— Before the accident.

When she called, I felt some sort of relief flood all over my body. Guilt was weighing over my thoughts and well-being. I thought about my life without her. It wasn't ever going to be the same. I had lived, loved and had my first child with this woman. We had celebrated so many milestones together. Just as we had gone through hardships together. Buying her first car, our first house, our first family car, our first investments into multiple properties, our first vacation to the Maldives, her first article, her being promoted to editor and so much more. We both came from struggling backgrounds and if anyone was as driven to succeed it would be her.

One thing, I knew about Soraya was her ability to force herself to move past something and make it seem effortless. She was already doing that with me. I could see it in instances where she ignored my calls. Gave me silent treatment, only speaking when it's necessary. She had already decided that her life was better off without me. I had wronged her and she did not deserve that. I had been a fool, excited by three seconds of a climax with a different woman. I assumed, I was missing out on so much because I married young... quite young even though it was for my own benefit because Soraya only meant to help me.

As soon as I opened the door, an aroma immediately hit my nostrils. One thing about my wife was— she could really cook if she wanted to and she make time for it. I watched her from a distance, just admiring how concentrated and distracted she seemed. In a bonnet and a pretty black dress. She made it seem effortless all the time.

"You didn't have to come early, I said anytime you're free." She told me.

"I just happened to be free immediately after your call." In all honesty, it was the only thing. I was looking forward to.

There was awkward silence as I made it round the kitchen counter to lay my arms around her waist as she stirred the pot. When I did she didn't protest. We always did this back when we were okay. When she had not protested I knew exactly where this was leading. She didn't mind using me. I didn't either but it left me feeling a bit distraught.

"What's cooking?"

"My meal preps because this week is definitely going to be busy for me..." She replied.

Why had I assumed she had made dinner for us? Never mind.

"Smells good." I gave a kiss on her bare shoulder.

"And you smell like you didn't visit your mistress... today... wow lucky me, I guess!"

I just knew that was sarcasm.

Clearing my throat, I didn't recover as fast as I thought I could have. She was quick to detangle my arms from her waist. Tasting the food she licked her finger as if amused. "You know, you could have, nothing is stopping you? I did after all say... I was done. No need to pretend like you respect me."

"We're still husband and wife... and ofcourse I respect you bello!"

She laughed.

"Lorenzo please— anyways I spoke to Frankie today and he told me that they're going to Disney World for Brian's birthday."

I huffed at the thought, she knows exactly what she is doing. She always did this, divert them conversation, push my buttons to upset me and get angry sex out of the argument but not this time. I wasn't going to be upset or triggered. I wanted to make love to her not after an argument where it had us both raging with anger in between kisses. I was tired of that toxic routine. Switching off the stove, she walked away knowing very well I'd follow. I loosened my tie, the smirk on my lips didn't go unnoticed. Slowly going up the stairs, I couldn't deny the view in front of my eyes. Every meander of her body had me excited in every way. I followed her to the guest room. By then I had already unbuttoned up my shirt.

"We should probably get this over and done with." She said it as if it was a chore. Our sex life wasn't what it always used to be. Now it was always fast and lacked any sort of love or acknowledgment. She wrapped her arms around my neck. The same way she had on our wedding day, with the brightest smile that had me feeling like the luckiest man there was. I couldn't deny the excitement she brought every inch of my body. She knew shd had me at my knees. She knew but I also knew she was doing this for herself not for me. As soon as she laid her lips on mine, my body nearly shuddered at the contact. I gulped down a feeling of confusion but remained in bliss. She had these hazel brown dolls eyes that any man would shudder at the thought. She straddled me on the bed tracing my abdomen down to unbuckling my belt. There was no waiting as our lips reunited again so much hunger and passionate restraint. Flipping us over, before I could slide her panties to the side... she pushed me back.

"They're in the left side drawer..." she murmured out of breath. A bit confused, I raised an eyebrow. God! She was so breathtaking from below my chest. She squeezed her thighs together locking me out of pretty black dress that was now hiked up to her waist and all it had to give.

"The condoms Lorenzo!"

"What?" I asked still very confused.

"You want us to use condoms?" We hadn't in years, we never did. It came as a big surprise.

She only nodded.

I attempted to ignore but she only kept her thighs closed and much tighter. She was serious we were going to start using condoms? Clearly our marriage was only going downhill from here. So I followed her instructions, ripped the packet open effortlessly. She watched me from the middle of the bed as if fascinated but also bored.

"Clearly there is no impressing you—"

"Come here!" She giggled ignoring my last comment. There was something so satisfying about a woman who knew what she wanted. In her bonnet, she still resembled the beauty I had married eight years ago. We hungrily kissed, once more. My hands traced every meander of her body. She was perfect. The soft subtle moan and sigh of relief that escaped both our lips when I entered her. Her thighs quivered with each stroke. She bucked her hips up from below me wanting more. I gave her slow strokes that had her not being able to catch her breath. She moaned and begged for more beneath me. Wrapping her legs around my waist, I had no way out. Goodness, she felt so good.

I lost all logic when she had her legs wide open for me, crying somber moans of pleasure while trying to keep it down. As soon as we both reached our high, she smiled then pushed me off. At this point I wasn't surprised anymore. "What did you want to talk about—" I asked discarding the condom off and pulling my pants up. Standing up, she tugged her dress down as if nothing of matter had happened.

"My lawyer said I should notify you about the change of surname if proceedings have not started so that the documentation is in the correct names. I formally changed back to Harris... may take a while before I get my new documents."

"Soraya Harris then?" I asked.

"Yes." She gave a curt nod.

"I will be sure to let my lawyer know."

"Good, thank you." She replied unbothered as if she had just finished a business transaction.

With my hands in my pocket, I returned the smile not knowing what else to say. She was about to walk away when I spoke.

"You didn't have to change you surname—"

"I really don't want anything to remind me of you so that wasn't an option."

"Is that a bad thing? We could speak to someone...you're overreacting bello."

"No Lorenzo."

"You're giving up on our marriage too easily... my love."

"I never said I was in for a challenge called 'how far can I hurt my wife' or 'how far can I push until she gives in'. I don't play those games, you're allowed to go play them with someone else. I have no desire to wait up for you worried for your safety and well being while you fuck her at the office. I really don't have a desire to be in a marriage where I'm married to myself because you're very much single and have been for a long while. I saw those messages, don't even begin to deny it. If you wanted out, you could have just said so you didn't have to test how far I could take it."

"I'm sorry..." I didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry too. I really sorry, I thought I could have it different from  my parents. Just don't end up in jail because that would be too specific."  With that she was gone, I'd probably see her in a week. We'd probably repeat what we had done argue right after or maybe before there was no telling.

—

"We should bring your wife with us..." My mother insisted when we got to the car. Calling Soraya my wife brought so much happiness within me and when she had told me it was over, I couldn't take it.

"I don't think she will agree..." I replied.

She only gave me a fond smile before speaking. "What is wrong with bringing your 'friend' along?" The word itself irked me but it was what Soraya had told my mother. The past month had been a lot of chaos. Before I could respond. My phone then suddenly rang, I excused myself. It was a landline, I figured it was the office but to my surprise it was— a nurse.

"Mr Dos Santos—"

"Speaking?" I answered, a bit weary about anything they had to say. I wanted Soraya to get better and the other part of me preferred things to remain this way. She didn't look at me with absolutely disgust, she wasn't giving me the silent treatment, she was innocent and gentle. She wasn't using me for her sexual needs then pushing me off and locking me out of her room immediately after. This Soraya wasn't disappearing to some resort without telling me, having me worried only to return and still not speak to me. We were practically roommates and the worst of it all was... I was still in love with her and hoping she wouldn't finalise the divorce.

"How is first trimester treating your wife?"

"First trimester of eh— I think you must be mistaken perhaps mixed files or so." I chuckled.

"Not at all, we spoke to Mrs Dos Santos the other day and she said—"

"You spoke to my wife?

"Yes, we did. She was complaining about the light bleeding and we assured her it was just implantation bleeding nothing to be scared about. She also asked for what were her options."

"Oh..."

Was Soraya okay? She had not said anything atleast not to me. Light bleeding? What did she mean what were her options? What other option besides raising the child? Was this what had triggered her to remember the adoption process?! I couldn't go through another one of this, it was already difficult as it is. To yearn to be with your son but you can't because you signed those rights away when you thought it was necessary.

"We're calling because her doctor has suggested prenatal vitamins for her. We will email the prescription."

I— was flabbergasted, I nearly stumbled on my next step. Soraya was pregnant? Why had she not told me...

"Uh alright thank you."

My mother and Florence had been right all along. She was expecting by my child. Some sort of bliss flooded through my veins. This time it was different we had the means to provide for our child. We had every-means of taking care of our child. This time, I was going to make sure I make things right between us. I wanted to desperately fix our family before the child arrived. I had to start off by making my intentions clear and cutting off Paula. I had kept her around because of fear of being alone once Soraya had left me. For someone who had been judgemental over the phone. My mother really liked Soraya. I suppose she preferred Soraya over Paula.

In the midst of my thoughts, I noticed my mother had convinced Soraya to come out of her room. She never listened to me, suppose it a good thing. My eyes stared at her stomach there was nothing. It looked perfectly normal. I couldn't act like I knew, I didn't want to push her away like I already had. So I looked away instead and tried to let it all sink in.

—

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