CHAPTER 2 - NO REMORSE
1050 Words
"Cece, it's not a joke. I'm really serious about all this. Amelia is going to be my wife, and we are having a baby together," Freddie replied to Cece without any remorse for what he had done, believing he was doing the right thing.
This reply hit Cece hard; she nearly lost it.
"Amelia is going to be your new wife?" Cece asked Freddie with a serious and 'this is not so funny anymore' kind of look.
"Yes, she is," he replied casually.
"Freddie, but I am your wife," she pointed out innocently.
Hearing this from Cece made Freddie address the issue with the envelope he had given to Cecelia earlier.
"Yeah, about that, I think you should check the envelope I gave you the other time," says Freddie while taking a drink.
Cece was not sure what she was going to see in the envelope she was holding, but with all the surprises going on, she was really not eager to know either.
The look on Cece's face was daunting when she saw what was inside the envelope. It was a divorce letter.
"A divorce letter?" Cece asked, shouting.
This caught the attention of the entire party, and the silence in the room became more obvious.
"Freddie, you are giving me a divorce letter? You did this and you're still going to divorce me?" she asked again.
"Yes, I figured since Amelia is carrying my baby, it would be best if I marry her, don't you think?" he replied to Cece with a determined face.
"You're asking me?" Cece asked, "What about the promises you made me, Freddie? You told me it's together forever, and it's barely been 3 years. Is this your 'together forever'?"
"Cece, Cece, calm down. I know you must be upset right now, believe me, I am too. I hate the fact that I went back on my words to you, but I just have to, for the sake of my child," he said.
"But Freddie, I got pregnant for you in our first year together. You lamented you weren't ready to be a father, and we both agreed to terminate the pregnancy. The consequence of that action caused my womb to be perforated; I can't have any children again. We agreed to adopt whenever we were ready. This isn't fair, Freddie," she carefully narrated her plight to Freddie.
"I know I said I never wanted a child at that time, but it just happened, and besides, Amelia was my first love back in college. I am so sorry, but this is my decision, Cece."
"Freddie, you can't do this to me, to us. We have a lot of plans we need to execute together. Freddie, have I offended you? Tell me, and I will apologize," these were Cece's words to Freddie.
She begged Freddie, believing that he would change his mind about the divorce papers and the rest, but Freddie never seemed concerned about her pleas or her feelings.
"Okay, what about NeuroSpark? Are you willing to give up on our dream? We have to do this," Cece continued to beg, perhaps hoping Freddie would reconsider his actions.
"NeuroSpark is a revolutionary brain-computer interface (BCI) technology that enables people to control devices with their minds. The technology uses advanced algorithms and AI-powered sensors to detect and interpret brain signals, allowing users to interact with computers, smartphones, and other devices in a seamless and intuitive way.
This project was all Cece’s idea, which she revealed to Freddie, and they both decided to pursue it together.
Cece envisioned NeuroSpark as a wearable device that would enable people with paralysis, ALS, and other motor disorders to communicate and interact with the world in a more effective way.
"Yes, about NeuroSpark," Freddie says, "since it's not something I can do alone, and also Amelia understands the dynamics of this project. I decided to proceed with her. We approached some investors, and we have even received seed funding. It would be fair to do it with Amelia, you know what I mean? She is going to be my wife after all," says Freddie.
"Are you kidding me, Freddie? You hijacked my idea and made it your own. NeuroSpark was my idea. What have you turned into, Freddie? It's like I don't know you anymore," Cece said, weeping at the same time.
"You brought a lady into our home, claiming she is your new wife-to-be, you are having a child with her, you served me with a divorce letter, and as if that was not enough, you stole my innovative idea and went along to do it with Amelia. Freddie, I will never forgive you. You'll rue the day I met you," Cece said.
Freddie should at least feel for Cece, but it seemed like he was drunk on his love for Amelia. He just pulled Amelia away and replied to Cece with a whispered, “I am so sorry.”
The weight of Cece's sadness seemed too much for her to bear, and the atmosphere at the party became suffocating to her.
To her surprise, those who knew her as Freddie's wife now directed the accolade of Mrs. Sterling to Amelia, someone they had just met today. How could people be this heartless?
"Do people switch allegiances so easily?" Cece thought to herself. "These people knew me; we have celebrated lots of things together. Could it be I don't really know them as I think I do?" What a rhetorical questions that invaded Cece's mind.
She began to move aimlessly within the party, and no one seemed to even take notice of her.
She replayed every word from Freddie in her brain, and deep in thought, she walked out of the party. No one knew she had left. Still in her state of thought, she didn't realize she was approaching the edge of the stairs. What brought Cece back to consciousness was when she started rolling down the stairs.
A lot of people ran to her aid, hoping that they would catch her in time, but they were too late. Cece reached the bottom of a 25-step staircase.
She remained on the floor without moving. As people got closer to her side, they saw that she was not moving.
"Is she dead?" one of the people rushing over asked.
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