Chapter 3
Early the next morning, before heading out, Mark stood in the doorway of the bedroom.
"Emily, I'm going to check on her today," he said.
I opened my eyes.
"See who?" I asked.
"She's not feeling well and asked me to take her to the doctor," he said.
I sat up.
"Yesterday I told you I wasn't feeling well. Did you even think about coming with me?"
Mark paused, not saying anything.
"You'll be fine on your own," he finally said, avoiding my eyes.
"I'm pregnant with your child too," I reminded him, my voice trembling a little.
"I know, but she's five months in and it's riskier for her," he replied.
"So because mine's only eight weeks, it doesn't matter?"
Mark rubbed his temples, looking worn out.
"Emily, do you have to be so confrontational?" he said.
I stared at him.
"So you cheat, and I'm the pushy one?"
"I never said it was your fault," he muttered.
"Then whose fault is it?" I pressed.
He stayed silent.
"Mark, what do you really want?" I asked, my voice steady but cold.
He hesitated. "I want—"
Mark drew in a deep breath.
"I want you to meet her," Mark finally managed.
I stared at him, completely stunned.
"What?" I blurted, not believing what I was hearing.
"You two should meet and clear the air," Mark said.
"Talk about what exactly?" I snapped.
"She said she wants to meet you," Mark said.
I laughed, and there was nothing happy in it.
"She wants to meet me? Who am I to her? Is she really strutting around like being your side chick is something to brag about?" I snapped.
"She's not a mistress," Mark insisted.
"Then what is she, Mark?" I fired back.
Mark met my eyes, dead serious.
"She's the mother of my child," he said.
My phone rang.
It was Margaret calling.
I answered.
"Emily, did you go for your checkup today? How did it go?" she asked.
I looked over at Mark.
"Margaret, I'm pregnant. Eight weeks along," I said.
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"Really? That's amazing! I'm booking a ticket right now!" she blurted out.
"Margaret, don't come over yet," I said.
"Why? What's going on?" she asked.
I stared straight at Mark.
"Mark has something he needs to tell you," I said.
I shoved the phone into his hand.
His face drained of color.
"Emily!" he blurted out.
"Answer it."
"You—" he stammered.
"Answer it," I repeated, my tone icy.
He just stood there, refusing to take the phone.
Margaret's voice came through the phone. "Mark? What's going on?"
I put the call on speaker.
"Margaret, Mark's seeing someone else. The woman's five months pregnant," I said, my voice steady but cold.
There was dead silence on the line.
Mark looked like he'd seen a ghost.
"Mom, I—" he stammered.
"Shut up," Margaret snapped, her voice icy.
"Emily, I'm coming over today," she said.
The call ended.
Mark shot me a furious look.
"Are you out of your mind?" he snapped.
"You're the one who's crazy," I shot back.
"Do you even care that my mom has a heart condition?" he shouted.
"Do you even care that I'm pregnant?" I shot back.
He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
"Mark, you want me to meet your mistress? Fine. But your mom's coming too."
"Emily!" he shouted.
"What, you scared?"
He glared at me.
I stood up and grabbed my jacket.
"I'm heading to the hospital for my checkup. Figure it out yourself."
At the door, I paused.
"And that 105 thousand dollars? I'm getting it back," I added.