Emmie smiled and attempted to kiss Mark, but, he pushed her away gently. She staggered backwards and held a wooden stool near her, since the heels were about to fail. Her luck was that the flower vase on it didn't lose its balance as well.
“Baby, that's harsh!” Emmie frowned too. She was trying to trick Mark but, it wasn't working as her husband wasn't buying any act.
“Emmie, where the hell are you coming from? Did you not check the time? A married woman at that? What's your problem?” Mark blast questions upon questions. Though he tried to talk calmly, but her tricky actions were so provoking.
“Stop shouting at me, for crying out loud. I'm not a kid, you know? Why are you acting so unreasonable?” She tried defending herself. Noticing Mark's silence, she decided to continue.
“I went out with my friend, Vanessa.” She lied and Mark raised his right brow at her.
“Oh really? Eunice and I called her, but she claimed not to know of your whereabouts. And later said, you left her earlier.” Mark said, making Emmie bite her lower lip.
They had gotten married after being sweethearts in their high school, but not up to the university stage. Mark heard she won't get over him and for that, his parents forced him into marrying Emmie because both parents were friends.
“That means you called her after I left?” Emmie asked, but something in her told her that Mark wasn't convinced by her reply or was going to believe anything she said, “You don't trust your wife? You don't trust me.”
“If that's so, you should have been home like five hours ago.” Mark quarrelled, folding his hand.
“Ermmm… Why that look? I'm not lying. After I left Vanessa's apartment, I went straight to my parents' house. Wanted to check mum. You know she's not…" Mark sudden laughter made Vanessa stop.
“Ha ha ha ha… What a nice one! “ Mark stated, and that made Emmie shiver.
“Why the laughter? You still don't believe me, right? Why don't you call my parents?” She asked, trying to act like she's about to cry. She knew Mark wouldn't agree to call her parents at that ungodly time of the night but, suddenly stopped when she heard Mark's response.
“Your dad called some minutes ago. He said I should give the phone over to you that, he too has been trying to reach you. I had to lie that you had fallen asleep. He also said your mum was asking after you.” Mark's words shocked the life out of Emmie.
She swallowed heard, and her eyes cleared, and she avoided eyes contact with him. No words to say, and it was obvious she was telling a lie.
This made Mark so stormy. He grabbed her closer and forced her face up.
“What do you take me for, Emmie?” He finally called her by her name. She wasn't his woman anymore. Something was wrong. She might be cheating.
Emmie wasn't always like that. She was so sweet and supportive. She would cook before he got home and also, stay up to welcome him after work. Not only that, but she was the best wife material for him then.
She gave birth to Eunice and everything fell in place. She was a bit disappointed since she wanted a male child. A male child who would take over the company someday. She knew giving Mark an heir will make him the happiest man.
Sadly, since Eunice's birth, Emmie has been having miscarriages. In twelve years, she had eight miscarriages. And finally, their family doctor quarrelled that, Emmie shouldn't attempt getting pregnant again. It would lead to the worst, since her body wasn't strong to carry a child again.
Mark, since then, has been trying to make her happy, but things weren't like that anymore. Emmie started having short tempers and would always make Eunice feel like a cursed child.
And just like that, she turned bad. So bad and scary. A sudden drinking habit too. Though she was good at drinking during their youthful days, but Mark thought that she changed. It was so alarming that, unknown to her, Mark set a spy to keep an eye on her.
A few weeks after getting to investigate things privately, pictures of his wife dancing and partying in clubs were sent to him.
He was so scared that their rivals might find out and take pictures as well, so, he became alert.
And that's why he has been trying to talk sense into her head. But, Emmie won't stop and always returned home oiled. Even her parents were not aware of her new change of character.
Mark felt it was the ability of not getting another child or an heir to their company that was hurting her, so, one night, he woke her up. He tried talking her into adoption, and immediately she heard it, she turned wild and furious. It was as if he woke a sleeping tiger. She quarrelled so loudly and left the room with a pillow, bedsheet, and her phone. She went over to the visitor's room to sleep. Mark tried to go there and calm her down, but, she shut the door in his face.
And tonight, turned out to be one of those nights, she returned late. However, his spy thought him about her suspicious activity with a man. He would rather not take it to heart in as much as, he got so hurt by it. And there she was, lying to his face about her outings. A married woman coming home by midnight.
Emmie pushed Mark aside, “Sure. You are not a fool. Stop touching me. Let go now! So, what if it's all a lie? I clubbed all night and now, all I need is a long shower and sleep. We shouldn't be arguing about this. I need time to think. And my head is banging.” She complained and turned to walk away when Mark angrily dragged her back.
“What the fuck, Mark?!” Emmie shouted at him as she tried not to lose balance again.
So pissed that her heels would fail, she instantly bent to remove the shoe. Mark, on the other hand, thought she was removing them for a defense weapon and so, he walked back a bit. She was drunk and would think of the impossible.
“Emmie, tell me where you are coming from this night?” He asked while being ready for anything.
Emmie let a sigh of relief as she finally removed both the heels and her bare feet were on the tiles.
At this point, she was fully ready. Ready for anything as well. She wasn't going to let him boss her around.
“You've not answered me yet.” He yelled with his face turning red like he was about to explode.
“Don't you dare raise your voice on me, Mark. So, I can't come home when I want because I'm married to you? You wanted me because of my family's wealth. Do you think I'm not aware? I also have a large share in your wealth too. The house is also mine, and I am entitled to come home whenever I want, and have the guts to trouble me? How dare you, Andrew? How dare you! Without me, what are you? Oh wait, let me say it. You are a nobody…. A nobody, that's what you are. So, me coming back home late should be none of your…" She was about to say her last statement when a tiny girlish voice was heard from behind.
They both recognized the voice as they turned.
“ Mummy, are you fighting with daddy?” Eunice asked from the staircase.