loving you was a mistake

The air was humid, heavy with an impending storm, but it wasn't the weather that weighed down Aurora's chest it was the silence sitting between her and Mark in the car.

They had just left Angel's place. She hadn't told Mark she was visiting her friend until the last minute. When he picked her up, she barely acknowledged him, only responding to his questions with vague nods and indifferent hums.

She stared out the window now, her expression unreadable, arms crossed tightly against her chest. Mark glanced at her briefly, trying to read something anything in her demeanor. "You okay?" he asked, his voice cautious.

"I'm fine," she replied stiffly. "You've been acting… strange lately," he continued, trying to keep his tone light. Aurora snorted. "Strange? Maybe I'm just tired."

"You've been tired a lot," Mark said. "You've barely eaten, you barely talk to me, and you seem to hate my presence these days."

She rolled her eyes and muttered, "Then maybe I need to be alone." Mark tightened his grip on the steering wheel, jaw clenched. He took a deep breath before speaking again. "We've been invited to Jeff and Daisy's baby shower. It's also Martin's birthday, so Leo and Alicia are throwing a joint celebration."

"I'm not going," she said sharply. "What?"

"I said I'm not going, Mark. Don't make me repeat myself. "But why?" His voice was firmer now, irritated. "Jeff is my cousin, and Leo is one of my closest friends. Alicia and Daisy are your friends too."

Aurora turned to him, eyes glossy with unshed tears. "Just stop it. Okay? Just stop. Why should I attend in the first place?"

"Because they're family—" No, Mark," she snapped. "I am not going to sit at a party full of glowing mothers and doting fathers while I smile through my pain like everything is fine. It's not fine. We've been married three years, Mark! Three! And I'm still without a child."

Mark's jaw flexed. "You think I don't know that? "I didn't know you loved me this little," she muttered, her voice cracking."Aurora what are you talking about?" She shook her head, tears now running freely down her face. "You don't care anymore. You pretend everything's fine, but you don't notice me crying in the shower or holding my stomach in the middle of the night and begging God to just give us one chance. You don't see me."

Mark slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a halt on the roadside. His convoy vehicles behind them stopped as well sleek black SUVs with tinted glass but none of the men inside moved. They were professionals. They didn't involve themselves in domestic disputes. Mark got out and slammed his door, walking briskly to the passenger side and yanking her door open. "Get out."

"What?" she gasped, stunned."I said get out."

She stepped out, confused and furious. "What the hell are you doing? "I can't believe you just said that to me," he barked. "You think I'm not hurting too? That it's not killing me every single month when the result is negative again? I've been holding it together for both of us. I've stayed strong so you wouldn't completely fall apart, and now you say I don't care?"

Aurora glared at him, voice shaking. "Well maybe you don't! Maybe you already have a child out there with another woman and that's why you're so calm about all of this!" Mark's face contorted with disbelief. "You think I would do that to you?"

"You've stopped caring, Mark. That's what I believe." Mark ran a hand over his face in frustration. "You think this is easy for me? Every day I deal with your mood swings, your temper, your silence. I've become a prisoner in my own home trying not to say the wrong thing, walking on eggshells just so you don't lash out. I'm tired, Aurora. I'm so tired."

"Then leave!" she screamed.

He looked at her, eyes hard. "Yeah? I've considered it." Her eyes widened, breath catching. "You… what? "You've been so unbearable lately," he growled. "And I'm too young to be tied to a woman who can't even give me an heir." Her heart shattered. "An heir. That's what this is about?"

He said nothing. "Then go. Divorce me. Marry someone who will give you your heir. I'm sure there are many lined up. "Get in the car," he muttered.

"No."

"Aurora, don't push me."

"I said no, Mark. I'm not going back to your mansion. I'm not going to play the good little wife who smiles at parties and acts like everything is fine." Mark took a deep breath, stepping closer. "Get. In. The. Car." She narrowed her eyes but turned and climbed into the passenger seat, slamming the door with a loud bang.

He followed, slamming his own door with just as much force. The convoys quietly resumed their positions and followed as Mark sped off, both of them stewing in an eerie, aching silence. But they both knew something had broken and whether it could be mended or not remained to be seen.