The Secret of the Divorced Woman

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After Nico proposed to me, I could feel every eye and camera flashlight on my face. I was confused as to why he was proposing something so outrageous to me.

"Nico..." I called his name, but was interrupted.

"Can you explain this, Lucia? Why is another man asking you to marry him when you're still my wife?" Knox asked, causing Nico to let go of my hand.

I silently looked at Nico, who had been my best friend for so long, and he made a gesture which made me understand that he had a reason for asking me to marry him.

"I don't think there's anything to explain. You wanted a divorce? You'll get it faster than you wished, because I'm going to remarry," I replied.

I noticed that everyone was seriously surprised by my unexpected response. So, without hesitation, I accepted Nico's hand as he led me out of the place.

"Everything's going to be fine, Lucia, I promise," Nico said, taking the driver's seat, while I sat in the passenger seat and closed my eyes. As he started the engine, I heard Knox's father’s voice from behind shouting for those near our vehicle to stop us, but no one did. And five minutes later, we were on the highway.

My marriage wasn't the only thing that had ended; my heart had also died.

"Are you okay, Lucia?" Nico asked.

"Would you be okay if you were asked for a divorce in that way?" I answered in an angry and strident tone. "He has never been affectionate towards me, which I believed was as a result of his reserved personality, but I thought I had at least earned a place in his heart."

"Lucia..."

"He humiliated me..." I murmured, bitterly wiping away a tear that slid down my cheek. "It was our anniversary... It was supposed to be a memorable day! Not even..." I sobbed, running my hand over my belly, remembering how that morning, when I intended to give him the news, he had been more passionate than usual. So, I decided I would tell him at our anniversary party, but in the end, the surprise was on me. "He didn't even give me an explanation."

"Maybe this will help you understand," Nico handed me his phone as he explained what I was about to see. "Someone from the media took a shot of those photos, when they saw them at the airport."

My breath escaped like dry ice.

"They were bribed, so the pictures wouldn’t be leaked, but the evidence is clear."

Now everything made sense; the constant trips, the private conversations, the late-night outings. Knox had never stopped seeing Elena, and the picture spoke for itself: she was pregnant.

"When I found out, I thought of telling you immediately, but I had to do it in person. However, I didn't think he would be capable of doing this, so he would avoid tarnishing his image."

I sighed after returning the phone to Nico and just clenched my fists on my knees. I wouldn't shed a single tear; I wouldn't cry for him. He hadn't cared at all about my love, my dedication to being the wife he would proudly have by his side. My effort had been for nothing. To him, I have been disposable, and I... I was tired.

"Two years of marriage..." I said to myself. "I give up... If he wants to be happy with her... let him be."

That was the end of the delicate, submissive, and quiet woman. Why continue with that stupid attitude? They had already trampled on my name; only my pride remained.

"Lucia, I understand this is a complicated moment for you and that it might not be the right time, but..." He parked the car. "What I said in front of your husband is true."

I raised my eyes, and our gazes met.

"Nico, what are you saying?"

"No, please don't misunderstand me. I don't want you to think I'm a scavenger who took advantage of the first opportunity to throw myself at you, but... I can't keep this to myself. You are an exceptional woman, one every man would want in his life..."

I had believed Nico had proposed to me on an impulse, and I didn't imagine receiving this confession at a moment like this.

"Please, Lucia," he adjusted himself to take my hands. "Marry me."

Then I lowered my gaze to my belly, which hadn’t started showing.

I couldn't accept such a proposal, or even worse, deprive him of finding the kind of love he deserved, otherwise I would be inflicting the same hurt that Knox did to me.

So I pulled my hands away from his.

"I appreciate your honesty, but the last thing I need right now is marriage. I don't have much money, but I know I can manage with what I have," I said.

"But why make such a hasty decision? At least you should think about it."

"Nico, if I accepted you, it would be unfair, especially at a time when I know my decisions will no longer only affect me."

"What are you talking about? Do you have hopes of getting back with Knox?" he asked.

"It's not about that..." I contemplated if it would be right to tell him, but sometimes it was better to be direct.

"Then what is it about? Why are you unable to consider my proposal?"

"The greatest reason is to take care of the being that will now be more important to me; my baby..." I answered.

Nico finally understood and nodded.

"I understand."

"I can't expect you to change your feelings overnight, so I won't insist."

"Thank you for understanding."

"However, I want you to know that you have all my support."

"You are a very good man; please do not change who you are for any reason."

I had planned to go home and visit my father, who, due to his illness, never left the house. Most likely, he may have already heard the news of my divorce, which could affect his health. So, I asked Nico to take me to my father's house. However, it seems there were more surprises in store for me that day, because when I arrived, there was an ambulance parked outside my father’s house.

I started trembling, and my heart stopped for a few seconds.

"What's happening? What...?" My eyes filled with tears, and what was left of my strength evaporated when I saw my father being carried out on a stretcher; pale and almost lifeless.

"Dad... Dad!" Nico held me, so I wouldn’t completely break down. The domestic staff informed us that my father had seen the news about my divorce, and had gone into shock, just like I had suspected.

We arrived at the hospital where the doctors attended to my father, but they didn't give me much hope; it was too soon for a diagnosis. I spent the whole night waiting in the lounge, and they eventually allowed me to see him when it was already morning.

When I saw my father with IVs and various tubes connected to his body, I suddenly realized how fragile life was.

"Lucia..." he called to me when he opened his eyes.

"Don't speak, Dad, you need to rest."

"This is important, daughter," he stretched out his hand, waiting for mine. "My pride, my girl, you won't be alone... Now you can start anew he said.

"What are you talking about, Dad?"

"He will explain it to you," he murmured those last words as his life ebbed away before my eyes.

"Dad, Dad... Dad!"

My father was gone forever. Necessary preparations were made and I finally buried him. Within a week, the lawyer came to read his will. I was still in shock and depressed from all that had happened. I waited for my brother to be present for the hearing of our father’s last testament, but he never showed up. He probably knew our father had no riches, so he didn't bother to come.

"Will no one else be present?" the lawyer asked me.

"It seems no one else will, sir."

"Well, in that case, I will begin."

Hearing the last words my father wrote, through the lawyer's voice, awakened many feelings within me, but when I heard the last part, my heart completely melted, making me wish he was still here with me.

"And my girl... Don't be sad, don't cry when I depart, because I know you will soon have great company. I have dreamed of your mother in the last few days; she told me the most beautiful flower would adorn your life."

"Dad..." I smiled with tearful eyes.

"And that's why... I know you, more than anyone, will know how to handle it."

After that part of the reading, the lawyer took out a document and asked me to read and sign it, as it was my father's last will.

"What!? Where did this come from?!"

"It's what your father kept for you."

"T-this is crazy... My father didn't have this much money!"

"You didn't know, but the reality is that you have inherited all that fortune. Now you are one of the richest women in the country."