THE HEART BEAT

"I'm tired of waiting for you to give me a male child, you leave me with no choice than to marry a new wife " Lukas said to his wife after waking her up very early that morning.

"What?? A new wife in this house?? Are you sure you're alright?? You don't mean it, do you??" Annabel responded passing a cold glance at her husband as sleep suddenly disappeared from her eyes.

"I have giving you enough time to give me a male child but each time you end up giving birth to female children who can't even carry on with my legacy when I die. My parents are on my neck and I can't help it" Lukas shouted on her with his response and she broke down into tears.

"I know were you're heading to Lukas, is this a way of punishing me?? The doctor said I shouldn't get pregnant again after giving birth to five of our female children through operation. You know if I get pregnant again, I won't sur•vive it. You know this, don't you?? Answer me!!" Annabel wailed as her voice became muffled in inexpressible pain.

He didn't seem to care or he just snobbed her with so much anger .

"Who cares?? If only you managed to give me a male child during this five operations. What do I want to do with those yo•ur daughters, they will eventually get married and change names. I need a son!! If you can't give me a son because of this silly excuse of dying after getting pregnant again, then don't complain when I look elsewhere for children " Lukas flared up and got up from the bed angrily.

He walked down the drawer and grabbed a liquor, he was getting really angry and frustrated. Lukas wasn't moved by Annabell's tears as he was desperate and obviously less concerned with her well-being, he believes he had endured enough for nineteen years and deserves an accolade.

"You're hurting me with those words Lukas, I almost d!ed during the last delivery which was just a year ago, can't you appreciate me rather than shame me. I can't believe you're saying this again. You want me to die?" Annabel quizzed as she remembered the Doctor's warning during her last opera•tion in the delivery theater.

"For all I care, go ahead, if it can give me a male child. Who will inherit my wealth?? I can't hustle and let another man's son reap my harvest, Just qu!t blackmailing me with those crocodile tears, it doesn't work anymore " Lukas yelled at Annabell as he made to leave the room.

"What wealth?? We've being through thicks and thorns together. What do you have when we got married??, I married you when you had nothing and supported you to be who you're. What is happening Lukas, you don't love me anymore?? You promised to be there for me, and I need you now more than ever " Annabel was heartbroken, seeing that she was helpless in the situation.

"Not anymore, let me remind you something, don't go about telling people that you helped me become successful. You won't like it when I chase you and those your daughters out of my house" Lukas threatened and stormed out of the room.

Annabell was speechless, her heart raced faster. She started hitting the bed out of frustration, she couldn't help but cry more. Restless, she got up from the bed and ended up falling down out of distress.

Annabell didn't know how to receive the news because she never expected it , she can't possibly share her matrimonial home with another woman. The thought of that breaks her more.

Annabel feeling really dejected, decided to reach out to her mother in-law not minding it was still early that morning.

"What?? Is this why you called me at this early hour of the morning, I know you don't have manners but never knew it was to this extent. Who do you want to deceive with your tears?? Give us a son, you say it's only girls your wom•b can produce. Why are you complaining?? Bia this girl make room for another woman to do what you can't do in your l!fe time" Mrs Chioma, Anna's mother-inlaw echoed over the phone lambasting Annabel harshly.