Chapter 3
Calliope’s POV
My breath stalled in my throat as I hurried toward the kitchen. Before I could hold back, I snapped, “You’ll be what?”
Thaddeus turned at the sound of my voice, his brow furrowing. “Keep your voice down before you upset her.”
I scoffed, incredulous. “Upset her? Why would you make such decisions without consulting me?”
“I’m sorry, Calliope, Zephyrine interjected, her eyes welling with tears. “There was a gas leak at my house this morning, and Thad thought it would be safer for me to stay here, given my condition. I’ll leave right now if
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you’d prefer.”
I watched her attempted exit, scoffing at her feeble display. As she tried to rise, she groaned, almost collapsing, and Thaddeus was instantly at her side, steadying her.
“Rest, Zephyrine, and eat. I’ll talk to Calliope,” he assured her gently.
Zephyrine nodded and settled back down, attacking the pancakes artfully drizzled with honey in the shape of a smiley face. Thaddeus had made them, a little detail that stung.
He hadn’t made me pancakes in seven months, a once–shared tradition now extended to Zephyrine.
“Come with me,” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
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He led me to our bedroom, shutting the door firmly behind us.
“Zephyrine needs to stay until the baby is born. I can’t let her be alone; besides, you owe her,” Thaddeus stated. “She was in the hospital yesterday because of you.”
I scoffed. “As if she’s the only one who’s been to a hospital.”
Thaddeus sighed, a hint of frustration in his voice. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer your calls, Calliope, but I was upset. Zephyrine is pregnant, and I know you can’t understand because you’ve never been pregnant.”
His words cut deep, reopening the wound of the doctor’s grim news replaying in my head.
“We tried everything, but we couldn’t save
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the baby.”
“Lilly, Zephyrine’s father, helped me in business when I needed it the most, and I promised to look after her. I failed, and she returned to us, broken. Every day I wonder if things might have been different if I’d kept that promise. Now, we have the chance to help her. Don’t you see, Calliope? It’s just a few months,” he implored, his voice dragging me back from my spiraling thoughts.
I blinked back tears, turning away from him, weary of the same tired narrative he’d used for months to justify his attention to Zephyrine.
“She’s pregnant, Calliope!”
“I let her father down, Calliope!”
“Without her father’s help, I wouldn’t be the
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man I am today. You wouldn’t be living this life, Calliope.”
“She’s been through hell, Calliope. Show some sympathy!”
“Yeah, fine!” I snapped.
He pulled me into a hug, kissing my forehead. “You’re the best!” Then, with a puzzled look, he asked, “Why do you smell like antiseptic?”
“Thad!” Zephyrine’s voice floated from the living room, erasing the concern on Thaddeus’s face as he hurried out of the
bedroom.
I stayed behind until I heard the sound of his car pulling away, off to work, no doubt.
Minutes later, the door creaked open, and
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Zephyrine entered, her expression smug.
“I love this room, Calliope. I’ll ask Thaddeus to give it to me,” she declared..
I responded with a cold smile, “Whatever you want, Zephyrine.”
Zephyrine giggled, clapping her hands like a child. “Yes! You’ve finally realized I’m superior to you, the woman Thaddeus truly loves.”
“Keep dreaming, Kifa,” I retorted.
Zephyrine laughed mockingly. “By the way, Thad never saw those messages. I made sure of that.”
Anger flared in my eyes. “You monster, I could have died!”
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Zephyrine shrugged. “It might have made life easier for my son. I doubt he wants to share Thad with anyone.”
“Just wait. I’ll tell Thaddeus everything, and he’ll see right through you, I threatened, but she merely laughed.
“You still don’t get it, do you? Thaddeus is mine! Maybe you need a lesson to understand that.”
Ignoring her, I left the room. I needed to stock up on groceries, especially with an additional mouth to feed, and I couldn’t bear to spend another second with Zephyrine, knowing she’d hidden the news of my lost baby. I was furious enough to throttle her.
Tonight, I’d reveal the truth to Thaddeus. He had to know everything, beyond Zephyrine’s manipulation.
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After shopping, I went to the library to read and clear my mind. I lost track of time until my phone chimed with a message from Zephyrine. Reluctantly, I opened it to find a photo of Thaddeus kissing her. The phone slipped from my trembling hand.
No… it can’t be. Thaddeus would never…
Gasping for breath, I hailed a taxi, desperate to prove it was a cruel joke. But seeing Thaddeus’s car in the driveway as I arrived, my heart plummeted.
Rushing toward the house, I heard the unmistakable sound of moans coming from my bedroom.
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