Life is a mystery; you can't expect what it throws at you just like how I didn't expect to be attacked by a Mafia gang and lose my baby when I didn't even know I was pregnant.

The Mafia gang was my husband, Damon West's Mafia gang’s rival, the Michigan state gang. I had no idea that he was in the Mafia until after I got married to him.

He was the Mafia Lord of Dustin state gang, so he has a lot of enemies. His gang were involved in some illegal deals like selling guns and drugs that weren't permitted.

The Mafia Lord of the Michigan gang slapped me and threw me out of their moving car, and I was taken to the emergency room of the nearest hospital by a kind man that was driving by.

I could see blood stains on my beige pants as I laid on the hospital bed.

How was it possible that I had no idea that I was pregnant and almost in my second trimester?

I texted Damon, [Call me, it's urgent!]

Thirty minutes later, he didn't reply and his number wasn't going through, so I kept texting him to call me, but he ignored my texts.

My phone beeped as a notification came through from Instagram. I viewed it to see that it was a video of Damon with his childhood sweetheart, Bonnie.

“My man is so sweet, he made time on a weekday just to come to this concert with me! I've always wanted to see Billie Eilish on stage.” Bonnie said as she grinned while Damon stared at her with love in his eyes as a smile touched his lips.

I was attacked because of him, yet he was at a concert with Bonnie.

I let out a sarcastic laugh as I shook my head.

Never in my life have I ever thought that my marriage to Damon would end up like this.

I scrolled through my contacts and called my College supervisor, Dr. Austin’s number.

“Hi, Dr. Austin.” I greeted as soon as he picked up the call.

Dr. Austin replied, “Katie, how lovely to hear from you! Have you thought about the internship opportunity to go abroad that I offered you the last time we spoke?”

“Yes, Sir, and I'm taking this opportunity.”

***

Damon didn't reply to my texts nor did he call me.

It wasn't until five days after my incident that he came home.

The corner of his lips was tugged up in a smirk as he walked into the house.

However, when his eyes landed on me,his smirk vanished and he looked anxious.

I could tell that he was expecting me to ask him about his whereabouts.

But I ignored him just like he ignored my texts and continued watching TV.

When he realized that I wasn't going to speak to him, he spoke up, “I’m sorry for disappearing like that, I had to secure a deal for my Mafia gang.

You know that we need to make an alliance with as many gangs as we can to ensure the safety of our gang members. I couldn't pick up your calls because we were in their gang’s territory and we have agreed not to take any calls until after the alliance has been made.”

I almost scoffed, but I held it back as I tried not to show him any of my emotions.

“So you understand that it's for my men's safety, right?” He asked me as his eyes bounced nervously between the two of mine.

What about my safety? I wanted to ask him, but I knew that he wouldn't even care.

“Sure.” I answered him with a tight smile on my lips.

He looked surprised that I wasn't angry then pulled out a large red square box from the traveling bag in his hand.

“Look, I've brought you chocolates! I know how much you love them, so you have to forgive me!” He exclaimed as he stretched the box out to me.

I didn't take the box, instead I frowned as I said, “You know that I'm allergic to white chocolate, so why would you buy them for me?”

He raised his brows in surprise as he replied, “I don't think that you've ever mentioned this before.”

“Yes, I have, at least five times in our twelve years of marriage!” I exclaimed, feeling frustrated.

Guilt made its way to his face as he nodded, “Alright, I'll take note this time.”

He pulled out a silver bracelet as he said, “What about this? I'm sure you'll love it!”

I was shocked as my mouth dropped open. How could he be so ruthless?

I saw the silver bracelet along with dark chocolates, a large teddy bear and a Chanel handbag on Bonnie's Instagram page.

She uploaded the video yesterday, saying, “My man bought me all these expensive gifts! He's such a good guy, and the gifts are wonderful except for the silver bracelet. Silver isn't fashionable, only the needy wears silver. Besides, I prefer diamonds, and I'm sure that my man can get them for me.”

She moved the phone’s camera towards her bed where she laid down all the gifts then the video ended.

So I was ‘the needy’ to him!

This wasn't the first time that he has done this to me, but it definitely was going to be the last time.

“Here, take it.” Damon said as he passed the silver bracelet to me.

I grimaced as I grabbed it from him, “Okay.”

He nodded then said, “I saw your texts, did you need me for something?”

“Don't worry about it.” I muttered, feeling my chest tighten in pain as I remembered how it felt to lose my baby.

He didn't look the least bit suspicious and seemed satisfied with my answer.

“Do you-” He started, but he was cut off by the sound of his phone beeping.

He glanced at it and a smile touched his lips, “I need to attend to some Mafia business. We'll talk later.”

He made his way towards our bedroom. That was where he usually makes calls and texts unless I was in the bedroom. Then he would do it in the guest bedroom.

“Alright.” I replied, but he didn't even glance at me as he walked away.

I felt tears prick my eyes as I thought about our marriage. It was now or never.

I called Dr. Austin's number again and he answered immediately.

I let out a deep breath, “I'm ready to start the medicine internship.”

Dr. Austin has been telling me how good of an opportunity this medicine internship was.

However, I didn't want to leave Damon behind, so I kept stalling.

“That's great to hear, Katie!” Dr. Austin answered me.

“When can I go?” I asked him, hoping it would be soon.

He chuckled, “Don't worry, it won't be long. I just need to make the arrangements.”

“Alright." I replied then hung up.

How did I end up in a loveless marriage?

I should have noticed that I was making the wrong choice by agreeing to be with Damon, but I had followed what I felt in my heart instead of thinking things through.

I've known Damon since we were young and I remembered when he dated Bonnie.

They were our high school’s best couple. They were given the award in our junior year.

Their families were close and both were in the Mafia. So whenever they fought, things got messy.

Bonnie's brothers would threaten to shoot Damon and Damon's Dad would threaten them back.

There was a day when Bonnie's younger brother, Blake, shot at Damon when he spotted him coming out of his house.

After I heard about it, I went to Bonnie's house to explain how Damon was innocent. They thought that I was there to get them back together, but I made it clear that I was there only to ensure Damon's safety.

Bonnie talked to her brothers and they didn't try shooting or threatening Damon again.

Damon was devastated when Bonnie moved to another state for College. She said that they were too far away to be in a relationship.

I was there for Damon and I was secretly hoping that she never comes back because I wanted him all to myself.

He had cried day and night as he kept calling her, but she ignored his calls.

My heart broke watching him cry over another woman, but I stayed strong and tried to get as close to him as I could.

Eventually, my plan worked and he started seeing me in a new light.

A month after Bonnie moved, he called her again and when she didn't pick up, he glanced at me.

His eyes were red and swollen from crying as he murmured, “You will never leave me, right, Katie?"

I nodded as I gave him a small smile, "Yeah, I'll never leave you.”

He sniffed, "Why have you always been there for me? Bonnie doesn't want to stay close to me, so why do you want to?"

I gave him a comforting smile as I placed my hand on top of his, "I'm here for you because I care about you, Damon.”

His eyes widened in surprise, and he interlaced our fingers.

A smile touched his lips as he stared into my hazel eyes, “Do you want to go out with me, Katie?”

I couldn't believe my ears and had to ask, "What?!”

He chuckled in his velvety deep voice as he repeated, "Do you want to go out with me?"

I gasped as my heart raced in excitement and replied, “Yes, but I want to know if you're really over Bonnie.”

His smile dropped for a moment at the mention of her name, but then he let out a deep breath as he murmured, “I'm done with Bonnie. I'm all yours, Cassy."

I squealed in excitement as I grinned.

I thought that I had gotten everything that I wanted after he married me, but I was wrong.

He had lied. He wasn't over Bonnie. I found out when I saw his account on Instagram.

I wasn't on Instagram until two years ago, and I saw his account as soon as I registered before I could even ask for it.

He had pictures and videos of Bonnie and him, and he had tagged her in all of them.

I didn't tell him that I was opening an Instagram account, so he had no idea that I've seen the posts even till today.

I went to her page and I realized that she had sent me a friend request that same day. I didn’t know because I didn't check my friend requests that day, so I accepted it and scrolled through her posts.

I felt my heart breaking as I watched their videos together.

One of them was uploaded on 10th April of that year.

10th April was my birthday, and Damon and I had planned to go to the movies for the Premiere of 12 Feet Deep which was a thriller that I've been looking forward to watching since I saw the trailer a few months back.

However, he texted me that he had some Mafia business that he had to handle that day, so I celebrated my birthday alone.

I had read the caption under the video and it said, [My man is the best! He traveled from across the country to take me out on a special dinner just because I felt like eating outside today.]

Four months after that, I had finished classes at my College and called him to pick me up, but he said that he had been attacked by a rival Mafia gang, so he couldn't come.

Since the College was outside the City, it was hard to find a taxi to get back home. I had to walk endless miles before I could find a taxi. Even though the class ended at 12pm, I didn't return home until it was 6pm.

I was shocked to find Damon watching a movie with Bonnie as they cuddled on our couch.

Bonnie said that today was their movie day, so they had to cancel all their plans.

When I was done with my second BSC. degree last year, Damon didn't come to my graduation because Bonnie was starting her first day at work and they had to celebrate.

I had pleaded with him to come, but he refused.

My family were on a cruise ship for vacation, so no one came to my second graduation.

After these events, I thought he loved Bonnie more than me and that I just had to make him love me more. So I’ve tried bringing new ways to make love and make him mouthwatering desserts, but he drifted farther away from me.

Having a miscarriage because of him made me see that he wasn't in love with me and I was never going to be happy in this marriage.

“Since you want Bonnie, I won't stop you from being with her.” I muttered to myself.

My stomach has been throbbing since I lost the baby, so I curled up on the couch.

“I just received a call, we're being attacked at the warehouse. I need to go and defend my gang." Damon said as he stood up from the couch.

I glanced at him, feeling worry gnaw at my gut, but then I remembered how he and Bonnie posted about their relationship on Instagram. It was whenever he said that they were attacked or that he had Mafia business to attend to.

Was he telling me the truth or was he going to Bonnie?

“When will you be back?" I asked him.

He sighed as he ran a hand through his dark hair, "Tomorrow.”

“Alright, be safe." I muttered as I gave him a stiff nod.

He looked relieved that I believed him, and he leaned down to caress my cheek.

A smile touched his lips as he murmured, “Don’t worry about me, babe. I'll be fine, and I'll come back as soon as I can. I know that I've wronged you with my disappearing act, but I promise you that I'll make it up to you.”

I didn't feel the giddiness that I usually felt whenever he touched me, so I gave him a tight smile.

He pulled away and made his way out of the living room.

I knew that he couldn't make it up to me. He would always promise to do so, but he never did.

I have had enough and I'm bringing an end to this God forsaken marriage.

***

Damon didn't come back home even after two days.

On the second day, I was eating macaroni and cheese for lunch when my phone beeped.

I checked it to see that it was a text from Damon's underboss, Carlos.

I opened it and read it aloud, “Can you tell Boss to call me? He hasn't been in the warehouse for two days now and we need funding for more of the drugs that we're selling, but he's not picking up my calls.”

So he had lied?

I scoffed and typed a reply to Carlos, [He hasn't been home for the past two days. He told me that you were attacked and that he needs to go there to defend the gang.]

As soon as I sent it, another message came through.

[Forget I said anything. Just tell him to call me or come down to the warehouse when he comes home.]

I typed a reply, [Okay.]

Suddenly, my phone started ringing and I saw that it was my best friend, Bailey.

I smiled as I answered the call, “Hey, how are you?”

“Not so good since I just saw Damon with Bonnie.” She muttered, sounding sympathetic.

“He's with Bonnie?” I asked in disbelief.

“Yes, I went to confront him, and he said that Bonnie is here to visit him, so he has to entertain her.” She answered me.

I ran a hand through my dark hair as I asked, “Did you tell him that you're going to tell me?”

She sighed as she replied, “No, but he asked me not to tell you. He said that she arrived two days ago and that he told you that he's going to the warehouse so that you won't be mad.”

“I'm leaving him anyway, so I don't care.” I muttered as I tried to believe what I was saying.

“It's about damn time! He doesn't deserve you.” She replied, sounding relieved.

I was relieved too. I have to get out of this toxic relationship.

“I'll call him now.” I said as I thought about what I would say.

“That's a good idea. Talk to you later.” She replied and hung up.

I dialed Damon's number, but he didn't pick up. I called threw more times, but it was the same thing.

A text came through and I saw that it was from him, [What do you want, Katie? I'm busy.]

I typed my reply, [You haven't returned and it's been two days.]

It took him a minute to reply, [Damon can't text you when he's with me.]

I felt a bit confused before I realized that it was Bonnie that texted me.

Before I could reply, another message came through, [The previous text is a mistake, so just ignore it.]

I shook my head in disbelief as I typed, [When are you coming home?]

His reply came through instantly, [I still have Mafia business to attend to at the warehouse, so I don't know when I'll be coming back.]

My heart broke at his reply and tears filled my eyes. Before I could blink back the tears, they started running down my cheeks.

A sob left my lips as I stared at the text. I kept sobbing for almost half an hour before I could finally get myself together.

I let out a shaky breath as I wiped my tears away.

Damon never let me touch his phone, yet he let Bonnie reply to me. It was like he wanted to break me, but I wasn't going to let that happen.

“I'm a strong woman.” I muttered to myself.

I didn't feel like the wife, I felt like the other woman while Bonnie acted as the wife.

I texted Bailey to send me the address of the shopping mall and she sent it.

I was going to go there and catch him in the act.

Ten minutes later, I was standing behind a wall of toiletries at the shopping mall as I spied on my husband and his childhood sweetheart.

He was holding her handbag and a bag of items in one hand while he pushed the shopping cart with his other hand.

She wasn't holding anything.

He never goes shopping with me and he never holds my handbag for me.

They paused and seemed to be talking. He raised one hand and brushed her hair out of her face as he stared into her eyes.

She stared back into his eyes and gave him a coy smile.

He pressed his lips against hers and I gasped as the pain in my heart overwhelmed me.

I wanted to confront them, but I felt stuck. I couldn't move or tear my eyes away from them.

More tears dripped down my cheeks as I watched them pull away and walk over to the cashier to pay for what they bought.

I couldn't stop staring at them until they walked out of the shopping mall.

My knees felt weak and I staggered, but I caught myself.

“I’ll leave you two to be together.”