For three years of our marriage I’d eaten blandly because of my stomach.My husband had never known.The old me would have eaten it all to please him,no matter how hot.Now I took the whole bag downstairs and threw it away.
From today on,I would throw away every grievance and every hurt from this marriage—and that included throwing him away.
The next day,I left for the office early in the morning without waiting for Xavier to wake up.
“This project is the most tedious and would require you to work overtime,do any of you want to take it?The budget allocation is higher and you will be paid a good bonus.”
“I will do it.”As soon as I agreed to work overtime my colleagues were all startled while my boss asked hesitantly.
“Mia what about your husband…also you are pregnant so we thought that you would soon go a maternity leave-”
“Unfortunately,I had a miscarriage so I would not be needing any leave.”The tense atmosphere made the meeting abruptly come to an end,my boss asked others to leave while retaining me in the conference hall.
“Mia,I am sorry if I am overstepping my bounds but is everything alright between you and your husband?”
“You are an exceptional employee and I always wished to promote you but then you would not have liked being separated from your family.I was wondering if you want to work at the main branch in the capital city.”she said,her tone careful to not offend me.
I smiled gently”Thank you for considering me.I would love to relocate.”
Surprised,she paused."Actually,my husband was at the Southwest bar last night when he heard Xavier talking to his friends.”
When I saw her hesitating I urged her to continue.
"He was discussing about your baby,saying that since you are an orphan you might not know how to raise a child,thus he asked a friend of his,uh...Vanessa,to help him around with the baby.
I am sorry Mia,I just thought that if I were at your place I would want to know if my husband talks like this about me outside."
I felt like a bucket of ice-cold water was poured over my head.
So this was what my husband really thought about me.
I gave a teary smile,shaking my head.
"Thank you."
At that moment my phone rang with Xavier's caller ID flashing across the screen.