CHAPTER 3

Lucas pov

I leaned back on the office chair,staring at the ceiling trying to concentrate after having the trip with Joan and the night out with her, knowing fully well what awaits me at home— Bella’s unavoidable rants about the divorce and things I said to her before leaving the house yesterday.

I hate confrontations especially with her,and I don’t feel like hearing her objections to the divorce.

“She wouldn’t sign the papers easily, I know that for sure, she is very stubborn and hard to deal with.” I thought to myself.

“Good morning sir, the lady dropped off the papers.” My secretary voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Ohhh, Good.” I said leaning forward with a smirk of relieve on my face.

“Sir, she refuse to take the money.” The secretary added.

“Refuse to take the money? Was the money too small for her or what exactly?” I wonder to myself as I dismiss the secretary.

I turned my chair to face the large windows, staring at the city skyline.what is he trying to play at? Is she gone for good? Or was she still at home, refusing the money because she wanted more?

But if she wanted more money she wouldn’t have signed the divorce papers just like that. My mind raced with possibilities. I don’t know whether to be relieved or suspicious.

I check my phone, expecting an anger message from Bella. But there Nothing. Not even a message concerning the divorce. My fingers hover around her contact hesitating whether to call as I felt a strange knot in my chest.

My mind was so unsettled and I was a bit tired from the stress on the trip, so I headed home early dat day.

When i arrived at the house, an unsettling silence greeted me. Bella wasn’t there, my eyes quickly scanned through the room searching for a sign of her.

The wardrobe was open, and he noticed her clothes were gone. The suitcase she kept in the corner of the closet—it wasn’t there either.

A pressure gripped my chest,a feeling I couldn’t place where it came from. It wasn’t anger or confusion, though it felt like both. I stood still as I tried to wonder why she signed the papers so easily.

Was my words toward her yesterday so bad,That she had to leave? Or maybe Was already had it in mind to divorce me and she felt this is an opportunity for her to leave?

The Bella I have knew under a short while has never gotten mad at me,even when I cheated to her face with my our former housekeeper,she will do anything to save our marriage and would never end her father’s last wish for her.

For the first time in two years of our marriage, I was worried about her.

After much hesitation, I dialed her number, pacing around the room waiting for it to ring. But the calls didn’t went through. I tried again and again, still same thing. She wasn’t answering. Her line has been disconnected.

My fingers trembled as I sat on the edge of the bed,my mind swirling with everything that was happening. Where had she gone without a word?

Joan face flashed in my mind as I thought about Bella’s whereabout, she is pregnant and glowing when we met up yesterday and she claim it was my baby she was carrying.

Though I was married to Bella for two years but I wasn’t a faithful husband to her at all and most times i spent my nights at Joan’s apartment I rented for her as my ex and mistress.

I swiped through my phone again,mindlessly checking the notifications something caught my eyes quickly, my stomach turned as I saw the video posted on my social media page. Joan’s voice clear as day, the caption glaring back at him: “Meet my wife and the mother of my unborn child.”

“What the hell? I didn’t posted that.And I had no idea it was posted too.”His heart thudded in his chest, a mix of anger and panic rising up.

I was so drunk last night and all I could remember was Joan making videos with my phone. Definitely she posted it and unfortunately it went viral and had lots of comments on how we look good together.

Pissed,I threw my phone on the bed and stood up abruptly, pacing around the room.

I guess Bella saw that. Why am I worried when I have never loved her and even gave her divorce papers to sign.

I lay down as tried to sleep but sleep refused to come, every time I close my eyes I felt so unease and tense.

What is Bella up to? Who is she with? She doesn’t have any friends here. She doesn’t work so she doesn’t have money and she refused to take the money I offered. Thinking about it drives me crazy as fvck.

Suddenly my phone rang and it snapped me back to reality. It was Joan calling. I could feel my irritation surges up as I answered the call.

“Hi baby, will you be coming for dinner tonight? I made….”

“Why did you posted that video?” I cut in sharply.

There was a pause, and then a nonchalant shrug in her voice. “I thought it would be fun. Why are you so upset?”

“Fun?” I clenched my jaw. “Do you have an idea of what you’ve done? I don’t have time for this right now. I have a meeting to attend.”

I hung up, not giving her the chance to say a word.

***********

A week has passed and there was no signs of her, not a single call from her and I kept calling her everyday to check if she must have at least connected her line back but she hasn’t.

Maybe she needed a time alone or probably she is in trouble and needs my help.

I kept thinking about what must have really happened to her.

I have to look for her, I must find her.

I called my PA, “Hi, I need you to find someone for me.” I ordered as my voice tightened with frustration. “Find Bella for me, track her phone. Do whatever you it takes you to find her.