Waking Up To The Truth

002

The sun flickered behind her eyelids, and Isabella blinked. At first, everything was a blur, but slowly, her lashes fluttered as she tried to focus. Gradually,she opened her eyes, slowly at first, and then, fully.

She looked around as recognition set slowly,it was then it dawned on her that she was at the hospital.

She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain exploded at the back of her head instead.

“Ah!” she groaned softly, her face twisting in pain as she dropped back against the pillow. Suddenly, the door creaked open.

“Easy” came a familiar voice.

Isabella turned her head toward the voice, her vision already cleared enough for her to see Miguel walking in, Miguel was dressed in his doctor’s robe, his stethoscope hanging loosely around his neck, he was wearing a usually calm expression, and his eyes softened the moment they landed on her.

“So good to see my baby gurl is finally awake” Miguel said , feeling relief .

Isabella attempted to speak but her lips trembled as she stare at her brother's face, in that instant, the memories flooded back in a brutal rush.

“My baby ” She whispered urgently. 

“Where is my baby?”

Miguel reached her bedside quickly, Sitting down and brushing her hair back gently. 

“Relax” he said softly, patting her head the way he used to when they were children.

 “Try to stay calm.” he added but Isabel wasn't hearing any of it , all she wanted was to know how her baby was doing.

“I need to know ” she insisted, her voice shaking. “How is he? Please, Miguel. Just tell me.”

Miguel inhaled slowly, before speaking.

 “The situation with the fetus isn’t looking very good,” he said carefully. 

“There’s been a lot of trauma, and the bleeding was severe. As for whether the baby can be saved or not… we still need to keep observing.”

“That means… I didn’t lose my baby?” she asked, hopefully.

Miguel shook his head gently. “No, sis. You didn’t.”

Relief flow through Isabella as tears spilled down her cheeks, she pressed her trembling hand to her stomach, as though she could shield the fragile life inside her.

Miguel stare at his sister for a while, remembering the way he met her in her own pool of blood when he arrived at the mansion, he clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles turned to white, he was just an inch close to loosing his beloved sister.

“That bastard ” he muttered through gritted teeth. 

“He had the guts to lay his hands on you? I swear, I won’t let him get away with this.” he spoke angrily.

Isabella held his arm, trying to calm the anger rising in his veins.

“It’s okay, brother ” she said softly.

 “I’m done with this marriage.”

Miguel looked down at her, as surprise flicker across his face before it settled into grim satisfaction, he had never liked that Andrea guy in the first place, he knew Andrea just wasn't good for his sister, and has told Isabel times without number to file for a divorce but she keeps saying, she loves him, hearing her say this now , he was so happy.

 “Good.” he replied, nodding once.

For three long years, Isabella endured Andrea’s cruelty, and the humiliation of being treated like a stranger in her own home. She had swallowed her pain, smiled through her tears, and convinced herself that patience would soften him, that love would be enough, but she was wrong .

“How foolish I had been,” she murmured aloud,this time, her voice hollow.

 “What did you say?” he asked, leaning closer, concern etched in his voice.

Isabella turned her head toward her brother .

“I’m getting a divorce.” she repeated.

Miguel didn’t question her, this has always been his greatest desire, so he simply nodded, as though he had been waiting for her to say those words for years

***

The Atmosphere was tense after Isabella dropped what seemed like a bomb to Andrea's ears, he stared at her for a while as though she had spoken in a foreign language.

“What did you just say to me?” he asked slowly,unable to believe what he had just heard.

“You heard me right,” Isabella replied, her tone steady despite the storm raging inside her. 

“I want a divorce.” Isabella repeated, she had returned to the house only to collect her belongings and make sure the divorce papers were signed.

Vanessa stood beside Andrea, taking in the entire scene, her arm were curled possessively around Andrea's, her lips tilted into a smug smile. She looked every bit like the glorified mistress she was, leaning into Andrea as though she already owned him.

Andrea let out a short, incredulous laugh.

 “You can’t be serious.” he said

“We are only married on paper,” Isabella said evenly.

 “Three years have passed, and you still feel nothing for me. Let’s just end this once and for all”.

Vanessa’s smile widened, she pressed herself closer to Andrea and looked at Isabella with mock sympathy. 

“Since that’s all she wants, why don’t you give it to her?” Vanessa purred. “You’ve always wanted me anyway.” she added.

At the sound of her words, Isabella clenched her fists, who the hell does she think she is ? She wondered, she wanted to slap that smug off Vanessa face but fought the urge to do so.

Isabella's marriage had never been built on love, no doubt. Andrea had married her only to fulfill his late grandmother’s dying wish, to him, it was a duty, an obligation he owed the old woman and nothing more.

Isabella, on the other hand, had married him with a heart full of love, believing that devotion, patience, and loyalty would one day win his affection.

Instead, the more she loved him, the more he despised her, and of all the women in the city, he chose to cheat on her, with her so-called her best friend, the image of Andrea's infidelity with Vanessa came flashing back, the more she thought about it, the more angrier she became.

“Sign the divorce papers now!” Isabella yelled, flinging the documents at Andrea.

Vanessa flinch, she wasn't expecting Isabella to be so angry, what the hell is she upset about anyway?Andrea belong to me, she said in her subconscious mind.

Andrea on the other hand was taken aback, he glanced down at the papers before looking back at her, keeping a cold face and hiding the shock.

 “Fine,” he said. “But you’re not getting a dime from my inheritance.”

“To hell with your inheritance!” Isabella shot back.

Shock flickered across Andrea's face once more, never had he seen her like this all through the period they were married.

He gestured to a guard, who picked up the papers and handed them to him, Andrea stared at the documents for a long moment, tightening his jaw.

“Is this really what you want?” He asked quietly.

“Why do you care?” she snapped. 

“Just sign them already” She added.

“You never wanted this marriage, for three years, you never touched me, If I hadn’t drugged you last month, I’d still be a virgin till now, I endured all of your abuses, Andrea, but I’m done with you.” She said with an air of authority, fighting back the tears threatening to fall.

Andrea hesitated for a second, he had always wanted to divorce her right? Why does his heart seem to chatter at the mention of divorce? Why does it feel like he's loosing a piece of himself? Andrea thought within himself, after a while , he pressed his lips into a thin line before replying 

“Fine,” he said finally, finality ringing in his voice, as he signed the papers.

“ Done” he said and Isabella snatched the papers from him, excitement written all over her face.

“Finally!” She said, almost yelling, and with that, she stormed out of the house, dragging her luggage behind her.

Vanessa couldn't be more happy.

“Finally, the bitch is gone,” she said gleefully.

But to her utter shock, Andrea suddenly pulled his arm away from her and ran after Isabella.

“Isabella!” Andrea called as he followed her toward the gate, but Isabella he ignored him and continue walking.

Andrea caught up with her and grabbed her arm, Isabella turned swiftly and slapped him hard across the face.

“That, is for cheating on me with my best friend.”

Another slap followed.

“And that, is for treating me like trash all these years.”

Andrea staggered back, clutching his cheek, shock written all over his face.

“Stay away from me ” Isabella warned.

Suddenly, a sharp pain tore through her stomach, she gasped, her hand flying to her abdomen.

“Are you okay?” Andrea rushed forward instinctively.

“Get your hands off me!” Isabella snapped, shoving him away. 

At that instance , Miguel’s car pulled up.

Miguel stepped out, his face was dark with fury, the moment he saw Andrea, he grabbed him by the collar, and sent a punch across his face, but Andrea was quick to dodge the blow.

“You’ve hurt her enough ” Miguel growled. “Stay away.”

“That’s enough,” Isabella said weakly.

Miguel released Andrea and quickly helped Isabella into the car, he turned on the engine and drove off, leaving Andrea standing.

As the ride continues, Isabella’s phone vibrated, she stare at the screen, it was a message from an unknown number, she tap on the screen to read the details.

“Run if you want. I know you’re carrying his child.”

Her hand flew to her stomach immediately as fear wrapped around her heart.

“Are you okay ?” Miguel asked noticing her uneasiness, as he stare at her from the review mirror.

“Yes” Isabella lied.

She hadn’t told anyone she was pregnant, and If there was one thing she wanted, it was that

Andrea must never find out about the child.

And for the first time since she learned she was pregnant, Isabella was afraid, not for herself, but for her baby.