Regret?

Outside Damien’s home, Harriett’s car was already waiting. One by one, she packed all her boxes into the car with the help of Mrs Smith. She turned around to look at the house one last time, a tear slipping out of her eyes as she remembered how happy she was when she entered this same house.

She came with a smile only to leave with tears. How pitiful!

Without even going to her father’s house, she drove straight to the court after dropping Mrs Smith and filed for a divorce, waited for the papers to be ready before leaving. She was going to make things easier for him, just like she had always done.

For the entire three years of their marriage, she always put his feelings before hers and even now that it was about to end, she was going to do just that.

He wanted her gone, so she was going to leave.

She checked her phone and saw that she had nine missed calls from Adrian. She had been ignoring his call since the incident with Damien happened. He hadn’t wronged her in any way but she didn’t want to face him. She felt like she was the reason his relationship with his brother got ruined.

When her lawyer called her to inform her that the papers were ready for collection, her heart sank, her reality finally dawning on her.

“You’re getting divorced, Harriet.” She said, staring at the document. “You’re getting divorced, Harriett. It’s actually happening.” Se repeated and shut her eyes, hoping it would shut her pain out too.

She didn’t ask for any alimony while preparing the documents because she didn’t want him to think she needed his help or money. She was doing it to convince herself that she was the one making the decision to leave.

Harriet didn’t bother going through the document as she signed her name on every part. All that was left now was Damien’s signature. For a very brief moment, she wondered if Damien would have a change of heart and refuse to sign the document but she shook her head. Even if he did, she was done with this loveless marriage.

When she was done, she placed a hand on her tummy which had a baby growing inside it- their baby.

“You’ll be fine with me.” She assured her baby. She already made up her mind to be a mother and father to the baby.

Her shaking hands placed the pen on the table and closed the document, putting it into an envelope. After that, she removed her wedding ring and put into the envelope. A part of her wanted to write a goodbye letter to him but she decided not to. She didn’t want to make him think she was pitiful.

Even though she was pitiful.

She thanked the lawyer and told him to deliver the documents to Damien’s house so that he would sign it whenever he comes back to the house.

*

*

Damien sat in the private room of an expensive club together with his best buddy, Eric. He had been staying at a hotel since he left the house as he didn’t want to see the face of his cheating wife. His grey colored eyes narrowed at his drink as he clenched his jaws before gulping the entire glass of whiskey.

His eyes lingered on the empty glass before he finally opened his mouth. “Harriett cheated…with Adrian. I’m getting a divorce.”

There was an eerie silence and Damien had to raise his head to look at his friend just to be sure he heard him. Eric had a blank expression on his face that made Damien wonder if he knew about it.

“Wait. You’re being serious?” Eric asked when he saw that Damien wasn’t joking. A chuckle escaped his lips and he took a sip from his glass.

“Did you catch them in the act?” Eric asked, placing the glass at the tip of his lips and Damien shook his head.

“No. Someone caught them and sent the picture to me.” Damien said through gritted teeth but Eric stared at him like he was the biggest joker of the century.

“Wait a minute. Let me get something straight.” Eric placed his glass on the table and sat up. “You’re getting a divorce because someone sent you a picture of Harriett cheating with your brother even though you didn’t see it happen yourself?”

Damien didn’t understand where he was going with this but he nodded and the second he did, Eric started laughing hysterically.

“Are you serious, man? If you want to divorce her just do it. There’s no need making up such excuses.” He said and Damien cocked his head to the side.

“What do you mean?”

“How can you spend three years with someone and still not know the person even a little? Harriett is in love with you for fuck’s sake! She has been for years now so why would she cheat on you… and with Adrian of all people.” Eric said. He couldn’t believe that his friend was about to make such a terrible decision all because of what might not be true.

Damien didn’t like that his friend was taking Harriett’s side. He knew that Harriett was hopelessly in love with but that wasn’t enough to stop her from cheating.

“People in love still cheat on each other. Besides, you know that I never wanted this marriage. I didn’t want to be stuck with her for the rest of my life but thanks to my father, it happened. This incident is an opportunity for me to finally leave her.” He said and filled his glass with more whiskey.

“And go for Evelyn? You think she’s half as good as Harriet? You’re my friend but I must tell you, you’re making a big mistake.” Eric shook his head. He was Damien’s childhood friend, so he had been there since Harriett’s parents moved into the area and became friends with Damien’s parents. He knew that Harriett had loved him for a really long time even though Damien never loved her. He was also hurt when Damien brought in Evelyn James and introduced her as his girlfriend. He didn’t believe that Damien would do that to Harriett when he knew how much she loved him.

He had concluded that Damien was a fool to think that Harriett would ever cheat on him.

“I really don’t get you, man. Any man would choose Harriett over Evelyn. Harriett is an angel, God sent while Evelyn is…” Eric trailed off and rested his head on the headrest.

“If you love Harriett that much, go after her!” Damien yelled and slammed his hand on the table which caused Eric to sit up.

“Are you sure? As long as Harriett is okay with being my wife, I honestly don’t mind. It would be a blessing for me to get married to her.” Eric said with a smirk and Damien stood up abruptly, throwing a deadly glare at Eric's way.

“You, stay away from my wife!”