Chapter 3 : A fresh start

The next day, Clarissa sits at the dining table, staring at divorce papers deep in thoughts.

A week ago, she destroyed the very same table which she decorated with all her love to celebrate her special day. The day she fell in love with Nicholas and gained confidence to survive.

She strived to get his attention, his care, his love and till yesterday she never stopped her efforts but now she’s void of any emotions, just like the table before her, which is clean and empty without even a shred of clothing on it. It’s as if she never used it before.

“Are you sure Clarissa?”

Catherine asks, placing her hand on Clarissa’s which is resting on the table.

Clarissa called her this morning to inform her about her decision of divorcing Nicholas and raising her child alone.

She was shocked and confused at her friend’s sudden determination to divorce Nicholas.

In a moment of confusion and concern over her friend, she drove to Clarissa’s house to confront her but was tounge tied after seeing her friend’s dejected look.

“I am sure.”

“But why? He is the father of your child.”

Catherine moves her eyes to Clarissa’s abdomen, reminding her of the baby but it didn’t shake the determined pregnant woman.

“Natalie is back.”

“What did you say?”

Mixed expressions displayed on Catherine’s face as soon as she heard about Natalie, the selfish - poisonous vixen.

“Nicholas wants to divorce me to be with her.”

Clarissa said, her voice plain and gloomy. She got tired of fearing Natalie since childhood. It’s draining her energy.

She wished for one thing in her life and that is to be with Nicholas but her step sister became an indestructible obstacle in her way to the happiness.

“I will kill her Clarissa.”

Catherine clenched her fist in anger as she thought of her friend’s struggles for the past three years to keep her marriage intact but it only took one woman to destroy it.

“Calm down Cathie! I don’t think I should stay in this marriage anymore.”

Clarissa finally expressed her true feelings.

She doesn’t want her child to suffer in a loveless marriage and Catherine understood her concern. She sighs, hugging Clarissa’s thin body and said,

“Try to talk to Nicholas. He certainly won’t abandon his child.”

Clarissa chuckles, pulling back from Cathie’s embrace.

“He said he doesn’t want my child.”

“NO WAY! Did he really say that?”

Clarissa smiles bitterly at her friend’s horrified expression and nods with a sigh. It’s true that her husband never cared for her, so how can he care about her child?

She leans her weak body back on chair and opened up to her friend about what she saw and heard in Nicholas’s office the day before.

After hearing out Clarissa, Catherine stares at her in dilemma. She thought that the couple would solve their misunderstandings with pregnancy news but didn’t expect Nicholas to be an asshole.

He’s still married to her friend yet he dared to have an affair with Natalie on broad day light in his office.

Though Clarissa told her that they weren’t involved in any explicit act, a married man can’t be a sage with his ex-fiancée, especially when he is still in love with that woman.

Catherine lost the ability to persuade her friend as she wants to sign the divorce papers so that she could leave Nicholas once and for all and raise her child alone without his involvement.

She knew Clarissa is capable enough to take care of herself and her baby but…she still needs someone by her side. So, she just informed that certain someone about the situation before driving to Clarissa’s place.

“Think about it again Clarissa.”

She says to her friend who is caressing her abdomen with a gentle smile and in the next second she watched the pregnant woman sign the divorce papers without having second thoughts.

Clarissa would’ve endured Nicholas’s hatred forever but with Natalie in the picture, she can’t. It’s time to put an end to his chapter in her life.

Just as she took her mobile to call Nicholas to inform him about the divorce, her phone rang.

Clarissa’s eyes widened seeing the caller ID on the screen. After all these years, why did she think of contacting her at this moment?

She eyed at Catherine who is fidgeting with her fingers and knew exactly the reason behind the phone call. She sighed and answered the call because she has to confirm her guess.

“Pack your bags honey. I’m coming to take you back home.”

A sweet concerned voice of a woman came from the other side of the phone which brought tears to Clarissa’s eyes instantly.

How long has it been since she heard her voice?

“Mom!”

Clarissa whispers, as tears continued to flow out of her eyes.

Matilda Anderson on the other side blinked her eyes, fighting back the urge to cry. She needs to be stronger now, not just for her daughter but for her grandchild too.

Matilda, Clarissa’s mother is the founder of a luxurious perfume brand and established her own trademark in the business world.

She wanted her daughter to be like her, independent and invincible but Clarissa went after Nicholas.

She did not approve of her marriage with the idiot as he was Natalie’s fiancé then but Clarissa was such a fool and insisted on her will.

Driven with anger, she left her daughter alone to fend for herself in her hopeless marriage but she always kept tabs on her through Catherine.

The doctor friend usually informs her about her daughter’s activities on regular basis and that’s how she found out about Clarissa’s pregnancy and divorce this morning.

Finally, her baby is free from the torment and she couldn’t wait to take her away.

“I’ll be there in an hour. Mama comes to get you honey.”

Clarissa heard her mother’s words and looks at her friend who gestured her to do as Matilda says.

With her friend and mother’s support, she can raise her child well so she agrees with a nod.

“Love you mama.”

………………

The following day, Clarissa went to Nicholas’s office again as he didn’t pick her calls like always and never came to their wedding house after proposing the divorce.

How can he still have a heart to come home when his mistress is in the city?

This time around, he’s alone in his office though which relieved her because she didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of Natalie.

Her unannounced presence surprised Nicholas and he stared at her with a suspicious frown. She didn’t have the authority to enter his office without prior information.

What’s with her sudden visit? His suspicions got cleared when she threw down the signed divorce documents on his table.

Her actions shocked him because she’s being bold and rude with her attitude but her willingness to divorce, caught him off guard.

‘Did she really sign the papers?’

He thought double checking her signature. It’s true.

“Thanks for everything you did for three years. If you want to renegotiate the alimony amount, there’s no need to rush into signing.”

Nicholas said with hesitation because he couldn’t believe that Clarissa divorced him. How can a cunning woman like her agree to just leave him alone?

“No, I don’t need your money. Just sign it quickly, please.”

Clarissa spoke coldly because she didn’t want to be on his good side anymore. That doesn’t mean she pretended in front of him all these years.

It’s just that she’ll bend her pride only for her loved ones but Nicholas lost her love and respect the moment he went after Natalie again.

It’s not easy for her to change her attitude from being a sweet gentle wife to petty arrogant woman overnight.

It took every cell in her body to act strong in front of Nicholas because she will be hopeless in his presence.

If she wants a clean break up and a future for her child, she should cut ties with him, including her love for him.

Nicholas frowned at Clarissa’s blunt rejection of his offer. How mean? But as a gentleman, he didn’t lose his temper.

“Ok. Where will you go? I can help you rent a new apartment in the city.”

“No need. I have to go. If you have any questions, contact my lawyer. ”

With that Clarissa placed the contact information of her lawyer on his table and left Nicholas’s office, leaving him in astonishment. Did she just reject him twice in the span of one minute?

He was being generous to give her additional alimony and an apartment to live. Why is she being unreasonable? Or maybe it’s one of her schemes. But, something feels off.

Clarissa seemed different. Anyway, she did him a huge favour by signing the divorce papers without causing ruckus.

Nicholas felt the weight disappear from his shoulders but the weight that just dropped on his heart felt more heavier than the previous one.

Why is he feeling anxious for no reason? He wanted a divorce from Clarissa and he finally got it. Shouldn’t he be happy? So, what’s with this heavy feeling? It’s uncomfortable and dreadful.