~Jacqueline’s POV~
I did the zip of my skirt. Phew! That was hard. I guess I have to stand on the bathroom scale more often. Was it just me or did I again gain overnight? The pregnancy is almost two month and I don’t eat that much. I shrugged. I quickly styled my hair into a ponytail. I wore lipstick and rubbed my lips together. I haven’t been pressed to hurry before.
Except for that interview at Bern.
I left the room and quickly climbed down the stairs. I held the handrail as I climbed down. Two stairs to the landing, I caught a glimpse of someone at the end. I stopped at a stair and looked at him blankly. Oh, great! That was one way to ruin my morning. My pace decreased and I sluggishly climbed down. I stood a stair away from him.
Rex had a lit cigarette in his hand. His hair seemed messy. He was still in his nightwear. I got a whiff of the smoke. It triggered my stomach, making my tongue to have a salty tasty. It was making me nauseous.
He was about to take a puff at it when I annoyingly collected it from him. I threw it on the stair I was on and stepped on it. I looked him. His eyes were at the doused cigarette.
“Care to explain what that was for?” He asked icily, narrowing his eyes. He wore a stiff smile.
“I’m sorry. Your habit was making uncomfortable. You should learn to break it before it controls you.” I said sharply.
“Hm! Seems like this pregnancy is making you bold.” He said airily.
I turned deaf to what he had said. I climbed down the last stair, trying to walking away from him. He stood in my way, blocking my path. I flashed a glance at him, moving to the side. He blocked as well. I let out a sigh and stood still. I had my gaze at something else.
“Where you are going?” He asked plainly. His voice was a little firm.
“Not like you care.” I replied bluntly.
“Not relevant. Again, where are you going, Cupcake?” He asked icily, raising his voice a little.
I rolled my eyes and looked at him blankly.
“I’m going window shopping with Daisy. Do you have a problem with that?” I asked him curtly.
“With whose permission?” He shot back.
“No one’s.” I replied confidently. I folded my arms.
“Did I hear you clearly?” He asked doubtfully.
“Mhm! Or do you need me to that in writing before you understand?” I scoffed.
Rex narrowed his eyes at him. He looked at me sternly, trying to be intimidating.
“When did that rule change?” He asked icily.
“When you started sleeping with your mistress in your office. I guess you didn’t need my permission for you to get blow—.” I said angrily but stopped.
I flashed a glance at the maid that was walking pass the corridor. Her pace decreased the moment I told him off. Maybe it’s not a good idea to argue with him in front of the maids.
“You still angry with that? It wasn’t a big deal.” He said coolly.
Wasn’t a big deal? Did he just normalize cheating? I furrowed my brow surprisingly.
“Not a big deal?” I said doubtfully,
“Now I see the reason why you hate your unborn child so much. You don’t want it to interfere while you are busy with your mistress.”
“Stop exaggerating. That’s not it.” He replied sharply.
“Then what is?” I asked boldly.
Rex stalled and didn’t reply. I guess I’ll take his silence as a yes. I got down the last stair and walked towards the front door.
“You clearly know no one would drive you without my permission.” He said frigidly.
I stopped. I turned my head round and looked at him.
“I know. That’s why Daisy would do it herself. You don’t have to bother. My child and I should be the least of your problems.” I replied, bold and confident about my opinion.
I walked to the door. Jason stood beside it. I looked at him steely. He tilted his head, waiting for Rex’s approval. He replied in a nod and clasped the handle of the door. He pulled it open and I walked out.
~•~
“Why do you think about this baby bib?”
I turned to the side and looked at it. It was in the colour I wanted—green, but not what I was looking for. I shook my head.
“Oh! I guess that’s a no one the bid then.” Daisy said as she returned the bib.
I flipped over the book I was holding. It was a collection of nursery rhymes. It had almost every rhyme I was taught in the orphanage. It might be useful in the future. I guess I’ll buy one in case it runs out of stock later on.
“Whoa! I guess that’s enough window shopping for a day. Don’t you think?” She said tiredly.
“Mhm!”
I barely looked at her. I had my eyes at the book. It made me nostalgic.
“Jackie!”
I turned to my side. Daisy furrowed her brow while she looked at me.
“I’ve been calling you but you suddenly became absentminded. Is there a problem?” She asked worriedly.
“No, there isn’t.” I said, wearing a faint smile.
Daisy reciprocated. Though, her smile was more cheerful than mine.
“Is there anything you want to look at before we leave? I don’t know, the crib or maybe compare the prices here with the shop opposite it.” She suggested.
“No. I’m good.” I answered.
“Okay. Let’s go then. I’m famished. Eating too light wasn’t a good idea.” She openly expressed.
I replied in a nod. We walked to the counter. The shopkeeper stood behind the counter while her staff arranged things. I paid for the book. We left the shop. We successfully walked through the crowd in front of us, without losing each and got on the escalator. Daisy was a stair lower than I was.
The outburst with Rex earlier was still in my mind. I thought coming here will take my mind off it but it didn’t. With my hormones being increased because of the pregnancy, I’ve been restless. I needed to talk to someone about it.
I can’t tell Bianca. She would want to go into details. I might spill the tea without knowing. I looked at Daisy. She seems trustworthy. She has been like the sister I never had. It’s best if I tell her, excluding the blow-j*b part.
“Daisy,”
“Mm!” She hummed as she turned her head round.
I quickly got on the same stair as her. We were very few on the escalator. I hesitated for a minute.
“Can I ask you something?” I asked her cowardly.
“Sure.” She replied calmly.
“Um, h-how did Alex reacted when he learnt you were pregnant?” I asked her.
“Well, let’s say he didn’t know how to handle the news. We both had agreed no child after the first year marriage but things didn’t happen the way we had expected it to.” She narrated jovially,
“He didn’t talk to me for a week. It felt like torture. But when I had first spotted, his anger subsided. He was more attentive. He practically treated me like a child. There was never a day he didn’t return home with my favourite cakes or takeaway from my favourite restaurants.”
“He never asked you to get rid of the boys?” I asked feebly.
Daisy laughed.
“Get rid of his children? I admit he was disappointed and almost blew his top off, but he never did. He loved them and he still does.”
“Where did you get that idea from?”
“No where. I was just curious.” I replied sheepishly, faking a laugh.
“Hm!” She hummed.
If Alex is this caring, why is Rex the opposite? His resentment for his own blood keeps growing daily. It’s his flesh and blood for goodness sake. He shouldn’t be treating it this bad.
“Let me guess, you and Rex are having issues about the baby?” She guessed.
How did she—? Oh, the questions! I simply replied in a nod.
“Don’t worry. He would come around. They always do.” She said happily.
I hope he does. We got off the escalator and walked towards the exit. The doors slid automatically as we got close. We walked through it and straight to the car. Daisy unlocked as we got closer to it. I got in. She did seconds later and started the engine. She drove out of the premises.
“So, to your house?” She asked airily, with her eyes on the road.
I don’t do much at home and being trapped there was more annoying. Rex would’ve probably gone to work by now. I just needed a change of environment. Even if it was for a few hours.
“No. Let’s just go to yours instead. I’ll have Cameron to come and drive me home.” I said airily.
Daisy hummed. She turned on the stereo and drove home. Within twenty minutes, she had pulled over at the gate. She sounded the horn. The gate-keeper opened the gate. She drove in and parked at the carport.
I quickly got out. These days, I was beginning to hate car rides because of motion sickness. I closed to the door. Daisy got out and locked the car. Baxter barked from the rear end of the port and ran towards me. His muddy paws left prints on my shoes.
“Baxter,” She said as she saw it at my feet.
“Where have you been? Don’t tell me you where at my flowerpots again?”
Baxter whimpered and let its ears down. It knew it was in trouble.
“Come, let’s go and wash those muddy paws. I can’t let you in with it.” She said.
Baxter barked as soon as it heard the word, ‘wash’ and ran away.
“Bax—.” She called it and heaved tiredly. She looked at the direction it had ran.
“You can ahead. I’ll catch up with you.”
I simply nodded. Daisy flashed a smile at me and went after the puppy. I watched her until she was out of sight. I chuckled and walked to the house. I rang the doorbell and waited for someone to answer. The door pulled open.
“Ms. Jackie!” Mrs Cecilia said, wearing a smile.
I reciprocated and entered the room. Mrs Cecilia closed the door. Her apron was partially covered with flour and something green-looking. She probably had been cooking.
“Where is Daisy?” She asked.
“She is outside with Baxter. She is trying to give him a bath or something.” I blurted out.
Mrs Cecilia replied in a nod. I walked towards the staircase.
“Do you need me to get you anything?” She asked friendly.
“No, Mrs Cecilia. I’m tired and I was to rest. Probably have a nap before I return home.” I declined,
“If I’m hungry, I’ll definitely let you know.”
Mrs Cecilia nodded. She walked towards the corridor. I let out a sigh as I got on the first stair. Who knew being pregnant would be tiring? I haven’t made it to the top and I’m already worn out. I held the handrail and climbed up sluggishly.
Almost at the half, I heard clacking on the boards. I raised my head. I rolled my eyes when I saw who it was. Shirley was climbing down the stairs. Her lips were pursed. She sneered at me. I cut her dead and climbed up a stair.
I was about to climb another one when she blocked me.
“Aw! If it isn’t my stupid brother’s wife. No, that doesn’t sound right. It’s a little disrespectful. Doesn’t it?” She said mockingly, trying to piss me off.
Just ignore her Jackie. I tried to pass but she blocked me. Can’t she go and bother someone else? I’m not in the mood for lunacy.
“I know. How about, the gold digger who became a wh*re after she cheated on Liam? Sounds better. It’s fully described how disgusting you are.” She taunted.
Okay. I was don’t being quiet.
“You know what your problem is? You can’t stand my happiness. You’re just jealous and obviously being like a spoilt brat. No manners, lack decency when talking to others despite coming from a respected family, cannot tell the difference between being shameless and a worthless person because it’s your personality. I’ll advice you go to the hospital and have you brain checked. It wouldn’t be long before people see you as a lunatic, in need of help.” I said bluntly.
Shirley jutted her chin. Her eyes were narrowed. She was pissed, all right.
“What? Not satisfied with the words or do you need more?” I slung her off.
“You just hide behind Rex. You act the way you do because you know he will always defend you. Just admit you’re a coward and learn to respect me. We are definitely not from the same class, b*tch.” She gritted her teeth.
“I know that. That’s why it’s safe to say that you’re only one who is the coward. Your wealth won’t last and then, you’ll be out on the street begging for a franc or two. Maybe then, you would’ve learnt a thing or two about being humble.” I shot back at her confidently. I wore a smirk.
“You—.”
“Save it, Shirley! The only difference between you and an ass is that it lives in a stable while you, here. There is completely no difference between you and it.” I replied firmly.
Shirley clenched her fists angrily. I tried to climb the next stair but Shirley came up to me.
“You surely get what you’re asking for.” She swore angrily.
Shirley hit my fingers on the rails with her elbow and pushed me. I couldn’t hold anything and lost my balance on the staircase. I couldn’t explain what had happened. I was already on the landing, grimacing in pain.
“Oh, Jackie!”
I slowly closed my eyes.
“Can an ambulance.”
“My baby.” I said softly, losing consciousness.