Taking careful steps, a lady ascended the grand staircase of her lavish mansion with poise and grace, her billowing gown elegantly trailing behind her.
Her blue dress was a masterpiece in itself, featuring intricate lace detailing and a flattering fit that accentuated her curves. She wore a matching clutch and sparkling diamond jewellery that sparkled in the dimly lit hallway.
Irrespective of all the affluence around her, her eyes, once vibrant and full of life, now held a shadow of sorrow with wrinkles around them.
Coming to the top of the stairs, she stood with a sad face, her features etched with an unmistakable melancholy.
She had just returned from an event hosted by her company and signed two great business deals.
As exhausted as she was, she was more concerned about her sick husband and returned home on time to tend to him.
As she drew closer to the door of her matrimonial room, her heart raced with anticipation for what lay ahead.
However, her steps faltered when she heard muffled voices emanating from within the room. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she strained to decipher the owner of the voices.
One she recognized as that of her husband and the other… Just as she strained her ear closer to listen, her body froze on the spot, her eyes widening in their socket.
“I told you, Nick, I am pregnant for you. You should treat me with more love and pamper me. I want your hands to be wrapped around me as we make love to each other.”
“Oh Cristal, I told you, we cannot make love tonight.”
“Why? It is not like your wife is at home. Come on,” she whimpered, “You said you love me. And, I am three weeks pregnant. Do it for our baby and me,” she pleaded once more.
“But…”
“Forget about Kiera for a minute and think about me.”
From where she stood, she felt her body shudder from the shock. Her heart ached as her brain tried processing all that she heard.
It felt like a betrayal of an entirely different kind, one that went beyond infidelity.
It was hard for Kiera to believe Cristal given that she and Nicholas had been married for three years and thought she knew him inside out.
He had asked her to take the pill, claiming he didn't like children. Being the loving wife, she put his needs first and took pills to avoid getting pregnant.
The more Kiera thought about it, the more it hurt. Not only had Nicholas lied to her, but he had also made her sterile as a result of his deception. It was like he had taken away her choice altogether.
She thought he had forgotten about his first love, but no.
However, the idea that he had been seeing Cristal behind her back and even fathered a child with her was too much for Kiera to process.
As she listened to them conversing, she couldn't help but feel a rush of emotions. Tears rushed to her eyes, threatening to spill as the reality dawned on her.
She was angry, hurt, and betrayed all at once.
Kiera’s mind raced with possibilities as she hesitated and deliberated on her next move.
Anger riled up inside her, her pain channelled into something else. Finally, she let her pent anger lead as she reached out and turned the doorknob, pushing the door open with force.
To her shock she met them kissing as they broke it and turned to face her, slightly shocked.
She looked at Nicholas, hoping for an explanation, but he avoided her gaze, clearly ashamed of himself, she thought, but when her gaze landed on his protective hold on Cristal, her heart sank even more.
“Nicholas! How dare you cheat on me?!”
“Cheat?” He scoffed, snapping his head to face her. “Shouldn’t that term be used only to those who are in love?”
Kiera’s brows knitted. What nonsense was he sprouting?
“Yes. Or did I say something wrong?”
Her lips opened to speak but he beat her to it.
“You claim to be brilliant but I wonder why it took you this long to realize I do not love you, Kiera.”
“But… we’re married. We were married and we made love countless times…”
“Yet you never carried my child.” A cunning smile crept up his lips. “I think that should tell you just whom my heart belongs to.”
Her pain intensified as the tears she had held back streamed down her cheeks.
“T-Then, why did you marry me and not her?”
“Take a wild guess, Kiera,” Nicholas began and stepped away from Cristal to stand in front of Kiera. “I have never loved you and only had to marry you because my company needed your help.”
“So you just took my money, you thief?”
“No. I did not just take. I paid for it. Those nights I spent forcing myself to make love to you whereas who I ever thought of was Cristal. I did not take what wasn’t mine. You offered it willingly out of your own delusions.”
Nicholas let out a bitter laugh once more and spread his hands to the side, his gaze darkening further as he threw away every form of guilt.
“You were nothing more than a means to an end.”
Nicholas whom she had trusted with her whole being, had not only deceived her but also showed a complete lack of remorse.
His indifference stung Kiera deeper than any physical pain ever could. He had never loved her, he claimed, and their marriage was a mere convenience to him.
Cristal chuckled lightly. She seemed to be enjoying the conversation as a self-satisfied smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth.
Kiera’s head snapped to the side, her anger rising with every second and she pointed at Cristal.
“You!”
She blinked and masked all of her earlier joy and put on an innocent façade.
“What?” Kiera’s eyes burned with rage but Cristal walked forward, placing a hand on Nicholas’ shoulder as she walked past him to stand at the side of Kiera.
“Kiera you should know that… Well, Nick loves me. I am sorry that it had to be this way but you will definitely find someone who would love you as you are. Nicholas did not mean to be cold to you.”
“What?” Kiera could not believe the words coming from her lips.
“I care for you,” Cristal added. “I would not want to see you hurt, please calm down. We can talk about this. I am so sorry it happened this way.”
Kiera snickered and shook her head. She knew the truth behind that mask. “Get your rotten care out of my face you two-faced conniving cheating whorish bitch!”
Immediately, Cristal's lips parted as her jaw fell and her eyes softened, hurt by the words said to her. “You do not have to be mean, Kiera. I am only trying to help.”
“Help my foot. Was that how you were helping by bedding my husband? I wonder if you will still be saying that when I sink my heels into your brain.”
She knew Cristal was a cruel and manipulative person, only revealing her true colours in her presence.
Watching her play the role of a helpless victim, drawing Nicholas’ protective instincts to her side further made Kiera irritated.
Just as she said, she pulled her shoe, kicking one off and holding the other. At once she lounged for Cristal who took to her heels running out the door.
Kiera had no plans of letting her go scot-free and chased after her as she backed away slowly when she got to the top of the stairs.
“You know you were never worthy of him wench. Now that you know, shouldn’t you take your lousy self and run away?” Cristal whispered to her hearing.
Just then she caught sight of Nicholas rushing towards them and her facade once more returned.
“Kiera, please. This is all a misunderstanding. We can talk this out,” she voiced meekly, fear dancing in her eyes.
“Kiera stop this, this instant. She is not to blame for my decisions,” Nicholas spat out, taking closer steps to her.
She turned on her heels and glared at him. “You’re wrong. She is as guilty as you are and deserves to pay. You two spent my money without conscience. I will ensure you pay for this.”
She turned around once more, a dark glint flashing in her eyes as she took hurried steps forward.
“Aahh don’t hurt me, ahhhh… my ankle!”
With a sharp cry, Cristal stumbled backwards and fell on her butt with her tears unleashed, successfully triggering Nickolas’ misguided need to defend her.
“I–I… I did not touch her,” Kiera defended and turned to explain to Nicholas.
“Kiera you’ve gone too far. She is pregnant!” Nicholas thundered.
In a moment of blind rage, Nicholas's hand swung towards Rosalyn, delivering a powerful slap across her face.
Kiera’s world spun. Her fragile body was unable to withstand the assault and the force sent Kiera reeling as she stepped on her dress and plummeted down the stairs, her body crashing against the unforgiving steps as her world descended into darkness.
Pain radiated through her, but it paled in comparison to the anguish and betrayal that consumed her heart.
Blood trickled from the back of her head, mingling with the tears that streamed down her face as she lay helpless on the floor.
As her consciousness waned, memories flashed before her eyes.
The moment she first met Nicholas, the love that bloomed between them, and the promises they made to each other on their wedding day. But now, those memories felt like cruel illusions, shattered by the revelation of Cristal’s pregnancy.
With her vision fading, Kiera felt a wave of regret wash over her. Regret for the choices she made three years ago when she blindly followed Nicholas’ wishes and took the contraceptive pills—a decision made out of love, wanting to honour his desires, but it had left her forever barren.
She couldn't help but wonder if things could have been different. If she had spoken up and fought for her own desires and dreams, would she be in this painful situation?
But it was too late for what-ifs now. All she could do was accept the cruel fate life bestowed on her and the consequences of her choices.
In the darkness, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed towards her. Nicholas’ panicked and anxious voice pierced through the haze, but it held no comfort for Kiera.
“Oh my God, what have I done? Kiera?”
“Nick I am sorry but if not for you, perhaps that would have been me and our baby. She deserves it. It was either her or me,” she heard Cristal’s not-so-hurt voice call out.
It was a stark reminder of the shattered trust, and the irreversible damage inflicted upon their relationship.
As Kiera surrendered to the embrace of unconsciousness, a single tear escaped her eye—one borne from her pain, regret, hatred, anger and wishes.