CHAPTER TWO

~AURORA

“I asked first. Who did he cheat with? And where is Van? She told me she was meeting you later.” She said, catching me as I tried to ignore the question.

“Meeting with me,” I coughed a bit as I attempted to laugh. “More like destroying my home. She was the one I caught in bed with my husband.”

Rachel froze, with her eyes looking like they would explode from shock.

“No. What?! In fact, baby girl. Let's stop talking about this and wait for you to recover, okay?” She said, still shaken from what I just told her.

“Leonard Montgomery. Who is he?” I repeated my question.

“You're a Montgomery and you're asking me? Well what do I expect, you have always minded your business since college.” She sighed as she sat back down.

“He is your husband's cousin and a major part of the Montgomery holdings. I read somewhere that he heads the aviation and marine groups of the global holdings. And a major rival to your husband.”

I blinked multiple times at her. I had no idea Adrian had such a cousin. My phone's notification sounded as we spoke.

Rachel picked up her handbag, searched the bag, and brought it out.

“I picked it from your pocket as they were changing your clothes.”

“Thanks.” I said, smiling. I unlocked the phone and a few minutes later my smile died. Disappeared and twisted my face into something I couldn't fathom.

The phone fell off my hands as my lips and hands trembled in unison.

“What happened?” Rachel asked, her voice filled with worry. She picked the fallen phone and screamed.

“Is he crazy? Divorce papers? What the fuck is this article?...” she continued. “He has announced his marriage to her publicly and accused you of infidelity.”

“Which media house published it?” I asked almost immediately. She didn't respond, she looked at me like saying it would break me even more.

“The Hayes.” She replied, her voice as low as a whisper. I tilted to the other side of the bed, looking away from her, I expected nothing less from my family.

My mind dazed to happy memories of Adrian and I. Why was I remembering us now.

The way he usually cooked for me, when I acted lazy.

“Don't worry, love. I got you.” He said as he kissed my cheeks and headed to the kitchen. “Are you ready for a cuisine extraordinaire?"

My tears flowed freely, but this time I wasn't sobbing. I laid there with a broken smile. Those memories seemed like an eon ago, now.

I felt warmth on my left hand, I tilted and saw Rachel's hand grabbing mine. My heart was cramped on by my best friend. And my husband chose to believe her over me.

Forget believing her. He slept her on our matrimonial bed. He broke me. All my life I had always believed in love, despite not growing with it.

After all I had been through, I still believed in love. But now, not anymore.

Adrian took everything I knew about love, grinded it and splashed its remains on my face.

“Lemme get you something to eat.” She said, getting up and leaving the room.

I won't forgive Adrian. How dare he? I have never done anything bad to you. If this is how you repay me so be it. But I won't let you get away with it.

~~

“Hey, you're awake.” I heard Rachel's voice as my eyes slowly flickered open. “Here, I got you some food.” I slowly got up and straightened on the bed.

“Thanks, Resh.”I took the food tray from her. “Has the doctor said anything?”

“Yeah, while you were asleep, he examined you and said you were okay. We can leave today and I got the prescribed medication. And one more thing…” Her voice shook a bit when she started that last line.

“What?” I said, picking up the spoon. I wonder why she was hesitant, nothing could really surprise me anymore.

“Your family called. They want you at the family meeting next two weeks.” She replied, taking her seat next to me.

“This soup is savory. After eating, I need to leave this place.” I said, sipping the soup, trying to stop my hands from trembling.

“You're welcome. Aurora, come on. You can't solve this by pretending not to hear things.” She said, leaning forward as her eyes filled with worry.

“I'm fine, Rachel.”

“No, you're not. Eat up. Let's get you discharged, then we can logically unpack all this. You don't need to pretend to be fine now.” Rachel said, getting up to the leave the room again.

I watched her as she left, the soup spoon in my hands. I had known Vanessa longer than I had known Rachel. What are the odds that she won't betray me too like Vanessa?

Vanessa was also kind and loving. Always available when I needed her. Maybe too available. Why couldn't I see what she was doing?

Betrayed by my friend, then my husband. My family doesn't even count. They had hated me since mom died and I got a new step mom. I wonder who was next?

I heard Rachel's voice and few seconds later, she walked in with the doctor.

“Mrs. Montgomery, you can leave today and your friend here has gotten the medications. Please take good care of yourself. Health is wealth. Okay, let me take this off…” The doctor said, taking off the syringe and drip bag.

Soon, I was on my feet. The room spinned in my head for a minute but I steadied myself.

Rachel helped me as we walked out of the room and hospital into her car.

“Thank you, Rachel. I would pay you back for everything.” I said, buckling my seatbelt.

“Get out. I don't need that crap. We need you to recover and decide what the hell to do to those fools.” She said, as she brought the engine to life.

“I will sign the divorce papers, that's obvious. But I need to eat before we talk about the people who sent me this hospital.” I replied, as the car drove out of the hospital compound.

“Hey! I also work at a hospital. It's not that bad.” She retorted.

“Yes, I know. Tell that to someone who hasn't listened to your wails.” I said, managing a smile.

“Burn. Okay. Keep up that energy. You need to be happy, even if it means throwing sarcasm at me.” She said, chuckling.

“By the way, before you lose your Montgomery status. You need to visit their seaport. The restaurants and hotel they have there.”

“And,” she continued. “You need to see meet the man they claimed you slept with.”