I sat on the sofa in Gwen’s home, with my daughter wrapped in a pink shawl nestled in my arms. The love I felt towards this small, fragile human was immeasurable. Small but powerful. Every wriggle, every cry, my chest tightened with even more love. Not in a million years did I think it was possible to love another human this much.
"You’re going to spoil her." Gwen said walking in on me cooing at Chayara. Gwen looked pleased. This wasn’t the plan; being with Gwen has always been a physical attraction, no emotion involved. This has always been the deal, but the arrival of Chayara was changing things.
"She is a Numero Princess. She should be spoiled." I countered with pride.
"She is going to miss you when you leave."
"You should stay." She urged sitting beside me on the sofa, her leg on mine.
"I can’t. Nita is already quite mad at me."
"Gwen, it doesn’t matter if we like it or not; she is my wife. She is also carrying my child. I have to respect that." I said, rocking Chayara as she cooed.
"What makes you think the child is yours? She has been frolicking around with Victor. I heard he is her ex-boyfriend."
I was unsure of what to say. Something did feel off, but that can be chalked down to my lapse in memory. I did feel something for Nita, but I had always felt that way about her. The only difference was back then, I knew her as Nerdy Benny.
But I remembered Gwen clearly, our escapades together, sneaking out of an event together to have sex in a car or the closest hotel room. Gwen said I had proposed to her, but I had to go along with what my family wanted. That also didn’t sound like me.
I felt like both women were lying to me, but the most believable was Gwen. The contract I found was proof that my marriage was a sham. If I loved her, what’s the use of a written agreement?
Sam’s betrayal also wasn’t helping me think right. Sam would have told me the truth if he weren’t currently in jail awaiting trial for kidnapping my wife and my attempted murder.
"You’re thinking too hard," Gwen said.
I gave a small smile. "Am I?"
She reached out to touch my face, but I pulled back before her fingers made contact. Withdrawing from her was instinctive; wanting Nita was natural. The kiss at the hospital had been a mistake, an overwhelming excitement when I saw my daughter.
"I have to go." I handed Chayara to her and got to my feet.
"Still keeping your distance?" she asked, moving to place Nita in her movable crib.
"Gwen, I don’t know who I have become in these few years. I am even playing catch-up at work. I would rather not do something that will mess my life up further."
Gwen let out a dramatic breath, shaking her head. "I am not telling you that you were in love with me. But I was whom you chose when the board said the new CEO had to be married. Your family just had other plans. And that was when Chayara happened. Think about it, Richard. Who do you believe? The woman you have always known or the one you are just finding out about."
The question rang countless times in my head. Who do I believe? Who should I believe? Everyone says I love my wife, even Martin. He said I went crazy when she was kidnapped. But the contract said, to the public, we would be a loving couple.
Gwen reached over and squeezed my hand. "You don’t have to force yourself to remember something that wasn’t real in the first place. You have a family now. A real one."
I looked down at my daughter, feeling a surge of warmth.
I sat in my parents’ living room, staring at the contract again. I concentrated, thinking it would spark something; nothing. I sighed heavily and ran a hand through my hair. Why would I even consider such a binding contract with her, especially with a woman I clearly liked since my teenage years?
What was it about her that didn’t encourage me to want to spend the rest of my life with her? Why would she need an escape plan?
"Still staring at that, huh?" My father’s voice came from behind me. "That file has stopped making any sense since the moment both of you got married."
"Yeah, I knew. Actually, you told me when you found out about Gwen’s pregnancy."
I clenched my jaw. "So it’s true, then? My marriage to Nita was a sham?"
"I cannot explain it to you, son. You just have to remember on your own, or else whatever step you take will not be based on how you feel but on what we tell you. That’s not fair to anyone, especially not to Nita."
I swallowed. "I know that I feel something; I just don’t know what. My house feels empty, the same house I have lived in for years. I know something is missing; I don’t know what."
"It will come to you." He patted me on the back and took a seat. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you for another reason. I heard Nita resigned."
"You cannot let her go. She has done an excellent job in a few months; she found out about your brother’s embezzlement, and she has been able to help us tap into other investments to generate amazing revenue. The company needs her."
"Dad, she resigned, and she is divorcing me." I looked at my father. "I don’t know what to do. The kiss she saw at the hospital meant nothing, really, and well, maybe it’s for the best."
"Your mother is going to murder you."
"I know." I ran my hand through my hair once more, this time in frustration. "How is Chayara’s birth party coming along?"
"That’s this weekend. Nita is also about to pop. You’re going to have two babies with two different women. Way to go, Richard."
I groaned. "The only light in the darkness right now are my kids." I got up abruptly. "I’m going to go see Nita."