Lalisa
At this point, I couldn't give a flying fuck how this so-called hearing turned out. They could demand a hundred million from me, and I would gladly pay it and walk away. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered anymore when the person I loved the most wanted nothing to do with me. I didn't blame her. Not one bit. She didn't deserve any of this. I was almost glad she hadn't come back into the courtroom and be subjected to all of this bullshit.
I looked around the room, wanting to get this shit over and done with, much like my life. "Shall we proceed?" I raised my hand for them to go forward.
"Ms. Schaffer, you claimed you only knew who Ms. Manoban was when you were offered the job, is that correct." She nodded. Francisco took out a phone, which I noticed was Jennie's phone. Why the fuck did he have her phone? I tried getting his attention but he ignored me.
"Ms. Schaffer, do you know an Opal Wells?"
Claudia's expression went stone cold, and for the first time she looked nervous. "She's my grandmother."
Francisco nodded. "Have you had any recent contact with her?"
Claudia shifted uncomfortably. "No, we weren't that close."
"Hmm" Francisco looked back down at the phone, as he flipped through the screen. "You claimed you went to college at Yale, but you didn't." Before she could speak, Francisco did. "You lied on your resume about Yale; you went to Kansas State University. Isn't that correct?"
She whispered to her lawyer who then spoke up to the arbitrator. "What does this have to do with the settlement?"
"I'll get there in just a moment, if you'll allow me to finish."
The arbitrator looked from him to Claudia. "Proceed."
"Thank you, sir. You said you went to Yale and graduated in the top three percent of your class. That's quite an impressive number for someone that has never been to Yale, but who instead went to Kansas State."
"What exactly is your point?" He turned to the arbitrator. "Who hasn't lied on a resume, to get something better for themselves? If there was a chance for better compensation, I'm sure anyone here would do the same thing."
Francisco ignored him and kept talking. "You also said you had no knowledge of Ms. Manoban until you were hired." He turned the phone around. "Can you tell me, is this your room at your grandmother's?" Francisco peered back at the phone again. "I'm assuming it is, there's your name and pictures of you spread around the room. An old band photo. Looks like you played the Tuba. Great instrument." Claudia didn't say anything as he held the phone to her. "Something I also noticed were the other pictures on your walls." He handed the phone to her lawyer, who flipped through them, brow crinkling.
"Your wall is covered in photos of Ms. Manoban."
"Anyone could've put those there."
"You're absolutely right, if that were true." He reached for a folder and held the contents to me after showing them to the opposing attorney. "Ms. Manoban, this is a picture of you in formal attire, correct?"
I frowned. "Yes, but that's…"
He took the folder away. "Ms. Schaffer. This is a picture of Ms. Manoban, and it shows you standing next to her." He pulled out another picture. "Only that's not you in that picture, is it?" He held up the exact same picture of me and Jennie. "Now unless you and Mrs. Manoban shop at the same place and you make yourself up to look exactly like her, I believe that's your head photoshopped on to Mrs. Manoban's body, and quite poorly I might add, next to Lisa Manoban."
She looked up, fear apparent in her eyes. All that confident and demure attitude she had earlier was now gone. Francisco leaned his hip against the table. "Tell us, how you did it Ms. Schaffer. That night in Paris. You spiked her drink, touched her very inappropriately while she was out, and stole her sperm, didn't you?"
Her eyes shot back and forth between me and Francisco. "It's okay, you can say it. Rohypnol, right? I mean, how else would you be able to get someone who is 6'4 to be taken down like that." He turned to the arbitrator. "I just want to add, that we'll also be filing charges for sexual assault against Ms. Schaffer." Claudia's eyes grew wide and she stood up, knocking over her glass of water.
"I wanted a baby!" Tears were streaming down her face now. "I wanted a baby, and I wanted her to fall in love with me."
The arbitrator looking shocked, at everything presented before him, started to speak, but Claudia ran out the room. Her attorney looking equally shocked ran after her. I turned toward both Francisco and Syed, and then looked down at the papers. Nothing more needed to be said. Everything was right here. Even if Claudia and her lawyers wanted to attempt to even try to take this to actual court, the whole thing would be moot. We exchanged a few more words with the arbitrator about what was going to happen now. Francisco still wanted to push the assault charges. At this point I didn't even care, I just wanted this to be done.
I took several deep breaths before I stood up. It was over. It was all over.
I walked out and a rush of reporters started gathering around us. I stood to the side as Francisco and Syed fielded all the questions. I looked over, saw Jack against the wall, and went over to him.
He extended his hand. "Jack. Not that I'm questioning your skills, but how'd you discover all of that?"
He slowly shook his head and smiled. "I didn't. I helped." I gave him a questioning look. "Jennie came to me a few weeks ago. She noticed the pin Claudia wore on her lapel. We zoomed in, and saw it was a purple wildcat. We continued from there. She flew to Kansas yesterday and met with the grandmother."
My eyes narrowed. "You let her go alone? What if something had happened?"
Jack stepped closer. "But, it didn't." He pointed his finger at me. "You need to learn to trust. Jennie is smart. She loves you." He turned and walked away. I checked the time. Three hours. Three hours for all of this. I started to leave when I spotted the white envelope I had given Jennie on a nearby bench. I hesitantly grabbed it and pulled the papers out. I flipped through all the pages where she was to sign. She didn't. I placed the envelope back in my inner pocket, and headed home.
Sandara was home with Flick. When I walked in, I immediately beelined to where my sister was standing with my daughter in her arms and hugged them both. "You didn't have to do that," I murmured to her.
She played with Flick's hair. "I know. But I wanted to." She looked around. "Where's Jennie?"
"She wasn't at the courthouse when I left…but I have a feeling I know where she is." I kissed the top of Flick's head. "I hate to ask you to watch her for me, but…"
"Lisa, if you don't get the hell out of here, I will hold Emersyn hostage. Take as long as you need."
I gave my sister another hug, grabbed what I needed, and left.
Jennie
It worked. At least I hoped it did. I didn't have my phone, which was stupid, but I did see on the news the statement Francisco gave. I walked around the cabin. Lisa took me here once. A home she had right outside the city, that she never visited. I ran my hand along the mantle. Even though we haven't been here since that time, she still had it updated with pictures of us and pictures of Emersyn.
I made some soup I found in the cabinet and laid on the couch. It was close to midnight. I picked up my Kindle, determined to finish Fallen Trilogy by Leolucasdaddy, but after reading the same line over and over again, I closed it. I was about to head to the room when I heard the crunching noise of a car on the gravel. I peered behind the curtain, seeing a car approached.
It could be Lisa, I thought. Or it could be the housekeeper checking in. I stepped away from the door in case it was an intruder.
I heard the sound of the key code being entered in and then the door unlocking. My eyes grew wide as the door opened and Lisa filled the entrance.
She stood by the door and stared. I couldn't read her. She looked menacing and pissed off. As she should be. I started getting nervous. She took two steps forward, which still left quite a distance between us. I licked my dry lips. I owed her something. An apology. A cry. Something. But none of that came out of my mouth.
"I wouldn't have signed them," I blurted out. Her expression didn't change. I elaborated just in case. "The papers," I clarified. It hurt just to say the words divorce. "I wouldn't have signed the papers," I whispered out. I started wringing my hands. "But, I wanted to help. I needed to help, and I wanted…"
"Shut up."
Those two words had me halting. Those two words she said so deeply, they would have stopped anyone. I took another deep breath, because she needed to know. She needed to know before she kicked me out.
"I just…"
"I said, shut. Up."
I felt my chin starting to quiver, and I started to turn, but she spoke again. "What's your safeword?"
I froze and slowly turned around and met her gaze. "Attic," I whispered out.
"Louder!"
Her voice boomed around me, and I jumped. She was angry, and now she needed to punish. A tear rolled down my face, but I kept her gaze. "Attic," I said more clearly.
Her expression was blank. "Strip." Her voice was low, but I heard it. I slowly took off my shirt and threw it on the edge of the couch. I toed each shoe off slowly, trying to prolong whatever wrath she was going to bring down. Finally, I took off my jeans, as well as my bra and panties, but decided I was going to leave my socks on. I chanced a glance up at her. She slightly tilted her brow, and that was all I needed to remove both socks.
I stood before her, completely nude, already getting chilled. I kept my head down, because the last thing I wanted to see was the look of disappointment and hate on her face. I shut my eyes as I tried to remember the good part of what we had, when she loved me. I heard her step closer, and I could feel her right in front of me. Without lifting my head, I slowly opened my eyes and found myself staring at her boots.
"Look at me," she whispered. I took a moment before slowly raising my head to meet her gaze. After a few seconds, she finally raised her hand to under my chin. It was the first real touch we'd have of each other in quite a while.
"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for doing that."
My eyes teared up, I wanted to respond, but instead, hoped she could see in my eyes that what I did was for the best. Not only for her, but for Emersyn, as well.
She cupped my face with both hands. "You are my wife." I gave her a slight nod. "You are my wife. Say it."
"I am your wife," I whispered.
"Again."
"I am your wife," I said more loudly. She abruptly picked me up, and I wrapped my legs around her as she walked us to a wall. Her hand unbuckled her belt to free her cock.
"Again!"
Before I could say it again, she plunged into me hard, and I cried out. It had been a few weeks. Which meant a few weeks of pent-up frustration. "I am your wife," I panted out.
"Again!"
She pushed me harder against the wall. Her grip around my waist was bruising. I wanted to kiss her, but every time I tried, she buried her face into my neck and bit down. She was making it clear that she was in control. That she'll always be in control.
I felt delirious, not only from the pain she inflicted, but from the pleasure that quickly came after. I was close. Oh, so close. I felt the power of the orgasm spiraling up. Lisa, changed her position, which had her thrusting in deeper, and I cried out as her pelvis rubbed my clit. I was going to come, and Lisa knew it too, because she stopped and pulled out. All I could do was I whimper.
Still holding me, she walked us to the table and set me down on it. "All fours," she said, and I quickly complied to get into position. I shivered as she ran a single finger down my spine. She spread my ass cheeks and blew softly. The air made me clench my pussy in anticipation. She stood up and slammed into me again.
I moaned as the pressure built itself back up. I didn't even try to stop myself as my hand trickled down and started to rub my clit.
Lisa stopped and slapped me hard on the ass. "Did I say you could do that? Back into position. That's how I want you." I whimpered placing my hand back on the table After a few seconds, Lisa's arm came across my chest, and she slowly lifted me up. I started to panic. She felt so deep inside of me, deeper than ever before. I felt constricted and overwhelmed. Everything that had gone on these past few months finally erupted in me, so much so, that I burst into tears.
"Shhh," she whispered in my ear. She ran one of her hands up and down my body, trying to reassure me that I was okay, her other hand tight against me. I was up on my knees on the hardwood kitchen table, with Lisa buried in as deep as she's ever been.
"Safeword?"
I took several deep breaths. She asked if I wanted to safeword. After a few minutes, I shook my head. She didn't move. I knew why. She needed the words. Her hand moved over my stomach, and I placed mine on top of hers. Tell her.
"No, no safeword."
Her hand continued down to my pussy, and her other arm went to my breasts. "I'm going to fuck you now, and you're going to come." I nodded rapidly, and she started to move. Each time she thrust in, I let out a silent moan. I felt so open and so stretched, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel good. Lisa thrust harder, and I leaned my head back against her chest. With her fingers working their magic against my clit, I was on edge and I was about to come.
Lisa's other arm lowered to my pelvis, and she pressed down. Her other hand that was slowly rubbing my clit suddenly stopped. I was about to yell out when her hand came down and slapped me hard on my pussy. I yelped in shock. Her fingers started rubbing my clit furiously, and she pressed harder on my pelvis with her other hand, and I came almost without warning and I came hard. The squelching noise that came from my pussy grew louder as my orgasm went on and on. I felt myself getting wetter and wetter. Lisa let out a guttural moan as she came as deep inside me as she could.
I felt myself leaning forward, but she held me up. She always held me up. In more ways than one. She stayed inside of me for another minute, before finally pulling out, and carefully lowering me down. I shakily climbed off the table. I should've known this was it. One last fuck before we parted. I wrapped my arms around myself and bowed my head, because I knew if I looked at her, I would fall apart.
I started to walk past her, and she grabbed my arm. "Where are you going?"
"That was it, wasn't it?" I fumbled for my words. "The goodbye sex."
She smirked. "And why would you think that?"
I looked at her confused. She pulled me closer. "I wasn't going to sign them, either. I never would've signed them, even if you did. When you said you wanted to leave, you broke my fucking heart," she whispered. "Those words will never come out of your mouth; do you hear me?" I blinked back tears, as I nodded.
"I never would've…" I paused trying to get my thoughts together. "I was confused and hurt when the results came back and…"
She pulled me into her tightly. Lisa then informed me how the rest of the trial went, and that Claudia did drug her.
"What about the baby?"
She sighed looking resolute. "I can't ask you to have a part in that child's life. I understand, but…it's a part of me. It'll be Flick's sibling."
I smiled sadly. Tell her! "I guess, we'll just have to figure it out when the baby's born." She gathered us under the blanket.
"I wish this wasn't the way. I really, really do. But, I can't change what or how it happened."
"I know," I whispered against her chest.
Lalisa
"How about mashed peas?" I held up a bowl to Flick, and she just laughed. I chuckled. "Mashed peas it is."
"Ma!" Flick shrieked.
"No, I'm Pupu. Mom isn't here right now." I checked my watch. "But she should be soon. Hopefully she'll get to see you before you go to bed."
I knew Jennie would be at the cabin after the trial. When I first opened that door, and stepped in and saw her standing there, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I needed her. I needed to touch her, I needed to hold her, and tell her how much she meant to me, until my voice was hoarse.
We fucked all night. But, it wasn't just fucking. It was pure love. I fucked her with all my love so that there wasn't ever a chance she could doubt me, or us. That night, I couldn't stop fucking her if I wanted to.
If she left my side for more than three minutes, I was already up looking for her. I felt completely primal for her, and she gave everything right back to me.
When she laughed, I reveled in it. When she cried, I licked away each tear, and ensured her, we were okay.
Even though she said she was happy, and I believed her, I couldn't help but feel there was still a piece of her she wasn't giving me.
Unfortunately, Jennie wasn't home in time to see Flick. She said we were fine, but something's off. It was a quarter to ten before Jennie walked in. I wanted to be pissed at her, but I also knew I really had no right to do that.
"Hey, everything okay?"
She smiled, which was absolutely fake. "Yeah, sorry I'm late." I watched as she hung her coat up.
"Well, let me warm you up some dinner. Have you eaten?" I was halfway to the kitchen before she stopped me.
"You know I think I'm just going to shower and go to bed. I'm kind of tired." I watched as she crossed her arms and headed to our room. Give her time, I kept telling myself. She just needs time.
I got into bed, turned on the TV, and flipped mindlessly through the channels. I heard a phone ring, looked around, and spotted Jennie's bag. The ringing stopped. I went back to channel surfing. Ten seconds later, her phone rang again, and I got up to get her bag. Jennie carried so much shit, it took a while to dig her phone out.
I checked the phone, turns out it wasn't a phone call, but an alarm she had set. I turned it off and placed it back into her bag, along with the other crap I took out, which consisted of her diabetic supplies, a pair of baby socks, a bib, and a bag of toddler puffs. The folded papers she had fell on the floor. As I gathered them, the words on one of the pages caught my eye. I scanned it over, then opened the next two.
What the fuck?
I told myself to wait until she was out of the shower. That waiting lasted all of two seconds before I barged in the bathroom.
She glanced at me startled. "Hey. I'm about done if you need to get in."
Fuck yeah, I needed to get in. I walked in, still fully clothed, and she looked at me strangely. "What are you…?" I held my hand up stopping her. I noticed how she dropped her arms in front of her, like she was trying to conceal herself. I looked her up and down; her breasts were bigger and my eyes took in her stomach. She was still flat, but there was definitely more softness.
How had I not seen this? Have I really been this fucking blind, I didn't even notice the changes with my wife? Have I been so focused on everything else we've had going on, that I missed this? I know Jennie's body better than she does, and yet I still managed to fail her. I failed us.
"Lisa, what are you doing?"
I hesitantly placed my hand on her stomach, and she flinched. I finally glanced up at her. "Are you pregnant?" She quickly diverted her eyes and I grabbed her chin so she had to look at me. "Jennie. Are you pregnant?"
Her shoulders slumped and she finally nodded. I looked back down at her stomach. "Why didn't you tell me?"
She tried looking away again, but I held her firm. She took a deep breath. "You're busy, and…"
I cut her off. "I'm not that busy for my wife to tell me she's pregnant!" My voice came out harder than it should. "How far along are you?"
"Just a few months," she whispered.
"Did you know at the hearing?
She slowly nodded. "I found out a few days before that."
"Fuck, Jennie! That night, I used your body and stretched you to your limits. I could've hurt you! I could've hurt our baby." She turned, shut the water off, and got out. I took the rest of my clothes off and left them in the shower. Exiting the shower, I grabbed a towel. Jennie was already in our room, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"You didn't hurt me," she whispered. "I didn't tell you, because I didn't know if you wanted another baby. You already have one coming and…"
"So, you were going to what? Get rid of it before I even found out?" Her eyes shot up. I shut my eyes briefly. "I saw the pamphlets in your bag." I pointed to her bag in the corner. "Do you not...do you not want this? You want to end it?"
"I didn't decide on anything!" She stood up, her hands bawled into fists, as if she was ready for battle. She was always ready for battle. "Dammit Lisa, I'm trying here. I really am, but do you know how hard it is to see you go to doctor's appointments with her? Our marriage will always have three people in it. It's almost like I have to share you!" She grabbed a pair of pajamas out the drawer and got dressed. I stood there like a fucking idiot, because I didn't know what to say. She was right. She turned to face me. "I don't want to abort our baby. I never did. It was merely a question."
A question that I sure as fuck didn't like. The fact that she even had this question in her head pissed me off. I studied her. She was struggling with all of this. We were struggling, but no matter what, it would always be a hit for her, for the rest of our lives. "What can I do to make this easier for you?" I whispered.
She turned and glared at me before finally shrugging. "I guess I'll have to eventually get over it. Because, that's what I do, right? I adapt. Just like how I adapted with Tzuyu and Jisoo…and now this. I always end up having to adapt, don't I?"
She walked out of the room, not taking another glance at me. I grimaced at the name Tzuyu coming out of her mouth. Tzuyu was my supposed first love. The woman I thought I had married when I was much younger, and supposedly died in a car accident. Supposedly is right, when I discovered her very much alive a few years ago. Her, and her uncle Dale, had been scheming against me for years, and clearly their plan failed. Jisoo, Tzuyu's twin sister, was caught in the middle of it.
I sighed, as I ran my hand through my hair. She was right. All of my problems always ended up affecting us both, and each time Jennie accommodated, even if it killed her to do it.
