MARRIED, REVENGE, DIVORCE

Episode05

Fred's POV

These past few days have been overwhelming. With Maya's accident, Jane, my health, the company there was a lot resting on my shoulders and I wasn't ready to risk anything, not my life, not my marriage, not my empire.

Maya resumed work, despite me trying to keep her away from work, but she kept insisting, I wanted to protect her…..I just needed to stay out of everything for my own sake

This morning, I woke up with a tightness in my chest that had nothing to do with my heart and everything to do with dread.

I had an appointment with my neurologist today and I've been anxious since morning the last we talked he said my results were not looking promising. I was scheduled for X-ray today.

I stood in front of the mirror longer than I should have, adjusting my tie like it might change the outcome of today. I was overthinking the situation. I took deep breaths, got into my car and drove to the hospital. I need to stay positive regardless of the outcome today.

The hospital was busy as always—white coats flying past, nurses wheeling carts, patients waiting in corridors with tired eyes. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I walked in. It was the same hospital where Maya worked. Funny how the place that gave me both love and dread now also held the possibility of my death.

I got in for my X-ray appointment. The technician asked me to remove my jewelries before the scan. I complied silently, my heart pounding….what's the worst that can be right? I kept asking myself but I already knew.

After the scan, I waited in one of those stiff hospital chairs, watching the second hand on the clock do little circles while my nerves frayed with every tick. When the nurse called my name, I stood up too fast and felt a wave of dizziness wash over me.

I walked into the doctor's office. Dr. Jones greeted me with his usual calm demeanor, the kind that could mean anything.

“Good day Doctor Jones”. I greeted him feeling a bit skeptical about the outcome of everything.

“Good day Fred.” His face was neutral and unreadable. “Well your X-ray results are out but you already know that and… the goodnews is that you still have time.” That sounded reassuring…until he continued.

“But we need to hurry up and schedule the surgery cos the tumor is 2 times larger than the last time. I strongly recommend we schedule the surgery immediately.”

I nodded slowly trying to keep my face neutral even though my heart was racing.

“You also need to make some lifestyle changes, you need to avoid stress, no skipping of meals, no late nights. Your body can't handle it. If you keep pushing like this it'll catch up to you sooner than you think.”

Well, at least I've still got time. That's good news.

There was a knock on the door, followed by my wife Maya walking in. I smiled at her and opened my arms for a hug.

“Hey babe, why are you here?”

“Cos I care about you.” she replied reaching out to hug me. Although there was a second of hesitation. Just a breath but I noticed it.

I leaned into her touch, God I missed this version of her. The version before the accident.

She turned to doctor Jones with that smile she wore when she was trying too hard.

“Hi Doctor Jones, can I see Fred's X-ray results, when is he dying?” She said laughing dryly. The room went cold. I didn't know how to interpret that.

“Oh come on babe, I'm only joking you know.” That was a very weird joke and very off-putting. The Maya I knew before the accident would have never made such a joke. She hated death jokes.

“Fred's X-ray isn't bad.” Dr. Jones said picking up the mood.

“I was discussing how we needed to act fast and schedule his surgery, the tumor is fast progressing, I mean you know how these things are. I also spoke about a couple of things he's going to have to stop.” Maya nodded quickly, taking the cue.

“Oh yes definitely babe, we don't want you to break down.”

I forced a smile. “Thank you Doctor.” I shook his hand as I got up to leave.

I took Maya back to her office, we exchanged a brief kiss on the cheek, and I made my way back to my car.

Once I was alone in the silence of my car, the panic returned. Loud and unrelenting.

I was getting worried, my surgery should've been scheduled by now but with Maya’s accident I didn't want it to come as that I'm pressuring her but she's the only one I trust to actually get this surgery done successfully, I mean that's the real reason I've been with her this long. Her brilliance in the operating room is unmatched. She is the best this had and no one came close.

I also could not stop thinking of the joke Maya made, she was acting off but I just can't wrap my hand around what was actually off. Jane’s body language was off too. Something was definitely going on. Sometimes Maya looked at me like she remembers.

What if she remembers?

What she wakes up one morning and pieces things together….the lies, the manipulation, the real reason I married her?

I can't let that happen my surgery must happen before she recalls anything.

Without wasting another second, I picked up my phone and dialed the hospital director.

“I need a pill,” I said quietly. “Something that reduces the chances of someone regaining their memories.”

There was a brief pause.

“I’ll get you just that,” he replied, then hung up. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I knew I was a terrible person for even considering this but it is what it is. Survival isn’t always about being good. Sometimes, it’s about being smart enough to stay alive.

I drove straight to my office. Barely noticing the traffic all that was on my mind was my surgery, the meeting with Dr Jones. The damn tumor….it was too much andi could feel the pressure building. I need to act fast if I want Maya to perform the surgery on me immediately.

The moment I walked into the building, I could feel the air shift.

People stared. Whispered. Moved aside faster than usual. Something was wrong. My secretary Clara wasn’t at her desk, and that alone was enough to trigger alarm bells.

I stepped in to my office, Clara, practically ran up to me. Her face was pale and her hands were shaking slightly.

“What's…?” I was cut off by her

“Sir, we have a problem. A big one. The stocks crashing fast. The board is requesting an emergency meeting.”

I didn't say anything right away. I just held out my hand.

“Let me see the numbers.”

She handed me the tablet

Red. Red. Red.

Everything was red. It looked like blood across the screen. Graphs were falling. Our percentages down. It was the kind of numbers that gave CEOs heart attack. My stomach dropped.

I could feel it happening before I could stop it. My head started to pound. My chest tightened. I felt… off. Like the floor wasn’t quite where it should be.

The tablet started to blur. My hands were trembling.

“Fred?” Clara’s voice was sharp, worried.

I tried to speak but couldn’t find the words. My pulse was racing. My breath came in short, shallow gasps.

Then, everything tilted. The room spun. My legs gave way before I could catch myself, and the last thing I saw was Clara’s face going pale as I hit the ground.