PROHIBITED

            Mia   I left the laboratory with the test results in my hands, and a smile on my face. After three years of marriage, we will be having a baby. I didn't expect it, but now that I know that I am pregnant, I am very happy, and I can't wait to break the news to Jacob. Finally, my shift came to an end, and it was time for me to head home. Yes, I am a doctor, at Memorial Hospital, the most prestigious hospital in the city. I met Jacob here four years ago, when I was twenty-six years old, and he was twenty-four years old; I was a resident at the time. My now husband had come to the emergency room with injuries on his face. I never asked what caused his injuries, because I thought it wasn’t necessary, and it wasn't part of my job. Jacob is a tall man, with dark hair, blue eyes, really attractive and charming. Most women would fall at his feet, but not me. I just treated his wounds and said goodbye to him.   From that moment, Jacob dedicated his time to wooing me. He did everything to get my attention, but I ignored him, at first. You might wonder why, since he is one of the most influential men in the country, and his family is very wealthy; but I didn't want that for myself. I was comfortable with my life, and I felt that going out with someone like him would draw too much attention to me. However, after he spent an entire afternoon waiting outside my office, I finally accepted to go on a date with him. That night he was a true gentleman; charming and attentive. From that moment, I opened my heart, and eventually fell in love with him. A year later we got married at a big wedding ceremony. My parents never approved of the marriage, but I went ahead with my decision. My in-laws were also not in agreement, because they thought I was a gold digger. The issue made me uncomfortable, because what interested me the least about Jacob was his money. They asked me to sign a nondisclosure and fidelity agreement, which I willingly did. When I saw the shock on their faces, I was delighted and smiled in satisfaction.   After the wedding, I sold my apartment, my car, left many things behind, including my friends, and moved into the large Anderson Mansion. These three years of marriage have been good, although reality hit us when my shifts at the hospital and his work interfered with our spending time together. I have worked hard to make our relationship work; attending society meetings and going on some trips. Jacob has asked me several times to leave my job as a doctor, but I refused, and he stopped insisting. He did not seem happy, but I obeyed him when he asked me not to interact with anyone at the hospital.   In a short while, I arrived at Jacob's massive house, even as his wife I had never considered it mine. I got out of my car, which was a gift from Jacob on our first year anniversary, entered the house and went up to the bedroom. I smiled, looking at the result again. I decided that I would ask Jacob to accompany me to my first check-up and everything that had to do with our unborn child. I smiled again as I gently opened the door to the bedroom, but the smile instantly disappeared, and the paper fell from my hand. The images before my eyes played out in slow motion; a woman with long blonde hair which covered her stylized back was on top of my husband, kissing him with abandon. I take my phone out of my pants pocket and activated the camera without knowing exactly why I did it, I raised it slowly to record what was breaking my heart at the moment. When I felt like I had enough, lowered the phone and closed the camera. Still looking at them through my blurred vision because of the tears wouldn’t stop flowing, I raised my head and met his blue gaze. His eyes looked as if they had seen a ghost and his movements and those of his blonde companion stopped, and she looked at him.   “Mia,” he said into his lover's ear. She turned her face in my direction and I noticed her cheeky smile. My heartbeat accelerated when I recognized her beautiful face; she is one of the models who work in the campaigns of the Anderson conglomerate, of which Jacob is CEO.   I held on tightly to the phone in my hand, and I left the room. When my back was turned to them, I wiped my tears and decided to hold them back until I was far from there. There was nothing to say, our marriage is over.   “Mia, stop.” Jacob screamed. I heard his footsteps approaching, and he grabbed my arm forcefully, making me halt my movement. My heart was beating wildly as I turned to face him. I noticed that he had covered his nakedness with a dark blue robe, and his eyes reflected anger just like mine, although mine anger was greater because I was disappointed in him, as well as in myself, for being the only one who did not realize what had been happening. Now everything was clearer, his indifference the last few months, we stopped being intimate, apart from that night when he was passionate. But, after I realized that he was drunk, he turned his back on me in bed and fell asleep. I felt like stupid in his arms that night, a shiver ran through my body when I thought about him leaving his lover’s bed to come be with me.   “Did you record us?” Jacob asked with his deep voice, making me return to the present. He pressed the phone and I saw the blonde leave the room, the same room I shared with the man who was in front of me without showing any remorse. The woman looked at me, her expression indicating how pleased she was with what was happening.   “Of course, she did.” the woman said, and reached out to snatch the phone from me. But I held it out of her reach when I took two steps back and hid the phone behind my back.   “Mia, this doesn't have to end this way.” Jacob spoke with a calmness that surprised me, unlike his lover who looked tense, because she knew that, if this video came to light, everyone would know she was his mistress.   "Why not?" I shouted out of tune, approaching him and hurt to see that our marriage meant nothing to him, otherwise he wouldn't be so calm.   "You caused it," I pointed my finger at him, "you have been unfaithful to me, with this one, and I don't know how many others!" He appeared offended by my words.   "You're wrong, dear, it was just me," she said confidently, and holding Jacob by the shoulder.   “Ha ha ha ha ha.” I let out a bitter laughter. "Look at her," I pointed at her, up and down with my hand.   “Your audacity has no limits; you are here in front of his wife and your lover, and you do not show the slightest regret or shame.” I blurted out with fury in my eyes, trying to hide the pain I was experiencing.   "Mia, enough!" Jacob yelled. “This was going to end sooner than later. I stopped loving you, I don't love you anymore, and she gave me what you didn't. Now just give me that phone.” He demanded.   I felt my chest twist at his words, but my face remained straight.   “Damn i***t!” I pushed him, “Why the hell didn't you tell me and I would have given you a divorce, coward, and are you so concerned about this woman's image?” I said to him. He looked confused for a moment, he looked at her, and looked at me. That's the only thing he cares about, or so I thought.   "Give me the f*****g phone." The woman lunged at me and started pulling on my hand to snatch the phone from me, and although she didn’t succeed, I lost my balance and fell down the stairs until I reached the last step. All my bones ached as they collided with the hard marble. Then I saw his vile smile and the cold expression in his eyes, before my eyes closed on their own.