Painful Deception
folder
Romance › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
16
Views:
5,823
Reviews:
25
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Romance › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
16
Views:
5,823
Reviews:
25
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Chapter 14
Jacqueline browsed the boutique shelves looking at all of the baby bedding they offered. It was all beautiful and made her anticipate the birth of her daughter even more than before. She looked down at the clothes in her basket and traced her hands over them; they so were tiny. She was just about to pick up a little pink dress when she heard Mark’s voice behind her,
“Don’t you think that you have enough pink?”
“That is not the only color I have picked up,“ she said as she put the dress back.
“Well, I believe the clothing you have picked out is sufficient, we will receive more at the party celebrating the child’s impending birth,” he said casually as he moved in front of her towards the bedding.
Jacqueline stood and stared at his back, “We’re to have a baby shower?”
He turned and looked at her with surprise, “Yes, it’s customary. Mother is in charge of organizing things, we just have to show up.”
Jacqueline was at a loss for words. Not only was she not able to plan her own baby shower, but she was to have a baby shower and no one she knew and loved would be there. She had no one who she loved with her anymore. Her parents were dead; her best friend from childhood was lost to her when she got married to a Russian man and was never heard from again, and Harry, who she could no longer correspond with.
She felt the beginnings of true grief at their situation, she had never wanted to lose a good friendship with him but the fact that he would cheat on her when he knew she was treated like that with Mark hurt her more than she imagined. It took a while for it to sink in but she felt a deep pain at the loss of that friendship. Maybe one day they could put it behind them and become friends again.
“You can talk to Mother about it if you wanted to know the details, he said, taking the basket from her.
“When is the shower to take place?“ she asked, rubbing her back as she felt a pinch of pain.
“A week before your due date. Are you ready then? I was thinking that we could grab lunch,” he said as he walked toward the exit of the boutique. She followed him slowly, thinking about the shower and her back pain.
On the drive home, Mark broke the silence,”I’ve been thinking Jacqueline, that we should find a new house. The manor is rather overwhelming. If we buy a new house, the baby will be closer to our bedroom and we could cut down on the number of servants. Also, I need to be closer to the city and the airport.”
Jacqueline, though she was surprised, scoffed. “We? Don’t you mean you should buy a new house? My opinion holds no weight in these decisions,” she spoke bitterly.
“Well I suppose it would be me who would handle the legal work and it would be more convenient for me,” Mark said nonchalantly.
“What use do I have for the city? I have no friends, I don’t go to school. All I would be doing is looking after your child all day, provide release for you at night and entertain your guests when it’s required,” she said looking out of the window.
“You act as if you’re a poor homemaker,” he said looking over at her.
“Poor? No, but everything else matches up. A husband who uses me for his needs, I have given up, or rather, been forced to give up my education to have your child. Friends are non-existent and I haven’t felt true happiness in a very long time,” she said, her voice becoming thick with emotion.
“I have made an effort to make you happy. I have gone shopping with you for baby things. We had lunch, picked out new clothing for you. My mother is throwing a party for you and I have proposed moving to a house that would be easier for you to manage. I have done things to make you happy and still there is misery,” he vexed. There was no end to her complaints about her life.
“Ah yes, materialistic things. But I have no one to confide in, no one to share my deepest thoughts and concerns with. I have no companionship,” she said solemnly.
“You have me! Your husband!“ he yelled.
“My husband,“ she spat, “The man who beats me black and blue, denies me my education, forces a baby onto me and then has an affair and conceives with another woman!” Mark pulled the car over and grabbed her chin forcing her to look at him.
“I have not laid a hand on you in weeks. Yes I had an affair and begot a bastard because of it, but I am a man of status. It is expected of me to have a mistress; it’s not as if the bastard affects you. I am not denying you an education, I am simply putting if off until the baby can be managed. I have not forced this child on you; you knew very well when I married you that you were to bear my children. I have no idea why the thought of sex with me became such an alien concept. I may have introduced it to you the wrong way on our wedding night, but I am a man and I was overcome with the need to have you. You’re a very sensual woman, you know, and I have the right to relations with my wife,” he said looking into he blue eyes.
Jacqueline felt her face grow hot and the tears stream down her face. She married him unprepared, she had unrealistic expectations after being exposed only to her parents who were equals in their love-filled marriage; she believed that all marriages were like that. Her marriage to Mark shattered that adolescent idea and forced her into adulthood and now she had to deal with it.
She pushed his hands away from her face and looked down at what was left of her lap. “And the beatings? Do you have a reason for beating me?” she asked, staring at him defiantly in the eyes.
She witnessed his gray eyes flash with surprise and he clenched his jaw, “I admit that I went about expressing my frustrations the wrong way. I have been making an effort to curb my anger lately.”
Jacqueline looked at him incredulously, “That’s all you have to say? You went about expressing your frustrations the wrong way. You beat me black and blue! How dare you undermine what you did to me? You raped me and beat me Mark, do you know the effects that had on me. I feel like I can never trust anyone again, I’m afraid that everyone that I will meet will turn on me like you turned on me. I was just fifteen when I married you! I believed that you were Prince Charming; you were so kind when you were courting me. Was it all just a ploy? What happened to you, why did you become like this? Dammit, why couldn’t you just continue to be the man that you led me to believe you were?”. With tears streaming down her face she stared at him expecting an answer.
Mark couldn’t look at Jacqueline’s face when she stopped talking. That was the most that she had ever expressed to him about her true feelings with her life now and him. He felt some of the first true feelings of guilt at her words. It was true; when they first married he thought that he could do whatever with this girl. He knew that she was beautiful, yes and that she was intelligent but after it was agreed that they were to be married, he never again took the time to listen to her, to have conversations with her.
“Jacqueline….I ….an apology would be worthless. Sorry is not enough. But I am truly regretful of the things that I have done to you. I know it’s not much, but I promise you that things will be better from now on. Our daughter won’t ever see we hit you or abuse you in any way,” he said sincerely, her took her hand and looked into her eyes.
Jacqueline looked up at him timidly, he seemed sincere enough, but she couldn’t just trust his word. This is the first step towards civility with them, she knew it wouldn’t come easy and it would be a long road. But she had to; they had to do this for their daughter’s sake. Jacqueline swallowed and looked down at her belly. It seemed as if this was the moment to fix their relationship, she wanted to make the environment that her daughter grew up in safe and at least content.
“So, we should start over then I suppose?” she asked timidly.
“I’d like that,” he said smiling. She smiled back at him warily and sat back in her seat. The baby started to move as if agreeing that it was for the best.
A/N: Hey Guys! I know its been a while, life got really hectic. This is the new and improved chapter 14, i made some corrections and altered the end of it. I hope you like it. Chaper 15 should be up soon. Please review on the changes!
“Don’t you think that you have enough pink?”
“That is not the only color I have picked up,“ she said as she put the dress back.
“Well, I believe the clothing you have picked out is sufficient, we will receive more at the party celebrating the child’s impending birth,” he said casually as he moved in front of her towards the bedding.
Jacqueline stood and stared at his back, “We’re to have a baby shower?”
He turned and looked at her with surprise, “Yes, it’s customary. Mother is in charge of organizing things, we just have to show up.”
Jacqueline was at a loss for words. Not only was she not able to plan her own baby shower, but she was to have a baby shower and no one she knew and loved would be there. She had no one who she loved with her anymore. Her parents were dead; her best friend from childhood was lost to her when she got married to a Russian man and was never heard from again, and Harry, who she could no longer correspond with.
She felt the beginnings of true grief at their situation, she had never wanted to lose a good friendship with him but the fact that he would cheat on her when he knew she was treated like that with Mark hurt her more than she imagined. It took a while for it to sink in but she felt a deep pain at the loss of that friendship. Maybe one day they could put it behind them and become friends again.
“You can talk to Mother about it if you wanted to know the details, he said, taking the basket from her.
“When is the shower to take place?“ she asked, rubbing her back as she felt a pinch of pain.
“A week before your due date. Are you ready then? I was thinking that we could grab lunch,” he said as he walked toward the exit of the boutique. She followed him slowly, thinking about the shower and her back pain.
On the drive home, Mark broke the silence,”I’ve been thinking Jacqueline, that we should find a new house. The manor is rather overwhelming. If we buy a new house, the baby will be closer to our bedroom and we could cut down on the number of servants. Also, I need to be closer to the city and the airport.”
Jacqueline, though she was surprised, scoffed. “We? Don’t you mean you should buy a new house? My opinion holds no weight in these decisions,” she spoke bitterly.
“Well I suppose it would be me who would handle the legal work and it would be more convenient for me,” Mark said nonchalantly.
“What use do I have for the city? I have no friends, I don’t go to school. All I would be doing is looking after your child all day, provide release for you at night and entertain your guests when it’s required,” she said looking out of the window.
“You act as if you’re a poor homemaker,” he said looking over at her.
“Poor? No, but everything else matches up. A husband who uses me for his needs, I have given up, or rather, been forced to give up my education to have your child. Friends are non-existent and I haven’t felt true happiness in a very long time,” she said, her voice becoming thick with emotion.
“I have made an effort to make you happy. I have gone shopping with you for baby things. We had lunch, picked out new clothing for you. My mother is throwing a party for you and I have proposed moving to a house that would be easier for you to manage. I have done things to make you happy and still there is misery,” he vexed. There was no end to her complaints about her life.
“Ah yes, materialistic things. But I have no one to confide in, no one to share my deepest thoughts and concerns with. I have no companionship,” she said solemnly.
“You have me! Your husband!“ he yelled.
“My husband,“ she spat, “The man who beats me black and blue, denies me my education, forces a baby onto me and then has an affair and conceives with another woman!” Mark pulled the car over and grabbed her chin forcing her to look at him.
“I have not laid a hand on you in weeks. Yes I had an affair and begot a bastard because of it, but I am a man of status. It is expected of me to have a mistress; it’s not as if the bastard affects you. I am not denying you an education, I am simply putting if off until the baby can be managed. I have not forced this child on you; you knew very well when I married you that you were to bear my children. I have no idea why the thought of sex with me became such an alien concept. I may have introduced it to you the wrong way on our wedding night, but I am a man and I was overcome with the need to have you. You’re a very sensual woman, you know, and I have the right to relations with my wife,” he said looking into he blue eyes.
Jacqueline felt her face grow hot and the tears stream down her face. She married him unprepared, she had unrealistic expectations after being exposed only to her parents who were equals in their love-filled marriage; she believed that all marriages were like that. Her marriage to Mark shattered that adolescent idea and forced her into adulthood and now she had to deal with it.
She pushed his hands away from her face and looked down at what was left of her lap. “And the beatings? Do you have a reason for beating me?” she asked, staring at him defiantly in the eyes.
She witnessed his gray eyes flash with surprise and he clenched his jaw, “I admit that I went about expressing my frustrations the wrong way. I have been making an effort to curb my anger lately.”
Jacqueline looked at him incredulously, “That’s all you have to say? You went about expressing your frustrations the wrong way. You beat me black and blue! How dare you undermine what you did to me? You raped me and beat me Mark, do you know the effects that had on me. I feel like I can never trust anyone again, I’m afraid that everyone that I will meet will turn on me like you turned on me. I was just fifteen when I married you! I believed that you were Prince Charming; you were so kind when you were courting me. Was it all just a ploy? What happened to you, why did you become like this? Dammit, why couldn’t you just continue to be the man that you led me to believe you were?”. With tears streaming down her face she stared at him expecting an answer.
Mark couldn’t look at Jacqueline’s face when she stopped talking. That was the most that she had ever expressed to him about her true feelings with her life now and him. He felt some of the first true feelings of guilt at her words. It was true; when they first married he thought that he could do whatever with this girl. He knew that she was beautiful, yes and that she was intelligent but after it was agreed that they were to be married, he never again took the time to listen to her, to have conversations with her.
“Jacqueline….I ….an apology would be worthless. Sorry is not enough. But I am truly regretful of the things that I have done to you. I know it’s not much, but I promise you that things will be better from now on. Our daughter won’t ever see we hit you or abuse you in any way,” he said sincerely, her took her hand and looked into her eyes.
Jacqueline looked up at him timidly, he seemed sincere enough, but she couldn’t just trust his word. This is the first step towards civility with them, she knew it wouldn’t come easy and it would be a long road. But she had to; they had to do this for their daughter’s sake. Jacqueline swallowed and looked down at her belly. It seemed as if this was the moment to fix their relationship, she wanted to make the environment that her daughter grew up in safe and at least content.
“So, we should start over then I suppose?” she asked timidly.
“I’d like that,” he said smiling. She smiled back at him warily and sat back in her seat. The baby started to move as if agreeing that it was for the best.
A/N: Hey Guys! I know its been a while, life got really hectic. This is the new and improved chapter 14, i made some corrections and altered the end of it. I hope you like it. Chaper 15 should be up soon. Please review on the changes!