03: Betrayal At Its Peak

I slowly opened my eyes, the bright light disrupting my vision, my nose caught the sterile scent of the hospital. Confusion etched across my face as I took in the unfamiliar surroundings and realized I was truly in the hospital.

This wasn't a dream?

It's all real. I thought.

"My baby," I gasped as memories of what had happened earlier started to flood into my head and I sat upright on the bed, my body aching all over.

I checked between my legs and the blood... It was all gone.

Did something happen to my baby? Panic wavered through me as I was unsure of my answer. I needed to get answers, so, I struggled to stand up from the bed.

I was about to remove the drip passed into the veins on my right hand when the door slid open and a lady dressed in a white coat stepped in.

"You are awake," she smiled as she rushed over to me and helped me sit back in the bed.

"My baby..." I grabbed onto the doctor's coat, I needed a positive answer to keep my sanity in check.

God knows, if something happens to my baby, I don't know what would become of me.

The doctor gave me a warm smile. The back of her left hand came to my forehead as I stared hopelessly in anticipation at what she was about to say about the condition of my baby.

"Your baby is fine," she finally said, and the breath I was holding deeply within me was released as I let out an exasperated sigh.

"Thank Goodness," I muttered, closing my eyes, and placed my left hand on my stomach, rubbing it gently.

Thank you for hanging in there. I said inwardly, and a small smile formed on my lips.

"But there are complications," the doctor said, as she kept a distance between my bed.

My heart skipped a beat. "Wh-what is it?" I stuttered.

"You lost quite an amount of blood which is critical for you and the baby, especially the baby's health," she explained, and my eyes glistened with tears.

This was all Carl's fault.

"We will provide you with some multivitamins to strengthen you and your baby, but before that, we need you to have a lot of rest," I nodded and the doctor reached out to my hand and squeezed it gently.

"Have some rest, I will be back shortly," the doctor informed, and I smiled slightly.

"Okay," I muttered.

The beautiful doctor turned to take her leave when I spoke, halting her in her steps. "Please, Doctor, who brought me here?" I was curious, a little part of me hoped it was Carl.

"Someone...he asked us not to disclose his identity," the doctor glanced at me, and with an affirmative nod, she walked out of the room.

Who was the person? But whoever it was, I'm grateful to him for saving my life and that of my baby, and I hope to repay his kindness one day.

I placed my hands on my belly, I could feel my baby breathing steadily in me.

A tear slipped down my face. "I'm sorry, momma has to make you go through this," I whispered softly, I wished I could be a better person for my child.

I glanced beside me and saw a remote control and my phone on the table close to the bed. I grabbed the remote and switched on the television.

My face turned pale as of what I saw on the screen, I wasn't even given a break to recover from what I was going through. I was met with a gut-wrenching sight of Carl and Linda, walking hand in hand to an exquisite restaurant.

I swallowed the heavy lump in my throat, my heart was heavy, and it ached painfully, their happy smiles as they stared at each other were a nightmare for me, and it was broadcast for the whole world to see.

When Carl and I were together, it was hidden from the world like a curse. Each time Carl and I were to go out we drove in separate cars to avoid suspicions from social media, but here they were displaying how much they were in love with each other.

"Love seems to blossom between the handsome CEO of the Harris Limited company and his fiancée as they are spotted together again," the reporter excitedly said, and I gasped in shock.

My heart sank, the pain was more piercing than the physical injuries throbbing through my entire body.

Tears flowed down my face like a stream. "No... it can't be."

I still can't believe all this was happening to me within a limited amount of time. I was finding it difficult to believe.

"Are you okay, dear?" I struggled to tear my face away from the screen of the television and turned my head to see a nurse staring worriedly at me with a food tray in her hands.

I sniffed, wiping the tears on my face with my hands. "I don't know."

"You need to eat," the nurse said, and I nodded slightly and collected the food tray from her.

"Thank you," I muttered and took a spoon of the cereal, but honestly, I had no appetite.

I took a few more spoons to convince the nurse that I was fine... I wanted to be alone, she took the bait, but not before casting me a concerned look and walking out of the room.

I dropped the spoon back on the tray and summoned every ounce of strength left in me as I reached out for my phone.

Not even a single call from him. I thought.

With trembling fingers, I clicked on Carl's name and typed a message for him.

'I agree to the divorce.'

It was short, but there was nothing left for me to say to him. I hit the send button with a mixture of disappointment and acceptance.

I've come to finally love Carl, but he did nothing to spoil the beautiful moments, the happy moments we had shared together... everything was relived in my memories and I regretted none of it, yet the pain in my heart echoed the loneliness of a shattered love and the betrayal from a loved one.

Suddenly, I began to shiver, the hospital room seemed to be colder than ever before.

CARL

My phone buzzed, and I furrowed my brows when the name of the person popped up on the screen of my phone.

It was Alma... I sighed and clicked the message open.

'I agree to the divorce.'  I read surprisingly, and a slight smirk tugged at the corner of my lips.

She agreed finally. I thought.

I stared at the concise message for a while wondering if she was going to send in more messages but nothing came in.

Yesterday was our third wedding anniversary, but my mind was too clouded on wanting Linda back into my life to consider the consequences of my actions I couldn't care less since Linda was back into my life.

The deed was already done, and I began to type a response. "Ok—"

"You have been staring at your phone for so long, baby, won't you eat before your food gets cold," Linda said sweetly, she distracted me and I dropped my phone on the table and smiled at her.

Linda and I had been hanging out secretly a few months back, but she said she wanted everyone to know about us and that she was ready to make amendments to what Alma had done to us. Linda was my first love, and I couldn't help but listen to what she said and reacted on impulse to Alma.

Alma...

It's a good thing I have her out of my life now but yet I still had frail thoughts about her which I didn't want.

Do I feel guilty for treating her that way?

No, I don't think so.

"You are bothered about something, Carl," Linda said, annoyance lacing her words.

"I'm not," I answered her casually and cut the steak on my plate with the knife.

Linda arched one of her perfect brows at me. "Well, you're picking on your food, is it about Alma?" she questioned, and I dropped my cutleries immediately looking at her while she stared at me with anticipation.

"No, I've nothing to think about that wench but you," I responded, and she smiled blushing profusely at me.

I winked at her. "Let's eat then, my love," she giggled and I nodded.

After my date with Linda and dropping her at her apartment, I drove back home.

I opened the door of my home and walked in, but no one was there to welcome me.

No excited screams and jumping on me to give me a surprise hug which always annoyed the crap out of me.

"Alma?" I called out, but no response echoed through the silent home.

Did she leave already?

I walked into the bedroom and found nothing that belonged to Alma.

Mm... she packed out already, well, good she knew her place. I thought.

I checked through my call logs to find thirty-six missed calls from her.

My brows knitted together wondering why she went through the trouble to call me this much when she knew I wouldn't answer her.

I loosened my tie and threw my phone gently on the bed.

I stripped off my clothes and walked into the bathroom... I switch on the shower and let the cool water soothe my skin.

'I love you,' her voice had been ringing in my head ever since that day I left her lying helplessly on the floor in my office and it felt as if it was beginning to haunt me.

She never said those words to me when we were together, so why did she say it when I told her I was divorcing her?

To get my attention, of course! I scoffed.

My constant thoughts about Alma were starting to get to me and I annoyingly switched off the shower and walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped firmly around my waist.

After, putting on pajamas and slumping on the bed... her voice stealthily came into my head when I closed my eyes.

'Carl, I'm your wife.'

'Please, I'm begging you.'