Chapter 1 Text Message

I have finally finished setting the dining table up. I have prepared enough food to feed this street. I'm just so happy and moreover, today is Christmas Eve so why not? On the table lays Pan-seared steak with roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes, chicken parmesan with spaghetti and mariara sauce which are his favourites. I also made some of mine like Paella Valenciana and Chuletón de Buey. I can't wait for him to get here. He would absolutely love this. By 11pm, my excitement starts to turn into worry about Jaxon. He told me he would be here latest by 10pm. This is one hour later and I doubt anything could be holding him up at the office. I decide to wait some more before calling because there's no use in getting agitated. There are times when he comes home late because of traffic but normally, he would have sent me a text first. After pacing around the living room for God knows how long, the clock strikes 12pm further increasing my fears. Picking up my phone, I'm about to speed dial him when a new message comes in from an unknown number. I open it and it's an image. Who could this be? The image loads and the sight in front of me makes my stomach drop in dread. No, this cannot be true. It must be a photoshopped picture right? But staring at it every passing second shows that the picture has not been photoshopped in any way. Jaxon is in bed with his best friend. His arms are around her while her head is on his chest. Another message comes in right after: He is mine now. A tear escapes from my eyes and I slide down the wall. I pull up my knees to my chest while squeezing my phone tightly in my hand willing whatever just happened to just be a bad dream. I really thought he was different. I genuinely did. I really did. He lied to me. He told me over and over that she was just his childhood best friend and he has never felt anything for her. I believed him. I always knew she liked him more than a friend but I was scared because I knew he loved me. I was so wrong. I was wrong. He cheated on me. Today is supposed to be one of the happiest days of our days together. I was so happy. I really wanted to tell him about my pregnancy. I know we are not married yet and this was totally unplanned but I knew from one of his conversations I overheard with his friend that he was planning to propose soon. So why would he do this to me? Was he hoping to eat his cake and have it? No I won't let myself cry over a guy who doesn't give a damn about my feelings. I wipe my face with the back of my hand. I stand up from the floor and quickly head inside the room. I take my suitcase from the top of the wardrobe and start filling it with all my things. After packing all my clothes, toiletries and shoes, I order an Uber. I stand in front of the mirror and look at myself. I place my hand on my tummy and tears start falling again. This time I don't stop them. I really really wanted to have a family with him. Yet, now that I have what I have always wished for, it's being taken away from me. I feel so bad that my child will grow up without a father just as I did. It hurts me to know that history is repeating itself but this time my child's father did not die. He chose to betray me and my child. I absolutely love him with everything in me but I won't compromise my happiness and share my man with anyone. He can marry her if he wants but I can't stay here knowing he has cheated on me. After everything we have been through together. I look up at our pictures all around the room and with each one my heart shatters. A year. He has been my world for a year. We have been dating for a year. We did everything together. It was just about two months ago that he completed this house and told me that he built it for us. The instant he broke the news to me, I cried out in joy because no one has ever made plans that include me in it. Ever since then, we have been a team. Each other's confidant, companion and partner. We fought for our love. His family was against us especially his mum. She didn't approve of me because I don't come from a high class family. The first day I met her, I realized that people still thought like this. According to her, I don't deserve her precious son. It has taken a lot of constant reassurance for me to not leave him. The constant humiliation by her almost killed my self esteem. The only thing that made me stay was the fact that Jaxon constantly stood up for me, for us. He didn't allow his mother to go scot free each time. He always made everything right but this time, nothing, absolutely nothing can be done. It has always be us against the world but now, it's I and my child against him. I won't be around to lose to him when he starts his lies. My phone pings to notify me of the Uber's arrival. I text him and tell him that I'll be down soon. I use my wet wipes to clean my face although it doesn't do much because my eyes are really puffy and red. I move my two suitcases to the living room to make it easier to carry. After two trips to and fro, all my bags are in the boot of the car. Taking one last look at the house that has grown to be my home for one last time before he drives off.