“Honey, they’re not. Look.” Zinnia opened her purse and pulled a small blister pack out. “Mine are identical. We’re on the same one.”
I took the pack, and the blood rushed from my head. I sat down heavily as I stared at the medication I’d been taking for years. These were different from my original birth control pill, which is why I’d not recognised them. Oliver had given me vitamins when I didn’t get pregnant. We’d hoped they’d help, and instead, he’d been drugging me against my will.
I rose slowly to my feet. Who the hell had I married? When had Oliver turned into this monster? I couldn’t even blame Eve for this.
“Can you finish packing and take everything to Zinnia’s, please? There’s something I gotta do,” I whispered, walking to the door.
“Alicia, if you’re going to confront Oliver…” Oceane stopped speaking at the expression on my face.
“I need to do this alone. Check Oliver’s items. He has evidence somewhere,” I said and left.
I stewed all the way to Eliganz’s offices. There was no excuse for Oliver’s actions. If he didn’t want babies, get a damn vasectomy. The answer was simple. Oliver hadn’t wanted children with me. Had it always been his goal to throw me aside? Had he planned to use me up, steal the best years of my life and divorce me? Floored by the revelations, I paid the Uber and climbed out.
Straightening my shoulders, I allowed everything to wash away and donned Alicia Kensington’s demeanour. The perfect, polite wife. Nobody paid any attention until I got to Oliver’s floor. The receptionist looked horrified at my unplanned appearance.
“Mr Kensington is in a meeting,” she said.
“That’s a shame,” I replied and headed towards the office.
“You can’t go in!” she shrieked, blocking the doorway.
“You have two choices. Move of your own accord, or I’ll make you, which would be regrettable,” I threatened. Without pausing, I continued and opened the door.
If I hadn’t been in robotic mode, I might have reacted to the scene playing out. Instead, I stared at Eve sitting onmy husband’s desk with Oliver between her legs. They were passionately kissing. Eve’s blouse was undone and sliding off her shoulders. Quietly, I pulled out my phone and began recording. A full minute passed without anyone realising I was watching.
“Well, I wonder how much action that desk has seen,” I commented idly. A smile crossed my lips as Oliver cursed and jumped backwards. “Caught in the act, Oliver, how gauche. What a shame you’re so cliché. Fucking the office whore, such poor taste.”
“Shut your mouth, Alicia,” Oliver snarled, buttoning his shirt.
“Damn, you really have lost your figure.” I mused, cocking my head to the side and eyeing Oliver’s spare tyre. “I guess instead of going to the gym, you were screwing this… ah, let’s poach a phrase, cum bucket,” I continued. Oliver turned a mottled red as Eve looked triumphant that they’d been caught.
“Oliver doesn’t want you. Just crawl away and disappear, Alicia,” Eve drawled.
“Oh, do you think I’m here to beg for my marriage?” I asked.
“Of course, what else?” Oliver demanded.
“Well, let’s start with being drugged without my consent or knowledge.” The bombshell dropped, and silence fell.
Oliver blinked and was startled. He’d not been expecting that. “What shit are you spewing now?”
“The vitamins you were giving me are birth control pills. Oliver, I was taking them unknowingly. Tut-tut. Under the law, that’s assault, reproductive coercion, and abuse.”
“What are you rambling about?” Oliver sneered, eyes moving sideways. A telltale sign of lying.
“Don’t act dumb, Oliver, it’s tiring. You know exactly what I’m talking about. Now, this is the state of play: I want a divorce, and you’ll give me the settlement I ask for. In return, I won’t take the pills, and other evidence, to the police. We are so fucking over, it’s unbelievable.”
With that, I turned sharply and left. Inside, I was dying. My marriage was over, and Oliver was a monster I didn’t recognise. Eve was to blame for Oliver having an affair, but the rest? No, that wasn’t Eve’s fault. What else would be uncovered?
“You’ll regret this, Alicia. You’ll pay for the disrespect!” Oliver shouted.
“Oliver, what’s Alicia talking about? What pills?” Eve demanded.
I left without breaking, but only because of sheer willpower. Nobody would see me shatter. I still had enough of my self-worth to hold on to a shred of dignity.
Oliver
Fuck, I was unsure what Alicia was playing at, but I wasn’t lowering myself to her level. After two weeks of absence, Alicia would understand I was sorely displeased. If that didn’t signal displeasure, I didn’t know what would. The scene in my office that she’d thrown today had been her breaking point. Alicia had known it wouldn’t sway my forgiveness, but she’d tried. A fortnight had passed since the night with Cain Russell; it was time to allow Alicia to grovel.
