Chapter 4: The Confrontation
1398 Words
The office went dead—silent, Dr. Ronald's face resembled that of a corpse.
“Your face says it all Doctor,” I broke the silence.
“Mrs. Cobbin, it's not what you think.”
“Then tell me what to make of it, Doctor!”
I yelled, slamming my hands on his desk.
“Look…” I said to him. My voice mellowed, “I didn't come here to be lied to. I know the truth and I came to confirm it.”
“I wasn't involved in the abortion,” Dr. Ronald said, caught between fear and anxiety.
“It's been more than a year now, but I'll never forget that incident—
I was on my way to the hospital’s pharmacy when I bumped into Miss Melanie Ivan, who seemed to have been in a rush. I wanted to help with the drugs that fell on the floor, but she hurriedly reached them first.
After exchanging pleasantries, I asked what brought her to the hospital, and she stated that she was just helping a friend pick up her meds for a sinus infection. She gave no time for details and bid me farewell.”
Dr. Ronald paused, then he continued, “Two days later, you were rushed to the hospital because of your miscarriage. But after examining you properly, I realized that it was no ordinary miscarriage; it was an abortion…
Since you were still unconscious, I called Mr. Cobbin’s attention to it, concerned about why you would abort your pregnancy.”
“However, I found your husband's indifference to the revelation very disturbing.
That was when he told me that he was the one who aborted your baby because he didn't want to be a father at that time, and you were forcing it on him.”
Dr. Ronald paused when he noticed tears were falling from my eyes.
“Mrs. Cobbin…”
“Go on Doc,” I interrupted, wiping my face with my hands.
“After I spoke against it, Mr. Cobbin said that he would tell you about it himself, as it was a family matter. He also threatened that if I were to reveal it to you, I'll be held responsible for whatever happens between you two.
But then my encounter with Melanie flashed before me. I remembered the drugs found in your system matched the ones I saw on the floor when I bumped into Melanie…
It was then that I realized that it was not just a case between a husband and wife alone; but a ‘mistress’ was also involved.”
“Mr. Cobbin went on to offer me money for my silence, but I didn't want to be involved in the dirty game that could tarnish my reputation and the career that I worked so hard to build over the years, so I washed my hands clean from it.” Dr. Ronald ended.
I buried my face in my palms. My eyes watered.
“I'm sincerely sorry for everything, Mrs. Cobbin,” Dr. Ronald said. His voice was a mix of concern and pity.
I stood from my chair and walked towards the door.
As I was about to leave, I turned back and said to Dr. Ronald, “You should've spoken up, Doctor, you only helped in postponing a day that was bound to be reached— My divorce.”
~
“Welcome back Ma’am,” a maid greeted me as I walked into the Cobbin mansion.
Sebastian wasn't yet back from the office and Cynthia probably went to her boutique today— whatever reason it was that kept them away provided me with the little peace I needed to pack; I wasn't going to spend a day longer in this place.
The door opened, it was Sebastian.
“I was just told that you had arrived, welcome back babe,” Sebastian said warmly, walking up to me with a kiss on my forehead.
“Yes, I wanted to surprise you all…” I started, but my voice drifted.
I was sitting in a relaxed position on the couch near the window as I held a glass of juice in my hand. Sebastian walked to the dressing mirror and was fixing his shirt.
“You're back rather early,” I noticed.
“Yeah, I just came back from a meeting downtown,” he said, his eyes still on the mirror.
“And Melanie?” My gaze was sharp.
“Well she must be in the office.”
“Office… I see…” I said ponderously.
“On getting back, I wanted to meet her for a little ‘talk’ so I went to her house. But on getting there, I saw that she might have been a little preoccupied with work as a black Mercedes was parked in her drive-through; like the same one you drove in.”
Sebastian turned and studied my facial expression.
“Well, she called in sick today, so I branched to hers to check up on her, but she should be in the office now because she needed to get some important files.” He replied in a calm and controlled manner.
He was really good with lies, but I was out to get him, no matter what today!
“Oh, I should call to check up on her. She must have been really sick for you to have spent the whole night there.”
“What are you getting at with all these questions, Onica?” Sebastian asked impatiently as he turned towards me.
“You know Melanie has been my friend since childhood, so I treat her like family. You should too… Really wish you two women could just keep your unnecessary differences aside.”
“I wish too…” I sighed.
“That aside, how is your mum doing?” he asked.
“Oh, I lied about her.”
“What?!” he asked, confused.
“Yeah… Same way you also lied about your whereabouts,” I said, and stood up from the couch, walking towards the drawer at the bedside.
“Is something wrong with you, Onica?!”
Ignoring his question, I pulled out some papers from a drawer, then walked into the closet to get my suitcases.
“Sign it,” I said, dropping the papers on the bed.
He was now standing in my way.
“What do you think you're doing, Onica? What papers are those?” Sebastian asked with anger brewing inside him.
“Honey, can't you read?!” I asked sarcastically.
“Well they're divorce papers, and I've signed them.”
“What rubbish is this Onica? Are you out of your mind?... You want to walk out of our family with our unborn child? For what reason?!!” Sebastian asked in an angry and perplexed tone.
“Oh well, how about reason number one, for concubinage… Or the fact that all I am to you is a baby machine who should be crawling at your mother's feet!”
“Or reason number three, for almost killing me by aborting my pregnancy against my will with an overdose!!!” I yelled at his stupid face!
Sebastian stood there suddenly pale and frozen.
“No, speak!... You have nothing to say, huh?”
“I gave you the best years of my life and yet you threw them away and used me as a rag for your feet!” I cried out and pushed him away.
“I'm not going to let you take it all away from me, since I can't get those lost years back, I'm going to take yours! I'm going to ruin you with this divorce and drag your face through the mud, Sebastian! I hate you so much! I'll make sure everyone knows about your dirty deeds and will shatter the reputation you hide behind cowardly!”
“You'll be hearing from my lawyers,” I said before slamming the door on his face.
“Onica, please don't do this! Think about our baby!” Sebastian's pleading dug into my ears as he ran after me.
‘Now he thinks about the baby?! What a liar, he only truly cares about his reputation.’ I wasn't going to turn back to listen to him.
“Onica!” Sebastian roared in anger.
I turned… the next thing I realized was that I was falling off the stairs.
Black out…
- Writer
