Bella felt as if the floor had been snatched from beneath her and she grabbed the sofa to steady herself, otherwise, she was sure that her legs would give way
"You want to get divorced?" She wheezed, he really wants to get rid of her and be with Joana?
"You heard me, let's get divorced, I'll send you the divorce paper soon"
Bella didn't say anything, she swallowed painfully, it was slowly sinking in that he didn't love her anymore. She was hopeful that he would forgive her but...
"What did you want to discuss with me?" He asked impatiently
"Huh" She stared at him for a moment, she couldn't tell him about the baby, he would be very angry with her or worse, would want to take her baby from her and give it to Joana to raise, "n... nothing" she replied and without even another glance at her, he walked straight to his room and shut the door behind him.
Bella sank on the sofa, her brain was still processing what he had said, instinctively, she clutched her stomach protectively, some minutes ago, she had almost told him about her pregnancy but now, she could not, she must not let him know that she was pregnant.
She stared at the house where she had lived the past year, she thought it would be her home forever but now, she was living and another woman would come in and take over as the mistress of the house.
"Where will I go?" She muttered she couldn't go back to Aunty Christy's house, that was where the scandal started, she had to go where she was not known.
Tiredly, she covered her face with her palms and sighed into it, her head was throbbing again and she felt so sleepy already, tiredly, she stood up and went into her room.
That might, she dreamt of the day she got married to Daniel, although, it was the first time she had seen him, she had promised herself that he would be the one that she would spend the rest of her life with, she had promised herself that she would protect and fight for her marriage, she dreamt about his love
"I will love you forever Bella and nothing will come between us" he had promised after they had fallen deeply in love with each other and she had believed him, she had entrusted him with her heart and she thought that the happiness she felt was forever.
Even with her eyes closed, tears escaped from the corners of her eyes without her knowledge, she felt so miserable even in her sleep.
Bella woke up the next day with the usual heartache, she had decided that she would leave before her pregnancy started to show, pregnancy is not what one would hide forever, she was a month gone already and the signs would start showing anytime soon.
She arranged some of her clothes and went downstairs to eat, she will live because of her child, she has to be strong, now, she is no longer alone, she has little being that is dependent on her for survival.
She ate as much as she could and told Maria to take some of it to her room.
Maria was surprised that Bella ate this much and even asked for some of it to be taken to her room, she assumed that Bella was already feeling better and was happy. She wished that her boss would forgive his wife, they made a very good couple.
As soon as Maria went up with the food, Bella checked the kitchen cabinet and took some canned food, she hid it under her dress and sat down properly before Maria could return downstairs
Maria thought it was odd that Bella was still seated at the table even after eating, "do you want anything, ma'am?" She asked politely
"No, thank you, Maria, you may go" Maria nodded and went back to her quarters.
As soon as she was gone, Bella rushed upstairs and put the canned food in her bag, she would survive on this until she got something doing that would sustain her and the baby.
She did not even know where she was going, all she knew was that she wanted to get away from here before her pregnancy started to show, she did not want to think about what Daniel would do when he found out that she was pregnant.
At noon, she sat in the living room, she turned on the television without really seeing anything, she was thinking of where to go and she was so absent-minded that she didn't hear him come in
"Here are the divorce papers, sign them before I get back" he ordered and placed some documents in front of her, without waiting for her reply, he turned and left.
Bella hadn't thought that she was still capable of crying, she thought that there were no more tears left to shed as she had cried so much already but to her surprise, tears slipped from her eyes and flowed down her cheeks, this was it, after signing this, they will be separated forever, he would be free to marry whomever he wished to marry
A sob wrenched from deep within her, she wanted to still fight, to still believe that they could work it out, but she knew that there was nothing more left of their love, what was left were just ashes and debris.
Bella could not bring herself to sign those papers, she didn't even bother to go through them, she gently placed them on the table, went upstairs, and carried the bag that was already arranged with her clothes and some food, she carried her savings and quietly left the house.
*******************************************
Daniel's heart was heavy, his marriage had already come to an end, and he knew that she would sign the papers as soon as she read the contract.
Upon divorce, he had stipulated that she get half of his wealth, which was millions of dollars not including his estates and businesses, he knew she would be very happy to sign it.
She had planned to run away with Jeremy with his money, if that was the only thing she wanted from him then he would give it to her as a goodbye gift.
He shut his eyes tight and rubbed his throbbing temple, "I loved you Bella and it hurts that you only play with my emotions" he murmured.
When Daniel got home that evening, he saw the divorce papers lying on the stool where he had kept them earlier, his heart twisted, she had signed it.
He slowly walked towards the paper and picked it up and got the shock of his life, she did not sign it?
He could not help the joy that flooded his heart, he picked up the divorce paper and dashed to her room, taking the stairs two at a time.
He pushed the door open and was surprised when he did not find her there, he turned to leave but something caught his eyes, some things were missing in the room, he walked towards the wardrobe and opened it, his eyes widened when she noticed that some of them were gone, his heart thudding he rushed downstairs and called his workers but none of them had seen Bella. She has simply vanished without signing the divorce, gone from his life just the way she came in.
*
*
Brittany could not sleep, she was in so much pain, and she was having cramps and contractions. She had gone to the hospital earlier but the doctor had said that it was false contractions.
"If this is false contractions, I wonder what real contractions feel like"
"I'm taking you back to the hospital, whether false or real contractions, you're staying right there," Aaron said, sweat glistening on his forehead as he watched his wife come out from one contraction or the other. He felt so helpless and did not even know what to do.
He just finished wearing his shirt when she screamed, "babeeee", he rushed to her and she was staring wide eyes at her legs
"What it is?"
"My water just broke"
Aaron panicked, "What are we gonna do? Is the baby coming out already? Let's start going to the hospital"
"I can't move" she shouted, "it hurts so much"
Aaron flipped open his phone and called the midwife to come to his house instead, he helped Brittany back on the bed, she was lying face up and sweating profusely despite the cold, well, they were both sweating.
Brittany screamed and Aaron rushed to hold her hands, "what is it?"
"It seems like the baby does not want to wait for the midwife, it's coming out already "
Aaron's eyes widened frantically, "please hold on baby" he begged
"Too late, your son had chosen this moment to come out, you will have to birth this child"
"B...but I have no idea what to do, I am not a Doctor"
Brittany groaned as a fierce contraction hit her and she pushed with the force of it, the baby came out and Aaron caught it in his arms
"It's a boy" he cried, "I have a son"
The door opened and the midwife came in and took over from him by cleaning the mother and child up and separating the umbilical cord from the mother.
Brittany smiled weakly and closed her eyes to sleep while holding the baby in her arms.