One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 50: She's not my mistress! ~~~There are nights when I can help but cry and I wonder why you have to leave me. Why did it have to end so soon when you said that you would never leave me? TELLWHERE DID I GO WRONG? WHAT DID I DO to make you CHANGE YOUR MIND COMPLETELY when I thought this love would never end? But if this love's not us to have, I'll let it go with your goodbye~~~ -Joey Alberts- "Mommy...?" Cali called me, but I was lost in thought at that moment.

I sighed for I don't know how many times since I woke this morning. It's Saturday today and Cali askedto teach her with her homework, but since I was also waiting for Luke, I told her that I will help her do it in the living room. "Mommy...?" She calledagain, but still, I didn't notice her calling me.

We never talked after that night, it was our last conversation so far as he always went to work at exactly 6:00 in the morning and returned hby 11:00 in the evening. "Sam?" This time, it was Rory who cin front of me.

"Sam?" "Huh?" I glanced at her, confused as I don't know how many times she's been calling my name.

"Your daughter is calling you but you seemed lost in your thought. Are you okay?" "Ahm... yes, of course." I nodded and turned to my daughter. "I'm sorry, baby, what is it again?" But instead of answering my question, she just stared atwith sadness and worry evident in her eyes. "Mommy, are you sick?" "No, baby, mommy isn't sick. Why do you ask?" I chuckled and cupped her cheek.

"Because I noticed that you're always sad lately." "Ahh... thank you for the worry, my princess, but mommy is fine." I smiled, kissing her on the forehead. "Letcheck your homework." She handedthe textbook and I checked if she answered the questionnaire correctly. But I was just taking a few minutes checking the book when the front door suddenly opened and the furious figure of Luke cin our sight. "Daddy!" "My princess." His expression changed instantly when Cali ran to him excitedly.

"Daddy, why are you so early today?" She asked him while I also glanced at the wall clock and saw that it's only 2:00 in the afternoon. He used to chlate every evening, so this is really surprising. "Uhm, it's just that daddy felt a little pain in his head... a slight headache, so I got hearly to rest.

I couldn't help raising an eyebrow. I don't know but I couldn't believe with his alibi. He isn't the one who will go hand left his work just because of a slight headache. I'm sure something had happened. "Do you wantto massage your head, daddy?" "Oh, I love that, baby, but thanks, daddy's gonna be okay after taking medicine." "Are you sure, daddy? Because mommy got sick too yesterday, but I only massaged her head and the pain went away." His head snapped atthe moment Cali mentioned my nand I don't know if his eyes were really devoid with emotions or he just masked it with his signature poker face. He smiled at her but not at me.

When Cali returned to her seat and Luke went straight to his study room, I told her that I'm just going to give her dad a medicine for headache and Rory will help her for a while.

I went to the kitchen to get stablet and a glass of water before going to his study room. Deep inside, I was also dying to know why he chearly today.

I knocked on his door twice before turning the doorknob and pushed the door to open. I found him sitting in his chair, with his elbows resting on the table while holding his head. "Take this, it will help." He glanced up atwhen I put the tablet and the glass of water in front of him.

"You don't have to do this." He said when he glanced at me.

"Just take it. I'm not asking nor expecting a 'thank you' from you." I mentally rolled my eyes as I watched him take the white tablet and bring the glass in his mouth. I've been living with him for more than four years and it's funny how I've already memorized which medicine would I give in all the mild illness he experiences. I've already memorized his favorite food, his favorite jacket, socks, necktie and almost everything in him in which I wonder if his new girlfriend knew.

"What happened and why did you go hso early?" "Can't you see I'm having a headache?" "Con, I know you, Luke Marcuz, you won't go hand left your work just because of a simple headache." "Tss!" He got mad so easily with what I said. "What else do you want to know, Samantha?" "Everything!" A sarcastic smile curled up against my lips. "What if I tell you that I want to know everything, Luke Marcuz?" "Are we going to start this conversation again?" He asked irritably.

"Yes, because we're not done yet!" "Haven't I already told you I don't love you? What else do you want---" "Yeah, I heard it and I still haven't forgotten what you said." His words invisibly stabbed my heart into pieces, but I had already decided that crying in front of him would do nothing to change his mind.

"I just want to give you back your card... 'sweetheart'. The card you gaveto cover up your immorality with your mistress---" "Stop it, Samantha!" He warned me, narrowing his eyes.

"Why? Does it hurt? Which of the words I that said hurt you? Your immorality or the word mistress?" "She's not my mistress!" I laughed... the kind of laugh that has a mixture of hurt and sarcasm.

"Then who is she? Because as far as I can remember, you are my husband, I am your wife and we're married. So, tellwho she is if you don't wantto call her your mistress! Is she your number two? Your slut or your whore?" "I said fucking it stop, Samantha!" I winced slightly when he shouted. He's clenching his jaws, his fists have been formed into a hardball and he's looking atas if I am his prey and that he's willing to attackat any moment.

"Why? Why would I stop? Just because you tell me?" I shook my head. "No, Luke, I'm not going to stop. I talked to you about this thing before, I warned you not to do anything that could break Cali's heart---" "Can you please stop using my daughter? Stop bringing her nin this issue because this is just between you and me!" "No! You're wrong! This is between me, you and your mistress! And I'm telling you, I won't just sit here and do nothing while you and your other woman doing sdirty stuff and reaching the second heaven!" At that moment, if ever looks could kill, for sure I was already buried six feet under the ground... well... the swith him as I glared back without even blinking.

"Just wait and see, sweetheart!" I uttered the last word full of bitterness.

I took the glass from his desk and was about to walk to the door when he grabbed my arm.

"What do you mean by just wait and see?"

"Let go of my arm, you dumbass!" I took my arm out of his grip with force. "Didn't you understand that simple phrase, Mr Wiliams? You O graduated with high honors from college, you are the current CEO of the top Advertising company in San Francisco, but you don't know what that simple phrase means? Unbelievable!" "I am seriously asking you, Samantha, so don't test my patience or else---"

"Or else what? You're gonna hit me?" I asked raising my chin to show him that I'm not scared of him. "Then do hands it Hit me! Showwhat your n N can do! The hands you used to pamper your ex-girlfriend who is now your mistress and the shands you will use to hit your wife and the mother of your child! Con, I dare you, Luke Marcuz Williams!" Tears started to form around my eyes as I stared at him, but I used all my strength to blink them away. I'm not going to cry again in front of him.

"Get out!" That's his only response before he turned around and went back to his desk.

"Oh... I guess you're afraid." I raised an eyebrow. "You're afraid of what your daughter migh tell you when you hit me... hmm... what more if she happened to know the truth." "Don't you dare do it, Samantha!" I didn't reply, I only gave him the sweetest smile I could muster.

"Just wait and see what I can do, sweetheart." "And do you think that with the things you're planning to do will change the way we are and will change my feelings for her and turn to you?" -'huh'-