh yes, for us. Sorry." He pecked her temple.

"B-b-b-bu..."

"Enough of your stuttering. It's beginning to get on my nerves. Pack your things and get out."

"Uh?" I could not believe this.

"Everything now belongs to us, Hailey. Wake up to reality. Now up you go and out." He climbed out of bed to come drag me out.

"N-no." I dodged his grip and went at Denise. I pounced on her despite the pain I was feeling around my waist. "L-leave m-my h-husband alone."

She screamed and tried to fight me off. I sank my teeth on her upper arm and pulled the skin.

"Stop it!" Christian came to drag me away.

He made sure I was outside the room before he closed. I went back to pound on the door. "Christian! P-please!" I wailed.

The door opened, he was dressed now. He dragged me, I tried to fight against him but I was no match for his strength.

"W-what are you d-doing?" He was pulling me roughly towards the gate.

It was an electric gate, it opened as soon as we were close. He threw me outside, I hit the ground again. He locked the gate so I would not be able to enter.

I stood there in the glare of the bright day, humiliated and hurt. And worst of all, felt a pain that made me want to curl up. Nausea gripped me, a throbbing came on.

I didn't have the strength to stand. So I sat there crying. He soon brought out my bags and threw my many purses along with them.

"Denise says she likes your stuff so she's keeping the rest. Don't come back. Go meet that stranger you cheated on me with."

Then he locked the gate again. For hours, I sat there, crying and fighting the urge to throw up.