CHAPTER TWO: A DIVORCE?

Naya was shocked.

She flipped through the file again, trying to make sure that she was not seeing things. Then she began to tremble.

“Naya?!! Where are you?” 

Naya flipped the papers shut and returned them to the table, then she ran back to the study’s door just as Daniel’s mother was about to open it.

“Naya? Why are you up here? The party needs you downstairs. Everything is a mess.” She eyed Naya.

Naya and Daniel’s mother did not get along. To her, Naya was a bad daughter in law, who knew nothing. She didn't like Naya because she was not the sophisticated and rich daughter in law she’d been hoping for. And she was still not pregnant after four years.

“Are you dumb? Why are you here when we have company? You threw this party didn't you?” She widened her eyes and cocked her head to the side, waiting for Naya’s response.

“Yes.” Naya mumbled respectfully. The dislike was mutual.

“Then maybe you should pay more attention to it, instead of hiding away. We have a reputation to uphold in this family. So come downstairs and do some upholding.” The older woman made to leave, then stopped and glanced back at her. “Where’s my son? I haven;t seen him for a while now.”

“He had some business to discuss with some of his friends. They must be at the other side of the estate. Or the garage.”

She eyed Naya again, the disdain clearly shown on her face, then she walked away.

When she was sure that she was gone, Naya went back into the study, but just as she wanted to shut the door, something fell from the shelf to the floor, and she rushed to it.

It was a book that had been knocked down, but then her eyes went back to the file, and she pressed her lips together so she would not make a sound.

Picking up the file once more, she leafed through it again, trying to be sure. But she was not dreaming, and the papers before her remained the same.

They were divorce papers. Daniel was filing for a divorce.

It made sense now, the way he’d been acting towards her for the past year. Naya’s eyes stung with unshed tears. What has changed? Where had she gone wrong?

Then before she could think about stopping it again, the tears flowed freely down her cheeks, and she found herself dissolving into a fit of tears. Her shoulders shook, as she struggled to breathe.

The study suddenly felt small, like it was trapping her inside, and she could not escape. Naya forced herself to breathe, using her mouth, as her vision blurred with tears.

What was she going to do? Where would she start from as a 28 year old divorced woman? 

The metallic clink of the door opening snapped her out of her thoughts. She made to run, eyes wide, while she frantically wiped away her tears. But it was too late.

“What are you doing here?” Daniel’s deep voice filled the room, as he entered and shut the door behind him.

She remained silent, not trusting herself to speak.

She watched his eyes as they went to the file she was holding, the divorce papers, and then he ran his hands through his hair and rolled his eyes.

“You’re spying on me now?” He asked again, closing the distance between them. His expression was hard.

“How long have you known you wanted a divorce from me?” She heard herself ask. She was still clutching the glossy divorce papers. The man she loved and built her life around stared at her, his expression almost bored.

A tear slid down her cheek, and her heart felt like it was being cruelly hacked to bits.

“Don’t act drama, Naya.” His voice was laced with indifference, and she blinked, unable to believe that the calmness and warmth he normally spoke to her with, was gone.

She swallowed and her voice tightened. “What is this, Daniel? Divorce papers? Why?” Her voice cracked, she was barely able to form the words.

Her world was crashing down.

Daniel ran his hand through his hair again, then he moved across the room, his crisp suit which she’d gotten him for his birthday rustling as he moved past her.

He reached for the wine cellar and poured himself a drink. “Don’t act so surprised, Naya. You should have seen this coming. A year is a lot of time to notice changes.” Hisattention shifted to the paper case that was on the table, where the file should be.

Naya could not see any concern in him. Infact, he was strangely satisfied. Relieved, even.

“What do you mean?” She was shaking now, visibly. “You told me it was pressure from work.”

“Our marriage was never real, Naya. It wasn’t pressure from work, I was tired.” 

“What about that night? Last week? When you'd told me you loved me?” Naya swayed slightly.

He bit his lower lip and clenched this jaw. “I said that because you wanted to hear it. Besides, I was drunk. Why would I love you? Have I ever loved you?”

A soft sob escaped Naya's lips. Her heart felt like razors were being dragged through it. “Wh…what?”

“Naya, for goodness sake, get over yourself. Who would want to be with a gullible naive woman like you? What else can you do that does not revolve around acting like a self employed maid and my mother?”

Naya stepped back like she’d been punched in the gut. “What…what do you mean it was never real?” The tears were flowing down her cheeks in an easy stream. It wasn't stopping. “We were married for four years. Legally married. You can’t just—" She gestured towards the papers, gasping for air.

She was having another panic attack. She held onto the edges of the table as she continued gasping for her. Everything inside her hurt, and very badly.

But Daniel didn’t move a muscle, while she struggled.

“But why?” She managed to ask.

He spared her a cursory glance, and then made to leave the room, but before he did, he glanced at her, his voice firm and cold.

“Why? Because your replacement is pregnant with my child.” 

Naya felt the air leave her lungs, and then she was gasping frantically for air, papers falling to the floor. Then her legs gave way, and she hit the ground with a thud.