My Billionaire Husband's Regret

CHAPTER. 4

The strong aseptic scent of the hospital welcomed me. I could only think about my father as I galloped towards the doctor's office. I bent slightly in response to the sharp pain I felt across my stomach, but it was nothing compared to how much I wanted to know what was wrong.

"I'm sorry, Amelia," the doctor started, his voice a symbol of professionalism, "we lost your father."

The weight of the doctor's word rested on my shoulder. I tried so hard to say something but the words didn't form. I was emotionless. I felt numb within myself. I wanted to cry but I seemed to have run out of tears.

I didn't know what to feel. Maybe sad? But for what? My father's death or my personal troubles?

"I'm sorry about your loss, madam. But I need to attend to a patient now. His body will be taken to the morgue until you're ready to have it. "

Not until then, I didn't realize I needed to evacuate the office. I sprang slowly to my feet, my arms resting on the table in front of me for support. I staggered towards the door, my legs moved unrhythmically. My struggle seemed to have crushed my spirit, my body becoming a hollow shell.

As I lurched forward, I longed for comfort and hope in a world that seemed empty. I went into the emergency ward, my father now covered in white cloth, wool stuffed into his nostrils, his body pale and white. "I will miss you dad. Just as I have always done, but I hope you're in a better place now. You used to talk so much about hereafter," I paused, voice cracking. I leaned my body on his lifeless body, head resting on his chest as if expecting it to beat. The only family I had left was gone.

Memories flooded my mind, I remembered what my father always said. "There's a place after this world, the hereafter. There is someone above us all, He is He." My father was never directly involved in any religion, but he was a peaceful and moral man. I watched again as his eyes clenched shut, his face expressionless and his lips tightly sealed, "I hope to see you again, Dad. Maybe in the hereafter where you talked so much about."

"You can take him away now," I pouted to the hospital attendants, my palm rubbing so hard against my tears as I trudged out.

I sat helplessly in the taxi, my eyes red and swollen as a result of continuous cry. 'I wish I could find comfort at home.' My face twisted in agony, my eyes screwed shut. Sweat dripped from my brow, my lips parted into a dry smile, letting out a silent, painful moan.

ALFIE'S POV

*****

"Now tell me, how does it feel living without me in the last few months?" Linda's irresistible voice cuts through the silence that had earlier occupied the mansion.

The expression on my face portrayed satisfaction. I wore my arms around her body, "It's not been easy. You should imagine how difficult it would be, to have lived with an angel and suddenly have to accommodate the devil."

Brows raised, she asked, "And who is the devil?"

"She is not home now," I laughed.

"You have a sweet mouth, Alfie. I'm certain you wouldn't have taken me back if I was pregnant either," she chuckled.

"Don't think about that now, okay? Let's put the past behind us."

Just then, I felt a persistent vibration on my body -It was my phone. Swiping up the screen, it was a message from Henry, a major shareholder in my company. My hands began to shake as I slowly disentangled myself from Linda. I rarely receive messages from Henry except very important ones, hence the reason for my anxiety.

The message read:

"You have 48hours to decide. Divorce Amelia Lawn or have me withdraw my shares from your company "

~Henry Ryder~

"I need to end things with Amelia right away," I sighed, turning to Linda, our lips barely a centimeter apart. "Or I lose my company's major shareholder."

"I'm sure you wouldn't choose to go bankrupt because of that slut."

"I owe her allegiance, remember? It's not three years yet."

"What happened to paying her off? Get yourself together, man. Pay her off and she would forget about the damn allegiance," she declared, her voice authoritative.

"Well, not so easy, but … there's no other way around it."

"That's good. Now I can be convinced that I'm enough for you." She pulled me closer, causing our lips to brush against each other, "Now let me give you a naughty treat," she finalized.

***

AMELIA'S POV

As I got home, my heart sank again, seeing Linda and Alfie unclad, lost amid passionate kissing and love making, as I pushed the bedroom door open. Earlier it was my mother-in-law, now it was Linda. Their loud moan felt like a sting in my ears.

Despite my arrival, they didn't stop, instead, they increased their tempo. "I lost my father," I flaunted my hands into the air, an indication of resignation, hoping to make them stop their traumatizing act.

"Finally some good news. Let's get a divorce, I'll get in touch with the lawyer," Alfie said, showing no feeling of sympathy as his hands caressed Linda's body passionately.

"How dare you call my father's death good news? I knew you never loved me but you shouldn't be so heartless?" My eyes pricked, tears flowing down freely across my cheek. The tears I had fought right since I was at the hospital.

"Save yourself the emotional blackmail. I only stated the truth. I never loved you and you know. Everything we had was based on an agreement, and now that your father is dead, I guess I'm done with the contract. "

Linda said nothing, she continued her slow motion Cowgirl style and moaned in pleasure.

I was drowned in embarrassment. I knew it was the truth but it hurt me, especially with Linda's presence. I had been a fool to have thought our love would develop with time.

"So the only comfort you could give to an orphan is asking for divorce?" My fingernails dug into my palm as I asked, my entire being trembling under the weight of my suffering. My shoulders slumped as if the weight of the whole universe rested on them.

"Have I not tried my best by wasting my money on your poor father? I've spent millions for his hospital bills and what did I get in return?" Alfie's brows raised in fury. "Go to hell for all I care. It was only a contract between us and your father's death brought an end to it. Just so you know, Linda is pregnant with my child." His voice clouded in pleasure as he spoke.

I kept quiet, knowing Alfie's mind was made.

Just then, my phone rang, its loud sound piercing through the loud moaning that engulfed the room. Alfie sent a deadly gaze towards me, his hatred not hidden.

"Good day. Is this Miss Amelia Lawn?" a thick masculine voice echoed from the other end of the phone.

"Good day," I responded, my voice breaking. My ears itched so bad, hoping it wasn't some bad news again this time.

"I'm calling to inform you about a two decade-old investment made by your father, which surprisingly yielded massive returns in the last 24 hours," the voice came again. "We tried reaching out to him but the news of his death welcomed us, making you the only beneficiary to his profit share."

A sudden rush of coldness swept over me. My fists clenched together. I tried to say something but my tongue was heavy, almost as if it was tied against my teeth. I rubbed my palm across my face, as if to stir myself from a deep slumber.

"Are you there, miss?"

"Yes I do … I mean I am," I stammered.

"15, Crustark villa by 5 PM."

I checked the time, 4:45 PM. The feeling of sadness I felt earlier was now replaced by utter shock. Somehow, the invisible burden on my shoulder seemed lighter, and there seemed to be a glimpse of hope ahead.