Chapter 6

　　He’s kicking me out! This is all Maureen’s fault and yet I’m the one who needs to leave? How long do I have to endure this? Isn’t ten years long enough for him not to see my devotion for him? 　　If this is what it’s come to then I have nothing more to lose. It’s time for me to face the thing that’s been troubling me for quite some time now. 　　"It is her, isn’t it Marcus Mo?” I asked him as I looked squarely at Maureen. 　　Marcus Mo’s jaw tightened. He just gave me his usual cold stare that I got so used to by now. After a moment of silence, he then ordered someone to pack my things up. He told them to send me and my belongings to an apartment near the lake. 　　There were patrolling guards 24/7 so that I won’t be walking all alone by myself. 　　He ordered them to confiscate my mobile phone saying he believes that the frequency and radiation might impact the child's growth and development. 　　But it felt like he was afraid of me having contact with anyone outside. 　　Was he afraid I’d reveal their secret? 　　Something this big will surely invalidate our grandparents’ agreement. I studied a bit of contractual obligations in college, and this was certainly a breach of contract. 　　I understand everything now. He has chosen Maureen to be his lover, and I was just a womb to incubate his child which he needed to get his inheritance. Even though I’m the mother of his child, it makes no difference as far as their relationship was concerned. 　　When we got married, all I could think of is my own happiness. Being with the man that I love. I had seen too many fairy tales. I thought every story ended with a happily ever after. 　　Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine something like this would happen to me. Now he is using me to cover up for this shameful relationship between him and Maureen. 　　I almost had a miscarriage and now he’s placing me under house arrest. And what? They’ll live happily together in that house? 　　When I finally arrived at the apartment that Marcus Mo told me, my heart felt heavy in my chest. So this is how it feels like to be an exile. What’s more I’m almost at the second trimester of my pregnancy. I’m in a sensitive condition right now and yet I was so depressed that I couldn't eat anything. In just three days, I’ve lost a few pounds. 　　I was awakened the next day by a scuffle outside. Someone was being stopped by the guards. I hurriedly stepped out of my room to find out what’s going on. 　　“No, you can't go in!" I heard one of the guards said. 　　Could it be Marcus Mo? But why are his own men stopping him? 　　I opened the door and looked. There was a guy but only his back is facing my direction. He was being pulled back on his wrist by one of the men in suit. 　　“Just give me five minutes okay? I’ll just talk to her!” said the guy. Wait! I know that voice! My heart jumped! 　　“Tom ! What are you doing here?” I gasped, calling out to him. This is the first time in a long while that I was glad to see someone. 　　“Hey, Sarah! Can you please tell this guys to get their hands off me?“ he said as he looked at the men irritatingly. 　　"Let him in. I take all the responsibilities myself." I told them. 　　The men in suit looked at each other and finally let Tom in. 　　“Just this once…” said the one with the moustache. Tom rubbed his wrists and threw a mocking look at them. He quickened up his pace towards me as I opened the door to let him in. I offered him a seat on which he did. He studied me for a while then looked around. 　　“What are you doing here Tom ?” I asked him. I was still surprised that he’s here. 　　"Why did Marcus Mo bring you here, Sarah? I just came from abroad and now you’re like this? What happened here?"his questions followed by more questions. 　　I never told Tom about what happened back then. I was worried that he might do something brash about it. But I haven’t had anyone care about me for so long until now. I want to let it out. 　　And so I told him everything that happened. I began with the test tube operation until when Marcus Mo finally kicked me out of his house. 　　He was all ears. Tom is one of the only people that I can speak my heart out to. 　　"Listen to me, Sarah. This can’t go on forever. You know that. This has got to stop. Do you understand? You’re pregnant. We must tell your relatives about this" Tom said, almost pleading. 　　"No! Please don’t!" I begged him, tugging his sleeves a bit. “You know them pretty well. They’ll go nuts if they found out about this. Please don't tell them.” I told him as my eyes blurred with tears.