Sitting in my office while i was sketching a fairy tale themed fashion line. My husband was still working in his father’s company. Which was weird since he swore to cut him off. Didn’t think much of it.

‘Honey we need to talk.’ was displayed on my phone. A text message from my husband. My heart started pounding. That was not an intro to a good conversation. The whole day was a drag. I stopped sketching. The drive to my house was somewhat long and draining. I took longer than usual.

When i arrived home, i saw my husband sitting next to Thandekile holding hands.

“What is she doing here?” i asked slowly walking towards the lounge.

“Sit down” he said.

I sat down as requested. He cleared his throat and looked at Thandekile then at me.

“When we left my home. I sat down in my study while you prepared dinner. My father called me and told me Thandekile has already been introduced as my wife to our ancestors. Since then I’ve been financially supporting her as my wife. Now im moving her in with us. So we can grow as a family and you can get the baby you’ve been asking for through her” he said.

I was in a moment of shock. I couldn’t blink. For once i felt my soul leave my body. My mouth quickly got dry.

“What?” is the only thing that can come out of my mouth.

“We can work through this together as a couple… A throuple” my now insane husband excitedly added. I looked at Thandekile.

I sank into the single couch facing them.

“Are you insane?” i asked my husband thinking my ears are playing a trick with me as my eyes have already done so.

“No, she’ll take one of the spare rooms” he said. He then put his hand out so Thandekile can grab it and they stood up.

“I’ll be showing her her room whilst you cook” then they walked out. I sunk to my chair with my shoulders getting more and more heavier.

After about an hour or so, i was already done packing and was ready to walk out of this joke of a wedding. There was no way i will be in a marriage with a third person. I was in a point where i saw no need to fight for it cause he obviously gave in without a fight. He already chose her.

“What are you doing Veronica?” his deep voice made me jump out of my thoughts.

“What does it look like im doing to you?” i asked him looking at my phone as i just sent a text to Lizzy my best friend asking for a place to stay for the night. Plans of purchasing a house were on the to do list for tomorrow. Ready to let go of anything that included him was going through my mind.

“Honey, you know i love you right?”

“Well you sure do know how to show love. You financially supported another woman, your wife that you agreed to alone without discussing it with me your other wife. Then you have the nerve, the audacity to bring her to our home.”

“Remember who you are talking to Veronica, im not your playmate”

‘Playmate, that’s what i am to you but i can’t return the favour to you huh. Because you are a male, the alpha” i hissed. He slowly walked towards me. He grabbed my hand.

“I know what i did was wrong. I just couldn’t bare us losing all of this. Everything i worked for us. I promised you roses everyday and every jewellery a woman could want at a snap of a finger, But all of that needs money”

“But i told you i don’t want nor need your money. Your love is enough. Having you by my side is enough.” i said honestly.

“I met you without knowing you belong to the most influential families of South Africa. I was the girl meeting a normal guy and falling in love.” I said tearing up.

“If you love me then stay, give it a chance” he said begging me.

“Manqoba, i love you and i really do but now you’re putting me in a position where i cannot refuse nor decline because i love you and how i love you is greater than i have ever loved. So i am willing to give it a chance” i said. I grabbed my phone and told Lizzy i no longer needed the accommodation i requested from her.

“So dinner?” he asked. I looked at him in disbelief.

‘You brought in a third partner so you feed her” i said taking off my jewellery.

“But she’s a guest” he said sternly.

“No, she’s now one of the owners of our home. As far as i know she has no broken limbs” i said casually.

“Really Veronica you’re going to make the poor girl cook on her first night?” he asked folding his arms.

“We can always order.” i suggested.

‘You know i hate takeaways” he quickly added.

“Fine King Manqoba i will cook for your royal highness and his guest” i said grabbing my phone and headsets and headed to the kitchen to cook.

I gotten tempted to put too much hot chilli flakes or too much salt on the food and a laxative on his drink just to get my sweet revenge. I did some calm breathing to keep myself calm. Dinner that night was terrible. Manqoba and Thandekile were more than happy.

A couple of days later i started opening up to the idea of us being three people in the house. Thandekile wakes up and prepares for Manqoba then herself then heads to school all i did was cook and clean. I head to work and come back. Probably prepare sketched inspirations. I drowned myself with wine, movies and drawings. My husband frequently slept in Thandekile’s room more than mine. He even neglected our tradition of eating lunch at home. But i told myself it was probably they are still going through the honeymoon phase. But the more that happened the more i fell out of love. The more i just hated his scent and sight.

“Do you still love me?” i blurted out during dinner.

Manqoba choked and Thandekile looked down.

“I do love you” he said looking at me then at Thandekile. “I love you both”

“Then why haven’t you spent time with me ever since she’s came over? Why haven’t you had lunch at home?” i asked.

“Thandekile packs my lunch every day and she gets nightmares” he said.

“Everything Thandekile Thandekile I’m your wife too” i snapped.

“Uh this is a dinner table, inside voices please” my husband said seriously.

“Okay, What about me?” i asked putting my fork down.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble”,Thandekile finally spoke.

“No you do not have to apologize. You are my wife. I am allowed to be next to you 24/7” he said grabbing her hand. “That is not illegal Veronica.”

i sipped on my wine and stood up.

“I am sorry for ruining dinner with my insecurities”

i walked away. Inside my room were packed bags. I fell asleep that night with yet another heavy heart. The guy i fell in love with has fallen in love with someone else and that alone made my cry. Not because i was hurt by that, because i told my myself things to stay instead of walking away.

The following day i packed my bags in my car, bought a house closer to where i work, changed my number and disappeared. I took about two weeks before i sent divorce papers to Manqoba Khumalo. He sent an email protesting and telling me to go home and i ignored it too. I attended therapy, the loss of my babies was still in my head enabled me to move forward and the session were helping me find love. To love myself and the people around me. I spent more time with my friends and at work i stopped the fairytale sketches and i did a piece on self love, The colours were yellow and red. Yellow for he sunny side of things in life and red for love. The love i learnt for myself. I changed my wardrobe and went on solo dates. One mistake i made was uploading my pictures with my address on it.

I was sitting on my balcony sunbathing when i saw Manqoba’s car drove in my driveway. I walked down the stairs and i walked to the door and opened it. He stood outside the burglar.

“Aren’t you going to open the guard door?” he asked smirking.

“What do you want Manqoba?” i asked too.

“I want to talk to my wife” he responded.

‘Til you sign and mail our divorce papers there’s nothing we can talk about”

“Clearly you don’t know me. I will not sign those papers. I love you.” he said putting his hands in his pockets.

“No you don’t love me you love the idea of having me around. I went from being the love of your life to being a maid to you and your new found love.” i responded to him crossing my arms whilst he couldn’t believe the words that came out of my mouth.

‘No i love you.” he said sounding like he’s reassuring himself.

“No you don’t , if you loved me Thandekile wouldn’t be in my house. You wouldn’t have kept the secrets you kept from me and clearly you wouldn’t be here neither would i”

“But-”

“But Nothing Manqoba. I LOVE YOU. Very much that my heart aches for you but i love you enough to walk away when i can clearly see i am no longer the apple of your eyes. For the sake of my sanity. Let me walk away without any fights, I wish you the best with Thandekile” i say grabbing my door to close it. I felt a force preventing me from closing it. It was his hand

“Please my love, do not do this. You promised me that you will be mine forever.”

“And you promised to be mine alone.” i added. He ran his through his neat cut.

“So this is it?” he asked me with his eyes visibly holding back tears.

“Unfortunately yes. Goodbye Manqoba” i closed my door. Silently cried as i sank to the floor. I heard his car drive off then i screamed. Love hurts when you have to let go. But letting go was the only sane thing.