Chapter 3

Stephanie snapped out of her thoughts as she felt Jacob's presence beside he

"I still can't believe she did that to me... sleeping with you and getting pregnant? God!"

Jacob placed his hands on her shoulder and slowly turned her around so she could face him.

"But you know it's you I love. I don't even like her at all, so love is so out of the picture. You don't have to worry about anything. Once she puts to bed, I'm going to divorce her and this time around, there will be no excuses, I promise."

"Are you sure?" Stephanie mumbled as she smiled with a few tear drops sliding down her cheek.

Jacob smiled. "So sure, I cross my heart and hope to die," he said assuring her as he hugged her.

***

Maria Nelson.

She wore that name as well as she bore her hell of a marriage. If she ever needed to step out, she dressed up real good and the paparazzi never stopped following her. What did she expect anyway? Pregnant wife to the influential Jacob Nelson who still flaunted his mistress around, the media was in for a treat and they swooped in like hawks, ready to tear her apart till they got every juicy bits of their story. Her hand slowly sloped to her softly growing tummy. She massaged it lightly and gave a slow sad smile. She had an antenatal appointment today and after that she would check in on Mrs. Nelson- Jacob's mom. She was a slender woman in her late 50s but you couldn't tell her age easily by looking at her. She always appeared calm like she had everything under control and she wore nothing but custom made designer dresses. As much as Maria despised the paparazzi, she despised Jacob's mom more. The woman never gave her more than a second glance even if the roof was literally caving in on her. She would tell her in that her annoying sing song voice that she should go home. That she should've known better than crawling into bed with her friend's boyfriend.

"No! I would not cry again." Maria steeled herself as she wiped off every trace of tears. Tears had become her daily routine after getting married but she wasn't going to cry again. Smoothing the knee length cashmere skirt she wore, she picked up her bag and headed downstairs where a car was already up and running for her.

"Good morning Mrs. Nelson" Jonas her personal driver greeted as he bowed slightly.

Mandy offered him a half smile and a nod as she got into the car.

 Jonas navigated his way out into the streets and unto the road. He already knew where to take her every Wednesday morning. Ante natal check up then ice cream at the new food parlour that opened downtown. She was unusually quiet he noticed as he studied her face in the mirror in front of him. Jonas was one to mind his business but he somehow knew that Maria wasn't happy where she was. In fact she never wanted to be here, she had told him sometime ago.

Her face was clear in the morning light. Freckles dotted the bridge of her nose and her hair was held up so beautifully accentuating her slender neck. She was beautiful even without makeup. Jonas quickly turned his attention to the road as she caught him staring at her. It would do him no good ogling his boss' wife like that.

Princeton Hospitals was beautiful and Maria wondered why a place this beautiful would still harbour sick and dying people inside. As she stepped out of the car, she could already feel the burning stares of people and so she put on her glasses and hurried inside, impatient to get this over with. She sunk into a cushion ungratefully as she got to her doctor's office. Was it always this hot? She fanned herself with her hand briefly and pulled off her glasses.

"Welcome back Mrs. Nelson. Let's have a look at your baby again shall we?" The doctor an elderly man asked. He had a soothing voice and he slathered ultra sound jelly on her belly button, Maria realized he had soothing fingers too.

 The ultra sound machine came on and Maria watched with awe how far her baby had grown. It was beginning to form tiny hands and feet and it had a heartbeat. As the doctor let her listen to the heartbeat, her eyes clouded up with tears.

If this was any perfect family, Jacob should've been here. He should've been holding her hand and gushing over hearing the heartbeat of their baby. He would've kissed her and when they got home, he would treat her to a beautiful dinner and they would have passionate sex. But she knew she was building castles in the air.

When last did Jacob touch her in an arousing manner and not to hurt her? He didn't beat her but occasional grabbing, shaking and a shove once a while. He had intended to shut her out with every bit of him and how she loathed herself but she still wanted him. She had fallen in love with Jacob Nelson.