THREE
1840 Words
OLIVIA
My hands were shaking as my lips continuously read out the words: OFFICIAL DIVORCE AGREEMENT.
It had been a long time I had a long enough conversation with Williams and I couldn’t remember discussing something of that sort with Williams. A divorce Agreement? It must be a mistake.
“Is this some sort of joke?” I turned sharply at the lawyer, my ears desperately longing for answers.
“You think I came all the way here for a joke, Miss Watson?” He was visibly offended.
“Then what on Earth is this?!” My voice was laden with frustration, as I almost said out to the hearing of everyone around.
“It’s exactly what it is. Williams wants a divorce. I am only but a conveyor of the message” he said bluntly, looking around at the people already staring at us.
Miss Watson? That was new. He was already referring to me as Miss Watson even when the divorce wasn’t done yet. I really needed some explanation from Williams.
“You don’t have to make this any more complicated than it is. Heck! You’re lucky to walk away with just a divorce. You could have spent years rotting here, if not for Williams, who pleaded on your behalf. Trust me, if it was up to Caroline, you would be here for the rest of your life and no caliber of lawyer would be able to pull you out”, he said calmly, taking a step forward to me.
He pleaded on my behalf? That could only mean one thing- he still loved me and would hear me out. That gave me some hope. I mean, if he could care enough to plead on my behalf, there should still be some affection for me inside of him.
At that point, I had completely lost all hope of being vindicated. My initial thoughts of being released on grounds of the truth being discovered, were dashed.
I tried so hard to ignore the signs from the officers’ words, but hearing from Smith brought me back to the fact that everyone still saw me as guilty, and the truth was still uncovered.
He took out a pen from his bag and handed it over to me.
“Here… Sign on these spots and that’s all. Your belongings will be delivered to you wherever you want. And, oh! There’s no alimony for you”
“No alimony? Why? How am I supposed to survive?” I was shocked.
“In his words, you should have more than enough money you have been stealing from him, hidden somewhere in some foreign bank accounts. That should take care of you. Or would you prefer returning the funds and serving jail time? Like I said, you should be grateful he has a kind heart. So, just consider this a parting gift.”
I didn’t wait for him to get done with his speech, before I stormed out of the station, while he kept calling after me. I paid no heed to his calls. The only thing on my mind was to get an explanation from Williams.
I got to the roadside and flagged down a cab.
The cab stopped, and I got in immediately without exchanging any words.
“What’s the location, ma’am?” The confused driver asked after I got in without uttering a word to him.
“McLaren’s mansion, please” I instructed, as I sank into the seat.
My heart beat faster as I kept going through the content of the papers in my hand.
I couldn’t believe mere words from the lawyer, until Williams told me himself that he wanted a divorce.
Caroline! That must be her planned-out scheme to totally separate me from Williams. First was the arrest, then, the divorce. Her plans were working out perfectly, and I wouldn’t let that happen.
We got to the mansion and I tossed the driver some dollar notes, not caring how much it was.
I was about to go in through the gate, when the security guard stopped me.
“You are not allowed to go in, ma’am”, he said with a frown.
“What’s that supposed to mean? This is my house! I am Williams’ wife for f**k’s sake!” I flared.
“I’m aware. But I’ve been instructed by Miss Caroline not to let you in”, he said bluntly.
It could only be her. The one behind everything.
I ran my palms over my face in frustration. It was like everybody was against me. Without thinking twice, I sped past him, running straight into the building.
“Hey! You can’t…” He ran after me, but couldn’t catch up. There was no way he could catch up with a woman whose entire world was about to crumble right before her.
I finally got into the house to meet everyone all seated over glasses of wine. I scanned around for Chris, but he wasn’t there. They all had a look of shock all over their faces as they saw me. Maybe they thought I’d be dead in jail or so.
“You criminal! What are you doing here?” Caroline demanded, standing up.
“You have the guts to show your face here?! After everything you’ve done?” Jasper, Williams’ brother scoffed.
“Have you not an iota of shame? After everything you’ve done to my brother, you still have the guts to show up here? How did she even get past you? I thought I gave you orders not to let her in” She said to the security guard, with disgust dripping through her voice.
“I told her I couldn’t let her in, but she forced her way in, and I couldn’t catch up with her” He replied, breathing heavily.
“Oh! I can see you don’t like your job anymore. Such a stupid excuse! Display such incompetence next time, and I’ll have you fired ” She barked.
“Let me teach her a lesson. Seems she didn’t learn enough in jail” Angel, the youngest sister, gritted out.
“You snake! I did not do anything and you know it! Why the lies? You set me up in all these. You sent me to go see that man. You put this whole thing together just because you hate me and can’t stand to see me with your brother”, I snapped at Caroline.
“Of course, I can’t stand to see a nobody like you together with my brother. Your place is with the pigs!” Caroline retorted.
“You are such a vile human, and I’m not leaving here until I talk with Williams!” I said back at her.
“You dare not speak to my sister like that!” Williams barked as he walked down the stairs.
Immediately, I ran towards him, showing him the divorce papers.
“Tell me this is a mistake, Williams. Smith gave them to me, but I know it’s all a joke. I know it’s all a joke, baby. Talk to me. This can’t be true. We can’t divorce”
He stared at me coldly and answered “ There’s no mistake, Olivia. This marriage is over!”
The coldness of his reply took me back as I shook my head in disbelief.
“Baby, please… This isn’t necessary. We can’t just end it over this little misunderstanding. I’m innocent of the accusations. You have to believe me” I grabbed him.
“You really think I’d still want to be with a cheater and thief like you? You aren’t even showing any signs of being remorseful. Rather, you keep trying to rope my loving sister into your shenanigans. You disgust me, Olivia!” He snorted and shoved me aside.
“I swear on my late father’s grave, I didn’t do anything” I declared, with tears in my eyes as I grabbed onto him again.
“Get the f**k off me!” He pushed me off, making me land on the sofa.
Just immediately, someone walked in. It was Rose.
“Olivia? You never told me you’ve gotten out of jail” She said surprisingly as she saw me.
On seeing her, I felt a beam of hope awaken inside me. I moved hurriedly to her and grabbed her hand, giving her a tight hug.
“Oh, Rose! Thank goodness you are here. Please tell them the truth. Tell them how I called you that day to let you know how skeptical I was about the whole thing. You were the one that told me to go ahead with it and not be scared. Tell them… I’m innocent, Rose. Please…” I stammered.
My eyes shone with hope as I waited for my savior to vindicate me out of the mess, but I was met with the shocker of my life.
“Get a hold of yourself, Olivia! I’m sorry, but I can’t keep covering up your lies. I haven’t spoken to you in over two weeks. You don’t even pick your calls when I call to check on you, and now you claim you spoke to me a few days ago?”
Her words sent my hope crashing. I never believed they would come from my best friend. I was dumbfounded, to say the least.
“Rose… But I…” I finally found my voice.
“Oh, please, Olivia. Enough of the lies already. Williams doesn’t deserve all these” She cut me short coldly.
It was like a nightmare. My best friend whom I trusted with my life was about to betray me. I was unable to understand what was happening. My brain found it hard to process what was going on. Why would Rose want to do such a thing to me? I sought answers, but I found none.
“I am very sure I called you on that day, Rose. Why are you doing this? I told you everything that was happening, and you advised me to obey Caroline’s instructions and do it” I cried.
“Here we go again! Can you leave me out of your lies? This is becoming tiring. Sign the damn divorce papers!” Caroline said.
“No! I won’t do this!” I flung the papers. “Williams, please, you don’t believe I could do a thing like this to you” I grabbed him
again with teary eyes.
At that moment, the only person that mattered was Williams. I only cared about his words and not about his siblings.
“Williams, please say something. You can’t let them all treat me this way” I grabbed him firmly.
“Not only are you a thief, you’re also a liar!” He slapped me on my right cheek and freed himself from my grip.
“That’s enough. Since you’ve refused to sign them, I’ll do it my way. Throw her out!” Caroline commanded.
The security guard grabbed me, about to throw me out, when I yelled,
“I’M PREGNANT!”
- Writer
