Sydney Mdlalose's Ever After

Chapter Thirty-Seven

I almost snap my neck as I turn my head in his direction. "How could you even think that?"

He rolls his eyes. "My brain might be a little slow at the moment but I'm not stupid. Nor am I blind. The marks on your thighs and around the front of your neck...you didn't get those from me. And I'm more than sure that you didn't get them from Keith either. He was long gone when you got them."

Andre looks at me. I look back at him, trying my best to hide the horror along with the shock in my eyes.

"So the only person I can think of Siya. I mean, you did sleep at his house. It only makes sense. And any man takes their chance when a woman is most vulnerable."

I place the plate back down on the bedside table. We both don't say anything. "Why? I know our marriage has had issues but you didn't have to take it so far. I would have never done that to you."

I can almost hear the hurt in his voice as he speaks. A tear falls down my cheek which I quickly wipe away. Denying things would make them worse now that I've been caught.

"After everything you've ever said to me, I least expected that you'd hurt me by sleeping with another man. If I wasn't enough-"

Andre bends over, pressing his fingers over his eyes. "Why didn't you just tell me or just better yet, let me go." He stands up and walks towards the window. He sniffs but doesn't let me see his face.

"Jeez, you had me feel bad for having you abort a baby that I didn't even help conceive." 

He finally turns around. His eyes grow red as he cries. "I don't understand what it is that I've ever really done to you? Is it Elizabeth? The thing on our wedding night?"

I remain quiet as I cry too. Andre holds his head. "Say something!" He leans against the wall next to the window and removes his hands from his head before looking at me.

I wipe my tears. "I wish I wasn't right. I don't even know how long your affair has been going or if it wasn't just him. But the pregnancy makes it impossible for me to forgive you."

"But, you got married behind my back." I say. "And I forgave you." He points a finger at me. "It is not the same thing, Sydney. You know why I did that. I wouldn't have opened my centre if I didn't."

I look at him as his eyes remain watery but no tears fall. "Getting married was clearly a mistake." He scoffs and chuckles.

I shake my head. "No, no it wasn't." He shakes his head too. "From the day we did, things have been falling apart between us. We never even went on a honeymoon."

Both of us no longer look at one another. "You should tell him about the baby when he comes by tomorrow. He deserves to know. But you and I, it's over."

I immediately stand up. "No, Andre. Please don't. I'm begging you." I cry. He holds a hand up. "Don't come any closer, please. You have a week to get your things together and out of the house. You'll still get your classes and you can keep the car."

I place a hand over my mouth. "Expect divorce papers soon." Andre walks out of the bedroom. I sit back down on the bed and cry harder than I have before.

The truth is, those moments with Siya right now, were not worth it. They were moments of lust, and because I let lust rule me, I've lost the man I love.

I guess I was right. We were never meant for forever. At least until death really does bring us apart.

<><>

I've never felt so wholly empty before. Getting up to an empty bed just made the feeling worse. He didn't even sleep here at all seeing as his side is still neat.

The bedroom door opens. Andre steps in but he doesn't acknowledge me. He opens the cupboard. "Your tutor is here." He closes the cupboard with fresh clothes in his hands. He places them down on the bed and goes into the bathroom.

Unlike him, he closes the door. I get up from the bed and use the bathroom near Karen's and Jason's bedroom.

When I'm done, I go back into the bedroom and quietly get a change of clothes with Andre.

He finishes before me and turns to me. "Make sure you tell him."

I swallow as he exits the bedroom. I look at myself in the mirror, mentally preparing myself for whatever may unfold.

I leave the bedroom and slowly walk downstairs.

Siya has already prepared the table and he's now seated, staring into his laptop. When I look up from him, I notice Andre enter the living room with a glass of water.

He surely wants to hear everything. I smile as Siya greets me. He gets up to hug me. "You good?" I nod my head and don't reciprocate the question. Honestly, my mind and heart are doing all sorts of back flips, making me feel like I'll drop dead any second.

I take a seat across from him and open the maths textbook that's already on the table. "You seem tense, what's wrong?" He whispers, clearly aware that Andre can hear us.

I bite my lower lip nervously. "Sydney,  is everything alright?" I exhale deeply. "I was pregnant." I say a little too loudly. He frowns. "Okay, what happened?"

I breathe in and hold my breath. "I, I aborted it." He lifts his eyebrows. "I didn't think you'd ever do that." I suck in my tears that are threatening to fall. "Me neither." He reaches across the table and places his hand on mine.

"I'm sorry. I know it's not your fault." He turns his head back, clearly referring to Andre.

Tears lightly tread down my cheeks. "It was yours." I softly say. Siya glares at me. I don't look into his eyes and feel his hand slide away from mine.

"Nibhulale ingane yami(you killed my child)?" I shut my eyes. Siya gets up from his chair. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Before he influenced you into killing my child!"

I softly sob, the tears falling onto my thighs. Siya packs his things. "I'm not going to cause a scene. But I can't continue to teach you." I finally look up and notice his hands shaking.

He pauses for a moment and hurriedly walks to the living room. My eyes widen before I follow after him. "Siya."

Siya grabs Andre by his shirt. "Why my child?" I can hear the cry in his voice without seeing the tears. Andre pushes him back. "Why my wife?"

The two give each other deadly glares as I silently beg that a fight doesn't break. With Andre's recovery, it's not what he needs right now.

Siya nods and moves back. "I'm coming for you. You're not gonna go without paying for your sin."

Andre chuckles. "I didn't know you were suddenly God. But hey, I'll be waiting, and you can use the front door too if you like."

Siya spits at Andre's feet and steps away from him. He looks down at me as he slowly passes by me, making sure that our shoulders bump one another.

I press my lips together. "I hope you're happy." Andre sits back down. "Its not me you should be worried about it."