Chapter4
1230 Words
APRIL'S POV
Before I could react, my best friend, Betty rushed into the room and wrapped her hands around me in a warm embrace. She held me so tight as if afraid I'd develop wings and fly away. To say I was surprised to see her show up at my hospital door would be an understatement.
“Oh my baby, I'm so sorry for what you had to pass through!”
“Wh- when did you come back?” I whispered, not knowing how else to respond to her statement.
Betty has always been my friend. We had met at a convenience store and ever since, we've clicked. She was the kindest, cutest soul with the face of an angel.
“I came as soon as I heard the news. My job in Canada can wait. You're more important,” She murmured, patting my hair.
“How dare that bastard hurt you after everything?!” She gritted, disengaging from the embrace. Then she grabbed my hands and squeezed them so hard that I feared my tears would drop again.
I sighed. I didn't know how to start talking about my failed marriage. It was not something to be proud of and to be honest, I wished she wasn't here to see me this…weak.
“I'm really sorry, baby girl. When I heard the rumors of your divorce, I came back immediately, hoping the news wasn't true. The nerves of him to get married to that b***h a few days after…!”
Biting my lips to keep the tears from falling, I grabbed the glass of water by my side and pretended to drink, contemplating whether I should discuss my marriage issues with her or not.
“You can always talk to me, April. Don't bottle everything inside,” She said, sensing my hesitation.
“All I ever did was love him,” I croaked, my voice low and bitter. “All I ever did was shower him with attention and dedication, but I was such a big fool,”
Betty embraced me again. “You're strong, my love and I trust you'll get through this. You're the strongest and smartest woman I've ever known,” She pulled me back. “I wish you could see yourself through my eyes, then you’d realize how silly it is that a guy like Lucien affects you so much. He isn’t worth a second thought.”
I nod, willing myself to believe her, to snap out of the hold the past has over me. She’s right, of course. Lucien shouldn’t have so much power over me. Not anymore.
With her thumb, Betty flicked away my tears so tenderly while staring into my eyes. “I believe in you, sweetheart. Now enough of that asshole and let's focus on planning your life after divorce. You'll accept the divorce settlement, right?”
I nodded yes. “I have to resume working too, but I don't know where to start. It's been ten months since I sacrificed my job to be the perfect wife for Lucien and it still feels strange,”
If I knew my marriage would end up like this, I wouldn't have listened to Lucien to end my career. Regret consumed me, but I quickly banished it from my thoughts.
“You can always return from where you left off. With your top-notch skills as a fashionista, it wouldn't be impossible to get back on track,” She advised with a kind smile.
I took a deep breath. “I don't think I want to remain and work here in Germany. I can't risk running into Ryan and that woman,”
Betty thought for a while, then her eyes sparked up in a beautiful smile. “I know someone in Texas that can give you a job in her company. That’s a good start,”
My heart made this fluttering sound. “And who's this person?”
“Her name is Mrs Williams and she owns one of the most successful fashion brands in Texas,” She winked. “I can slip in a recommendation letter about you. She won't hesitate to accept you into her team once she hears from me,”
My heart warmed at her words. “Aww, this is so sweet of you. I'd appreciate the recommendation. Thank you so much, Betty,”
The thought of rebuilding my life in Texas, away from my past filled me with so much joy that could only be imagined.
********
Two weeks after my divorce with Lucien was finalized, I was given six million dollars and the key to a fully furnished apartment in Germany as alimony. It was a pretty fair deal to me, and so I accepted the offer.
While Lucien viewed the whole alimony stuff as compensation, I saw it as an investment in my future children. If I was going to raise my kids alone, I had to gather everything I could, didn't matter what anyone said or thought.
After the document was ready and signed, I stood up from the lawyer's office ready to leave the country as my flight was due in thirty minutes. The elevator dinged as it opened and I stepped into it with a sigh of relief.
The doors were about to close when Lucien stopped them from outside and stepped in with a smug grin. The action looked so cringe that my sense of relief flew out of the window. I accessed him for a second before choosing to ignore him. He was more or less a stranger to me now.
“You owe me a thank you for turning you into a rich woman overnight. Don't you think?” Lucien smiled, slipping his hands inside his pocket.
His words irked me and I looked up, gazing at him with a frown. “Rich? Is it all about money to you? All of a sudden I'm supposed to forget about the pain you caused me because of money?”
“Are you that pained?” He chuckled, increasing my urge to slap off that look from his face. “Trust me, this marriage was nothing either of us wanted–”
“Not what you wanted,” I cut him off with a wave of the hand. The elevator dinged, signaling its arrival to the last floor. “We don't owe each other anything. Our business is over, so I'd appreciate it if you stop making efforts to remind me of our mistakes,”
Brushing past him, I walked away to my waiting car. Men like Lucien fed on weakness and showing him how hurt I felt would only give him leverage over me.
As I was about to start the car, my eyes caught Lena walking into the building looking as usual like a model. Although I tried to stop myself, I couldn't help but follow her movements. And that was when I saw her running into Lucien's embrace like an excited child being offered candy.
Right before my eyes, she peppered his face with kisses like newlyweds. I thought I was strong, but the sight of the two of them kissing pierced through me and I swallowed hard before averting my gaze to drive off.
In a few minutes, I'd be out of the country where I wouldn't have to deal with seeing their smudged faces forever.
Maybe.
Or maybe not.
- Writer
