Against all obstacles

CHAPTER 3

"No, I didn't. Why? Any problems? Why are you asking me that? Sonia says. Acting confused.

"Oh! Sorry, it's just that the number looks a lot like yours. I wanted to confirm but he snatched the phone from my hand", Karen says, trying to ease the tension.

Sonia loosened up a little bit. "Here's what I think we should do?" Sonia leaned forward as though she wanted to whisper. "I think we should get this b***h and beat the hell outta her."

"We're going to get her, but we ain't beating the hell out of nobody," Karen said, resting back to find comfort.

"But babe, we can't just sit here and watch another b***h reap from all you've toiled for," Sonia said, fuming with anger.

"Okay, we're going to do that. What do you suggest we do?" Karen asks, looking confused.

"I know of a private detective. Who could help us follow this up?" Sonia says, feeling confident.

"Okay, that's great. Give me his number then." Karen says. As she reaches into her bag to get her phone.

"First of all, it's a woman, not a man. And I'll send the number to you when I get it."

now. I'm very sorry we'll catch up later" she says as she makes her way in between the chairs.

"You won't even get a drink…"Karen paused as she noticed that she was very serious.

Karen sits there alone. Neglecting to go back into her thoughts. She sings along to the music playing in the bar. It was her favorite singer, Beyonce.

It was getting late. She noticed the dizziness starting to kick in. She signaled the waiter. Makes payment and heads for her car.

The dizziness made her shoulders a little bit heavier than normal. Her head aches a little. Her mind keeps telling her heart the truth.

'You're being played.' "No" she screams while she tries to shut out whatever thing her mind has to say.

"I love him. And he loves me too," she says as tears streamed down her face. She sobs until her eyes become so blurry that she can't see the road clearly.

Her phone rang. Saving her from her dilemma.

"Hey, girl. I just sent the number to your Inbox", Sonia says, on the other hand.

"Which number? Okay, I remember! I'll call when I park. I'm driving now." Karen says, trying to get her off the phone.

She ended the call and turned left. Where she's faced with a huge gate. She pumped the brakes. Pulled out her gate remote control and pressed it open. The gate rolled to the other side, while she drove in.

'This is the best place to make this call,' she thought to herself as she took out her phone. Swiped down for the message notification. She saw the number Sonia sent.

"Hello, this is Karen McLean speaking. Is this Jennifer? Jennifer borders ", Karen says in a calm tone.

"Yes, sure. How can I help you, Mrs Hayden," she said politely.

"I need to get some information about who my husband is seeing. Don't worry about the cost. You can send me the lists of all you need", Karen says in a confident but a bit commanding tone.

"Okay, I'll do that, ma," Jennifer says in a polite tone.

She got out and walked towards the door. Hesitated a bit. Trying to strengthen the curls of her hair, and fix her dress, she took a deep breath before opening the door.

The warmness of the house embraced her as she walked in with the still air indicating that Hayden probably would be fast asleep.

She took off her dress. The big house still scares her how lost she would be if she had to stay there alone. The thought alone scares her to death. She secretly wishes the detective wouldn't find anything. Her heart can't take any more pain.

She took off her dress hazily. As she struggles to navigate herself through the room. Her vision was a bit foggy as she couldn't see anything clearly.

The champagne was playing tricks on her as she fell naked on Hayden's body. Hayden grabs her and holds her tight as both of them doze off.

Hayden tries to open her eyes to the sunrise shining directly on his face as she feels a bare body on his chest.

Without any second thoughts, it was his wife. He tries to quietly roll her over as he perceives alcohol in her breath. His heart aches with guilt. ' She's suffering' he thought, but 'I can't back down now, Sonia is the one who will give me all I ever needed.

"Hey babe" Karen calls sweetly.

He was distracted by Karen's voice as he turned to her.

"Good morning, you've been drinking?" Hayden asks, looking surprised.

"Yes, I have. since the day you decided to tear my world apart," Karen answers in a weak tone.

Hayden was struck deeply by those words. As he frowns guiltily. Couldn't help it, but it was written all over his face

"See, I always used to see this as a battle that we were supposed to face together, Hayden," she says. Stopping to control herself before she let any more tears drop from her eyes.

"But it seems you had other ulterior motives" Karen's piercing look made Hayden so uncomfortable that he had to look away.

"Or do you? Was this like a plan all along? Everything you said, was it all a lie? Was this all an act? Hayden. Talk to me, I think I'm going crazy". Karen couldn't help it as her face began to tear up.

"Hey, I want you to understand that people fall out of love! Because we haven't been able to achieve any of our dreams, it makes all this meaningless to me", Hayden says convincingly, hoping to make her stop crying.

"Hayden, please be honest with me. Were the shares all you wanted? Karen asked with her eyes filled with tears but still sparkling.

Hayden hesitated for a while then spoke softly. "No, I just don't think I'm feeling this anymore."

"Is it another woman?" Karen cuts in.

"No" Hayden answers with his eyes fallen, as he couldn't look into her eyes anymore.

"Then who sent you that message? I'm sure she knows about us because I read what she sent". Karen looked intently at his face, trying to read the meaning of his silence.

Hayden kept quiet. As the atmosphere in the house keeps irritating him. He gets up and sits beside the bed with his back facing her.

"Karen, it's over. I mean it, the paperwork will be ready anytime soon" Hayden said gravely, as he stood up and got to the window.

Karen lay there with her lips shaking as she was overwhelmed by the anguish in her heart.

He walked out in a sad but cold way that she could hear his footsteps pounding in her heart. 'How could he become so cold towards her? Her eyes slowly become wet as she tries not to shed any more tears for him.

The air was fresh as always, And the serene environment always had a way of making her love nature. The leaves were carried around gently by the breeze. As she fixed her eyes in one direction, as if trying to decipher a mystery.

She couldn't believe it as everything kept bringing back memories of Hayden. The garden she was staring at. Even the rose flower. She just remembered that they planted it together.

Her phone sounded loud enough to bring her back from her thoughts. The name Jennifer appeared on the screen. She just remembered that it had been a week since they spoke. Maybe she has something about the mysterious woman her man has been dating.

"Hey, Jenifer. How are you? You've got any news?" Karen says as her heart starts racing, uncontrollably.

Yes, Mrs Karen. You think I should speak over the phone or you think we should meet?" Jennifer said in a serious but polite tone, signaling that something was seriously wrong.

Karen didn't think she could hold it until they met.

"Can you please tell me a little about it? I'm curious, you know!" She says, trying to fake a smile to cover the fear and trembling in her voice."

"Ma'am, do you know anyone named Sonia?" Jennifer says in a firm and professional tone.

"

Yes, of course, she's my best friend, she gave me your contact," Karen says as her eyes blaze up.

Jennifer pauses.