Painful Deception

Jacky shifted for what must have been the tenth time that night; she just couldn't be comfortable. The baby wouldn't stop moving, her back was aching and she had this weird sensation in her hips. She sighed again and grabbed a pillow and got up, then she laid down again and put the pillow between her legs and laid on her side facing Mark. It was the only comfortable direction. She moved a hand to her belly and caressed it, willing the baby to stop moving. She was surprised when she felt Mark's hand join hers, rubbing in circles. She froze and looked up at him; she stared back, taken aback a bit at his intense gaze.

"Why are you acting like this?" she asked. Both of them knew that she wasn't just talking about that moment, but what had been developing over the past two months- his odd behavior towards her.

"I'm not certain, but I have had these feelings since I found out you were pregnant. I can't explain it, but I don't want hurt you. I want… our child to grow up happy and I want you to be happy while you help raise it," he said, his voice softer than usual. Jacky was silent when she heard his admission, it didn't really answer her question.

"Don't you think it's a little late for you to think about my happiness?" she questioned. She felt him shift over, so he was lying on his back, "Well, it doesn't really matter, now does it? I'm trying to start over," he mumbled.


Jacky hoisted herself up and leaned against the headboard. "It does matter now! Do you have any idea how much you terrorized me in the year and a half that we've been married?! You can't forget being raped or punched by your own husband! Why don't you just let me go?! You have that woman Selene and from what she told me she was pregnant. Why don't you try living happily with her? I want to be able to go to the University, I want to be happy with whoever I'm with, I don't want to be afraid because I might say or do something that makes my husband angry. I can never have those things with you," she said tears coming to her eyes.

In the dark she felt Mark sit up too and grab her hands. "I don't want those things with her, she is just my mistress and she's forgotten her place. You are my wife; I want a good life with you. And sometimes I just lose control when you say and do things, but you can't blame me; you sometimes act as if you're stronger than me. If we just work together we can make this marriage work. You may go to the University after the baby is born," he said his hands stroking hers.

She stared down at their hands and laughed bitterly, "You just don't get it! I shouldn't have to ask for permission to get an education. Why do you have these ideals that a woman who doesn't let someone treat her like shit should be made submissive? In a marriage there is supposed to be equality! And all this about your mistress knowing her place, I can never love a man who acts as you do!" she cried.

She felt his grip tighten. "Jacqueline, get those childish fairytale ideas about marriage out of your head! It's ridiculous really, now I have told you my feelings, I would think you would be happy." Jacky got out of the bed and slipped on her robe.

"I'm going to take a walk so I can get to sleep." During the two hours that she walked around the manor, she searched her mind trying to find an answer to her dilemma. And surprisingly she came up with something, now she would just have to be certain.

Selene looked up at the small hotel in front of her; the town that Mark lived in was really hopeless. It was tiny, they had no shops that she was familiar with and she would have to go another 15 miles to even see Mark at his manor. But that was the reason she was here, to see him. She was now four months pregnant and she hadn't spoken to Mark in over a month and a half, she never told him her decision. She was keeping her baby and she hoped that he would see reason and raise their son together. She would know his feelings tomorrow when she visited him, but she hadn't thought about what she would do if he refused to help her. She would have to get a job and maybe move in with her parents, but she would at least have a little bit of Mark with her always.

Mark stormed around looking for Jacky; he had just found out that she had been writing to that tutor of hers. How dare she not tell him! Finally, he found her in the library bent over some document, he slammed the letter down in front of her and felt satisfaction as he saw her jump. "What the fuck is this, Jacqueline?" he asked looking down at her.

She looked down at the letter on the table and looked back at him. "It seems like it's a letter. Did you want to dispute that?" she said.

He felt furious as he heard her reply. "You insolent girl! Why is he sending you a letter?"

She crossed her arms across her breasts. "Well I suppose he wanted to tell me something. Check if I was alive maybe. I may send a letter if I want, it's not as if I ever get to see anyone besides you and the servants."

He scoffed, "Maybe if you showed me respect you'd be able to have privileges."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "The last time I checked, the only child you have is the one I'm carrying. Oh, you have another one on the way, but back to my point. I'm not your child and how dare you think you have a right to give or take away my privileges?"

When he heard her comment, he slapped her hard across the face. "And how dare you speak to me like that!" He walked across the room to the fireplace and threw the letter in, looking back at her face, he saw a look of longing as she watched the letter burn. Walking back to her, he stopped when he heard a knock on the door. He saw Jacky get up quickly and waddle towards the door, he followed after a moment and when he saw the person there he felt the need to kill someone.

Jacky had stared at the letter burning in the fire. It was the letter that she had been looking forward to all week. She had no clue how he got ahold of one of her letters, the servants had always been good at hiding them for her. She smiled a bit to herself thinking about how bi-polar Mark was. Last night he tried what he thought was a romantic admission not to hurt her and then he slapped her so hard she saw stars. It just made her want to leave him that much more. Seeing Mark walked towards her, she was grateful for whoever was at the door, now she didn't have to talk to him any more. Hoisting herself up, she tried to walk quickly to the door, but the seven month belly she was carrying was making her slower than usual. When she opened it, she looked questioningly at the blonde woman standing in front of her. "Yes?" she asked, looking at her.

The woman smirked. "Hello, I'm Selene."
A/N: Sorry this took so long, life has been hectic lately. Also, I'd like to thank my beta Cade. You're the best. So Jacky is getting closer to figuring out what she's gonna do! Hope you liked it. Please Review. I dont know when the next chapter will be up, I have to get things squared away with school since I'm going to Europe for two weeks. Anyways, Enjoy, hope you like it!
_Naimahfosho