The Final Bow

The D-day arrived for Kate on a Monday morning. She had an appointment at the lawyer's office. Time, 9:00 am sharp. She looked at herself in the mirror. A different woman stared back at her. The suit she had chosen was stylish. Tailored to fit her slim build.

She kept her hand on her stomach. It was too early for a baby bump to show. But she felt changed already. Like the child in her womb had made her a whole new person. A reason to live. Her little miracle. Kate's grey eyes steeled with resolve. She was ready for a new chapter.

The cab dropped her at the premises of Walter brown and Co. One of the most distinguished law firms in New York. Kate stepped out of the car, blinking at the brilliant sunlight glaring down at her.

She stared at the tall building stretching to the sky. Alex was up there somewhere. A week had passed since she parked her load from his house, and she hadn't set her eyes on him since then.

She walked up to the receptionist, a beautiful brunette smiling politely at her. "How may I help you, Ma'am?"

"I am here for my divorce case."

"Please, proceed straight to the twentieth floor, they are waiting for you there."

"Thank you," Kate muttered, heading for the elevators.

Kate breathed through her mouth, willing her hands to stay steady. And by the time she walked into the office, she presented a bold, and dashing woman.

Both the Lawyer and Alex stood up at her arrival. Frosty greetings were exchanged but she felt Alex's gaze linger on her a little too long. The lawyer was formal, going about the procedure in a businesslike manner. When he'd gotten their consent, he passed the divorce papers for Alex to sign.

Kate imagined she saw him hesitate, as if he were rethinking his decision. Then he grabbed a pen and scribbled his signature. Kate didn't bat an eye when the lawyer gave her the documents.

"The marriage has been legally annulled." The lawyer announced to them before excusing himself.

"You sure you don't want anything?" Alex said after a while, watching her with a veiled expression.

"No, Alex, I don't. Whether you believe it or not. I loved you because of you, not because of your money, and yet you crucified me for the same mistake I made. Please, God forbid I stand in the way between you and Evelyn." A grim smile touched her lips.

"I'm done needing you to treat me better, I'm done needing you to forgive my mistake. I'm done needing you to love me as a wife. I'm done with you, Alex Martins. Have a great day."

And with that, she walked out of the office and her ex-husband's life. Alex watched her leave, thinking she had never looked more beautiful. There was a glow about her he couldn't place, and a thought crossed his mind--he may have lost the best thing that ever happened to him.

---

Kate flagged a cab down and told him her address. She had rented a two-bedroom flat in a modest part of New York. She had dipped into her savings to pay the rent. Alex never restrained her from working but he promised her she didn't have to work a day in her life, that he would take care of her.

Eager to please, she decided to be a housewife, she thought if she couldn't give him kids, she would dedicate her life to him. He would always come back to freshly cooked meals, she would always have time for him. But Kate could see now the foolishness of her ways.

She was a seasoned web designer, she had great instincts for fashion. She could do whatever she wanted. This feeling made her happy. It made her feel anything was possible. She did feel a twinge of guilt that Alex didn't know about their child. But she assured herself she would tell him when the time was right.

At 8:30 pm, Kate took out the trash to the back of the building. The alley was quiet. Not much movement going around. She was alone and began having the feeling of being watched. She tried hurrying back inside but it was too late.

Shapes emerged from the dark. Kate was going to scream but one of them grabbed her from behind, gagging her mouth. "If you make any sound, I'll slit your throat." She struggled against the grip.

He pushed her away from him and she stumbled, landing hard on her side. The impact was bad. Oh, God, the baby. Kate wailed, cradling her stomach. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. No, no, don't take this from me too.

One of them tried kicking her stomach but connected with her hands.

"Grab her hand!" When she tried struggling, she got kicked in the face. Her vision swam. She was losing consciousness.

Another man was going to kick her again--

Then--

Someone slammed into him. Someone bigger and stronger. He handled her three attackers like they were children. She saw them running for their lives just as her eyes closed.

---

When Kate awoke, she saw she was lying in a hospital bed. Overhead, drips were connected and passing through her veins A nurse was fixing one by her side. "My baby!" She croaked, panic setting in.

"You mean babies, Ma'am, congratulations, you are carrying twins." Kate burst out crying. The nurse was gentle, advising her to get some rest, she'd been through a lot already.

Then she informed Kate she had a visitor.

A man in a sharp grey suit walked in. Something about the way he carried himself seemed familiar. And Kate soon remembered him. He was the one who fought off her attackers.

"Miss Paulson," the man bowed his head, pinning her with his piercing blue eyes. Miss Paulson, she hadn't been called that in a very long time. Wait, how did he know?

She wanted to begin with thanking him but what came out of her mouth was, "Who are you?"

The man flashed a smile. "I'm Edward, the late Mr Stewart's, PA." Evelyn's father, John.

"May I sit," he gestured at the chair beside Kate, "I believe this is going to take a while." She could only nod.

"Upon his death, Mr Stewart told me to wait a year before contacting you. Tomorrow would have made it a year but your stepsister moved faster than I thought. Before you asked how I knew, Mr Stewart also ordered me to keep an eye on you, he wasn't sure of your safety."

Kate was having a hard time taking it all in. But Edward continued talking.

"Miss Paulson, you are the sole heir to Mr Stewart's inheritance. I'm talking properties, real estate, millions and millions of dollars--"

"No," Kate shook her head, finally finding her voice. "I knew John was rich but he wasn't that rich."

"Oh, but he was," Edward nodded grimly. "He hid his true wealth from your mother and stepsister. He saw them for what they were. But you, Kate, you were the only one who truly cared about him. You were always by his side, you took good care of him till he took his last breath."

The tears began to flow again. Edward promptly produced a hankie from his pocket. "He loved you dearly, Miss Paulson."

"And I loved him too," Kate sobbed, wiping her nose.

"I'm yours to do with as you please," Edward said quietly, watching Kate. "Just say the word and every one of your heart's desires would be done."

Kate's face had frozen into a cold mask. "What about dealing with my enemies?"

Edward did not flinch a bit. "It will be my pleasure."

Kate squeezed the bedspread in her hands. Evelyn made a wrong move when she came after her children. And Kate would make her pay for everything she had done. She would make all of them pay.