Chapter 9

Veronica's POV.

Everything was taken from me, Jason made sure of it. 

He took the cars, the house in my name and even the deeds to the fashion house he promised me.

For Jason, everything between us was over and his shiny new toy was his focus.

He forgot everything about us. The good memories went down the drain, the bad were his foundation. When the divorce lawyer came to finalise the annulment, she asked if there was something I did to him.

“I've never seen Mr Jason that mad at someone before. He was bitter when he signed his part of the annulment and kept swearing at the slightest mention of your name.”

I pressed my lips hard and only nodded or shook my head to every question she asked. I had a feeling that if I said a word, I could end up bawling again.

“Is something wrong with you?” 

I shook my head gently.

“Are you sure?”

Another mod.

“Well, I might be a lawyer but if you need someone to talk to, I'm always here.” Amelia, our family lawyer— or would I say ex-family lawyer, said.

“Thanks.” That was the only word I managed at the door before I slammed it behind me and walked over to the room for a breather.

I grabbed a juice box, drinking with a pregnant stomach was not advisable according to the health tabloids and so I had to take something else to supplement my pain.

“How about cranberry juice?” I mumbled to myself. “Did the tabloids say I could take cranberry juice?”

I swiped the screen and slid to the Internet. The latest headlines lined up before me one by one, as recent as they came.

I ignored them all, my life carried more problems more than whatever was happening with Kim Kardashian and her sisters. I searched for the health blogs, the one for newly pregnant women. I found the page I had visited and was just about clicking on it when suddenly—-

BILLIONAIRE MOGUL JASON HARPER DIVORCES HIS BARREN WIFE OVER CHEATING ALLEGATIONS.

I blinked slowly, but painfully.

Cheating? 

Wait. What? Barren?! 

My jaw dropped faster than my body's temperature whenever I had a fever.

I scrolled back to the link blinking at me. When I pressed down on it, another page opened, headlines: PHOTOS OF ESTRANGED BARREN EX-WIFE OF BILLIONAIRE JASON HARPER CAUGHT…

“What?” I gasped hard. My heart caught up in my chest.

How could they call me that?

And what photos were they talking about?!

I rushed with my scrolling and heavens, when I did, I gasped louder than I ever thought I would.

Pictures of me, with the same flowers I’d gotten Jason in my hand.

A video of myself crying in the parking lot.

Another one was taken when I was in the car.

Whoever it was that took the photos got the worst angles of me.

I felt my chest tighten until I looked away. 

“I can't believe this is happening to me…”

Jason didn't just divorce me, along with our marriage crashing, he rattled me out.

It had to be him.

Or maybe it was Rhea…

“Shit…” 

The room felt hot again, when I stood up to walk towards the air conditioner I caught light flickering at my front gate.

“What's that?” I grew curious and stepped towards the window just to make sure when I saw it.

One. 

Two. 

Three or was it four figures in dark heavy coats lined outside my apartment, pointing their cameras at my window.

The street light from across the street beamed bright enough for me to identify that they were paparazzi.

“Shuck!” I gasped when I realised who they were. I snapped my curtains closed just in time to avoid them from seeing me.

“Why would the paparazzi be at my house at this time of the evening?” I thought to myself, until I realised just who they were.

The Glamour, a popular magazine owned by one of Jason's many loving fans who felt I wasn't deserving of such a man, must have heard we were no longer together.

“For heaven's sake…” I slapped my forehead hard enough to leave a mark. “Not now. Not now. I'm already going through so much!”

I rushed to the bedroom to check on the other window, the one next to the back gate. If they hadn't covered that exit, then at least I could get out, find an exit or something.

I slipped between the curtains only to find a beam of bright fluorescent lights aiming at my window.

“Oh, what the hell! Could this get any worse?”

And then it did. At my front door, I heard the bell ring. I hesitated, wondering if it could be a delivery for me but when I neared the peephole, I saw some strange faces standing in front with cameras and a recorder.

“Miss Veronica, sorry to bother you but if you have a moment, we're here to just ask a few questions about your marriage with Mr Harper, we know you're in there, we could see your car and we also saw your lawyer leaving a few minutes ago,.Would you mind stepping out for a few minutes, I promise it won't take long.”

My eyes puffed again, and pregnancy hormones surged in me. I held the collar of my robe tightly, pressing my lips hard against each other.

I tiptoed away from the door, back to the dining room, a place more neutral to the sounds I would make if I needed to talk to anyone.

My pacing began, I scratched my head a million times. What could I do?

I had just stumped my littlest toe on the back of my favourite couch when a scream muffled from me.

I held my leg, wheezing as I cried out in pain.

“That damn couch! Now is not the time, I need help not pain!”

My memories jogged and a voice came to me.

“You were a fucking mess, had to put you to sleep, you were raving on about some “Jason” in your sleep too” the guy from the other said.

I gasped.

“He left his number here, didn't he?”

I searched through the dining table, I moved to the dress I wore from the other day.

And finally, when I searched my handbag, I found it.

“Oh gosh!” 

I found my phone next to my copies of the divorce papers. I shoved them aside, dialling his number hurriedly.

It rang

“Come on! Come on! Please, pick up!”

The line cleared.

“Hello.”