Chapter 4 – Zara's Pov

• He continued to blame me for everything. I felt bad for my family because of how Lucas ignored them. I also felt bad for myself because when we got home, Lucas threw a maid's uniform at me!
• As he kept blaming me, I started to believe that it was my fault. I blamed myself for getting drunk that night, for letting him have me. I had been paying for that mistake for six years.
• Every day, he blamed me.
• It had been six years since our secret wedding. After enduring our unhappy marriage, I wanted to free myself. He couldn't keep me as his secret forever! How could he keep me but not love me properly? I felt bad for our son who never felt love from his father.
• It had been six years, but I still remembered how harsh he was on our wedding night. He knew I was pregnant, but he claimed my body again and again. He didn't let me sleep that night.
• Since then, he treated me terribly.
• For six years, he was always cruel. He constantly blamed me for ruining his life, and he mistreated me and our son. I put up with his behavior because I hoped he would change. I didn't want my son to grow up in a broken family.
• For six years, he was hostile towards me. He was always unkind and constantly reminded me of how I ruined his life.
• At first, I thought I could handle it, but his mistreatment extended to our son, Enrique. I endured his anger and resentment, hoping that he would let go of his grudges.
• I didn't want my son to experience a broken family, so I stayed in my miserable life with Lucas Blackwood.
• Each time our gazes locked, I was met with a frosty stare. Despite this, I bore it all for six long years. I was willing to endure everything, for the sake of giving my son a complete family.
• But what was my reward for this sacrifice?
• Heartache, deception, and betrayal. Time and time again, he shattered our vows, he trampled on my trust! How could I have been so naive to stay in a situation where I was destined to be hurt every single day?
• One day, when our son Enrique misbehaved, Lucas insisted that I discipline him. I couldn't fault Enrique for his occasional stubbornness; he had inherited it from his father. I knew the reason behind his behavior.
• Enrique craved his father's attention, but all he received was Lucas' cold indifference. I had been contemplating this for several days. By staying with Lucas, I was sabotaging my son's happiness. Lucas had destroyed my happiness as well!
• “Zara, aren't you going to do anything? Tell your son to behave!” Lucas' words sliced through the silence, his voice heavy with impatience.
• “Our son, Lucas! He is our son! How can you be so indifferent to him? We can argue all we want, but not in front of Enrique,” I retorted, my voice tinged with desperation. It was a plea for him to show some consideration for our son.
• “Really, Zara? I see a bit of the old you. You seem to have found your strength to stand up to me,” he observed. “Enrique, behave!” he barked at our son.
• “We can argue all we want, Lucas, but not in front of Enrique,” I implored, holding his gaze. I hoped he would comprehend the necessity of protecting our son from the bitterness that had grown between us.
• “You seem to have found your strength to stand up to me,” he commented.
• My heart surged at his words. It was a small victory to have him recognize my efforts to stand up for what was right, for what our son needed.
• “Enrique, behave!” Lucas suddenly yelled at our son.
• I shot Lucas a glare for yelling at Enrique, then took the boy's hand and pulled him into a hug. I squeezed his small hands, trying to reassure him that everything would be alright. He was on the verge of tears, but I told him he could cry later, after I had dealt with his father.
• Indeed, Lucas was the worst of the worst. For six grueling years, no one knew he was married. The world was unaware that he had a wife, and that wife was me. His colleagues and employees were oblivious to our marriage. He wanted to maintain his bachelor CEO status, which made him popular among women.
• To him, we were nothing more than a nuisance that spoiled his perfect life. He often told me that if I hadn't seduced him that night, he would be happily married to his fiancée. I couldn't understand why he clung to the idea that if it hadn't been for that fateful night, he would be living a blissful married life with his fiancée.
• “Where are you going, Lucas? Apologize to Enrique!” I demanded, but he just scoffed and walked away.
• Looking at my little boy, I saw his eyes welling up with tears. For several days, he had been excited about a school activity. He hoped that Lucas would attend, but when I brought it up, Lucas flatly refused.
• “Mom, he doesn't love me,” Enrique lamented.
• “Hush now, don't speak like that. Let's just ignore him for now, sweetheart. Let's have breakfast and then I'll take you to school, alright?”
• “Alright,” Enrique agreed.
• Honestly, Lucas had a knack for spoiling my appetite whenever he was present. But for Enrique's sake, I forced myself to eat, to pretend to enjoy the meal even when I had no desire to.
• Minutes later, we finished our meal. I cleared the table, placed the dishes in the sink, and pulled the car out of the garage. This routine had become my life.
• Trapped in a cycle of fear and hope, my days were shrouded in uncertainty. I clung to a faint hope that maybe, just maybe, Lucas would come to love his son. I wouldn't care if he only loved Enrique and not me. He could despise me for all eternity, and I wouldn't mind!
• Before my ill-advised encounter with Lucas, I had a lucrative job. But after our clandestine wedding, Lucas insisted I quit and focus on my pregnancy. He claimed he could support us, but even if he didn't, I had savings from my previous job.
• I longed for the day when Lucas would look at our son with softness, seeing the innocence and vulnerability in Enrique's eyes. It was wishful thinking, but I held on to it.
• I had accepted that his feelings for me would never change, and oddly enough, I found myself at peace with this. If he could just love Enrique as I did, I could bear his resentment for another year.
• Before that regrettable night with Lucas, I had a stable job. After our wedding, he demanded I leave it to focus on my pregnancy. It seemed sweet at first, like he cared for my well-being. But he was just afraid of our relationship being exposed.
• He promised to provide for us, to take care of me and our child financially. I initially resisted, but he was persistent and domineering, and I eventually gave in.
• After six years, I realized that a loveless relationship was not worth pursuing. It was damaging not just to me, but to my son as well. I wish I had realized this sooner, but I was naive and hopeful that Lucas would change.
• Minutes later, we arrived at Enrique's private school. Enrique Delafontaine. From the beginning, Lucas refused to give our son his last name, a fact that broke my heart. I couldn't believe he could treat his own flesh and blood this way. But then again, he was Lucas Blackwood, Claybourne's most heartless man!
• “Our paths have finally crossed!” a shrill voice exclaimed.
• It was Antoinette, noticeably pregnant. I wanted to ask about it, but I held back and waited for her to speak.
• “It's been a while, Zara. Is Lucas with you today?” she asked.
• “No, just my bag and my handsome little boy,” I replied.
• Then I looked at Enrique. He was a miniature Lucas Blackwood, with the only trait he inherited from me being his gentle eyes, unlike Lucas' fierce ones.
• “I see. Well, see you around, Zara!”!”
• “Of course,” I responded, then turned my attention back to my son. Seeing his bright smile and little white teeth, I couldn't help but return his smile. “Always remember, Ken, to be kind, good, and brave at all times,” I gently reminded him, smoothing his hair with my hand.
• Enrique's smile widened, his enthusiasm shining through. “Yes, Mommy! I'll be good at school, but I want to be brave against Daddy. He's not a good man, Mom.”
• “Someday,” I whispered.