Chapter 1: Becomes 1

Serena

My husband Bill and his beautiful assistant Doris are laughing and eating like they’re on a first date. But the joke is on me…

I’m here, Bill’s wife, watching them from across the room, tending to my flat belly where a little life is now living.

Of course, Bill doesn’t know about the baby yet. The news is still fresh in my mind, barely a few hours old.

It is supposed to be a family dinner gathering, but I’m never the welcome one but an outsider.

Watching Bill take the steak cut and handed over by Doris, his young age best friend who knows him the best, I guess I’m spoiling their fun by telling them now that I’m having a baby.

“Doris, Bill mentioned you’re getting an MBA. Why don’t you tell us about it?” Elena, Bill’s mom, says. I know this dinner isn’t just for catching up. Elena wants to show off Doris, the daughter-in-law she’d rather have.

Doris, with her wavy auburn hair, smiles and leans forward in her chair. “It’s going really well,” she says, her emerald-green eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “I’m learning a lot about global markets. Bill even told me I could be a great asset to his company. Right Bill?”

She beams at Bill, seeking confirmation, but he’s busy admiring the way she effortlessly charms everyone at the table.

“Absolutely. Doris has a sharp mind for business,” Bill responds confidently. He’s tall, with impeccably groomed blonde hair, not a strand out of place. He exudes a commanding presence, just like the CEO he is.

I clench my fork a little tighter, feeling a mix of anger and helplessness. Bill never talks about my accomplishments like that. He always had an excuse – too technical, too mundane, not worth mentioning at a family dinner. But here he is, praising Doris as if she’s already part of the family.

I see Bill’s blue eyes, which are usually sharp and piercing, looking at Doris with a warm and gentle expression. It’s quite different from how he usually looks at me. It hurts to watch them. I knew I shouldn’t have come here.

The waiter interrupts my thoughts, holding up an expensive bottle of wine. “Wine, ma’am?”

“Uhm… Can you please get me an iced tea instead?’ I ask. He nods and moves away.

I gently touch my belly under the table, thinking about my secret. Will anyone guess why I’m not drinking wine? Probably not. Everyone’s too busy talking to Doris. I’m just here because Bill brought me along. I’m still his wife, after all.

“Excuse me. I need to use the bathroom,” I say, standing up. For a second, everyone looks at me, but their faces aren’t kind. I guess no one really cares what I do at this point.

As I limp toward the bathroom, my sore knee reminds me of what happened earlier. I was so lost in thought and didn’t see a bumpy part on the sidewalk. I tripped, and now my left knee throbs with pain. Great, I think I broke it.

“Congratulations, Serena,” Dr. Sanchez told me. “You’re four weeks pregnant.”

“Oh, that’s… wonderful,” I say. I try to sound upbeat, but I’m not really feeling it. I wanted to keep the baby. But how can Bill and I raise a child together if he no longer loves me?

“What’s wrong?” Dr. Sanchez asked, sensing my hesitation.

“Well, I don’t know how my husband will take it,” I replied, meeting her gaze.

Dr. Sanchez gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “It’s your decision,” she said. “But I’d recommend discussing it with him.”

Now, in the bathroom, I splash my face with water, trying to think straight. Should I tell everyone about the baby at dinner? Maybe it would make them see me differently, not just as someone who used to work for Bill.

But then I remember how cold everyone was when I walked into the ballroom. Bill and his family saw me hobbling, but nobody helped or even said hello. It felt like they were ignoring me on purpose, and Bill just stared at me.

Looking in the mirror, I see someone who looks like me but doesn’t feel like me. We share the same features: soft brown eyes, chestnut hair in loose waves, and tiny freckles on both cheeks. But this isn’t the old Serena I know. She wouldn’t let anyone treat her like a doormat.

When I head back to my seat, Doris suddenly steps in front of me. She trips, and a waiter who was bringing me the iced tea I asked for can’t stop in time. The tea spills all over my white dress.

“Hey! Watch it, Doris,” I say, surprised and a bit angry. I clean the stain with my handkerchief, but it won’t come off.

Bill, like a knight in shining armor, quickly goes to Doris and helps her up. “Are you okay?” he asks her.

Doris starts crying and plays the victim, “I’m fine. I just don’t know why Serena would trip me.”

My face gets hot. This lying bitch is testing me. “What?! I didn’t even touch you.”

Bill stares coldly at me, “What’s wrong with you? Apologize to her now.”

I can’t believe he’s taking her side. “Are you fucking serious? I didn’t do anything! If anyone should apologize, it’s her for ruining my dress.”

“Seriously? Is your dress all you care about? You’re so selfish!”

“Oh, I’m selfish? You haven’t even looked at me once. I didn’t make a big deal out of it. You’ve been too busy with Doris to remember you have a wife!”

Now, everyone is looking at us. I don’t usually share personal stuff in public, but I’m really tired of how everyone’s been treating me tonight. People can stare at us for all I care.

“Enough!” Elena yells. “Stop this nonsense. If you don’t apologize to Doris, then leave.”

I look at Bill, waiting for him to say something in my defense. He just stares at the table, letting his mom embarrass me without saying a word.

I feel tears starting to form in my eyes. I’ve never felt so low in my life.

I take a deep breath and say, “Okay, I don’t want to cause a scene here. I’ll go, Elena, if that’s what you want.”

The waiters give me odd looks as I leave the ballroom. That’s it, I’ve had enough. If Bill won’t stand up for me, our marriage should be over. I won’t even tell him about the baby, and I want a fucking divorce!