After You Divorce Me

(Selena’s POV)

"Thank you," I said as the cab came to a halt.

I stepped out of the vehicle, taking in the huge building in front of me.

"The Callaway Company," one of the biggest companies in Asia.

My eyes moved to the windows, narrowing through the tinted glass, landing on one I believed was Ethan's. Was he there? Looking outside, could he see that I was here?

I didn’t ponder further and marched through the short gate separating the building from the rest of the world.

One of the security guards nodded at me in recognition, and I passed him a small smile.

My breath came shallow as I neared the entrance. The thought of Ethan's possible reaction filled my mind. I hadn't called to let him know I was coming.

I had wanted to surprise him. My hand tightened around the food basket which contained the meal I had prepared not long ago. Ethan's favorite. He had missed breakfast again.

These days, he barely has time to eat meals at home, leaves before breakfast, and returns after dinner. Managing the largest company in the country wasn't easy, still, I worried he might fall sick.

Which is one of the reasons I came. So we could go out later, enjoying each other's company just like old times.

I took a sharp turn, heading to an elevator at the side. This was private, only used by directors and managers.

I expected to be called back. But no one paid me any attention as I stepped inside. Probably because they recognized me too. Or because I was too petty.

I input the floor number and walked back, leaning slightly against the wall. Shutting my eyes as the elevator slowly ascended. It was just me inside.

Just then a sharp pain tore through my body, mainly my lower body. It was slow and biting just like the rest before.

Cramp!

It was back.

Leah had mentioned I went to the hospital for a checkup. I had planned to. But the pain had subsided after that day, and I thought it was gone for good—until now.

The low ding from the elevator disrupted my thoughts.

I had arrived.

I walked out, taking a right turn leading to Ethan's office.

A female sat behind a desk just outside the main office, typing something onto the computer. I recognized her immediately, Sara, Ethan's secretary.

She raised her head as I drew closer.

“Ma'am,” she stood up, a polite smile on her face, though her eyes looked unwelcoming.

She had never liked me. I always thought she was angry that I had married Ethan.

I passed her a smile and made for the door. But before I could turn the doorknob, Sara's voice came through urgent and a bit harsh.

“Wait,” she said, causing me to raise a brow.

"You can't go in now, the president asked me not to let anyone in,” she continued.

“I'm his wife. Trust me, he will love to see me,” I told her. But Sara was right on me the next minute. She stepped back to the door a bit to prevent me from entering.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I can't let you go inside. You know how Mr. Callaway hates to be violated.”

I sighed.

She was right. If Ethan did ask not to let anyone in, then he wouldn't want his order violated. And it would be unreasonable on my part to push further.

But why would he not let someone in? Unless he was…

"Is it okay? Is he in some meeting?" I asked.

I expected her to ignore me, but she paused, a look of hesitation crossing her face before disappearing without a trace.

Then her lips curled up in a small smirk, almost faint and that would have gone unnoticed.

“Mr. Callaway is fine. He is in a meeting...," she paused slightly, then continued, "with Miss Baker."

I nodded, understanding the reason for the pause and the earlier smirk. Betty.

Sara watched my face as if waiting for some reaction. I knew what she wanted. But I ignored her, walking to one of the waiting chairs.

"Alright. I'll just wait out here until he finishes.”

Sara opened her lips as if to say something but paused halfway, then walked back to her desk.

Leaving me to think about the new information I had just learned. Betty was in Cruz City. And she was inside with Ethan in his office.

I wasn't worried about what they were doing alone. No, my mind dwelled on something else. A question.

Why would Betty return now?

She had disappeared five years ago, after she was caught cheating on Ethan shortly after their engagement party.

I fished out my phone to check the time. Then entered the search box to type in Betty's name.

For a moment I felt like some jealous wife who had just found out her husband was alone with his ex-girlfriend in the office, which was my situation anyway.

But I wasn't looking her up to check who my rival was. No, I was just curious.

I had only seen her once, and that was from an old photo in Ethan's study.

I clicked on the search icon, three dots appeared, and I waited for the results.

Seconds later, images of a beautiful woman came up. Her face was familiar but with a bit of maturity.

I was about to click on it when I felt my head start spinning. A sharp pain shot through my head.

My vision became blurred, and I could barely make out the outline of my phone and hand.

Then,

The phone slipped from my hand, hitting the floor hard.

‘Thud.’

But it barely registered as I felt my body swinging, the world spinning, and I landed hard on the cool tiled floor.

~~~

‘Beep, beep.’

My eyes snapped open, shutting immediately at the sudden bright light.

I tried opening them again, slower this time.

The room came into view, simple and white. Different from the one I am used to at the Callaway Mansion.

Where was I?

The strong scent of alcohol hit my nostrils almost immediately as I tried sitting up. I stopped as the sharp pain rippled through my body, especially my head.

“Ha, you are awake,” I heard, and my eyes snapped to the door where a lady in a white coat walked in.

She flashed me a smile, walking to my side.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Sore?”

She smiled again. “Can you sit up?” I shook my head but tried once again to get up from the bed.

She moved, helping me. The pain this time was milder. Almost gone. But I knew I still felt it.

“Where am I?” I asked the first question that came to my mind, even though I felt like I already had the answer.

“In the hospital. Your sister brought you in. You were unconscious,” she answered.

I was about to tell her that I don’t have a sister, but I stopped. Memories swarmed my mind.

I had gone to Ethan’s company to bring him lunch, but his secretary had stopped me. I waited outside at the reception for him to finish, then my head spun, and that was the last thing I remembered.

The doctor pushed a chair forward, sitting in front of me. She seemed hesitant.

“How long have you been taking your contraceptive?”

A minute passed before her question registered in my brain.

Contraceptive?

Of all the things I anticipated the doctor to say, that was the least of them. No, it wasn’t even on the list.

When I didn’t respond, she continued,

“I understand that you are still young and not considering conceiving anytime soon. But you should give yourself a break…”

“I have never taken contraceptives,” I cut in before she could continue.

Surprise crossed her eyes at my words, but the look of certainty remained.

“Are you certain?” she asked, her eyes on me as if asking me to try and remember.

But there was nothing to remember. I didn’t need contraceptives, not after my accident five years ago.

“Is there any other medicine you take?”

I paused, then nodded.

“My vitamins.”

“Can I see them?”

I reached for my bag which was on the table beside me, bringing out a medication vial.

“Here.” I showed her the bold-lettered label of vitamin on the vial.

She took it, looking at the description for a while, then opened the bottle to bring out a dose. Her eyes squinted behind her glasses, and she raised it higher as if to get a better look at it.

She put it back into the bottle and cleared her throat. Her gaze met mine, and I felt my heart dip at the hint of sympathy in them.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Callaway. Though the bottle is labeled vitamin, the drug inside is the same as the contraceptive we found in your system.”

Her words sounded distant as I rushed forward, picking the bottle up. I opened the cover; two pills fell to my palm, and my eyes fixed on them as if trying to separate their composition.

How was it possible? I have been taking these for the past five years. How did I not notice?

I remembered how I had gotten the drugs. Ethan. He had brought them for me after my accident. Told me it was meant to support my body, repair my womb for when we decided to have children.

Did he know about this? But why would he lie to me? If he never wanted to have children with me, why didn’t he just say it?

“And judging from the severity of the damage, I can tell you have been taking it for a while now,” she stated.

“How bad is it?”

“We will need to remove your womb.”