CHAPTER 2

Bella’s pov

For a moment, everything stopped.The room, the world— it all faded into a blur of silence. The room became extremely hot and I started sweating.

Her words hung in the air, sinking slowly into my mind like a moving tide.

My hand unconsciously went to my stomach,the realization crashing over me.

“Pregnant? With Lucas child?”

The doctor continued speaking,offering advices,explaining the next steps and ante-natal days but I could barely hear her. My mind was lost in thoughts and spinning.

Why did this have to happen now? How I could I be carrying a child of someone who considers me as a gold digger and a pawn in his game? I questioned myself.

“Mrs Fernandez?” The doctor’s voice snapped me back to reality. “Are you okay?”

I blinked with a fainted smile, forcing myself to focus. “Yes, yes…. I’m good, I just need sometime to process this.” I responded my voice barely above whispers.

“I understand, this is your first child and it might seem like a lot of work to handle alone but trust me you’ll be fine, we’re always here for you.” She said calmly as she gave those words of encouragement.

I nodded mechanically and stood up. The doctor gave me a gentle smile as I thank her and left the room, the weight of my new reality pressing harder with each step I took.

I walked slowly to my car parked outside the hospital, each step felt heavier and I was drowning slowly in my thoughts. The tears I’d been holding back finally fell as I collapsed into the driver’s seat.

What am I going to do to do?

I can’t stay with Lucas anymore. I have to sign the divorce papers. But now that I’m carrying a child? How could I leave with a baby on the way, tied to a man who wanted nothing to do with me? A man who never for once cared about me except the nights he needed me in his bed and he always treated me like a stranger the following day.

My phone buzzed again, jolting me from my thoughts. It was a message from Lucas, and for a split second, I foolishly thought it might be different. Maybe he regretted his words and actions.Maybe he wanted to talk or stop me from signing the papers.

I opened the message, and the cold, impersonal text greeted me: Don’t forget to drop the papers off today. Don’t make this harder than it is.

I laughed bitterly through my tears. So stupid of me to think it could be anything better. Of course. That was all I was to him—an obligation, a nuisance to be dealt with.

My phone buzzed as I turned on my mobile data, I looked at the screen and it was a video posted on Lucas social media posted few hours ago and the headline was: “Y’all meet my beautiful wife and my unborn child mother.” My mind flew instantly.

I wondered about who it might be, it can’t possibly be me, he never introduced me to anyone not even his friends,he can’t do that after handing me a divorce papers and he doesn’t know I’m pregnant with his child yet. I pounded as unlock my phone.

I open the social media app immediately to my greatest surprise it was Lucas and his ex girlfriend—Joan.

They were both having fun together, arm in arm, enjoying themselves without a care in the world. The video had gone viral, showing them at some luxury event, looking every bit like a couple in love. The comments were filled with praise for how perfect they looked together and how they can’t wait to see their child. I looked closely and saw a slight baby pump.

She is pregnant!! For Lucas, my supposed husband.

The sight of Lucas smiling—genuinely smiling at her—while I sat here with divorce papers and a pregnant test result made my heart hurt so much that I could barely breathe.

I guess that was why he wanted the divorce on a short notice , it was all because of her.

Joan,who is one of the famous aspiring models at Lucas father’s modeling agency,she has a lovely physique and beautiful face any man would die for.

I could remember someone sent me an anonymous text when we just got married that Joan and Lucas were dating, but Lucas told me she was just an ex when I confronted  him, I guess that was all a lie too.

***********

I parked outside the mansion, gripping the steering wheel as I stared at the front door. The divorce papers lay on the passenger seat, and my phone was still open to the TikTok video that had just shattered the last piece of hope I was holding on to.

I couldn’t face him. Not now,not Ever again. I need to go for the sake of my child and my self.

I can’t let this child grow up in such a toxic  home with a father who cheats and does drug.

How do I tell my child his father never loved me,he always thought of me as a mistake his grandfather made and a gold digger but still got me pregnant?

I thought to myself, with a deep breath I grabbed the papers and stepped out of the car.

My heart pounded hard in my chest as I approached the front door, but I knew what I had to do. There was no need for confrontation, no need to plead or fight. He had already shown me where his priorities lay, and it wasn’t with me—or the child I’m carrying.

As I entered the mansion, the familiar coldness of the place settled over me. The silence was deafening, but it was nothing new. I had grown used to the quiet, to the emptiness that had come with this marriage.

I walked straight to the dining table, laying the divorce papers down carefully. My hand trembled as I signed my name at the bottom of the last page.

It was over.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the bold letters of my name inked on the paper, realizing that this was the end of a chapter I never asked for but had been forced into. The video of Lucas and Joan flashed in my mind again, reminding me of what I had been running from for too long.

I guess this is  my chance to finally be free.

*********

I drove as fast as I could to lucas office to drop the papers off, I handed over the signed divorce papers to his secretary who could hardly tell who I was.

I wasn’t well dressed in fashionable outfit though and I was never introduced to anyone as his wife,so I can’t blame her and I honestly careless about that right now.

“Bella Davis right?”  She asked looking at me closely.

“Yes I am.” I nodded in response.

“Mr Fernandez,asked me to give you this.” She stretched her arm trying to hand over an official looking documents to me.

“ what is that?” I asked her, not taking the papers from her.

“It’s your compensation papers he asked you to signed them and get the cash from the accountant.” She said formally.

“Ohhh, tell your boss to keep his compensation. I don’t need anything from a man like him, he would get exactly

What he deserves soon.” I said in a low but sharp voice.

I walked out of the Lucas company with my eyes filled with tears that dropped as I looked up to the sky.

It’s all over now Bella,You just ended your marriage with a man who used you for two good years.

In the past two years, I have never contacted any of my friends. Lucas made me cut ties with everyone, got me a new phone and SIM card.

It’s high time i leave this messed up life he created for me and go back to my old life and old self.

I remembered I have a friend card in my box at home.

Is this a right time to call a friend after years? Now that I am in the worst situation of my life. But I have no where and no one to run to.

I went back to the house to searched for the card and pack my stuffs before Lucas got back because I wouldn’t like to see him or talk to him about anything.

I dialed the number on the card.

“Please, I need your help can you come pick me up from the address I just sent to you. Please.” I said into the phone as I teared up badly.

It didn’t took me long to pack, I just took few of my clothes, which I stuffed into the a big suitcase.

My friend arrived few minutes later, and Without hesitation, I grabbed my bag, took one last look around the mansion, and walked out the door.

As we drove through the city, I felt a strange mixture of relief and sadness.

But there was no turning back now. I had signed the papers, and with them, I had signed away the life I thought I had.

The life I knew I deserved was waiting for me and my baby somewhere else.