Three
"Wendy...Wendy, please stop crying." Erza pleaded, who kept on massaging her daughter's back to calm down from sobbing. The little blue haired girl kept on sobbing on her mother's chest after being shocked of what her father just did to her. It was the first time she saw her daddy so angry while cussing and batting harsh words at her mama. "Wendy, I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." She sobbed as she embraced her trembling daughter tight.
"Mama, I'm sorry..."
"No, no, it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself. Your daddy...he just wants to discipline you, but he didn't mean to hurt you. I'll talk to him. Come on, stop crying."
"But, Mama...he'll hurt you too. He won't listen to you. I don't want daddy to hurt you, again." Erza felt her heart shattering into pieces after hearing those words from her own daughter. Their daughter was kind of matured already that she knew what was really going on between their relationship. Wendy is no longer the little girl that doesn't seem to care or know whatever is happening around her. By this time, she can already read what might happen to them in one mistake, just like earlier, just because she fought back with her schoolmate, her daddy got mad and as a result her daddy batted harsh words and blamed her mama or not giving her a good guidance.
"No, no, he won't hurt me, I promise. I'll talk to him, later. Don't be mad at your daddy, he loves you. He just wants to discipline you because he doesn't want you to get in troubles, that's why he did it. But I'm sure he doesn't want and it wasn't his intention to hurt you." Despite what her husband has done, she's still making Jellal a good father to their daughter, even though she knew herself that these past months a big change had occurred in Jellal as a father and husband.
Oooooooooooooooooooo
Jellal angrily pushed the door of his office as he entered inside. Minerva, who's sitting on the small couch on his office, was shocked to see how he released his anger on the door. "I heard you left, what happened?" She asked in curiosity as she quickly stood up from the couch to approach him. Jellal didn't answered immediately, instead he released his anger by banging the door close loudly.
"Fuck this life! Don't they know how much I'm so stressed in work?!" He yelled, and pulled his swivel chair and sat as he tried to ease with the sudden anger he felt.
"Let me guess, your wife or your daughter?" Minerva chuckled and sat at the end of his desk.
"Both actually, but it's Erza! She knew that I'm busy working, and she's just in the house doing nothing, but sleeping! She's shouldn't have slept, so she should be the one who'll speak with the principal of Wendy's school!"
"Okay, okay, calm down." Minerva said, "So, she's just sleeping and doing nothing. I really feel sorry for you for having a - useless and irresponsible wife and mother of your child!".
"I know," he sighed, as if he's agreeing from what Minerva had said about His wife. "Why can't I receive any luck in my life?"
"I'm your luck, just so you know." Minerva said in a flirtatious voice and sat on his lap. "You have me, Jellal. You don't meed that useless wife of yours, irresponsible, boring and lousy."
"Minerva...stop saying things about her like that. She's still...my wife."
"Isn't it true? Jellal, wake up! That wife of yours is the one who ruined your life. If she didn't seduce you, took off her clothes and spread her legs for you before, you would probably bathe in riches like your parents."
While his 'mistress' kept on mocking his wife, he couldn't even do or say anything to defend her. All he can do is to let her say whatever she wants, for the sake of keeping their deal - and for the sake of his family. He's a dick, an asshole, a jerk, he knew it! But He doesn't even have the guts or the balls to fight for his family from this woman who keeps on mocking his wife and persuading him to leave his wife and daughter for a better life.
"Jellal...I'm still a virgin, I don't have any idea in doing these kind of things."
"I know and don't worry, I'll be gentle. I won't hurt you, I promise."
"Wait, you might get me pregnant with this."
"No, I won't. I'll be careful, Erza. Just trust me with this. I want to make love with you, not because of pleasure."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Then, he started undressing his 16 year-old girlfriend while kissing and touching her body, and then it happened.
He knew himself, that it was actually his fault why he got Erza pregnant at a very young age. That's why he had fought for Erza so much for the sake of his child that Erza is bearing in her womb. Is it Minerva, who keeps brainwashing him, that made him think that choosing Erza is the biggest mistake he has done? Is it because of the stress and financial problems he is facing? Or it's just that he's really regretting choosing his family than his parents who could have give him a better life?
"Forget about it," the raven haired woman sighed, "let's just go out, later and drink".
Meanwhile, outside the office, Meredy was seriously eavesdropping by sticking his ear to the door. "Meredy, quit eavesdropping, you gossiper!" Ultear scolded, with her hands on her waist and giving the pinknette a glare.
"Poor Erza, Wendy...and Jellal." Meredy sighed sympathetically for the family. "Burn in hell, Minerva, you motherfuckin' bitch, you're messing up with his mind." She cussed, while clenching her fist."
"Easy, Meredy, why are you so affected?"
Meredy moved away from the door and said, "It's just that...I really feel bad for him. I still hope that one day he'll realize everything he has done. I hope he'll realize how important his family was. If only I could do anything to help them save their family..."
"Oh, no, no, no, Meredy! I don't like whatever you're thinking. Not like what you did to Gray and Juvia, Lyon and Sherry and Laxus and Mirajane."
"If I was able to fix their relationships, I'm sure I'll be able to fix Jellal and Erza's."
"Meredy, come on, let's not butt into other people's lives. Let them fix this by their own as spouses."
Oooooooooooooooooooo
"Here, have a drink and try to divert your mind away from your family for a moment." Minerva said, handing a bottle of beer to Jellal who's leaning on the back of the pickup van. "I hate my life." He said and quickly took a sip from his drink.
"Then, why don't you file a divorce already? Leave your family, so you can live while you're young. You're just twenty-eight, and yet you already have a nine year-old daughter." Minerva said, persuading him to do something bad again, and leaned on the pickup van beside him. "I don't know how can you stand being with Erza and with your bratty little girl."
"Hey, I told you not to say anything against my daughter."
"But, it's true." Minerva scoffed as she shrugged her shoulders. "I'm just taking you to reality. This is your life. Sucks being you."
"I love our daughter, so I don't want to hear any negative comments from you, please."
"What about the unborn child in her womb? Do you love him, too? I can see that you don't care for him. Or is it just because of Erza?"
"I don't know," he sighed, confused. "I don't know why I don't care for our upcoming child. I mean, of course I do love him, too, cause he's my son. But all I can think about is...that child will be another burden in my life."
"Why don't you just abort the child?"
"Minerva! I wouldn't do such thing. I can't kill my own son. And besides...she's almost due."
"Then, why don't just find someone who wants to adopt a baby."
"Erza, won't let me do that. She'll kill me first before it'll happen."
"If only she knew the struggle you're going through just to feed her - while she's just at home, sleeping."
"Last night, she's requesting if ever she could have the baby at the hospital. Her doctor advised her to do so due to the baby's size because it'll be so painful without medical assistance and epidural. God, does she know how many financial problems I am facing right now? And all she's gonna do is to experience painful birth for a few minutes, isn't that easy compared from the problems I am facing?"
Minerva suddenly burst in laughter, "You know, you're funny". "Do you know how painful childbirth is? That's what men fail to understand. Well, in that case, I understand Erza. Cause you'll be needing blood, sweat and tears just to go through the unbearable pain during laboring."
"Oh, come on! I thought you're on my side."
"The pain just don't last for a few minutes, like you were saying. Actually, for a week or two."
"Well, I'd like to experience it, so I can tell her that the pain isn't that hard."
"Be careful of what you wish for." She chuckled. "You never know, what if you might really experience childbirth someday."
"Impossible,"
"Oh, come here, you silly!" Then, she pushed him harder against the car and pressed her lips against him, kissing him hungrily. Her kisses went down to his collar, not knowing she had left a black lipstick mark on his white shirt.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
It was already 11pm, and yet Jellal hasn't return from work. Wendy was already asleep, while Erza is still up, waiting for her husband to return, so she could talk to her about what happened earlier. While combing her long scarlet hair in front of the mirror dresser, she suddenly spotted a silver ring along with the other jewelries. Well, it's just their wedding ring, Jellal's ring. She took the ring and stared at it for a long time.
Jellal doesn't wear their wedding ring often. And she knew that it's a sign that Jellal isn't valuing their marriage anymore. Plus, hurting her physically and emotionally, not caring about her anymore, treating their unborn child as another burden and making her feel so useless all the time. And if only she knew that her husband is cheating on her, what might happen if ever she finds out, anyway?
It's just too much. She knew she doesn't deserve any of this. She isn't a bad wife or mother to receive this kind of treatment and pain from her own husband. Until, she's been trying to figure out how will she reach him out and try fixing the gap that had occurred in their relationship. She's willing to do everything just to save their marriage, but she has completely no idea that there's a woman who's been spoiling her husband's mind.
She's starting to get worried for her husband, that she couldn't bear to lay down and relax without knowing where he is or how is he. So, she quickly took the phonebook and looked for the person that Jellal is usually with in his work.
Ultear Milkovich
Dialing...
"Hello?"
"Umm, Ultear? This is Erza, Jellal's wife."
"Oh, Erza,"
"Sorry to disturb you, but do you have any idea where my husband is? It's already later, and yet he hasn't return home."
"Oh...tell her the truth - shut up, Meredy!"
Tell the truth? She wondered.
"I'm sorry, Erza. I have no idea where he is. But I heard he's going out somewhere after work."
"Is that so? Well, thank you and sorry to disturb you. Bye." Then, she ended the call.
'Tell her the truth'? She wondered what does the person who suddenly blurted in their call mean to say. Is Jellal hiding something from me? Well, if ever he is, she can't blame Ultear for not telling her, she's just Jellal's friend or secretary. Now, that just made her doubt if ever Jellal is doing something out there and be pushed to try investigating the truth behind Jellal's behavior.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Jellal arrived home, by 1am, very late and a little bit drunk. Then, there's Erza who's impatiently waiting for her husband to return, and now he's here.
"Why are you late?" She asked in a calm tone to avoid starting an argument and stood up from the couch with her arms crossed.
Jellal glanced away from his wife, ignoring her and made his way towards to the stairs, passing by from her. "As if you care. That's none of your business."
Erza clenched her fist to hold her temper. "None of my business? How can you expect me not to care? You, my husband, is out there late at night, without even telling me where you are. I called Ultear, and she said you're off to somewhere after work. You should have informed me where you are."
Jellal was suddenly alerted, after hearing that his wife just asked his co-worker where he is, worried that she might find out about him and Minerva. "You called Ultear? Why? What for?"
"What's the matter? I just wanna know where you are. I'm still your wife, a d I have the right to know what's going on and where my husband is. Are you hiding something from me?"
"Of course not!" Jellal answered, stuttering nervously.
"Then, why are you stuttering?"
"..."
"Why aren't you wearing our wedding ring, anymore?"
"So?"
"'So'? Jellal, it's one of the most important thing to us, because it symbolizes our marriage. Is our marriage not important to you anymore? Or is it because...you're with someone else?" Erza glared at him. "And, what is that black mark on your collar?" She pointed at the black lipstick mark Minerva had left in his collar.
Jellal quickly checked out what was the black mark thingy his wife is saying. He could feel his heart beating faster nervously. "I-it's just an ink stain!" He lied, with his voice stammering. "Why do you always keep asking me things?! As if you care where I am, what am I doing and how am I, just do your job here in the house, while I'm doing mine out there."
"Is there anything wrong for being worried for my husband? What if something is happening to you out there and you and Wendy have no idea where you are?"
"You don't have to be paranoid, I'm fine! Don't ever call Ultear, Meredy or any of my co-workers to ask where I am."
Her voice suddenly went down. "W-wendy is just worried about you...you going home late, everyday. She's always looking for you, she misses you. Don't you miss spending some time with us? Or not just with me, just with Wendy."
"Oh, Erza, don't involve Wendy in your drama."
"I'm not being dramatic, I'm just telling the truth."
"Erza, you know what?! Just shut the fuck up, okay? If you say another word, I'll beat the shit of you." He threatened, then stormed upstairs, leaving her alone.
She could sense it. She knew that her husband is really doing something behind her back. Her doubts, from the way he speaks, stutters and his inaccurate answers, she knew that he's hiding something from her. And, she'll investigate to find out what it is.
Meanwhile, when Jellal quickly fell asleep, tiredly. Erza quickly rummaged for his white long-sleeved shirt that she suspected that has a lipstick mark in the laundry basket. And voila! She quickly checked the collar, but was dismayed when the black mark is no longer on his collar, but there are a few blurry black marks left.
Weird, she thought, if it was an ink stain, how come he managed to remove it easily?
She sniffed his collar to check what was really the black stain. From the scent she had smelled, she is hundred percent sure that it is a scent of a lipstick.
Please, don't let my doubt be right...
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A/N: sorry for the short update. But don't worry i'll make the next chapter long, like 5k or 6k words :)
next chapter : caught in the act
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And please also try reading my other stories :) and by the way, my story "the red string of fate" will be hiatus, until august, due to changes in plot and i'll add some twist to be more exciting :))
Thank you
-AnimeLover4Ever58