Payment

On their way to the hospital, Fabe cradles her belly; the baby must have felt her anguish and got affected. Lyla, who is forty-five years old and with one daughter, advises her to stop thinking negatively, preferably, and stop paying attention to the things that could stress her.

“Miss, you are in your early stage of pregnancy; the baby is still vulnerable and prone to miscarriage. Please be careful and take good care of your health physically and mentally,” Lyla slowly massaged her head to calm her while Fabe rubbed her belly.

“I’m sorry, I can’t help it,” her eyes watered.

“I know it’s such a difficult time considering the situation you’re in right now. But try to focus on your baby. This will help your mind off of your resentment.”

“I’ll try,” she breathed lightly and accelerated in seconds. Lyla advises blowing breathing so she can relax and ease the baby’s tension.

The family’s gynecologist did a series of tests on Fabe. Shortly, the result came out that Fabe is anemic and needs complete rest and proper care. She also prescribes some vitamins to help aid Fabe’s anemia and strengthen her immune system. Other than that, the baby is fine. The pain she felt earlier is caused by stress that she needs to avoid in early pregnancy.

After her checkup, Madam Claudia and Lady Sophie leave immediately. When they left the clinic at almost seven in the evening, Fabe was starving. But they need to drop by the pharmacy for her vitamins.

Lyla asked her what she liked to eat. Fabe is craving tacos and something sour. So they stopped by a Mexican food outlet to get shawarma and found a raw mango in a 24-hour supermarket nearby before going to the pharmacy.

Indulging in your cravings is heaven for a pregnant woman. Fabe was eating contented standing outside the pharmacy because she didn’t like the smell of medicine, while Lyla bought the vitamins. Without them knowing that Bryce is having dinner with Irene in a French restaurant across the street.

Bryce saw Fabe unexpectedly. He wondered why she was out at this time. He stared at his wife for a moment, enjoying her food, and remembered that she was pregnant. His eyes marveled at her bulging belly. Soon, little Hamilton will run across the corridors of their mansion.

He got up and jolted out, leaving Irene on the table.

“What on earth are you doing here?” Bryce yelled. Fabe was startled seeing Bryce appear out of the blue. Before she can answer, Lyla emerges and explain everything to him.

“What? Why didn’t I get a phone call?” his eyes are sharp.

Irene followed Bryce outside after seeing the commotion. She faces Fabe and introduces herself extending her hand, but before Fabe can reach out, Bryce cuts in the middle.

“Fabe, go home, okay?” Bryce pointed his finger at her and held Irene’s elbow leading her back inside the restaurant.

“It was nice to finally meet you, Fabe,” Irene said nicely, but her eyes were full of mockery, staring at Fabe from head to toe. It stopped on her belly and saw the immense jealousy in her.

Fabe watch them go. She felt her heart stabbed a million times. Bryce never treated her that way; he never looked at her that way. In fact, he had never been compassionate in their entire marriage. And having a baby was just an accident, getting home drunk. Sex life is when he gets drunk.

Inside the restaurant, Bryce called his mom. He was angry that Madam Claudia failed to inform him about what happened to Fabe and his baby.

“Look, son, we are here to take care of her. You don’t have to worry. As you can see, she is doing fine now.”

“Next time, call me. I deserve to know about my wife and child! Don’t leave me in the dark because we are moving out if something happens to them!”

Madam Claudia clenched her fist in disgust. His son is getting soft with the lowly woman, and she cannot tolerate that.

“Miss,” Lyla pulled her close and guided her into the car. But Fabe’s eyes are fixated on Bryce and Irene. He didn’t even bother to look back though he knew Fabe was staring at them. He was so calm and gentle with her, contrary to his behavior when with her.

“Miss, stop beating yourself up. It’s not good for the baby. Let’s go home,” Lyla saw the tears running down her cheeks. Fabe mounted in the car and cry out her frustrations.

“Poor child,” Lyla cried in her heart. She looked back at Bryce and saw him staring at them. She nodded and got in the car.

After all these years, Fabe didn’t earn his love and trust. With a heavy heart, she chose to forget what she saw tonight as her belly started to feel tight again. Fabe wiped her tears and breathed slowly. All this will go after the baby is born. Bryce will love her. They’ll be a family.

“Don’t worry, baby, mommy is fine,” she said from the back of her mind, rubbing her belly.

Master Rafael was pacing in the living room, waiting for Fabe. He found out what happened earlier and wanted to check on his grandchild. Many times he yelled at Madam Claudia out of his worries.

“What took her so long?!”

He was disappointed about her leaving Fabe after the checkup. Even so, Madam Claudia didn’t call Fabe. She knows his temper. Master Rafael cursed and yelled at Madam Claudia because of Fabe; she must pay the price.

Arriving late at the mansion, Madam Claudia smiled wickedly. She wishes for her husband to beat Fabe until she kneels in front of her and begs forgiveness. It was a triumphant thought.

“You gold digger bitch! Are you trying to get us in trouble?!” she muttered under her breath, glaring at Fabe.

“Where have you been?” Master Rafael scorned as soon as Fabe appeared in the doorway.

“We went to the pharmacy, Master, for the Miss’s vitamins,” Lyla took the liberty to answer for Fabe, bowing her head and looking down. She showed him the vitamins and the prescriptions the doctor had given earlier.

“So the baby is okay?” Master Rafael’s eyes sparkled, and his voice calmed down.

“Ye…yes, Master,” Fabe stammered over her words.

“Oh, thank goodness! Okay, go to your room, rest, and take all those vitamins. Lyla, take care of her and make sure she drinks all the vitamins in time and gets proper nutrition,” Master Rafael solemnly said before retreating to his room. Fabe only nodded and hurried upstairs. She can tell from the look on Madam Claudia’s face how upset she is.

“Yes, Master,” Lyla answered and went to the kitchen.

“Claudia, go to the grocery and buy some fruit and vegetables for Fabe. I want my grandson to get all the nutrients he needs,” Master Rafael ordered.

“But…can we ask Lyla to do it?” Madam Claudia gasps in shock.

“She will cover the chores for Fabe here. Or you cover the chores and let Lyla do the grocery. It’s your choice!” Master Rafael walked away before she could respond.

“Ah? The nerve of that girl!” Madam Claudia called Sophie to accompany her in doing the grocery. She was furiously controlling her temper.

Beep! Beep!

Fabe’s phone notifies a new message from Bryce.

“I won’t be home tonight. Call Lyla if you need anything. Take care of yourself, especially the baby.”

“Won’t be home? He barely comes home!” she reread the message.

“Especially the baby? I guess our marriage now lies on you, huh?”

She rubbed her belly, waited for a few minutes, and scrolled her phone. No follow-up text message from Bryce. Even getting pregnant won’t change a thing in their relationship. She takes a picture of her vitamins and posts it on her social media account with a caption, “Baby,” with a smiling and heart emoji.

Since her marriage with Bryce ended her life in the four corners of her room, in the big mansion as a maid, she became active with her social media account. Her first post is about their wedding day. She dazzles in her wedding gown. Even though she knew it was a projected marriage, her smile in the picture shows sincere happiness. Until one anonymous person commented.

“Where is the groom?”

Another photo is with Bryce, only not intimate. They are standing next to each other, projecting a smile on the camera. Someone commented again,

“Is that a smile?” Fabe didn’t bother to respond to all the critics. Instead, she continued posting whenever she felt it.

Beep! Beep!

Another notification. Fabe quickly unlocked her phone, only to find out it was from her bank. Bryce already sent her payment as a wife to her account. Then a message from Bryce followed.

“Already sent your payment.”

“Payment?” she read out loud, typing her response for Bryce and accidentally sending it.

“Oh, my God! Stupid!” Fabe cursed herself and slapped her forehead.

Fabe felt relieved did not receive any response from Bryce. She prays for him to let it go this time. But after a few minutes, her phone beeped again.

“Did you forget what’s in the contract? I PAID YOU TO BE MY WIFE!”

She stared at her phone screen. The capital letters are disturbing that pierce her heart. Two years and, he still thinks of her as a projected wife, a nobody in his life.

“I’m a paid wife,” her eyes clouded with tears. Hugging the pillow, she buried her face to conceal her sorrow.

What happens when the baby is out? Will he continue the divorce now that he finally gets what he wants? Maybe not. Maybe he will change so as his family for the baby. This question lingers in her mind.