THE PRICE OF HER TEARS:7
1207 Words
Episode 7: The Fight Begins
Florence barely slept that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, Gilbert’s voice returned like a wound that refused to heal.
“I’ll make sure you regret this.”
The words replayed in her mind over and over, sharp and cold, until she could no longer tell whether the fear in her chest came from the threat itself or from the painful truth behind it. Gilbert was no longer pretending. The man she had defended, forgiven, and covered for was now ready to fight her openly.
She sat beside Divine’s bed, gently stroking his hair as he slept peacefully, his small chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. He looked so innocent, so untouched by the storm gathering around him. Angela and Tracy slept on the other side of the room, curled together in exhaustion after the frightening events of the day. The house was quiet, but Florence’s heart was not.
Her phone lay on the table beside her. She picked it up again and reread the anonymous message that had arrived earlier.
“Gilbert has already contacted a lawyer. He’s preparing to fight for custody of Divine.”
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
Who was sending these messages?
How did they know so much about Gilbert’s movements?
Was it someone close to him? Someone who had seen the truth and decided to help her from the shadows?
Florence wanted answers, but deep down she knew that the most urgent thing was not discovering the sender. It was protecting her children. That thought gave her strength. Even when her body felt weak, her spirit refused to surrender.
As dawn slowly broke through the curtains, Florence quietly rose from the bed and knelt beside the sofa. The first light of morning touched her face, but it did not erase the heaviness in her heart. She folded her hands and bowed her head.
“Heavenly Father,” she prayed softly, tears slipping down her cheeks, “I have carried this family for years. I have endured pain, humiliation, and disappointment, but I cannot lose my children. Please give me wisdom, courage, and strength to fight this battle. If I am standing alone, stand with me. If I am afraid, remind me that You are greater than my fear.”
The prayer did not remove the problem, but it steadied her soul.
After praying, she went to the kitchen and prepared breakfast with the little food left in the house. There was not much, but she made it stretch as best she could. Soon the children gathered around the small table in silence. Even the youngest seemed to sense that something serious had changed in their home.
Angela looked up at her mother with worried eyes.
“Mummy… is Daddy coming back?”
Florence paused, holding a plate in her hand. She wanted to give her daughter a simple answer, something easy and comforting, but the truth was more complicated than that.
“I don’t know, my dear,” she said gently.
Angela’s lips trembled. “Will he take Divine away?”
Florence reached across the table and held her daughter’s hand firmly.
“No one is taking your brother away. I promise.”
Her voice was calm, but inside, fear still lingered. She knew promises were easy to make and hard to keep when powerful people began to move against you. Still, she refused to let her children see her break.
Just then, someone knocked on the front door.
Three slow knocks.
Florence frowned. It was still early, and visitors at that hour usually brought trouble or bad news. She wiped her hands on her wrapper and walked to the door with caution. When she opened it, she found Mama Grace standing outside with a basket filled with bread, eggs, and fresh fruit.
“I knew you and the children wouldn’t have much to eat after yesterday,” the elderly woman said kindly.
Florence’s eyes filled with tears.
“Mama Grace… you didn’t have to do this.”
The older woman smiled warmly and lifted the basket slightly.
“Sometimes God answers prayers through people.”
Those words touched Florence deeply. She stepped forward and embraced her tightly.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
As the children happily carried the food inside, Mama Grace lowered her voice and glanced toward the room where Divine was sleeping.
“I have something important to tell you.”
Florence’s smile faded immediately.
“What is it?”
“I saw Gilbert very early this morning.”
Florence’s heart skipped.
“He wasn’t alone.”
Mama Grace looked around carefully to make sure the children could not hear.
“He was outside the magistrate court with a lawyer. They were carrying documents.”
Florence felt the ground beneath her feet disappear.
“So… it’s true.”
Mama Grace nodded sadly.
“I think he’s serious about taking Divine.”
For a moment, Florence said nothing. The pain was too deep for words. Tears gathered in her eyes, but this time she refused to let them fall. She had cried enough. She had begged enough. She had suffered in silence long enough.
If Gilbert wanted a fight, then she would no longer remain silent.
She walked into her bedroom and opened the drawer where she had hidden the brown envelope Cynthia had given her. Her hands trembled slightly as she removed the contents and spread them across the bed. There were photographs, hotel receipts, bank transfers, and copies of conversations that proved Gilbert had been living a double life. Each document was a piece of the truth she had once been too afraid to face.
She stared at the evidence for a long time.
For years, she had protected Gilbert’s reputation, believing that one day he would change. She had swallowed shame, ignored warning signs, and carried the burden of his secrets as though they were her own. But now she understood something painful and freeing at the same time.
Silence had only made him bolder.
Her phone suddenly rang.
The caller ID displayed an unfamiliar number.
Florence hesitated before answering.
“Hello?”
“Good morning,” a calm male voice said. “Am I speaking with Mrs. Florence Gilbert?”
“Yes… who is this?”
“My name is Barrister Daniel Joe.”
Florence’s heartbeat quickened.
“I’m calling because someone asked me to represent you.”
She frowned, gripping the phone tighter.
“Represent me? Who?”
“I’m afraid I can’t reveal my client’s identity yet. But I believe your husband has already started legal proceedings concerning your son.”
Florence’s knees weakened.
“How do you know that?”
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.
“Because I have seen the documents.”
Florence closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady her breathing. For the first time since her marriage began to fall apart, she realized she might not have to face this battle alone.
But one question refused to leave her mind.
Who was secretly helping her… and why?
And if you want to know how Florence will respond when the truth begins to unfold, keep reading. Her fight has only just begun.
- Writer
