My Billionaire Ex-Husband is On His Knees

Leaving For Good

LAUREL’S POV

Marcy arrived just in time to hold my hair away from my face while I vomited. After I finished, I rinsed my mouth and washed my face, drying it with a towel.

“Please tell me it’s not what I think, Laurel,” Marcy said urgently, keeping her gaze on me as I stepped out of the bathroom.

“It’s not,” I looked at her, shaking my head as I already knew what she was thinking. I settled at the edge of the bed. “It’s probably because of the running.”

“No one becomes this nauseous from a little run,” she said insistently.

I watched with a baffled expression on my face as she went straight to my dressing table, pulled the drawer open and searched inside for something. She brought out a pregnancy test strip.

Being my closest friend and having come to my bedroom several times, she knew where I kept all my stuff. I’ve had that pregnancy test strip since Frank and I got married and we started trying out for a baby.

“Here,” she extended her hand to give it to me. “Take the test. There is every chance you might be pregnant.”

“No…” I grimaced as I moved her hand away from my face. “Not now, Marcy.”

“It’s now Laurel,” she insisted with a resolute expression. “You’d better act now or regret it later. This is the only chance you’ve got to save your marriage so take it!”

After much pestering from her, I reluctantly decided to take the test. My world came crashing before me on seeing it come out positive.

“Oh my God, Laure!” Marcy gasped, her eyes widening with relief and excitement. “This is great news! Just what you and Frank need to resolve your issues and save your marriage.”

I forced a smile. I couldn’t bring myself to share in her joy because this pregnancy changed absolutely nothing. “I’m not telling him.”

“Why?...” Her joy was cut short as she looked at me, her eyes widened in shock. “What do you mean you’re not telling him?...”

“After giving it much thought I see no need for it,” I sighed as I explained to her. “Frank has already made it clear to me he doesn’t love me. At this point, there is no telling if this marriage needs no saving. It’s over already. If I tell him I’m pregnant, he’ll probably not believe me. He’ll think I’m desperate and the last thing I want is to be desperate for a man’s love after what just happened.”

“But you have to fight,” she said lowly but persistently. “You can’t just give in like this and let that self-entitled b***h win…”

“Fight for what exactly?” I cut in, tears forming in my eyes. “For a love that never truly existed? For a man that isn’t worth it? Don’t you get that Frank married me only for my money? I have fought enough already. There is no point fighting anymore. He’ll only hate me more and treat me like trash. I don’t want my baby to grow up knowing his father never loved his mum and will probably never love him. It’s time to give up, Marcy. I’m going to sign those divorce papers and once I’m done, I’m leaving this city for good. I want to get as far away as possible from Frank and have a chance to seek a new direction in life.”

“Laurel…” Marcy looked at me in sympathy, reaching out to hold my hand and pressing it gently. She wanted to say something but I stopped her.

“If you value me as a friend then you’ll respect my decision,” I glanced away and said with a heavy heart.

She blinked away the tears forming in her eyes and nodded silently, trying to keep up a smile.

Her phone buzzed in her handbag. She took it out and as she checked the message, she looked at me as though something bad had happened.

“What is it?” I asked almost alarmingly.

“It’s Andrew. Frank said he isn’t going anywhere until you’ve signed the divorce papers.”

I took in a deep breath. “Let’s go then.”

Before we headed out, I instructed the servants to start packing my stuff. If I can’t leave this afternoon then I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning. It’s a tough decision but it’s for the best.

Frank and Miranda were impatiently waiting in the outdoor lounge. As I arrived, they both scowled at me, Miranda muttering some curse words under her breath. But I didn’t bother to react.

Without holding back on anything, I took the pen and signed the divorce papers. My heart cracked and a teardrop threatened to fall out from my eyes but I held it back, doing all I could to maintain a tough demeanour.

“Finally!” Frank exclaimed as though released from a b*****e. He stood up and took the divorce paper, going through it to make sure there was no mistake of any sort. When he was certain it was all in order, he smiled broadly.

Happily, he made his way back to Miranda who was equally excited. He snaked his arms around her waist and dipped his head to give her a passionate kiss, not caring that we were watching.

Grief and despair tore me to shreds as I watched them, almost peeling off the tough layer I was trying to keep on. I couldn’t believe that I had immersed myself in a love story that never belonged to me. All these years I have been paving the way for their relationship to happen. How didn’t I see it coming? I felt so dumb. So used.

Marcy wanted to hold and comfort me but I let her know I was fine on my own. I can get through this.

“We can be on our way now,” Frank still excited, took Miranda’s hands. They wanted to leave when Andrew stopped them.

“Frank, the law demands that you share fifty per cent of your wealth and assets with Laurel as alimony now that you two are divorced.”

“There is no way that is happening,” Frank shook his head firmly.

“Yes!” Miranda chimed in furiously. “There is no way my husband is going to share his hard-earned wealth with her.”

“More like HER hard-earned wealth,” Marcy snorted derisively at her.

Miranda growled at her.

“If you don’t do that Frank then we’ll have no choice but to take this matter to court. And you know the court will rule in Laurel’s favour. After all, you were the one that cheated, so man up and do what you’re supposed to do.”

But Frank was still persistent. The argument was becoming intense between them so I intervened.

“It’s okay you two,” I said, calming Andrew and Marcy down. “Don’t worry. Let him go. I’ll be fine on my own.”

“No Laurel,” Andrew insisted seriously. “This is your right. I know you’re heartbroken and in pain but don’t let that cloud your judgement right now. You have no savings or investment. You need this to survive.”

“No, Andrew!” I said, holding onto my decision. “I can survive on my own. I don’t need Frank or any other person’s help to do that.”

Andrew seeing my reaction, sighed and had no other choice but to stop and give in to my decision. Marcy too.

Frank slashed out a scornful laugh. I couldn’t help but look at him, wondering what could be funny in any of this.

“You’ve lived all your life depending on your mummy, daddy and me for survival,” he said mockingly, feeling himself. “I bet you can’t survive a day without me in your life.”

“Watch me,” I gritted, glaring at him.

“You can keep the mansion. I don’t want you to die in poverty,” he laughed loudly in scorn before they left.

After they left, I breathed out heavily, the tough look I was keeping on finally breaking off completely as I wallowed in despair. I had acted like the divorce didn’t affect me but deep down it did. This was something I never expected to happen in a thousand years. I had to grip the edge of a nearby table for support to keep myself from falling.

Andrew and Marcy helped me settle down. They consoled me, doing everything to make me feel better. I was grateful I had people like them in my life.

A few minutes later, the servants brought my suitcases. They were sad that I was living but understood the reason and respected my choice. They already knew what happened between Frank and me so there was no use keeping it from them.

It pained me deeply they’d be left without a job and would have to undergo the stress of finding another one. As much as I wanted to prevent that, there was nothing I could do. I didn’t even have any money to at least compensate them for their years of loyal service. But at least they knew I loved them more than words could express, and they did the same to me.

“Are you sure about this?” Marcy asked for the one-hundredth time, clearly heartbroken I was leaving.

“Yes,” I breathed out, tired of having to answer over and over again.

“Where will you be going?” She asked in tears.

“Some place quiet where I can have my baby and rediscover my path in life. I’m thinking Healdsburg, California.”

She cried some more, hugging me tightly and for a long time before letting go.

Andrew had been away for a few minutes, constantly checking his phone. He made his way back to me, doing his best to keep a supportive smile.

“I sent you some money and texted my driver to come take you to the airport…”

I didn’t let him finish as I refused his offer even though I didn’t have a penny on me. “No…Andrew. Thank you but I can’t accept this.”

“Please Laurel,” he pleaded. “It’s the least we can do after all these years we’ve known each other and you’ve been kind to us. Please accept it.”

Marcy pleaded too. At that point, it was hard for me not to accept so reluctantly, I did.

“You can sell the mansion and kee

p whatever money you make from it. That’s my way of paying back.”

They both forced a smile at what I said but didn’t say anything.

A few minutes later, the driver arrived to pick me up. I said my last goodbyes to them and left in tears.