Babies and Departures

When I was six months pregnant, I was visiting the hospital when I saw my husband with his childhood friend, who had recently returned to the country.

I was left holding my own prenatal checkup report, watching as they celebrated their soon-to-be born child.

Still, Kelly Wallace appeared worried and even sounded guilty. "Quentin, you didn't have to come with me—I'm fine alone. If Jolin finds out, she'll definitely have a fight with you. She's pregnant too… it'll affect her mood and the baby."

Quentin Smith was confidently nonchalant. "No, she won't—she always obeys me and loves me too much. If she does argue, I'll just divorce her!"

My heat broke, tears of misery rushing down my cheek.

But it was true. I loved him so much that I couldn't even bear to argue with him and always obeyed him.

Even so, that didn't mean I was going to maintain this sham of a marriage after learning about his deceit.

Since he didn't want me and our child, then I could raise my baby alone.

Wiping away my tears, I called a number I hadn't called for five years. "Dad, can I come home?"

"Oh, Jo! You finally called. Of course you're always welcomed home!"

Hanging up, I booked a ticket for a flight to Switzerland that was due to depart a week later.

I'd be out of his hair, so why was he losing his mind when he couldn't find me?

When I was six months pregnant, I was visiting the hospital to get my prenatal checkup results when I ran into my husband, Quentin Smith.

He was accompanying a woman for her prenatal checkup—she was his childhood friend, Kelly Wallace.

"Quentin, won't your wife mind?" she asked with a hint of distress.

"Don't worry, she'll never find out. Even if she does, she wouldn't dare do anything." Quentin smiled, taking Kelly's hand and squeezing it.

Kelly remained anxious. "But she's your wife after all. I'm afraid she'll get upset if she knows…"

"I'll just make sure she never finds out," Quentin replied, shrugging. "I would've told her in the first place, but she's been emotionally unstable lately, and you're pregnant, so I can't let her cause you any trouble. If she dares to cause trouble, I'll just have to divorce her!"

Hearing those words left my heart broken.

Whipping out my phone, I called my father whom I hadn't spoken to in a while, telling him as soon as he answered, "Dad, I want to go home."

My father was delighted nonetheless. "I guess you've finally figured it all out, sweetie. Don't worry—you're always welcomed home. And no matter what happens, your mom and I will always have your back."

After hanging up, I remembered that I had asked Quentin to come with me to my prenatal checkup when I left the house earlier this morning, but he said he had something else to do.

As it turned out, he was accompanying Kelly for her prenatal checkup instead.