Chapter 15

Tara went downstairs to meet Chad with his guest, Sophie. They were already seated on the breakfast table, talking and laughing casually about something they found interesting. 
Their conversation was about how they fooled Tara, and she didn't do anything when Chad slept with another woman in another room. 
The moment Tara entered the room, she fell silent, and Tara felt out of place. She was a bit jealous that the guest sat very close to Chad, who was at the other end of the table.
"Good morning," she greeted, but received no response.
Their food was being served, and the woman got excited, and Chad genuinely smiled. 
Tara thought Chad was in a good mood today.
"I went for a quick checkup yesterday, and the doctor said our baby is super healthy," Tara said excitedly, and Sophie rolled her eyes.
"So why are you telling me?" Chad said, which broke her heart. "What I mean to say is, if your baby is doing fine, then you don't need to announce it," he said, and he started eating.
Tara wasn't happy when he said it was her baby, like it wasn't his either.
"Ours," Tara said.
"What?" 
"Our baby, it's not just mine," Tara corrected him, and Sophie got a bit pissed.
"Just leave me alone, would you?" Chad snapped. "Gosh, I already lost my appetite.".
"Tara, you're making the food stiff in our throat; do you mind keeping it down?" Sophie eyed Tara.
Sophie was surprised by the lady's turn-up. She had the hitch that the lady didn't like her in the first place.
"Here, babe,"  Sophie fed Chad and hot steam puffed out of Tara's ears.
"Babe?" Tara says.
Chad quickly remembered that Tara's not supposed to find out that his beloved Sophie is his girlfriend.
"She's used to calling everyone babe; don't mind her." Chad quickly covered it up, and Tara bought it.
Sophie scrunched her face, and she wasn't comfortable with her mate lying to his wife.
The rest of the meal was awfully quiet, and Tara was upset.
They finished their food.
"Well, I'm off to work," Chad stood up.
Tara stood up and was about to pick up Chad's jacket so she could wear it for him, but Sophie beat her at it. 
Sophie picked up his jacket and wore it for Chad. Tara watched them dumbfounded. It's almost as if the woman is trying to steal her husband.
"Thanks," Chad said to Sophie.
"You're welcome, babe." 
Chad stood in front of the entrance, and the lady hugged him goodbye.
"Don't forget to buy me my favourite ice cream," she shouts for him to hear as he drives off.
Chad was being really nice to Sophie, and Tara was somehow jealous.
"You look perfectly fine to me," Tara said.
"Mind your business," Sophie said to Tara.
"Chad is my business, and I don't think you had an accident, guessing from the way you act." 
"It took you so long to realise, now stop disturbing me."
"Stop calling Chad Babe." 
She eyed me as Tara trailed behind her.
Sophie scoffed.
"That should be the last thing you should worry about," Sophie said, and she sat on the couch in the living room, ready to watch a movie.
"What do you mean?" 
"What I mean is that if you really want to worry, worry about your baby because Chad doesn't even care about you talking less about the child in your womb, but don't worry much; I'll take care of Chad while you can worry about your child," Sophie said rather quickly, and her words pang Tara's heart.
Somehow, Tara took Sophie's words as advice. Then she remembered what the doctor told her back at the hospital.
But Tara also couldn't watch another woman call her husband babe.
"My family and worries shouldn't be your business as you are just a guest here, so I'm asking you to stay away from Chad, who is married and about to be a father, so limit your interactions with my husband," Tara warned Sophie.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, now I feel sorry for you. You're fighting for your marriage, and your husband is fighting with you, and it's quite pathetic when you call your child his." She then picked up the remote and played a movie on Netflix.
Tara just stood there. "Whatever happens in my home doesn't concern you at all; let me worry about it."
Sophie rolled her eyes. "whatever Tara" 
Tara immediately went to the garden, where she could breathe and clear her mind. She soothed her belly as she felt the baby kick.
Even the baby could tell she's restless.
"I won't let anyone hurt you or anything happen to you, my child," she told her baby. 
 
Evening came on display. Chad was parked in front of the house, and Sophie hugged him, and they both kissed. 
They both heard a footstep, and when they looked to see who it was, they saw Claire, the housekeeper.
"You didn't see anything," Chad warns the maid, and a shiver runs down her spine.
"Yes, master," she said and ran inside.
Chad was a bit worried that Claire would expose him to his wife and that she'd divorce him before he could execute his plan.
Tara was listening to calm music when Claire came to notice Tara's arrival. Tara wondered why Claire was sweating and looking afraid.
"Claire, are you alright?" Tara asked worriedly.
"Yes, I'm fine. I have to go now," Claire said, leaving immediately.
When Tara went downstairs, she saw Sophie eating a cup of vanilla ice cream, and Chad was telling her about his day. 
She watches them, and they ignore her presence.
Tara left the room without saying a word, feeling like her presence wasn't needed even by her own husband.