002

 SOPHIE

That did it! It felt like I had been slammed in the face. The cake slipped out of my hands immediately, hitting the ground with a slight thud.

“Who's there?" Haye's voice rang out immediately and in the next second, the door clicked open.

“Oh, Sophie. You're home?” I reacted quickly, wiping the tears off of my face as I walked slowly into the door.

"Yes. Uhh, I just felt dizzy. Almost fell at the door.” I watched them heave a sigh of relief like they were certain I hadn't heard their conversation.

Irritation and disgust fueled up in me as I stared at them.

So this was what I meant to them. The two people I had already given my life for.

"Well now you're home, I'll be leaving for the company. Noah's coming with me." Company? More like going to see Olivia, whoever Olivia is. Which means all the overtime, stuck in meetings and all of that was fake.

It was all a decoy to go see whoever that was.

“Noah can stay with me, I'm home now, am I not? Besides, we need to talk." 

"Baby, Noah is safer with me. Remember what happened yesterday, he almost died. You love him but you're not exactly reliable these days. This is—”

"Who's Olivia?” I suddenly blurted out.

"What…” He trailed off, "What Olivia? What do you mean?”

"Heard she's a client in your company and you're always in meetings—”

"Sophie, those are company details, it's not your place to know." I stared at him for longer than usual and he swallowed.

“Fine. We'll talk once I'm back from work.” I fought back the tears, I wanted to yell at him, scream at him, my fingers digging into the hospital report I had gotten that I had wanted to show him.

"What are those?” He suddenly pointed to it and I contemplated telling him or just wanting him to fuck off.

"These are—” I was interrupted by his phone suddenly beeping and he picked it up immediately, taking a step out of the room while Noah just ran out, straight down the stairs. 

He had totally ignored my presence like I wasn't there. Good! So good! Tears slid out my eyes.

I walked out to go meet with Hayes, his face looking like he had somewhere urgent to be.

“Okay, Oli, I'll be right there, okay? You'll be fine. What hospital?”

“Okay. I'm on my way." 

" Sophie? What do you need us to talk about? Get to it quickly. Something came up with Oliv—at the company, I need to be there.” I stared at him in spite.

How many years of being married? I even gave him a son and he had the guts to keep another woman outside. Another woman my son wished was his mother? Why should I bear it? Why!?

"Yeah. I want a divorce.” I stated bluntly and Hayes turned to me, his eyes wide with surprise.

I was going to die anyways, so why should I hold on to a cheating man while death was knocking?

No way.

“What did you just say?" His eyes were filled with shock, his lips curved up like he was about to scoff.

“I want a divorce, Hayes." I repeated, my voice more firmer than earlier.

“Sophie, that's not funny. Is this because I want Noah to come with me? It's nobody's fault you've not been acting like you used to. I didn't have to concern myself with the house but now, it's like you've let yourself go. He's not…” He trailed off, probably realizing what he was saying and then stopped.

"I...i didn't mean that. Just stop, Sophie. Stop overreacting. You don't want a divorce.” He stated and I scoffed, chuckling bitterly.

"Hayes, you—”

" Stop it, Sophie. I've got work and it's quite hectic and I'm doing my best here. I don't have the time to deal with this tantrum you're pulling, okay? I won't be back tonight though, don't wait up.” He said hurriedly and began walking to the stairs.

My legs moved quickly to catch up with him as I began descending the steps too.

"Hayes, if you leave now, I would take that as an approval of our married ending!” He halted in his steps.

Maybe it was the way my voice sounded, or the seriousness in it but he stopped and turned to me.

The world began blurring around me, that sharp ringing in my head was back and my joints felt weak. 

I groped for the railing as dizziness threatened to take over.

God! Where is it? Why now? I breathed through my mouth as my hands wrapped around the railing or I thought so as my legs missed a beat and I went tumbling down.

"Sophie!” Hayes shouted, about to run towards me. 

Through my hazy eyes, I saw him ruffle for his phone and picked up the buzzing call. 

That lady's voice filled my ear.

"Hayes, are you almost here? I'm really scared. They want to do a blood transfusion and I can't…” The rest of the words were distant for me to hear as Hayes immediately swerved and began racing down the stairs.

I see.

He had made his choice.

I was bleeding through the head and he had made the choice of going to his mistress.

This was how he usually raced out, hurrying for meetings, to sign documents, for projects and I felt he was doing all he could to keep the company running.

But now that I think of it, he was the CEO. He owned the company, how could he have that kind of workload and overtime?

I smiled faintly at my stupidity as I laid there on the floor, waiting for the dizziness to pass so I could get back on my feet.

Seeing this, he probably didn't start cheating on me recently, it must have been a while now.

Why should I stay with such a filthy man? Why was I still holding onto this?

A cheating man is exactly like a dollar note that had fallen into the latrine. It was a pity to leave it behind but so filthy to pick it back up.