Divorce By All Means

Chapter 3: Dr Diamond hands

Ashley's POV

Five years ago, I stood at the pinnacle of neurosurgeons in the country working at Pure health hospital, several other hospitals tried to buy me over I was renowned as the surgeon with 'diamond' hands attempting the most risky procedures with an almost non-existent mortality rate for my patients.

To say I loved my job was an understatement, but after working impossible hours I would work into an empty house the void of laughter or life.

I was an amazing neurosurgeon, but my love life was in the dumps. Most men got intimidated by me especially after finding out that I earned in six figures, with each man that worked out of my life they seem to live a c***k on my walls.

When I caught my last boyfriend moments away from thrusting himself into one of the resident doctors in my own office I'd given up on romance altogether.

Then I met Oliver Gale.

His company, Gale Pharmaticals started supplying drugs to our hospital and even giving out scholarships. Our paths crossed often and before I knew it, eventful encounters turned into fully planned pristine dates in rooftop restaurants and drinking cocktails in exclusive bars.

I met his daughter Alice on the third date, she was shy at first but quickly opened up to me before I could blink Oliver asked the big question and all I could do was say yes, screaming it for the world to hear.

After the wedding, Several times I got calls from the hospital, begging me to come out of retirement stating that there was another patient(s) that needed my expertise and the doctors at hand were not capable of handling it.

Each time I went to Oliver, explaining everything.

"Was the hospital just piling up dead bodies before you graduated from medical school?" He'd say, "it won't stop at this surgery they will definitely need you for another one, and you know that you work in possible hours... That's not even good for your health either but if your family means nothing to you and spending time with us is pointless then go right ahead,"

He'd some variation of those words and my resolve came crumbling down.

Now I could see that I had been manipulated

I spaced out for a moment as I reminence the long lost happy moment for which had now become my greatest mistake.

"Can you stop being so overdramatic?" He sneered at me and nearly grabbed my neck.

"I hope you're not going to be like this when we get divorced,"

My heart sank, "Divorced?!" I repeated after him, stunned.

The word felt like a death threat to me, I came from a field marriage and always promised myself that I would never be like my parents... having a happily ever after enviable by others.

"Don't play dumb, didn't you use to brag about being the best neurosurgeon in the country? You can understand something as simple as divorce," with his hand supported on his chin he yapped on.

"I only married you so that you could raise my pumpkin into a woman, not that you were even much help there but I think I've put up with you for long enough... When I come back we will begin the divorce proceedings,"

He went up the stairs to meet Alice while I remained on the floor trying to grasp how my life fell apart in one night.

I regained some of my composure and followed after him meeting him in the middle of the stairs and grabbing his arm he was forced to look at me with a scowl on his face and he pulled away like my body was smeared with dirt.

"What's your problem now? Gosh you are being extra annoying tonight,"

My eyes widened, he was really letting go of all pretenses, wasn't he?

"How do you plan to tell Alice about our divorce?" He tilted his head and grabbed the railing then with a shrug he said; "Doesn't matter, she won't even notice that you are gone with how much fun just two of us will have,"

That was my last straw, I closed the distance between the two of us and slapped him hard across the face.

"B*sterd!" I hissed out through my pain, "Is that all you can say to me after you made me throw away my entire life?"

The tears were coming down generously, and I had no intention of holding them back anymore.

I just didn't have the strength to.

Out of the blue he grabbed my neck slammed me against the railing, pushing me backwards leaving half of my upper body hanging precariously, inches away before I would plummet to a fall.

"Listen very carefully, you crazy b****" he said with a voice that hit like circles. "I've put up with you for long enough, when I come back you are going to quietly sign the divorce papers and take whatever settlement I give to you quietly then you are never to show your face in front of me or my daughter ever again, am I clear?

My throat was choked up, and the tear drops were not falling from the side of my face to the ground... Would he really push me if I refused, forgetting my fall he might even suffocate me before that.

I nodded and coughed out an agreement before he finally released me and I fell to my knees sucking in deep breaths.

He kept going up the stairs not even regarding me at all, as though he had just stumbled into a piece of furniture he couldn't care less about.

My heart was pounding, and the fresh bruises on my neck stung bad.