The Scorned Wife's Return

CHAPTER 4

Mira

Luke's hand shook in mine as a smile that wasn't a smile blossomed on my face. Outside I must have seemed like a mad woman, laughing, crying and turning cold all of a sudden.

But I was a even greater mess inside, my emotions tumbled over themselves as each one fought for control. I didn't know whether to be angry, feel despair, or just stare at the wall for hours with nothing in my head except the days I spent with my child in me.

And Luke wasn't helping in any way, instead he was doing the total opposite. He wanted Chloe?, then they could have themselves, but talking about impregnating me again. As if I would forget all about this in a day or two and we would go back to normal - filled me with so much anger that I started to wonder how beautiful he would look if I just snapped his wrist.

Of course I couldn't, but just the thought of inflicting him with a miniscule of the pain I was enduring, filled me with a dark sense of pleasure.

Luke withdrew his hand sharply from mine like he had touched a block of ice. His features were marred with a touch of disbelief, like the fact I suggested such a thing was so far from what his wife would normally have said.

He wasn't wrong. Mira of two days ago would have kept it all in and smiled, restructuring what he said and find hope in an hopeless situation. But she was gone with her child. And all that remained was me.

Talking about myself like a third person, maybe I really going mad. But mad was good, it kept me from thinking of the pain too much, from allowing it to overwhelm me. It gave me a chance to focus on something else.

For example, shattering every thought Luke had of me ever coming back.

“It took losing my child and drowning in a pool of my own blood before you could truly see me ever since Chloe came back.” I said coldly.

“Don't bring her into this!” Luke snapped, finally finding his voice. “Is that what this is all about? Mira I have told you countless times, there is nothing between Chloe and I. How can you be jealous of your own sister?”

I laid back into my pillow, hands underneath the blanket to hide the fact that it was shaking. “I wish Chloe and you nothing but the best. You both are perfect for each other and after three months you would have nothing stopping you from taking her into your arms.”

I paused for a moment, then added. “That is, if you haven't already.”

Veins popped on Luke's head as my accusation sank in. Of course, logically I knew Luke wouldn't have touched my sister, yet. But at this point, logic was just another barrier that I wanted, no needed, to tear down. I have tried all my life to create a semblance of order, to stay afloat in a raging storm. But maybe I needed to do was break the boat myself and see what chaos really tasted like.

“What do you mean by that.” Luke almost roared as he punched the metal frame of the bed, probably only the fact that doctors would rush into the private ward immediately they heard someone shout, kept him from shouting.

I moved my hand to the emergency button beside my bed, hovering above it slightly. A silent threat. Luke probably didn't think that putting me in a private ward that had nurses and doctors alert 24/7, would later be used against him. My arm ached from the spot that I had yanked the drip out off, looking at it now, it had swollen up slightly. But that wasn't my concern at the moment.

“Like I said, I lost the only thing keeping us together. My child.” I said, slowly laying emphasis on each word. “I’ll tell the lawyers to start drafting the divorce papers.”

Luke clenched and unclenched his hand. His face a mask of fury, but he still managed to calm himself down after a few seconds.

“You're clearly still in pain and not thinking properly. Have your rest and we'll talk about this later.”

Then before I could say a word, he walked out of the room. Closing the door gently as he walked out, probably just putting on a show for the nurses.

I sighed as I completely collapsed on the bed. I felt drained both mentally and physically, as I just ran a marathon on both sides. As Luke left the room, so did my stubborn conviction - the only thing that held my weak body up. My vision swam, but for the first time in a while it was just out of tiredness and not because I was about to lose consciousness.

I didn't know when I fell asleep, but the vibration of my phone on the table next to me woke me up. The nurses had probably muted my phone but I had set some important caller IDs to both ring and vibrate. The constant pain and not being in the right state of mind to have a peaceful rest was also a plus.

The doctor had given me a pain tablet or two, but that wasn't enough to suppress the pain of broken bones. And apparently I couldn't take anymore for the time being.

I checked the time, 6.00 PM. Then turned to look at the caller ID. “Victoria Winters’. I blinked in confusion. Victoria hardly called, like almost never. She was a close friend that went way back and also an accomplished fashion designer and stylist. Mine.

“Vicky..?” I said, my voice almost a whisper.

"Mira!" Victoria’s usually composed voice was tight, laced with urgency and something else - anger?. "Where are you? Why aren’t you at the Perfume Gala?"

Perfume… perfume gala! My eyes widened as I suddenly remembered the event that I had been planning for ever since I designed the centerpiece fragrance for Parkers group luxury line. It was the day I would be recognised as the brain behind the Parker’s hit perfume after all the effort I had put in behind the scene.

My glorious re-emergence into the world of scents… I bit back the mocking laughter that almost escaped my lips. Everything I looked forward to now seemed bland, after all I had created perfume with the inspiration I got from my baby.

Now it was just a painful reminder of what I once had.

“Something came up.” I managed. “I couldn't make it.” My absence would shake things up a bit but not too much. Luke should still go ahead with our pre planned speech, and accord the merit to me.

“Mira… Luke, your husband is here.” Victoria said, her voice turning cold. I suddenly felt uneasy, Victoria calling me, her tone and questions… “He's here with Chloe and he's awarding the merit of honour to her.”

My heart skipped a beat, sending a bolt of pain through me. My hands turned shaky as I tried to understand what Vicky had said. I understood each word, but strung together, it seemed like something impossible…

“He.. he did what?”

I couldn't breathe. My heart hammered in my chest violently and I was sure my blood pressure was reaching new, alarming heights. A cough tore through my lungs, my chest heaving as I struggled to hold it down…

“Mira, are you alright?” Victoria sounded alarmed. “Where are you? Should I come over?”

“No, I'm coming, meet me at the hotel entrance. Get my gown ready. We'll talk when I'm there.”

I cut the call.

…..

Half an hour later, I emerged from the taxi holding a cane - a long metal rod - that I had gotten from the hospital. My knee was still healing from the fall and I needed it to walk. The Doctor said it would heal, hopefully without leaving me with a limp.

Hopefully.

I sighted Victoria at the hotel entrance in a satin blue gown with inlaid crystals, clearly self-sewn. It hugged her fiery shape, drawing passerbys’ eyes.

Our eyes met. She rushed to me, shock and fury shifting to concern.

“Oh my goodness,” she gasped, covering her mouth. “What happened to you?”

I waved it off. “Hope my gown is ready?” I’d commissioned that silver dress to match Luke’s suit and had been itching to wear it.

Victoria’s face changed.

“I tried to tell you when you cut the call,” she said, hands clenching. “I sent the dress to your place yesterday.”

“So it’s at home?” Minor delay—I could get it. I refused to hear more at the hospital.

“No, Mira. Chloe’s wearing it. Luke gave her the dress.”

My body shook. I leaned on the cane as my chest throbbed, blinking tears away.

“Mira, let’s go home. You should be in a hospital,” Victoria urged, holding me.

I shook my head. “I’m not leaving. I won’t let her claim…” That perfume was my second child. I couldn’t lose both in two days.

Luke giving Chloe the merit—unforgivable.

“You’re stubborn,” Victoria sighed. “I made another gown. Let’s get a room and patch you up.”

Summoning strength, I followed her into the hotel. She applied makeup, silent after I admitted the fall and miscarriage. Concealer, contour, bold red lip. My hair sleeked into a chignon. She handed me an emerald silk gown. I wore it, silently cursing the irony.

Finally I looked in the mirror, the woman staring back was pale, yes, but regal. Like a Queen who had lost her army and her King, but still wouldn't bow her head.

With a nod to Victoria, we walked out of the hotel and and straight for the gala.