Chapter four

Laura

I sat in front of the vanity mirror, staring at my reflection. I barely recognized the woman looking back at me, tired, hollow, her eyes shadowed with dark circles from sleepless nights. I could barely sleep, every night, the same nightmare haunted me, Ryan calling out to me, begging for help I couldn’t give.

My heart couldn’t comprehend that my son was lying cold and lifeless somewhere, and there was nothing I could do to bring him back to me.

On the vanity lay the envelope with the divorce papers. Freda had brought them up yesterday, knowing I hadn’t left my room since Ryan’s death. She had helped me pack all my things while I curled up on the bed, crying endlessly. Once the packing was done and she had comforted me as best she could, she left, leaving me alone with the weight of everything I had lost and everything I was about to take back.

I couldn’t believe it had taken losing my son for me to see the truth, I had been chasing a shadow for the past three years, there was nothing here for me.

The door to the room opened, and Lucien stepped in. After six days since Ryan’s death, he finally came home.  “Laura, Mr. James told me about Ryan,” he said, his voice cautious. I scoffed.

“I am  sorry,” he continued, his words stumbling. “I was busy with work. My phone had been off since I left, but you could have reached out to my mom, she would have told me.”

I stood, facing him fully, my chest tight with fury. “How could I have reached your mom when she blocked me?” My voice cracked with pain. “Your mom could reach you, yet I couldn’t. Why? Because you were in the arms of another woman,” I spat, my words bitter and sharp. 

He reached out, trying to touch me, but I swatted his hands away.

“I know you are  hurt and sad, but don’t throw accusations about things you don’t understand. It was just work and—”

I cut him off immediately, my voice breaking. “And what? I called you that night!” I finally let the floodgates open. “I called you over and over, I tried reaching everyone at that party who could help me get you on the phone, and none of them did! Are you satisfied now that the unhealthy child is gone?”

“I am really sorry, Laura,” he muttered, his voice weak. Just then, the door to our room swung open, and Jenna walked in. Typical Jenna, no respect for privacy, always barging in without so much as a knock.

“I heard noise, so I came to check. I heard you lost your son,” she said casually, as if I had misplaced a phone. I don’t think there was anyone in this world I hated more than this woman. “Sorry for your loss. It was bound to happen anyway,” she added coldly.

Lucien turned to her, anger flashing across his face. “Mom, don’t do that. Don’t,” he said, his tone firmer than I had ever heard in all the years I had known him. Still, it was clear she controlled him completely. Whatever she wanted, he obeyed.

“Listen,” she scoffed, “I’m just saying what everyone is too afraid to admit. He would have died anyway. Thank God it happened early. Do you know the stress of raising a child knowing he would eventually die?”

“I pray you die miserably and rot in hell,” I said, my voice steady but venomous. Both Lucien and his mother froze, clearly shocked. It was the first time in three years of marriage that I had ever spoken back to her after enduring her constant humiliation, both in public and behind closed doors.

“You pathetic excuse of a woman,” I spat, and her eyes widened in shock. “No wonder you have  been married four times and ended up dumped each time. You have a rotten, bitter soul, and you will never find true happiness.”

She stormed toward me, raising her hand as if to slap me, but Lucien caught it just in time. “Mom, stop,” he said firmly.

She yanked her hand free. “You are  just going to watch her insult your mother? You’re not going to do anything?” she demanded, her anger blazing.

Lucien turned to me, guilt and fear flickering across his face. “Laura, I am  so sorry. I thought you were only trying to get me home so we could talk when you called that night. I had a flight to catch right after the party. I am  really sorry, how can I make it up to you?”

I walked to the vanity, picked up the envelope, and slammed it down on his chest. “Sign that. That’s the only way you can make it up to me,” I said, my voice cold and steady.

Lucien’s eyes widened as he opened the envelope and saw the contents, the divorce papers staring back at him. 

“This is a divorce paper? You are  leaving me?” His voice cracked as he stared at the envelope. I nodded, then pointed toward my already packed bags.

“Right away. Sign it, and let’s be free from each other,” I said, my voice trembling but firm.

His mother jumped behind him, practically beaming. “This is wonderful! Now you can finally marry Megan. I will get the planners and the media to announce your engagement!” She sounded gleeful, as if this was the day she had been waiting for all her life.

“Shut the fuck up, Mom. Shut it!” Lucien barked, and she froze, completely taken aback. He had never raised his voice at her before. He turned to me, desperation in his eyes. “Listen, Laura, I’m ready to make this right. Please, give me another chance.”

I didn’t answer, I  walked to my box and started pushing it toward the door. “When you decide to sign the papers, my lawyer will come get them,” I said firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument.

“You can’t leave me,” he called after me. “Remember, this marriage is bound by contract.”

I paused just for a moment, then kept walking, each step echoing my newfound freedom.