Chapter 4
1418 Words
The Truth Behind The Papers
Cynthia did not sleep that night,not even for a minute.
She sat on the edge of the hotel bed with her daughter sleeping beside her, staring at the door,the man was gone,the stranger.
The one who claimed he knew her,the one who said he was there the night her daughter was born,his words kept returning to her mind,Austin wasn't there.
She hated the thought,she hated that part of her wanted to believe him,and she hated even more that she couldn't.
Outside the hotel room, the corridor had gone silent after the footsteps disappeared.
Who were those people?where had the stranger gone?why did he know about her daughter?
Cynthia didn't have answers,she only had fear.
She looked at her sleeping daughter.
“No more,” she whispered.
She couldn't stay in this country,not another night.
She had spent years telling herself that whatever happened in the past was finished,she had buried it deep, and she had built a family,a home,a life.
Now everything was coming back,her marriage.Austin.Victoria.The photograph,the stranger,all of it.
Cynthia reached for her phone,there was one person she could trust,her lawyer.
She scrolled through her contacts and stopped at the name,Mrs. Nancy Johnson.
She hesitated,it was almost five in the morning,then she called.
The phone rang several times.
“Hello?”
Nancy's sleepy voice came through.
“Nancy.”
There was a pause.
“Cynthia?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“I need you.”
Nancy became fully awake.
“Are you alright?”
“No.”
“What happened?”
“I left Austin.”
Silence.
“You left him?”
“Yes.”
“Are you safe?”
Cynthia looked at the door.
“For now.”
“What does that mean?”
“I'll explain when I see you.”
Nancy sighed.
“Where are you?”
Cynthia hesitated.
Then gave her the hotel name.
“Don't tell anyone.”
“Of course.”
“I need you to prepare the divorce papers.”
Nancy was silent.
“Cynthia, are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“You've never said you wanted a divorce.”
“I didn't.”
“What changed?”
Cynthia looked at her daughter.
“Everything.”
Nancy didn't push.
“When do you want the papers served?”
“Today.”
“Today?”
“I can't wait.”
“You need to calm down.”
“I am calm.”
“You're not.”
Cynthia almost laughed.
"I think Nancy was right.
Her voice was shaking,her hands were cold,but she had made up her mind.
“I want the papers served to Austin today.”
Nancy sighed.
“Alright.”
“And I want my travel documents prepared.”
“Where are you going?”
“Out of the country.”
“Cynthia…”
“I need to leave.”
“Are you running from something?”
Cynthia closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“What?”
She opened her eyes again.
“My past.”
Nancy said nothing, and Cynthia ended the call.
She looked at the clock,5:18 a.m,Morning was coming,she had survived the night,barely.
She stood and walked to the bathroom,her reflection frightened her,her eyes were swollen,her face looked tired,she didn't recognize herself.
For years, she had been Austin's wife.
She had smiled beside him at events,held his hand in public,defended him when people said he worked too much.
She had believed in him,even when he stopped coming home early.
Even when he stopped looking at her the way he once did.then Victoria appeared,everything changed,Cynthia touched her wedding ring,she had not removed it,not yet,She pulled it from her finger,for a moment, she stared at it.
She placed it on the bathroom counter, a small thing,but it felt like the end of something enormous.
She returned to the bedroom, Sandra,her daughter was awake.
“Mommy.”
Cynthia smiled.
“Good morning.”
“Are we going home today?”
“No.”
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere far away.”
“Is Daddy coming?”
Cynthia sat beside her.
“No, sweetheart.”
“Why?”
Cynthia looked at the little girl's innocent face.
“Mommy and Daddy need to stay apart.”
The child frowned. “Did Daddy make you sad or cry?”
Cynthia's eyes filled with tears,she looked away.
“Sometimes grown-ups hurt each other without meaning to.”
“Daddy loves you.”
Cynthia looked back at her.“I thought so too.”
The words slipped out before she could stop them,her daughter wrapped her arms around her.
Cynthia held her tightly,she needed to be strong,for her,only her.
At eight in the morning, while preparing a cup of tea for Sandra, her daughter, Cynthia received a call from Nancy.
“The papers are ready.”
“Good.”
“I'll send someone to serve him.”
“No.”
Nancy paused.
“No?”
“I want to deliver them myself.”
“Are you sure that's wise?”
“I need to look him in the eyes.”
“Cynthia…”
“I need to know if he is lying.”
Nancy sighed.
“Then be careful.”
“I will.”
She ended the call,for the first time since leaving home, Cynthia felt something close to peace,it didn't last,her phone rang.
Austin.
She watched it vibrate, but she didn't answer.
Then a message came.
"I know what you're planning.
Her heart stopped,another followed.
Don't sign anything or bring the divorce papers until you hear the truth.
Cynthia stared at the screen,her fingers moved.
What truth?
No response.
She waited.
Nothing.
Then her phone rang again.
Not Austin.
Nancy,
Cynthia answered.
“Hello?”
“Cynthia, there's a problem.”
Her stomach tightened.
“What?”
“The divorce papers.”
“What about them?”
“I checked Austin's legal records before sending the documents.”
“And?”
Nancy hesitated.
“Your marriage certificate has a problem.”
Cynthia frowned.
“What kind of problem?”
“It appears Austin wasn't legally married to you.”
The room went silent.
Cynthia couldn't understand.
“What?”
“I checked again.”
“You're wrong.”
“I wish I was.”
Cynthia gripped the phone.
“Nancy, we had a wedding.”
“I know.”
“We signed papers.”
“I know.”
“My name is on the certificate.”
“I know.”
“Then what are you saying?”
Nancy lowered her voice.
“Someone filed a document years ago declaring your marriage invalid.”
Cynthia felt dizzy.
“Who?”
“That is the problem.”
“Who filed it?”
Nancy didn't answer immediately.
Then she said,
“A man.”
“What man?”
“He used a different name.”
Cynthia's heart began racing.
“What's his name?”
Nancy inhaled.
“Daniel.”
Cynthia froze.
The room seemed to tilt.
She sat slowly on the edge of the bed.
“No.”
“Cynthia…”
“No.”
Her daughter looked at her.
“Mommy?”
Cynthia couldn't respond.
Nancy continued speaking.
“There is more.”
“What?”
“The document was filed shortly after your wedding.”
Cynthia's lips parted.
“Why?”
“I don't know."
“Then find out.”
“I've been trying.”
“And?”
Nancy's voice trembled.
“I found something else.”
Cynthia closed her eyes.
“What?”
“The document contains a handwritten note.”
“What does it say?”
Nancy was silent for several seconds.
Then she read the words.
She must never know who the child's real father is.
Cynthia's entire body went cold,she looked at her daughter.
The little girl was smiling.
unaware,innocent.
Cynthia couldn't speak.
Nancy said her name.
“Cynthia?”
She still couldn't answer.
Someone knocked on the hotel door,Cynthia looked up,her heart began pounding,the knock came again,three times,slow, she moved toward the door.
She looked through the peephole,nobody,she stepped back,her phone was still against her ear.
“Nancy…”
“Yes?”
“Someone is at my door.”
“Don't open it.”
“I won't.”
Then a piece of paper slid slowly underneath the door,Cynthia stared at it,she didn't want to touch it,but she did,there was only one sentence written on it.
You are looking for a divorce, Cynthia.
Her breath caught, and another line appeared beneath it.
"You should be looking for your daughter."
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