Jessica's POV

Michael Jenkins.

The perfect definition of slow poison. I was the happiest woman on my wedding day but now recalling the exchange of vows only made me sick to my stomach.

When my father died, leaving me with my mother, I felt like my world was collapsing because I couldn't take care of my mother and talk more about taking care of myself.

My father's absence created a scar on my heart, one that left me in tears every night as I had no idea how I'd be able to survive on my own.

As if the devil was on cue, he sent Michael my way. I had gone to look for a job at a shopping mall when I met him. From exchanging contacts to frequent visits, this stranger slowly became my lover.

He took on my financial expenses with no complaint, my mother loved him to no end.

“My dear, he's a real one. Don't let him slip off your fingers,” my sweet mother had advised and she really wasn't wrong. Michael was so nice to her that it was difficult to read in between the lines.

He understood me like no one did, I had foolishly thought he was my other half. Well, technically I wouldn't be blamed.

After all, I was only a lady struggling to heal from her father's death and he offered me a shoulder to cry on. It was only natural that I'd grow to love him.

But as I stood in front of our room with the door wide open, I couldn't help but curse the day I met him.

My heart raced as I watched the scene in front of me with trembling hands that held on to a gift bag.

My eyes slowly spilled the tears I had been fighting back, my fists clenched tightly around the bag in my hand.

“What the fuck is going on here?!” I thundered at him even though I could see exactly what was going on.

Michael jerked off the lady, staring at me with black eyes that sparkled with shock.

“Jes-Jessica, you- you're here?” He stuttered as he quickly buttoned up his shirt.

I fixed my gaze on him, my blue eyes welling up in rage but they soon got replaced by shock when I caught a glimpse of the woman in my matrimonial bed.

My jaws dropped and my brows pulled together in disgust, “Rachelle? You?”

Michael quickly approached me, his face and white shirt smeared with red lipstick, matching Rachelle’s lips.

“Jessica. I-I promise I can explain,” He started while reaching for my arms but I swatted them away, making the gift bag drop to the floor.

I sobbed softly, my lips turning downward as hot tears streamed down my cheeks, “How could you?” I questioned him with a voice that sounded no different from a whine.

But Rachelle's mocking tone followed my question, “Oh please. Spare me all of that. He clearly figured out you weren't good enough for him.”

My face twisted in annoyance, I glared daggers at her, “Don't you have no shame? You're my best friend for Christ sake and you decide to betray me like this! That's so despicable! It would be better if you kept your mouth shut!”

And with that,I turned my eyes to the man in front of me. I stared at him with so much intent. I hoped that somehow he'd have a reasonable explanation for what I was seeing even though nothing he said would pacify the situation.

So it shocked me when he said, “Jessica, Rachelle is right. I don't think you're good enough for me.”

My jaws dropped and my face turned pale. Christ, what was he saying? I wasn't good enough for him and we've been married for over three years?

I scoffed as I drove my thumb over my face to wipe my tears, “I wasn't good enough for you and it took you three years to figure that out? I wasn't good enough for you and you chose to cheat on me on our third year anniversary as a way to declare I'm not good enough? This has to be the most stupid excuse a cheating man has to ever come up with,” I finished with a firm tone yet I was only an inch away from shattering.

Michael's brows contorted as he pocketed his hands into his black pants, “Honestly, you shouldn't even be complaining about me cheating because since I met you, you've only ever drained me. Both financially and emotionally.”

My heart skipped a beat upon hearing that, “But you said I didn't have to worry about anything! I asked you so many times if you were tired and you never complained so where the hell is this coming from?”

“Just because I said not to worry doesn't mean you should have sat on your hands without trying to help. When I was going through financial issues, Rachelle helped me out. It was then I realized that I ended up with the wrong woman!”

I blinked my eyes as if to come out of a daze as I couldn't believe who was talking to me right now. This was not the Michael I knew, the man I fell in love with would never want me to do any work outside domestic duties but this man right here was now demanding.

As if on cue, Rachelle rose up from the bed, sliding her arms around Michael’s shoulder while casting a disgusting look at me.

My knee grew weak as I retreated back to rest my head on the purple painted wall as I tried to make sense of this scene.

This was far from the anniversary night I had imagined. This was supposed to be the beginning of a new chapter in our lives owing to the fact that I was pregnant.

Now that he didn't find me good enough, there was no need to disclose the news. The one question that bothered my mind was how I was going to take care of a child on my own. The thought of it made me sob even more.

That night became a reminder that it only takes one action to ruin a life you've built for years. Michael and I got divorced and I moved back in with my mother.

But this wasn't my end. Infact, it was only the beginning to my end.

Jessica's POV

“Yes mother, I'm almost done!” I called out from the kitchen as I arranged the cups of tea on the yellow tray I was holding.

I was back to being my mother's little girl who ran errands for her. The last thing I wanted was to become a liability to my mother but she wasn't going to let me live on the streets. Especially after a divorce.

As I approached the living room, the chatter in the room grew stronger. As usual, my mother was having her best friend over, their relationship stood to prove that social or financial status didn't hold ground when it came to friendship.

My lips turned upwards as their lighthearted conversation and giggles stirred warmth in my numb heart.

“Oh, we were just talking about you!” Anna, my mother's best friend, exclaimed as I dropped the tray on the wooden table in the center of the living room.

My brows pulled together in surprise, “Me? Why?”

My mother's slurp on her tea followed my question, “Dear, Anna was just wondering if you could work as a secretary at her son's company,” my mom explained.

I glared at my mother but she still had a smug smile on her face. Hell, Aaron and I were childhood friends but we didn't get along. He was the last person I thought to work with.

The sun's rays reflected into the living room through the window, making the room warmer than normal. The ticking clock was the only audible sound in the room.

I sat across the two besties with arms rounded around my chest, “Mom, I don't need a job.”

My mother exchanged glances with Anna before dropping the cup on the table, “Oh really? Since you moved in, you wouldn't let me hear the end of not wanting to be a burden. I helped you out so what's the problem?”

As I parted my lips to speak, Anna's words cut me off.

“I think she's still having that feud with Aaron,” Anna shifted her gaze from my mother to me.

“It's been ten years since you two saw each other. I promise he's a changed man.”

But her words only fueled my lack of interest. Back in high school, Aaron would often teased me about making me work as his secretary once he took over his father's company.

Accepting this job meant fulfilling his silly dream and I wasn't going to let that happen.

I clasped my hands together, “I understand aunty but I seriously don't want to work right now. When I'm ready to work, I'll let you know,” I feigned a smile as I finished.

Anna returned my smile but my mother wasn't having it, “Since you don't think you're ready for the job, please stop whining about having nothing to do all day.”

I drove a finger over my temple with my lips pressed together. Christ. My mother was purposely being provocative but I wasn't going to play this game as I knew how it always ended. The emotional blackmail lane.

“I'll be in my room mom,” I rose up from the couch, leaving the room without waiting for her reply.

“Unbelievable, she wouldn't let me be until I found a job for her and now that I did, she's not taking it.”

“That's how children are, I remember Aaron used to talk about…”

Their voices faded into the background as I slammed my room door shut.

As I threw myself on my bed, a deep sigh escaped my lips. I was still trying to move on from my broken marriage and working as Aaron's secretary meant dedicating myself to something different from healing. And right now,I wasn't sure I was ready.

But deep down, a little part of me wanted to know what Aaron looked like now. I hadn't seen him since high school, I wondered if his mother was right about him being a changed person.

Then again, the thought of him acting overly proud and annoying as usual made me suppress my curiosity. He always knew how to annoy me yet we were still friends.

My thoughts soon got diverted following the grumbling of my stomach. I needed to eat something but I was getting too comfortable in my soft, cozy bed.

The bright clouds were the last thing I saw through the window as I drifted off to sleep and my mother's knocks were the first thing I heard as I woke up.

“Jessica, won't you have dinner? Okay, I won't talk about the job anymore, just come and have dinner with me.”

Her voice followed her knocking on the door and for some weird reason, it made my lips curve upwards.

My mother could throw tantrums for hours only to act affectionate in the following minutes. The thought of it made me want to snuggle her while planting kisses all over her face.

I sluggishly rose up from the bed, adjusting my purple top and black pants as I approached the door.

With a pull on the door knob, my blue eyes met my mother's and my nostrils caught the smell of beef stir fry with noodles.

My mom quickly placed her hands on my face, caressing my cheeks, “Are you okay? You've been locked in all day.”

I stared at her, my drowsy eyes crinkling into a smile.

“I'm fine mom, I was going to get lunch but I fell asleep,’ I explained.

“You sure it's not because you were mad at me?” She moved her hands from my face to my arm, stroking them softly.

I chuckled, “Well, that too. But I'm not mad anymore. I'm hungry.”

And with that, we both headed to the stairs. I pocketed my hands into my pocket when I realized I wasn't with my phone.

“Mom go ahead, I have to get my phone real quick,” I stated before rotating my head back to the door.

My eyes scanned the room, I couldn't find my phone anywhere.

“Where could it be?” I muttered as I lifted the thick black bed sheets off the bed.

The moment I lowered my body to check under the bed, the next thing I heard was my mother's scream.

Jessica's POV

As I rushed out of the room, my eyes met terror.

My mother's body was tumbling down the stairs, helpless and unable to stop moving until she got to the last floor.

“Mother? Mother! Please wake up!”

I still recall how many times I yelled and shook my mother after I managed to reach her.

My mother was always so careful when walking down the stairs but today, she slipped off the stairs, tumbling all the way down. By the time I got to her, she was already unconscious. If the ambulance hadn't arrived on time, I'm not sure if my dear mother would have survived this.

Tears clouded my vision as I watched my mother being rolled into an operation theater.

My trembling body propelled forward so I could see my mother through the observation window. My heart sank as I stared at my mother in the light blue gown patients wore, she was looking so pale and lifeless compared to her usual vibrant demeanor.

The smell of antiseptic mixed with the air coming from the air conditioner, it complimented the chills running down my spine.

The doctor attending to her stepped out of the theater and I unconsciously tugged at the hem of his white coat. The smell of pills invaded my nostrils following that action.

“How-how’s my mother? Please tell me she's fine,” My voice broke into a whine as tears streamed down my cheeks with every word I spoke.

The doctor's warm smile offered me a sense of relief, “Yes, she's out of danger.”

My reddish eyes crinkled at the corner, I took a deep breath so the turmoil inside me can be replaced with calmness.

“But-”

My heart started racing, anxiety twisted my insides, “But- but what?”

“She has internal injuries. We'd need to perform an operation and that'll cost a hundred thousand dollars.”

The doctor's words settled deep inside me, stirring panic and the sense of urgency.

I currently had no job, my mother's business was put to a halt since she got admitted. Where the hell was I going to get the money for her treatment?

I held my face in my head as my wobbly knees slowly led me out of the hospital. My mother was my only family. I couldn't stand the thought of losing her.

Somewhere in between my severe thinking, I recalled the job offer Anna had given me.

It seemed I'd need the job after all.

But I didn't even know where the company was located and I hadn't found my phone.

“Argh! Fuck this!” I cursed in frustration while pulling my hair.

My eyes caught a glimpse of a phone stand with neon pink lights across the street, that was my saving grace!

The chilly night breeze made the hair on my skin stand erect, I cuddled myself as I crossed the street.

As I stood inside the phone booth, the weight of my mother's illness burdened my heart. Fuck my feud with Aaron, getting this job was no longer an option, it was a necessity.

My heart beat in sync with the landline ringing, “Hello? Aunty,”

My nostrils caught the scent of cigarettes in the phone booth and it made my nose wrinkle in disgust.

I had expected the soprano pitched tone so it shocked me when what I heard was the opposite.

“Hello, who's this?” An unfamiliar deep voice inquired.

My profile twisted in confusion, I didn't know who was with Anna's phone but I really needed her address so I just carried on with the conversation.

Despite the warmth of the phone booth, the cricket sounds made my pupils dilate upon the thought that someone might be watching me.

“I-I I'm Jessica. I'm calling to ask for the address to Anna's home,” I stated with my eyes wandering around my surroundings despite being inside the phone booth.

“Mom! There's some Jessica on your phone and she's asking for the house address. Do I give it to her?” The voice said on the other end and it dawned on me who I was on the phone with.

Aaron.

“Aaron?” I inquired with a tone of surprise.

“Yes, how can I help you?” He replied, his voice dripping with curiosity.

I slid a palm down my face, “Don't- don't you remember me? This is Jessica Wilson. Childhood friend? The one who always got better grades?”

This was definitely the wrong time to stir drama but I couldn't help but chip it in, knowing the type of person Aaron was.

“Oh you? It's been years. Point of correction, you didn't get better grades, the teacher just favored you. Why are you asking for my home’s address anyway?”

Aaron's question reminded me of my present problem and I found my heart pounding heavily.

“I-” I bit my lips nervously before continuing, “I- I need the job, my mother's ill.”

“Oh dear. Is it really serious? If you want, we can handle the bills. You don't have to take the job,” Aaron stated affectionately.

Anna and Aaron never hesitated to help me and my mother whenever we needed it but I didn't want to rely on them. This was my problem and I wanted to solve it on my own.

My fingers curled around the black landline even tighter, “No no, you don't have to worry. I would handle it on my own, I just need the job and an advance payment if possible.”

“I'm sorry but I don't think I'd be able to help.”

Those words shattered whatever was left of my hope. Tears brimmed at the corner of my eyes as I lowered my head.

What was going to happen to my mother?