Chapter four
1120 Words
"It was one of the guards that found you" she explained as she stroked my hand. "He came to keep the laundry when he found you but somehow managed to call me. What happened babe? "
" It's Jacksonville, he always beats me up especially when he comes back home drunk" I explained all I had been going through silently.
Then in a quiet but firm voice, she told me that she would help to talk to my dad about all I have been through. I remember drifting off to sleep again after that.
I was still convalescent when they took me home. Jacksonville never showed any sign of remorse. It was now it became clearer to me why he didn't marry from a wealthy family. He would have been sent to jail if he abused a rich man's daughter this way. But my case was worse, my dad wouldn't listen to me and would send me back to my husband's house if I tried discussing my challenges with him. I had no other option than to make my marriage work. I apologized to Jacksonville for all my wrongs (to him I was always wrong and he was perfect).
…
Derek Harrison called me out for a hangout. I agreed to it and we were going to meet at Schwarz by 5 pm.
Inside Schwarz is quaint. Booths line the windows and tables cluster in the middle of the restaurant. Pictures of animal drawings over the past thirty years hang on the wall and soft county music drones on the radio. From what I heard, it's a hot spot for business lunches and people of the upper class.
I walked in wearing a crop top and a wrap-short skirt, with my eye shade on, my hair packed into two buns and my lips watering from strawberry lip gloss.
"Sorry, you've been waiting," I said as I approached where he sat.
He nodded "No problem, you look great"
Derek was dressed in a freshly pressed shirt with a neatly knotted bow tie and polished shoes and his dark curly hair like his shoes gleamed in the sunlight. He was a fine-looking and well-mannered gentleman, I envied his intelligence. I got to know more about him. He didn't live here in California, he came to visit his cousin who had just been put to bed. I started liking this guy, I mean the brains, handsomeness, humility, and everything about him giving. He was everything I dreamed of as a husband before fate turned its hands on me. I wasn't bored anymore as I now had a friend that is always ready to listen anytime, anywhere.
I got free with this guy and I opened up to him. I told him about the hell I faced while living in Jacksonville. Tears streamed down my eyes as I got emotional explaining my life from staying with my dad to being married off. He consoled me and gave me words of encouragement.
We had a long day, from Schwarz, we went to watch a movie, and after watching the movie, we went to get ice cream. I mean it was so much fun that I forgot my sorrows for a while.
I looked at my wristwatch, It was past 7 p.m. "I have to go"
"Let me drop you off then," He pointed at his flashy Lamborghini car parked at the side of the ice cream shop.
He held my hands as we walked towards the car. He opened the front door for me and I shyly entered his car. He drove me to the house and stopped me at 30 feet close to Jacksonville gate. I walked into the gate and went into the mansion.
I hurriedly went upstairs, Jacksonville wasn't home yet. I took my bath and laid on the bed of the room beside Jacksonville's, with the AC on, I fell asleep.
I woke up the next morning, I opened my door and was about to take a step only to see Valerie coming out from Jacksonville's room wearing singlet and shorts.
"You slept over?" I asked in surprise.
"Yes, I slept downstairs in the guest room. I came to see you last night only to find out that you were asleep." She explained slowly trying to put her words right.
"So what were you doing in Jacksonville's room, You would have called me on the phone you know," I walked towards her.
"Ah, my bad! My phone was switched off. I thought you guys slept together that's why I headed straight to his room" She held my hands," Any chores I could help you with?" She asked.
"Let's go bake! Just because it's Saturday…!!" We immediately walked down the stairs.
…
This past few days, I have felt unease with my body. I thought it was a result of stress since I barely had rest with all the chores and stuff, Mrs. Angelo was coming back today from her leave. I went to the city hospital to run a test to find out what was wrong with me, It was about 3 pm when the house driver drove me to the hospital.
As I stepped down from the car, a group of reporters from all corners rushed at me.
"How does it feel to be married off to the most eligible billionaire's son in California?" a reporter questioned.
" What can you say about the rumors of Jacksonville hooking up with Sally Roberts?" another report questioned.
Who was Sally Roberts? Or should it be the girl he made up with on our wedding night? I asked myself as the jumble of words mixed up my mindset.
Ever since my wedding, I haven't been to an open place where reporters could see me and question me like I was some information broadcaster.
The guards pushed them away as I walked into the hospital. I ran the test and sat down for the results to come out.
"Mrs Claire Jacksonville" shouted a voice from the other end.
I stood up and walked towards the doctor. She smiled as I approached her.
She pointed at the vacant seat in front of her. "Have a seat"
I sat down wondering why she was smiling.
"You're two months pregnant" she smiled at me.
"What?" I raised my head to the ceiling.
She nodded offering me the test results.
"Congratulations"
I can still recollect the expression on my face, my eyes got red and it looked like I was gonna blow up. I wasn't prepared for pregnancy.
Tears blurred my vision as I tried to collect the test results. Why was God doing this to me? –and letting me suffer more in the hands of Jacksonville?
- Writer
