Chapter 3 I Want To Run

• Amanda
• I caught a cold after being exposed to the wind all night. My body ached as I sat up in bed, wrapping the blanket around myself. The air felt thick, suffocating, as I reached for a bottle of medicine on the nightstand.
• I poured a couple of pills into my palm and brought them to my lips, but just as I was about to swallow, my stomach twisted violently. A sickening wave of nausea crashed over me, and I barely made it to the bathroom before emptying the contents of my stomach into the toilet.
• Panting, I gripped the cool porcelain, realization dawning on me.
• The baby.
• Tears welled in my eyes as I sat there, cradling my stomach. I had to be strong. No matter what, I had to protect my child.
• Forcing myself to get dressed, I left for work. The moment I arrived at the office, my assistant, Yasmin Labauve, immediately noticed my pale complexion.
• “Amanda, you don’t look well,” Yasmin said, her voice laced with concern. “Are you sick?”
• I forced a weak smile. “I’m fine, just a little tired.”
• Yasmin frowned but didn’t push further. I took a deep breath and focused on my work, determined to push past the morning sickness and exhaustion.
• By midday, my headache worsened, and I had to steady myself against the desk to keep from collapsing. I had barely eaten since the night before, and my body was demanding rest, but I couldn’t afford to break down. Not now.
• I grabbed the documents I had prepared and made my way toward Damian’s office, hoping to drop them off and leave quickly. But as I reached the door, muffled sounds drifted from inside.
• My breath hitched.
• The door was slightly ajar, and through the gap, I could see them.
• Damian and Maya.
• Maya was perched on his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck as she whispered something in his ear. Damian’s hands rested on her hips, his fingers gripping her possessively as he leaned into her touch.
• My vision blurred. Pain lanced through me, sharp and unforgiving. I had expected this, yet it still crushed me.
• I could hear their hushed murmurs, Maya’s voice dripping with sweetness. “Did you miss me?” she purred, her lips grazing the shell of Damian’s ear.
• Damian chuckled, his voice low. “You already know the answer to that.”
• Maya leaned closer, her lips hovering just above his. “Then show me.”
• And he did. Right in front of me. Damian’s lips crashed against hers in a heated, desperate kiss, his hands sliding up her body as if he couldn’t get enough. My stomach twisted, a violent nausea surging through me again. My fingers curled around the doorknob, my knuckles turning white as I fought back the sob threatening to break free.
• Why is he doing this to me? I am his wife; he married me, yet he’s always with her? Why did he marry me then?
• I pushed back my tears.
• I had seen enough.
• Summoning every ounce of strength, I pushed the door open. The loud creak made both of them freeze.
• Damian’s gaze snapped to me, his expression unreadable, while Maya smirked, utterly unbothered by the intrusion.
• “I didn’t expect you to be Damian’s secretary,” Maya said with feigned innocence. “Thank you for taking such good care of him all these years.”
• I stared at her, at Damian, at the sheer betrayal carved into this moment. It was suffocating.
• My lips parted, but no words came out. What was there to say? That I was disgusted? That I hated him? That I was carrying his child?
• No. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. Squaring my shoulders, I strode forward, my face a mask of calm as I dropped the stack of documents onto Damian’s desk.
• “Your reports,” I said coldly. “I assume you can read them on your own.”
• Damian’s eyes flickered with something—guilt? Annoyance? I didn’t care.
• Turning on my heel, I marched toward the door, refusing to let them see me break.
• But just as I reached for the handle, Damian’s voice stopped me.
• “Amanda.”
• My breath caught, but I didn’t turn around. “What?” I asked, my voice steady.
• A long silence followed before he finally spoke. “You don’t look well.”
• I laughed, the sound bitter and hollow. “And you don’t look faithful. I guess we’re both suffering.”
• Maya let out a soft chuckle. “Ouch. That was harsh.”
• I clenched my fists, digging my nails into my palms to keep from lashing out.
• “Are we done here?” I asked sharply.
• Damian didn’t answer, and I took that as my cue to leave. Without another word, I stepped out of the office, my head held high even as the world around me blurred. I needed to use the restroom; I wasn’t feeling well. I made it to the nearest restroom before I collapsed against the sink, my body shaking as silent sobs wracked my frame.
• I had to leave. I couldn’t keep doing this.
• My reflection in the mirror was barely recognizable. Dark circles framed my eyes, my skin was pale, and my lips were cracked. I looked… broken.
• A knock at the restroom door startled me. Yasmin’s voice came from the other side. “Amanda, are you okay?”
• I inhaled shakily, wiping my tears. “I’m fine,” I called out, forcing myself to sound composed.
• Yasmin hesitated before responding, “If you ever need to talk, I’m here.”
• I closed my eyes, gripping the sink. “Thanks.”
• I had nowhere to go. No family to turn to. But I had a baby to protect. And that was all the reason I needed to be strong. But I also wondered how long I was going to take this.
• Watching my husband fuck another woman in our matrimonial home was already unbearable, and now he did as he pleased with her in the office, making it difficult to stay strong. I had lost my dignity in this company. People would look down on me from now on because of him.
• But one thing was certain—I wasn’t going to let Damian destroy me anymore.
• I needed to make plans. To escape and never look back.