SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth

CHAPTER SIX

Flora's POV 

I stood still, shocked and paralyzed. I couldn't even face everyone present there, unsure of how to explain the unthinkable. I didn't have any external relationship with any other man. I was so confused and baffled, surely everyone must also be confused as I am 

"What's the meaning of this FLORA!!!!" Stanley loud voice cut through the deafening silence 

I tilted my head up a little bit staring at the furious look on Stanley, tears already wailed up at the side of my eyes

"I… I don't know, am as confused as everyone here is" I stammered with a low voice laced with worries 

Before anyone could say a word, I felt the hard grip of Stanley on my left hand as he dragged me upstairs leaving everyone behind. We got to our room and he slammed the door shut 

"Start talking" he shouted 

I crumbled to my knees my heads bowed, completely confused and shocked 

"I… I don't know what to say babe, I never had any other relationship with any other man aside you" 

"This must be a mistake. I'm as confused as you are, probably the DNA test result isn't correct" I sniffled trying to defend myself 

"Alright Flora, the test will be reconducted but if the result comes out to still be the same, I will make sure you regret ever meeting me" he said, his voice unyielding and immediately he picked up one of his car keys and drove out of the mansion 

This has to be the first time I would see Stanley reacting this way. 

In shame and tears, I went back downstairs, Micheal and the Doctor weren't there any longer. I could hear silent murmurs from my mother-in-law and Chloe, my husband's junior sister. 

Without saying a single word, I picked up baby Aurora where she slept and was on my way back to the room. 

As I climbed the stairs slowly, I heard Chloe's voice pierce the air "Who is the real father of that child, bitch!" 

"Keep quiet Chloe, your brother already said the test will be conducted again. By that time we would know if truly she's a bitch or not" my mother-in-law responded in a much louder and annoying tone 

Wondering if I was the one they were referring to but I didn't have the gut to turn around and reply them. Angrily, I walked very fast to my room, locked myself and finally surrendered to the tears already wailed up in my eyes 

This must be the beginning of my misery, I thought as I stared at baby Aurora still fast asleep

Few weeks after the whole incident, still torn apart by several accusations, the DNA test was conducted once more- this time in 2 different hospitals just to be sure there was no error and the result was accurate. Well, it turned out to still be the same, Stanley wasn't the father of my child neither was Micheal. This revelation left me shattered and a little piece of hope I had 

So this left me thinking, who is the father of my child?, was my baby swapped in the hospital? I was consumed by these questions and I couldn't shake the feeling that something is terribly wrong somewhere.

 I was trapped both physically and emotionally. I couldn't step out of the house due to the fact that words had started getting out and to avoid embarrassment for myself. 

My husband is quite influential and famous so there has been rumors here and there about the paternity of my child at various media outlets. They were several headlines and whispered conversations which were all centered around my broken family, speculating the identity of my baby's father. With shame and fear I had to stay indoor always with my baby. 

Even my baby, Aurora, could sense the tension around. While alone, her innocent gaze seemed to ask several questions I couldn't answer, the joy and happiness she once knew were all replaced with uncertainty and loneliness 

No one seems to care about me any longer, even my husband that understands me before has changed in a manner that I couldn't fathom out myself. He barely sleeps at home, and when he did, he was distant, silent and cold. He doesn't show any concern about baby Aurora well being. The man I had loved, cherished, the father I had hoped my child would know and grow up to love now seemed like a stranger to us. 

 And then there was my mother-in-law and Chloe. They refused to leave the house after the incident and became an oppressor to me and a constant reminder of my shame.

I had no ally, no one seemed to care about me, my well being or my baby's well being. I became a ghost in my own home, isolated and pressured by the weight of accusations from the people who once loved me and were supposed to love me

I heard the voice of baby Aurora crying from where she was seated with her support and immediately snapped out of my trance in the kitchen. Apparently I have to make my food myself, my mother-in-law had instructed all the maids not to cook my food and I dare not eat from the food that's been cooked for the rest of the family 

I persuaded my baby to stop crying and gave her one of her toys to keep her occupied but I was really struggling to prepare dinner. 

Overwhelmed with all the stress that I couldn't handle all alone, I turned to my mother-in-law, who was sitting at the kitchen table unbothered about how I was struggling. She must have realized that I was lost in my little thoughts, but still, there she sat, unmoved. 

"Mother, could you please assist me for a minute" I asked, with my voice light, friendly and composed "I'm having trouble managing everything here" 

Instead of her to offer assistance, she looked at me coldly, her eyes unwavering " You should have thought of that before you had a child" she said her tone as sharp as a ice "You are the one who chose to bring another man's child into my family. Now you need to deal with the consequences" 

Her words cut deep into my soul, rendering me speechless. How can this woman think of me this way? How could she be so heartless? I thought with an heavy heart and I could literally burst into tears any minute but I held them back. There's no point trying to prove my innocence, everyone sees me as a cheat and well how can I defend myself and explain how I am with a child who doesn't have any gene of his father 

As if that wasn't enough, she continued "If you want to continue your stay in this house, then you will have to learn how to manage all by yourself. Am not here to babysit another man's child" 

I felt a wave of frustration and despair all over me. I was already struggling to cope with the demands of motherhood all by myself, now this?, this has to be the worst of it all, it felt like the final blow to my already exhausted life 

Baby Aurora cries grew louder even with all effort to keep her voice down, I felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. I took a deep breath, tried to compose myself because there's no one to help and clearly I was truly on my own

Without a second thought and a sense of urgency, I left all I was doing, picked up baby Aurora and head straight for my room. My child's well being is my greatest priority right now, no matter what people think of me or about my baby Aurora, she's still my child and Stanley her father at least, I thought. 

I got to my room and pushed it opened gently and shockingly I saw someone I had not expected standing right in the middle of my room, and for a moment, I was frozen in stunned silence.