Chapter 4

By the time Katie reached home, her breathing had become uneven and the betrayal she had spent years refusing to mention finally came crashing down on her.

She shut the door behind her and stood there for minutes without moving, her hand gripping the handle while the image replayed in her head with a painful clarity.

Brian leaning towards Rita, pecking on Rita’s forehead. The holding of hands while walking into the restaurant.

For a man who abandoned his wife for three years, wasn’t it clear enough that he had either remarried or fallen in love with Rita?

Katie let out a shaky breath and dropped her bag onto the floor, she walked slowly towards the couch and sat down, but the moment she lowered her head into the seat, her composure broke.

Her chest tightened painfully, her eyes burned and suddenly tears spilled down her face. Katie covered her mouth immediately, embarrassed to make noise even though nobody was there to hear her.

Three years…after three years of waiting.

She remembered Brian holding her hand years ago after Madison was born, smiling softly while telling her that they would figure things out together.

She remembered him saying— “You and Madison are my future.” She remembered him touching Madison’s fingers and promising, “I’ll never leave either of you.”

Katie closed her eyes tighter as another memory surfaced. Rita sitting beside her while complaining endlessly about Brian.

After Katie and Brian had a little misunderstanding before the death of Madison, Rita kept cursing Brian until she left.

“Brian doesn’t deserve you…Stop defending him because you do everything and he barely notices. You need a man who loves you more than himself!”

Katie had listened and believed Rita’s words. She had thought Rita was protecting her at that time.

How strange…the woman who spoke bad about him now knew him enough to stand beside him. Maybe she had known him better than Katie ever did.

Katie wiped her face angrily. “No!” She stood abruptly and walked to the kitchen before turning back immediately because she didn’t know what she was trying to do.

She remembered how she waited everyday, checking mails, checking her messages, thinking maybe Brian would explain…or maybe grief had affected him too. Months turned into years and not even once did he ever show up.

Katie lowered herself to the floor and hugged her knees as the realization settled deeper. Brian never disappeared, he deliberately left.

Katie’s phone rang and she stared at the screen, Nana.

“Hello?”

Rosetta’s voice came through from the other end. “Katie…you are crying?”

Katie swallowed, “Nana, I saw Brian today.”

Rosetta’s voice suddenly increased in anticipation. “What did he do to you? Did he disgrace you in front of Damien?”

Katie laughed quietly. “No…not at all. He wasn’t alone there, he was with Rita.” She swallowed before speaking, “and they looked so intimate.”

Rosetta sighed, “oh!”

Katie laughed again. “I thought she moved overseas. She used to tell me I deserved someone better than Brian. She used to tell me that Brian never appreciated my existence. Now they are together.”

Rosetta didn’t speak immediately, she listened until Katie was done before talking. “Katie…” Rosetta spoke gently. “Your husband disappeared before Madison died, your friend disappeared too, right?”

Katie sniffed. “Yes.”

Rosetta exhaled softly, “Katie, they made their choices. Remember, after they both abandoned you, you built your own business, you carried yourself and healed alone, none of them helped you!”

She closed her eyes, her chest tightening.

“Katie, stop standing at doors people closed in your face.” Rosetta said firmly. “You met Damien today.”

Katie frowned. “You didn’t tell me part of the agreement stated I will bear his child.”

Rosetta gave a quiet hum through the phone. “I didn’t know either, anyway, good night!”

Before she could speak again Rosetta’s line went dead. Katie smiled a little, before dropping her phone.

She wiped the tears off her face. Brian and Rita aren't worth her tears! She stood up and walked into her room, just then her phone buzzed.

Katie picked it up and stared at the screen, her body began to shake uncontrollably. This was a message from Rita.

[Hey Katie, it’s been a long time since we last talked. Anyway, when I got that opportunity overseas, luckily, I found the man I loved and we got married with a child. I’m back in the states now and I’ll love to visit you with my husband. Can you send me your address?]

Katie's heart pounded in her chest. Husband and a child? Could it be that she saw something wrong at the restaurant? Maybe that wasn’t Rita.

Another message entered. [Oh, and how is your husband? I hope he is alright? I’ll love to visit you tonight!]

Katie bit her lips as she tried to control her breathing. Maybe she saw the wrong people and mistook them for Brian and Rita.

She exhaled and typed her address to Rita and in seconds Rita reacted to the text.

An hour later, there was a knock on her door. Katie had already showered and prepared herself to look composed.

Katie reached for the door and when she opened it, she felt her heart shatter into endless pieces.

Rita and Brian stood at her doorstep, Brian’s hands on her waist as he kissed Rita on her lips till she was breathless.

Katie stood watching the scene play right in front of her and just before she could close the door on their face, Rita turned to her.

“Oh, we didn’t realize you opened the door! I’m so sorry for the inappropriate behavior at your doorstep but it seems like my husband can’t control his urge to kiss me. Can we come in?”

Katie smiled at a fraction staring at the both of them. “Sure.” Her eyes stayed fixed on Brian who avoided her gaze.

Rita smirked as she walked into the apartment as though she didn’t just kiss Katie’s husband effortlessly at the doorstep. She sat on the couch then looked at Brian.

“Baby, come over here and sit!”

Brian shook his head. “No, I’ll stand. We need to do everything fast and leave before Samantha gets up.”

Rita smiled, “you are right, dear.” She turned to Katie. “Katie we couldn’t bring our daughter because she fell asleep earlier so we needed to take her home.”

Has Rita really lost her memory? She spoke as if she didn’t know who Brian was to Katie. Katie stood and watched the both of them, swallowing every urge to cause an unpleasant scene.

Brian cleared his throat, “Katie, it’s been years since we last met and it turns out we haven’t properly settled things.”

He paused then turned to Rita. “Ever since I met Rita, I found out that she was the one destined for me and not you. She showed me what love truly felt like and even at that, she remained effortlessly beautiful. We got married and had a child, so in order not to keep you waiting…”

Brian reached out for a brown folder and tossed it towards Katie. “I brought you divorce papers.”