Beyond The Pain

AWAKENED PAST

CHAPTER THREE - AWAKENED PAST

“Clio?!”

Williams' voice cracked as he rose from his chair, his gray eyes wide with shock.

Clio stood frozen, her mind reeling.

Williams Greg was the last of people Clio wanted to see.

Two years of suppressed memories from her sham of a marriage came flooding back.

The lies, the deceit, the betrayal, she recalled it all.

Clio loved Williams deeply, she had only ever tried to please him but it all amounted to heartbreak on that night...

The night of their wedding anniversary that was supposed to be a special day turned into Clio's nightmare as she found Williams, the man she loved, cheating on her on their matrimonial bed!

Clio clenched her fists in a fit to fight back tears. Breathing became difficult as she could feel her resolve melt down, leaving her at only an inch from shattering.

Williams' gaze locked onto hers, his expression a mix of surprise and guilt. His lips parted, as if to speak, but no words came.

Swallowing the lump that formed in his throat, Williams started, “I looked for you for so long. I couldn't find you anywhere,” His voice slowly faded away as he finished.

Clio scoffed but uttered no word.

Williams cornered his table, proceeding to walk towards Clio, “How..how are you doing?”

“Don't you dare come close to me,” Clio's warning kept Williams at a distance from her.

Williams lowered his head in shame, “I know I've hurt you. I ruined our marriage and I'm sincerely sorry. I'm also aware that I broke your heart, please forgive me.”

“Oh please. You didn't break my heart. You broke my trust,” Clio stated knowing fully well that they meant the same thing.

Williams lifted his head, fixing his gaze on Clio, her beauty still took his breath away but it was laced with the feelings of pain he caused her. Now thinking of the happiness they once shared,

his mind wandered to the little one they'd brought into the world and the weight of his mistakes crushed him.

“How's.. How's Lyra?” The words escaped his lips before he could stop them.

“I'm here for the interview, Williams Greg,” Clio voiced, totally ignoring Williams’ question. Saying his name was just enough to make Clio feel sick to the stomach.

Williams was surprised by her response, “If you didn't have a job..how were you able to take care of Lyra?”

Clio shook her head as her face broke out in disgust, “I don't think you're relevant enough to know that piece of information Mr Greg.”

“But I'm her father.”

And that was all Clio needed to hear to become enraged, “Where was her father when she was learning how to walk? Where was her damn father on days when she used to fall sick? Where was her father when she needed new toys and clothes? Oh, how could I forget, in the arms of another woman,” Clio mocked.

Taking a step closer to Williams, Clio extended an index finger towards Williams.

“You weren't fit enough to be my husband so don't even think you'd be fit enough to be my daughter's father.”

Williams' heart sank upon hearing that.

His mistakes had once again come to haunt him.

“Clio, It's not what you think. you never let me explain myself that night, it was-”

“-Oh please. Just because it's in the past doesn't mean you can fool me. Spare me the details because no amount of explanation can justify your actions,” Clio cut him off before he could finish.

Clio grinded her teeth in a fit to stop herself from speaking any further but she couldn't help herself.

“I loved you, Williams. I loved you so much. I made your happiness my responsibility but you...you chose to hurt me like that. I hate you!’ Clio's voice croaked with pain as a stray tear flowed down her cheek.

Williams gray eyes sparkled with remorse, even though he wanted to make things right, he knew it was too late.

“Clio.. believe me when I say that I tried to look for you. To explain things to you. But I couldn't find you, I tried.”

“I'm glad you never found me. Me and my child are happy without you in our lives to drain us of our joy. So please, pretend to be a gentleman and stay out of our lives,” Clio said, feigning a smile.

Williams clenched his fists in frustration as he made his way back to his seat.

Clio stood there while mixed feelings welled up inside her.

If she had even the slightest idea that she'd meet her ex husband in the company today, she would never have come.

But as they say, the deed had been done.

Working in Greg's industries would be a struggle especially with Williams around so without much thought, Clio turned on her heels, prepared to leave.

“Don’t go,” Williams’ voice put Clio to a halt but she didn't turn back.

“You don't get to dictate to me, Mr Greg. I came here for the interview and right now, I don't think I'd be needing the job anymore. Good day,” With a twist on the door knob, Clio opened the door.

“What if I help you secure another job in another company since you don't want to be in contact with me?” Williams suggested.

But Clio knew Williams very well, he just wanted to keep her close to his sight.

“That would not be necessary.”

And with that, Clio walked out of his office.

As Clio stepped out of Greg's commercial building, her phone vibrated in her bag.

From the caller's ID, Clio could tell that it was an unknown number but she still picked it up. “Hello, who's this?”

“This is Nora John from Daysville High. Am I speaking to Clio Clarke?” The voice inquired from the other end.

“Yes, how may I help you?”

“I’m calling to let you know that Lyra has been rushed to a nearby hospital.”