I kissed her cheeks as soon as I stepped out of the shower. I went to my little boy and picked him up. I kissed his tummy and he was blabbering baby words.

"Leandro Smith called. He wants to speak to you."As soon as I heard his name from her mouth, I stopped. I put my son back to his crib and I turned to her.

" What did he say?" Shit! Why did you speak to her, Leandro?

"He just wanted to discuss with you about the marriage that was not nulled." She said calmly.

I froze.

"Livy..."

"No, not now." I was ready to explain but she cut me off.

We had our breakfast in silence. I noticed her loss of appetite. She only drank coffee.

She didn't speak too much to me. She just reminded me to "make sure to feed him on time, make sure he takes a nap in the afternoon. Call me if my baby needs something." I just nodded like an obedient idiot. Making her more furious was the last thing I would do.

****

It was almost eight in the evening but she hadn't come home yet. As far as I knew, her classes were only until four. I kept glancing at my phone hoping she would call.

She must have a meeting. Or she must be dining out with her colleagues. Those were my thoughts.

I kept calling her number and sending her messages but she wasn't replying.

Where are you, Livy?

It started raining around five and the clouds were so dark. The rain may last long.

I started getting worried. I had been pacing around the living room holding my mobile phone in one hand.

Suddenly, I heard a soft knock on the door. I almost ran to the door and when I opened it, I saw Livy almost falling off her feet. Her clothes were drenched and her eyes were tired. Before she fell, I hoisted her up and carried her inside.

I wanted to punch myself. You're the reason of this, David.

If something happen to her, I will kill myself. My heart was aching so bad.

I let her stand and gently removed her clothing. I had to support her with my arms because she could barely stand on her feet.

"I've been waiting for you. I thought something happened."

"Your not answering my calls."

"Baby, what happened? Why did you drench yourself in the rain."

"You must be hungry now. I already cooked dinner for us."

I had been asking her questions but she wasn't responding. She just closed her eyes and I could feel her hard breathing.

"Baby, let's go to the shower. Okay?" I scooped her with my arms and laid her inside the tub. I washed her hair and body while I was controlling myself not to spend so much time touching her intimate parts.

"We're done." I told her while assisting her up out of the tub. I wrapped her with the towel and carried her again outside the bedroom.

All her clothes on the shelves were made of thin material. I couldn't let her dress like that when she was shivering in colds.

I went to my bag and pulled out my pajamas and a t-shirt. Even in a t-shirt twice her size, she still looked beautiful and sexy. I combed her hair while she adorably inclined her head to my chest.

"Baby, you have to eat now. Can you manage to stand?"

I asked but she didn't answer. She just stood up but her legs wobbled, and before she lost her balance I caught her with my arms.

"I got you." I said while kissing her temple.

We went to the kitchen and I let her sit on the chair beside mine. I filled her plate with food but she was not moving an inch.

"Don't you like the food? What would you like to eat? I can cook for you." I asked her in a mellow voice but she just stared at me blankly.

"You want soup?" I asked and she nodded faintly. Finally, she responded.

"Okay, this will be quick. Just hold on."

I quickly got off from my chair and started making the soup. I would do anything to please her.

After we had dinner, I assisted her back to her bed.

"Baby, can I stay here for the night?"

"Why?" Her voice was tired.

"I want to watch you and our baby."

"Do you think I'm not capable of doing it?" She said coldly. I looked down with disappointment.

"I mean, you are sick and I want to take care of you."

"I'm sick, I'm not disabled. Go back to your hotel David."

I obliged. I didn't want to provoke her more. I covered her with the blanket and kissed her forehead.

"Please call me if you need anything." I whispered before closing the door.

****

I left her house with a broken heart. I reached the hotel while my mind was left flying. Her tired eyes and miserable state when she came knocking on the door kept flashing back.

I punched the elevator wall. My knuckles were painfully burning but I wanted to hurt myself more. You made her like this, David.

I got inside my room and sprawled myself on the bed. I wanted to cry but there were no tears coming out. It was my heart that was crying and bleeding.

I had a perfect public façade that masked by private despair. The people had no idea what a monster I had been. I made my dear wife's life miserable. I brought her down. I failed her.

I closed my eyes. I couldn't sleep. All I wanted was to be with my wife, to hug and kiss her until she would fall asleep.

I heard my phone suddenly rang. I took it and saw Livy's name. I didn't hesitate to click the answer button.

"Livy?" Five seconds, but there was no answer.

"Hello Livy? Are you okay?"

"There's.....there...help me please!!!" She cried on the phone. I could hear her hard intense breathing like she was really scared of something.

I quickly got off from the bed and took my coat.

"Olivia, baby. Calm down. Tell me...".

"Men outside. Please, save my baby." Her nervous sobs frightened me more. I went to the telephone on the bedside and dialed the police. I ranted her address to them and told them to go there quickly.

"David?" She was heavily sobbing but quiet.

"Baby, I'm coming. The police are on their way now." I quickly ran to the elevator.

"Baby, listen to me. Make sure the doors are locked."

"Ye..ss."

"Do you see any pointed objects around?"

"No... David, they are coming! They are breaking the door!"

"Shit!" I punched the metal bar of the elevator. The line went dead. I tried calling her again and again but she wasn't picking up anymore.

Shit! Shit! Fuck! I cursed while driving posthaste to her apartment.

As soon as I reached her place, I saw the police arresting three men all in hooded jacket.

My fist went to one of them and he stumbled back. I would have killed them on the spot if the police didn't interfere.

I went to her bedroom door and knocked several times. She wasn't opening. I pulled my phone out and dialed her number.

"He...hello?" Her voice was still trembling.

"Baby, I'm outside the door. Can you open it please?"

"Are you sure you're outside?" She sobbed quietly.

"I am. I have the police here. Can you open the door, please?" I asked calmly.

As soon as she opened the door and saw me, she rushed to my arms and I held her protectively. She was still holding our baby to her chest.

"I'm so scared." She sobbed hard on my chest. I kissed her head to calm her down. Our baby boy was sandwiched between us and he wiggled causing us to break. I took him to my arms and I kissed his chubby cheeks.

After the police interviewed Livy and secured the place, they left us alone. I called my lawyer to settle the case and I demanded on filing charges against them.

I could still feel her trembling from fears. I cradled them both to my arms until my baby boy was asleep..

"Let's go back to the bedroom." I smiled at her.

I arranged the sheets for her. I remembered locking the door outside so I walked out but a hand gripped my arm. Livy was pulling me back with fear in her eyes.

"Shhh! I will check the doors. I'll be back." I said and kissed her lips.

I left the bedroom door open so she could see me from the inside. After checking the locks, I returned and pulled a chair beside the bed.

"Go back to sleep. I will stay here. I'll watch you." I enclosed our palms together.

"Thank you." She uttered before closing her eyes.🕊