Run Away From Him

Everyone in the Capital City knows Calvin Luke is a notorious playboy, and I, Wendy Scott, have been his longest-kept lover. It was only after giving birth to our daughter, Nina, that I realized this 'long tenure' was never any form of special treatment. That day, Calvin Luke brought friends to our home; the living room was thick with the scent of red wine. A man in a suit asked Calvin Luke, "Now that Wendy has given birth, when will you bring her back to the Luke family?" I unconsciously tightened my grip on Nina's hand, my heart brimming with hope. Calvin Luke sneered and told his friends that they didn't need to worry about me; he wouldn't be bringing me back to the Luke family. He said I'd only given birth to a cheap girl, someone who couldn't uphold the Luke family's reputation; bringing her back would be pointless. The man who asked the question gave me an apologetic smile; I forced a smile back, pretending not to hear their conversation. My fingertips brushed over Nina's soft cheek, and her eyelashes fluttered gently. I've never been one to deceive myself. Now that it's all out in the open, the matter of leaving him should be put on the agenda. I said, "I'll take the child back to the room first." I lifted Nina, who was still premature, trying to escape the noise in the living room. Before my feet even touched the stairs, Calvin Luke had already stood up. He straightened his suit jacket, his tone as casual as if he were talking about what to have for dinner. Calvin Luke said to me, "You rest at home. We're going out for issues at Joy Club." Everyone else exchanged awkward glances; I understood their discomfort—Calvin Luke was far too open about his promiscuity. Joy Club is a well-known venue in the Capital City, filled with the love debts Calvin Luke has accumulated. But I had long since gotten used to him like this, even personally opening the door to see them out. The moment the door closed, the warm light in the room seemed to grow cold; only Nina's and my breathing remained. Actually, from the moment I became pregnant, Calvin Luke had already laid out his feelings to me. That day, he sat on the sofa with a cigarette between his fingers, speaking so plainly it was as if he were talking about the weather. He said that for the sake of the child's safe birth, he wouldn't touch me during this time, but his needs still had to be met. He also said he wouldn't bring anyone else home. At that time, I still wanted to stay by his side, even if it meant holding only the hollow title of 'lover.' So I silently consented to his ways, to his nights away, and to the rumors spread about me. The nanny left after dinner. I sat on the carpet, using a rattle to play with Nina. Nina still couldn't hold things steadily; she just shook her head following the rattle, looking very adorable. I said to Nina, "It's just the two of us again tonight." No sooner had I finished speaking than I heard the sound of a key turning in the door. I thought the nanny might have dropped something, so I got up to check. When I reached the door, I saw Calvin Luke pressed in a heated kiss against a woman wearing a slip dress in the entryway. The woman had light brown long hair and a delicate profile—the type Calvin Luke liked. My footsteps froze, and I gripped the door handle so tightly my knuckles turned white. So this was what he meant earlier by 'not bringing anyone home.' I closed my eyes and retreated back into the room, locking the door behind me. I had long known his ways, but seeing it with my own eyes still made my heart ache. I leaned against the door to catch my breath; just as tears were about to fall, the door suddenly shook. Calvin Luke's voice, heavy with alcohol and fury, cut through the air like ice as he shouted, "Wendy Scott! Hiding in your room when I come back—what do you mean by that?" His roar made me shudder, and Nina immediately began to cry, her small throat rough from sobbing. I didn't dare open the door. Holding Nina, I gently patted her back, whispering, "Don't be afraid, Mommy's here." The next moment, the door was kicked open, and the stench of alcohol mixed with a woman's perfume hit me in the face. Calvin Luke stared at me, his eyes dark as he asked, "What’s wrong with you?" He added, "I'm not blaming you for not giving birth to a son. Now I just found someone to keep me company, and you're mad?"