Ex husband Vs Admirer
1310 Words
~Melon~
“Richard is leaving me ...for my daughter who happens to be his step daughter .”
The words screamed in my head as I stumbled along the road leading to my house.
My hands shook. My chest tightened .
Every step felt heavier than the previous one. How could someone I loved with my whole life betray me like this? How could he really?
The memory of his laughter with her, those late night whispers I had never caught, the way he always cared for her .It appeared that it was all twisted into a knife in my own gut .
My life, which I thought was steady and safe , had now shattered in a single heartbeat.
I didn't notice the tears streaming down my face until my vision blurred . I stopped mid step , pressed my hand to my mouth and tried to breathe. However, the air felt thick, suffocating like it had turned against me.
How had I missed this? Had I been blind all these years?
I had loved him . I had even trusted him but now everything had shattered in just a blink of an eye.
By the time I reached my front door, my legs felt like lead. I fumbled with my keys barely managing to unlock the door and stumbled inside. My house, once my sanctuary , felt alien now. Empty and Cold.
Then I saw them. A bouquet of deep red roses sat on my coffee table, accompanied by a card. My hands trembled as I picked it up .
“To the most unforgettable woman , thinking of you always.”
I stared at the words , trying to make sense of them v. Who sent them and why? Surely not Richard!!! Surely not, her. My mind raced through possibilities ,each one darker than the last .
The betrayal I felt from my husband and daughter seemed almost unbearable , but now, even the thought of someone else watching me like this made my stomach churn .
I sank into the counch , clutching the card and flowers like a lifeline. How had my life come to this ? At Forty years old , a dedicated teacher , a mother , abandoned by the two people I trusted above all.
Abandoned and now rejected!!!
I should have screamed . I should have run . I should have done , something . But my body felt frozen , my mind fogged by shock . I barely noticed my phone buzzing on the side table until it rang again .It was an unknown number.
I hesitated . My first instinct was to let it go to voicemail, but a small , irrational part of me needed to know. Needed , someone , anyone ,to explain why my world was collapsing.
I answered, my voice harsh and brittle .
“Hello?”
“Hello,” A masculine voice said on the other end. It was calm and measured . But there was something in it. Was it familiar ? Unfamiliar? I couldn't place it.
“Who is this ?” I asked , my hands still shaking , gripping the phone as if it were a weapon.
There was a pause in the other side of the call then followed by a low chuckle .
“You will see soon enough.”
Before I could even reply, the line went dead. My heart pounded , every nerve in my body screaming.
I dropped the phone onto the couch and then buried my face in my hands. Nothing made sense. My husband , my daughter , this mysterious call. It all felt like some cruel, in ending nightmare.
And then there was a knock at the door.
I groaned , burying my face further into my arms. Who could possibly be here now. Another delivery ? Was it another reminder that my life had turned into chaos?
I wanted to ignore it, pretend I didn't hear
it, but the knocking grew insistent . Reluctantly , I pushed myself off the couch , my legs wobbling under me.
Opening the door, I was met by a man I didn't recognize . He was older , well dressed in a sleek black suit , carrying a brief case . His eyes , dark and unreadable , scanned me with unnerving precision.
“Mrs Rivers ?” he asked , his tone professional , yet very sharp. I nodded in approval unsure of what to say.
“I have some documents for you.” he said , he continued producing a khaki envelope from his briefcase. “Important documents. I suggest that you read them immediately.” He added.
My fingers trembled as I took it from him .
“What ...what is it about?” I stuttered.
He smirked , a smile that didn't reach his eyes. “Something you need to see. By the way , my name is Frank. ” without another word, he turned and left.
I closed the door slowly, staring at the envelope like it might bite. The air in my living room felt thick , almost suffocating . Slowly, I sank onto the couch , bracing myself to open it.
Hands shaking , I peeled the flap . Inside neatly printed , were papers that made my blood run cold . Divorce documents. They were signed and ready . And , a claim, that I had been unfaithful.
My phone buzzed again . This time , the screen lit up with his name . And now , he tried to frame me. He cheated and abandoned me.
i refused to pick the call. Not once did I want to hear him speak, to justify himself . But the ringing didn't stop . I just decided to pick it up.
“Hope you received the divorce documents .“ his voice cut through , icy and obviously cruel.
“ I hope you sign them soon cause I want to begin life with the woman I love.”
My chest tightened . My stomach dropped as well. He was talking about my damn daughter!! Rage, heartbreak b, disbelief all collided at once . I wanted to scream , or to collapse or even hit him. But at this moment , I was powerless.
***
I sank back into the couch, clutching the envelope . I couldn't breathe . There was so much going on.
Hours passed. I didn't move . I didn't even eat .I even didn't call anyone. The storm that was outside mirrored the one I had inside me . It was followed by rolling thunder then the first raindrops tapping against the window like tiny reminders of my shattered life.
Then there came another knock at the door. This was not hesitant, it was polite. It was rather forceful , urgent . My pulse spiked . I wasn't prepared for anyone.
I stood up and opened the door .There stood a young , tall , muscular with gray eyes piercing straight through me, as if he could see everything I had tried to hide. He was simply breathtaking.
Something about him made my heart beat faster , my legs feeling weak. My mind completely fogged.
“Who ....are you?” I asked in barely a whisper. He didn't answer immediately . Instead , his gaze held mine. Searching and probing . This made my chest tightened. I recognized something I couldn't tell.
Then, slowly he spoke . “Missed you like crazy!”
Before I could even react, his lips were on mine. They were hard and firm as well as demanding. My knees almost gave up My heart betrayed me by responding to the kiss.
I barely had time to recover from the kiss when I heard another voice...a voice I knew very well.
Richard!!
- Writer
