3 3. Valeria, Wanna Know A Secret?

Valeria waited only for thirty minutes as her sister had said, and soon the drip had been completed. She then settled the bills with the credit card her husband had given her, and rushed home.

Mylene was surprised to see her home earlier than expected. "I thought you would stay for one more drip?"

"That one is enough." Valeria said, "besides, James will be home soon. I need to make dinner."

"Mummy!" Jose cried out as he saw his mother.

Valeria hugged him and carried him. "What of your sister?"

"She's in her room. How is it that she has grown more rude and spoilt?" Mylene couldn't help but ask. She wondered if she would ever have kids. They were nice, but once they started to grow up however...

"She'll be fine. She's just going through a phase." Valeria said.

"A phase? That's nonsense! You should treat her bad habits whenever she misbehaves--"

"You've tried for me, sister. You should be going home now." Valeria said as a matter-of-factly.

Valeria had not meant to be rude, but she didn't like it when people tried to butt in her life and tell her how to raise her family. Even if it was her sister.

Besides, she was still irritated and now trusted no one. For all she knew, Mylene could even be the mystery messager. Her sister never liked her husband anyway.

They both said their goodbyes and though she wasn't really feeling better yet, Valeria went straight to the kitchen to cook. Mylene had warmed her to come back for the second day medication but Valeria was beginning to doubt if she would go.

***

It wasn't until late 11pm before James came back, waking Valeria from the couch in the living room. She jumped up to the loud tap on her butt.

"Wake up, wifey!"

James only called her wifey whenever he was angry, making Valeria wonder what she'd done.

Before James could continue, she picked the scent of a new perfume. James never liked lavender and she knew that much because Valeria loved lavender. She soon gave up on the products containing that scent for the sake of peace at home.

And yet, he was fully drenched in this fragrance.

"I smell lavender on you. Did you go to a fragrance store?"

James frowned. The light had been left on so Valeria could see that he was somewhat panicking, as if thinking of a lie.

"James? Are you okay?"

"Walk into a fragrance store, why would I do that! A friend asked me to try out his new perfume."

"But you hate lavender." Valeria couldn't help but remind him.

"Well I'm starting to like it back then. That's not even important! There's so many reason why I'm upset with you right now."

"Alright then, but the kids are fast asleep. Let's talk about this upstairs,"

"No!" Flared James.

Valeria wasn't liking his attitude. "No? What could I have possibly done?"

"Because of you, I missed an important document! Why didn't you call me to tell me I forgot it, huh!"

"Because you told me not to call you. I'm sorry, but I didn't know the file was important--"

"Lies! My sister already said it from the start, and my mother too. You don't want my success. I called you in the afternoon, where were you?" James lied. He hadn't called her, but he knew when his sister had told him she hadn't been at home when she came to drop his kids.

Valeria was confused now. "You called me? But my phone was with me all through."

"Lies! You're seeing another man, aren't you huh!"

"James, stop it. Your voice is growing louder! Plus, why would you and your family say I don't wish for your success. That's nonsense talk!"

"Your husband is spewing nonsense talk, right! How dare you!"

"James, stop it!"

"Do you want us to divorce, huh? If you think you can leave me and take my kids and property from me, you're wrong. You'll wither and suffer all alone."

Tears filled Valeria eyes. "I hate the hurtful words you say, James! Please, just stop it already..." she couldn't help the tears that were falling down her eyes now. Her heart ached. "I've not been fine and I had to go to the hospital! To treat myself."

"That's why I received an alert on the credit card, huh! You don't even know how to manage money anymore. Do you know how hard it is to make money now?"

"James? What is going on with you?" Valeria couldn't help but question the man standing in front of her. He was so arrogant!

"I'll be going upstairs now. Keep your rubbish food to yourself!" He slacked the tie around his neck, forcefully trying to loosen it. Then he stormed off, leaving Valeria to wonder what she had done wrong.

***

Valeria didn't go upstairs to meet her husband, instead she remained on the sofa, angry about why he'd come home to transfer aggression on her.

How dare her husband family to think like that and try to poison her husband's mind! "I'm a good wife, Desiree, you know that! I care for your brother more than even you do. Why do you and mother just hate me!"

When James had nothing, Valeria was the one who supported them all. Including his own family! Desiree and her mother along with James and one of his other brother who was now in the states, they all lived under Valeria's roof while she managed her father's company. It was because of too much debt that her father's business collapsed.

She spent everything she had on them all. Luckily for James, just around the time Jose was three, he received a job and started working. Valeria then decided to stay home and cater for the family, besides her husband had said she was too pretty that she attracted too many men from outside.

So she stopped work.

Now, they'd all forgotten how she supported her husband and wanted nothing but the best for him!

She was furious so she decided to cheer herself up with a little YouTube funny videos. That was when a WhatsApp message popped up.

_hello again, it's me your mystery friend. And I have proof of your husband cheating on you. His girlfriend loves lavender so much so when they smooch and kiss at work, James comes home with a lavender scented shirt!

You've really been slacking, Valeria. Wanna know who his girlfriend is?_