LOST ALL.

(ALICE’S POV)

My hands trembled as I swiped on the phone. It wasn’t only one picture. There were four different occasions and a video too.

“Ed….,” I choked, looking steadily at him as tears freely left my eyes.

“Clearly, you are a cheater!” Claire clicked her tongue.

“That’s not true,” my voice trembled, “Edward you know this is not true.”

“Then what is that?” Claire talked again.

“Shut up!” I screamed, throwing the phone to the far corner of the room.

“Alice, I have no reason to post this unless you drag out our divorce. Just let go of everything and let us be.”

“Us?” I muttered loudly, “Did you team up with her to torture me? Edward, how did I end up in bed with a fucking stranger?” My voice came surprisingly calm.

“How would I know?”

“How did you get these pictures then?”

He paused briefly, “The stranger probably sent it to me, I guess he knew I was your husband.”

I studied his face and that of Claire. I’ve never felt more stressed in my life, especially when people think I’m dull.

“Edward, those pictures were taken directly in that phone.”

I took my phone from under the pillow to call the police. This conversation is getting out of hand, and I’m so sick of it.

“If you call the police, I’d upload this before they arrive.” He held up his phone.

In my years of living with him, I knew he meant it. And his company has the biggest media channel, and damn his connections. The cards are evenly aligned on his side.

Posting those pictures will take away every ounce of my dignity, and even if I was lucky enough to win, the damage had been done. There has to be another way.

“And besides you don’t have any evidence,” he continued, “Think about it. The video on my phone was sent to me, and you just smashed the phone you believe that took the pictures.”

My phone hung midair. I hated it, but this fight won’t be won by me, at least not now. He has the money, position and power to bring me down. He was already ahead of me while I trusted him. It’s literally a blind man and a seeing guide fight. The reality of what I was in hit me like a rock.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“People try get anything they want, Alice. Money and power is not an exception.”

“So you married me for money.”

“It’s a pity your father lost everything, and I just had to cling to the shares he gave you. May he rest in peace,” he shook his head in fake pity, “but I guess he’d be happy up there, since his wife joined him a bit earlier.”

I bit my lips in pain.

“And I wanted revenge too,” Claire got closer to me, holding my chin up, but I quickly pushed off her hands. “You might have forgotten me, but I never did.”

“You two already knew each other before we got married?” my eyes widened. “How could you Edward?” I stood , throwing the lamp on my bed side at him.

But Claire was quick to slap me in response. I charged toward her, but Edward butted in and pushed me down.

“Don’t you dare touch my woman and my baby.”

I scoffed. My heart shattering once again.

“She’s pregnant too? So it wasn’t really a joke. And I foolishly believed you when you said you didn’t want to have kids yet. I waited stupidly till you were ready.”

That must be why he is always on business trips, working late and always tired. We were never married, and I never saw it.

“Enough of all this Alice, here, sign the papers so we could leave.”

I took the ball point I always had on me and signed the papers, handing over my shares and everything I’ve worked for to him.

I sat silently on the bed after they left, laughing at how stupid I’ve been. The last five years of my life has not only been a joke, but it also got me ruined.

I was so out of it, I didn’t know when Beth walked in.

“Alice? What happened?” she was clearly shocked.

My hair was disheveled, blood trickling down my left knee from when Edward pushed me, and the table lamp that was smashed in a corner. It was a total mess.

“Alice, talk to me.” Her eyes bore into mine.

“It’s nothing.”

She didn’t probe further, she quickly got broom and cleared up the mess.

“Should I call Mr. Edward again?”

“He already came,” I paused for a moment, “And we are divorced now Beth.” I slipped under the blanket and closed my eyes.

I could picture her facial expressions, she was curious. But I wasn’t in the mood to go over what I experienced today.

She let me rest, covering me up and patting me gently.

“You don’t have to stay with me. I’d like to be alone.”

“Alright. I will come in the morning.” I heard her say, and few minutes later I heard the door close.

I slowly sat up .

I can’t sleep.

I needed a drink!

I changed into a dress of mine that Beth got, and went to the convenience store near the hospital. I was a light drinker, and a can of beer was it for me, but I bought two.

The hospital had a park at the back , so I went there and sat on one of the empty bench. There were few other patients still lingering around and chatting.

I sipped my bear, and the first can did nothing.

Same with the second can.

I should have gotten more. Maybe pain doesn’t allow you get drunk. But I decided to go up to my room and rest.

“Doc…tor, you must be looking for me . I went…to…get fresh air.” I smiled.

“This is not your room.”

“ It is.”

I heard him say something again, but my eyes were already heavy and I threw myself on the bed.