Chapter 2

Hannah’s POV:

His forehead creased in bewilderment as the weight of my words settled in his ears.

“Hannah, I know you don’t have it in you to ever divorce me.” He scoffed. “I saved your life, remember?”

His words made me go still. Memories of when I was kidnapped at 16 years old, which I’ve tried to bury, came flooding back.

In high school, I was the one everyone stayed away from; just the scholarship kid at that fancy school. My family was never around, and I never brought them up. Everyone pretty much saw me as some broke loser who didn’t belong there. Hayes was the only one who was actually nice to me.

One day, I was kidnapped and held captive for two whole years. After going through endless torments and finally managing to survive from the kidnappers, things didn’t get any better for me.

Everyone automatically assumed I must have survived as a sex slave. Even though I tried to explain and even showed medical reports to prove otherwise, they still saw me as some dirty disease carrier.

Even the person I grew up with; the one who promised to protect me forever; his first words when he saw me was to ask if I had HIV. Hayes was the only one who didn’t hesitate to hug me when I came back.

Hayes and I were part of the engineering club in high school, and he had given me a prototype of a hair clip with a tracking device he was working on that day before I left school. Hayes told me he had tracked me with that hair clip and saved me after two years.

“If not for my hair clip, you would still be rotting in that place.” He sneered, looking at me point-blank.

Hayes was constantly hovering the fact that he saved me over my head to control me. My story became a big one once it got out to the public, and Hayes was able to lead the police to my captors secret location to get them arrested. All the money from endorsement deals I made due to my popularity then, I gave it all up to Hayes because I thought I needed to pay him back somehow for saving my life.

I helped work on and publicize his tracker hair clip, which surprisingly didn’t work but had somehow managed to save me that day. I didn’t pursue my PhD in engineering but instead married Hayes because he asked me to, as that drew in more money for him.

Hayes built his now very successful tech company on MY IMAGE, MY NAME, AND MY MONEY.

Still, he constantly made me feel like a liability. Like I hadn’t done anything worth mentioning. Like I didn’t survive on my own for TWO WHOLE YEARS before he found me.

“Hayes, I—” I was cut off by his phone ringing.

“Hey, Lenora, what's wrong?” His tone turned sweet like honey, a staggering difference from the hostile one he spoke to me with.

“You’re feeling pain? I’m coming right now.” Immediately he bolted out the door, and without sparing me a single glance as he ran out, he said. “Make sure you come to the hospital to tender your apology.”

I stumbled back incredibly.

This man didn’t even care about whatever I had to say. He still was solely fixated on me apologizing!!

That was it; things were now way beyond talking. It was time for action.

I pulled out my phone from my back pocket and dialed my lawyer's number. “Hello, ma’am, to what do I owe this pleasure?” Cathy’s voice rang out through the phone.

“I need you to draft up my divorce papers. How soon can you get it?”

“Madam?” She replied, the surprise evident in her voice.

I didn’t blame her; anyone would be shocked as to how a loyal, devoted wife suddenly wanted a divorce. If only they knew half of what I’ve seen.

She cleared her throat. “I can get you the divorce papers within the week, but the main issue rests on both parties' willingness to sign it.” She buttressed.

From the look of things, Hayes resistance might pose an issue. Our prenuptial agreement is thicker than the Bible and Hayes will definitely try to use it to control me.

“It’s fine, just prepare them and send them over.” I told her and was about to hang up when I remembered. “Wait. There’s something else I need you to do.”

“What is that, ma’am?”

“I need you to prepare a lawsuit for intentional damage and assault.” There was no way in hell I was going to let Lenora get Scott-free with trying to run me over.

“Hmm… do you have any evidence of the assault?” Cathy asked.

“Yes, I have dashcam footage of the accident; I’ll send it over to you.”

“Alright. I’d get everything ready, but there’s a 30-day response window. In the meantime, my advice is to gather as much extra evidence as you can. The more we have, the better our case would be.” She informed me, and I thanked her before ending the call.

Now with that out of the way, what next?

My phone buzzed with a notification; it was a reminder for an event. ‘E.N.L SCIENCE INVENTION COMPETITION.’

This was one of the biggest science competitions that took place every 1 year. It was always filled with leading scientists and engineers, and those who won the competition got awards and recognition in the tech world and also sponsorships and endorsements.

Back then, I had given my spot to Lenora and gave her my project for submission, which earned Lenora a ‘Most Promising’ award and built her reputation. But I wasn’t so stupid anymore; this was my chance to get back what was rightfully mine.

Speedily, I logged into the app to try and book a slot for myself, but I was too late. I had apparently already given my slot to Lenora.

I stared at the screen in disappointment. The competition was just a month away; I needed to get in as soon as possible. I couldn’t let Lenora steal this from me again.

Then a light bulb of an idea flickered on in my mind. “Josh!!” I said to myself.

I scrolled through my contacts and called Josh. He was a judge for the competition, so there was a possibility he had an open slot for me.

He picked up on the first ring. “Hey, birthday girl,” he teased.

“I’m calling you to ask for a favor.” I quickly cut to the chase.

“Oh! What’s that?” He answered curiously.

“Do you have an open spot for me for the E.N.L Competition?” I rolled out the words fast so I wouldn’t have a chance to stop myself even if I wanted.

“E.N.L.? I thought you said you weren’t interested in competing, and were giving your spot to that annoying husband of yours sister-in-law?” I could see him roll his eyes in annoyance. He detested both Hayes and Lenora.

“Josh,” I let out a deep breath. “I’m getting a divorce.”

A loud scream rippled through the phone and into my innocent eardrum, almost making me deaf. “Woah!!” Josh jubilated.

“Finally!!! This is such good news. Meet me at the bar opposite FeliCa Cafe; you have to tell me everything over drinks.”

He hung up after letting out one last elated shrill.

I grabbed my box and wheeled it down to the sitting room. When I got to the center table, I took off my wedding ring and placed it on the table before leaving.

*

*

At the bar, my phone rang for the third time, it was Hayes again. This time instead of just ending the call, I also blocked his number and faced Josh fully.

“Cheers to your freedom,” he raised his glass, the bar light reflecting through the brown liquor. We clicked glasses and gulped down the content.

I hadn’t dropped my glasses when my phone rang again from an unknown caller. I answered the call and Hayes' agitated voice immediately boomed through. “You blocked me?”

“Hayes, I—” he cut me off. “Look, since you are the cause of Lenora’s accident and the reason she can’t participate in the competition now, it is your duty to help her pass the prelims.” Hayes fired hot. It wasn’t a suggestion; it was a command.

I shook my head. History really always does repeat itself.

“What if she refuses and competes under her name?” I heard Lenora ask in the background. “Don’t worry, how would she? She’s an ordinary housewife and a low-level assistant.”

A low-level assistant who is responsible for every major successful feat in your company.

“How dare he talk to you like that?” Josh cut in angrily, his grip tightening around the glass.

“Ohh!!” Hayes ululated. “So it’s because you’re cheating on me, that’s why you’re asking for a divorce, right? You’re with the bastard now, aren’t you?”

The hypocrisy is a sore sight.

“Not everyone is as shameless as you.” I hung up and switched off the phone.

I tried to look Josh in the eyes, but my embarrassment wouldn’t let me. “I’m sorry you had to hear that.” I apologize, turning all my attention to the glass on the table.

“My taste in men is just the worst, I guess.” I joked, trying to break the awkward silence. He didn’t laugh.

“Yeah, your taste in men sucks!” A man’s voice suddenly sliced through the uncomfortable silence.

I whip my head around to see the source of the familiar voice. “Adam?” My eyes grew wide.

“Hi, Hannah. It's been a while.” A soft smile displayed Adam’s perfect dentition and caused a slight wrinkle at the sides of his deep blue eyes.

When last did I see that perfect smile up close?

Focus!! Why is he here?

Sharply, I turned to face Josh, and whispered. “You told him?”

Josh raised his hands up defensively. “Hey, my slots were all given out. His slot's the one I'm asking for.”

He downed the last contents of his glass and grabbed his jacket from the bar table. “I’ll leave you two to catch up.” He winked at me and made a swift escape.

“I’m going to kill you, Josh!!” I mumbled underneath her breath as Josh disappeared through the door.

I heard a small chuckle escape Adam’s mouth. He must have heard me.

Adam, Josh, and I were friends from college. Back then, Adam was doing his PhD in engineering while I and Josh were still undergrads, because our professor was always swamped with work, Adam became our go-to mentor, putting us through most of our studies and projects.

But when I decided to drop out and not pursue my PhD because Hayes asked me to marry him. Adam got so pissed, and we got into a huge argument. After that day, a year ago, we haven't spoken.

Adam pulled out the chair Josh was formally on and sat down. “You don't have to try and get me a spot. I will find another way.” I quickly shot, my eyes looking at everything else but him.

Somewhere at the back of my mind the look of disappointment Adam gave me that day I decided to drop out still haunted me and I was still too ashamed to face him.

“Well, too late because I've already got you registered in.” He revealed. My heart bounced up and down with joy and without thinking I jumped up to hug him.

What are you doing? I quickly broke off the hug, regaining my earlier composure.

Adam noticed this and his eyes searched my body for something, then I saw it land on my empty ring finger. His eyes widened.

“You're not wearing your ring? Are you divorced?” He pried.

I felt a lump in my throat as he asked me that. Never would I have guessed that things were going to end up like this between me and Hayes. I always thought we would grow old together.

“Umm…it's…,” my voice croaked as I fought back the tears welling up in my eyes.

“It's alright,” Adam stopped me. He saw that I was still hurting and wasn't prepared to talk about it now.

“The competition is in a month, though. Do you have a place to work? I assume you won't want to go back to your ex-husband’s company?” He changed the topic.

I nodded my head to verify his statement.

“Come live with me then. I have a workplace section in my house. You could use it to develop your submission for the competition. I mean, it's just for a month.” He offered and I stared at him doe-eyed in surprise.

Adam wasn't one to get involved in other people's affairs. In fact, he liked to keep to himself, so it came as a shock that he was telling me to come stay with him.

I was immensely grateful.

“Thank you.” I mouthed, a tear I had been fighting back broke free and ran down my cheek.

Adam led me out of the bar to where his black SUV was parked outside and gestured for me to get in the car. Once inside, he asked, “So… what’s your plan now?”

I smiled. “Guess I’ll go home and inherit my billions.”