Chapter Ten

Lauren was on her feet in her office, operating the portable scanning machine when she felt someone wrap a pair of arms around her waist possessively. She smiled, knowing who it was. 

Stanley chuckled and kissed her cheek from behind. 

She released herself from him, turned around, tiptoed and gave him a kiss on his lips. 

"Going somewhere?" She asked with an eyebrow raised. 

"Yes, my parents requested to see me so I have to go to the mansion."

"Is everything okay?" She asked concerned. 

"Rita is being reluctant about signing the divorce papers and so she has notified my parents about the whole thing."

"Heyyy, there's nothing to worry about" Stanley assured as soon as he noticed the sad expression on Lauren's face. 

"I'll go and see my parents and hear what they have to say to me. I'm sure Rita said something to them that is not true."

"Don't stress yourself. My lawyer will come up with something. If Rita doesn't sign the divorce papers willingly, she will have to do it forcefully. She cannot go seeking justice when are hands are not clean either."

"You'll be coming back to the office right?" She asked. 

"I still have some work to finish up so yes I'll be coming back to the office. Hopefully, my parents won't keep me there for so long."

"Okay, Drive safe."

"Sure, I'll be back soon." He kissed her cheek and left for his parents' mansion. 

.................... 

"It's so good to see you again, Son, " Gemma said before pulling Stanley into a bone-crushing hug. 

Stanley chuckled and hugged her back. "It's good to see you too, Gemma."

Gemma used to be Anita and Stanley's nanny when they were young. Over the years, she has built a very tight relationship with the Chatwins' and still work for Stanley's parents as the housekeeper of their very big mansion. 

Gemma is just in her mid-forties, very active and hardworking. 

"I hope you've been doing well." He asked as he pulled away from the hug. 

"Oh please, don't pretend like you care. You hardly come by so say Hi to us. You only show up on special occasions." She accused with a pout. 

Stanley smiled, "I'm sorry, I've been occupied with work that's why." He justified. 

Gemma rolled her eyes, "You say that all the time and promise to change but you don't keep your promise." She accused. 

Stanley smiled shyly. 

"Anyways it's nice to see you. You parents are expecting you, you should go see them."

"Where are they? In the study room?"

"Your father is in the study room but your mom should be in the bedroom." She answered. 

"Thanks, Gemma, I'll say Hi to you before I leave." Stan hugged Gemma once more before making his way to his parents' room. 

He knocked on the door twice and entered when his mother gave him permission to. 

Brenda was settled on the sofa that was at the far end of she and her husband's room with her laptop on her lap, probably doing some work or research. 

"Hi, Mom." Stanley greeted as he strolled in. He gave his mom a kiss on her cheek before taking a seat beside her. 

Instead of replying to his greetings, Brenda gave her son a strange look. 

"Mom, why are you staring at me like that?" Stan asked with a smile playing on his lips. 

Brenda kept her laptop aside and turned her full concentration to her son. 

"I'm surprised because I was expecting a certain reaction from you."

"What reaction?" Stanley asked with an eyebrow raised. 

"Rita was here this morning, crying her eyes out because you served her with divorce papers and you, on the other hand, you look relaxed, happy and if I'm not mistaken you're even glowing."

"What's happening Stanley? Rita said you're leaving her for your assistant." Brenda demanded for an explanation because she was really confused. 

"I actually saw it coming, " Kelvin said as approached his Wife and Son. They hadn't even noticed when he entered. 

"You shouldn't encourage him, honey" Brenda mumbled as Kelvin took a seat beside her. 

Stanley has always been a secretive child. No matter how his parents persuaded him to be very open with them, he never really was. Unless they sit him down and force him to open up. 

But the situation turned worse when he became an adult. He was more secretive, he kept his problems to himself and when he feels like talking about it, he goes straight to his elder sister, Anita. He feels she is the only one who could listen to him and understand his situation. 

Probably that was part of the reasons why he fell in love with Lauren. She always forces him to open up to her and she was always there to listen to everything he had to say. 

Hearing the divorce talk from Rita who came over to the mansion this morning, crying her eyes out really got Brenda worried. 

Unlike her husband, Kelvin, she never saw the divorce coming because she thought everything was well in her Son's home. 

"What went wrong Stan? I still spoke to you two days ago and you told me Rita was fine and the two of you were okay." Brenda said. 

"Rita said you're leaving her for Lauren because Lauren is carrying your child, " Kelvin added. 

Stanley chuckled and shook his head in disbelief. Rita was really something else. 

"Mom, Dad, Rita is not the woman we all think she is and the truth is that things between me and her have not been going well since the first year of our wedding. I just chose not to say anything to you two."

"Divorcing her is what I should have done a long time ago. Rita does not love me, she's only with me for what she's getting."

"Among other things, She's been cheating on me and without my knowledge, she aborted your grandchild."

"What???" Brenda shouted in horror while Kelvin had a shocked and pained expression on his face. 

"I only found out about it months later. I have no idea if the child she aborted was truly mine because it came to my attention that she has been having affairs with other men."

Brenda rose to her feet and joined her son on the couch he was sitting on. She took Stan's warm hands in hers. 

"Why didn't you say anything to us?" She asked with teary eyes. 

"I thought the two of you were happy, I had no idea something this big and disheartening was going on."

"Mom, please don't cry." Stan pleaded, caressing his mother's hands. 

"It's all my fault, I should have known something was not right with my son. I should have known you were not happy in that marriage." Brenda said with a heavy heart, imagining all that Stanley would have felt when he heard about Rita's infidelity and that she aborted a child that might be his. 

Her son must have had no shoulder to lean on. 

"You're not at fault Mom. There's no way you could have known because I never opened up to you or Dad. No one forced me to marry Rita, I was the one who brought trouble upon myself by mistaking the lust I have for her with love."

"So much has been happening. Me trying to heal from Rita's betrayal and forgiving myself that I made a mistake by marrying her, saving the company from going bankrupt and then trying to rediscover myself and my feelings for Lauren."

"During those times, Lauren has been my pillar of support and has showered me with so much love and care that I never knew I could get from an opposite sex that isn't my mom or sister."

"I only regret waiting this long in serving her the divorce papers."

"One would have thought Rita was truly innocent when she came here this morning and crying her eyes out about you divorcing her, " Kelvin said. 

"The next time I see her, I'll advise her to go into acting. All the tears she shed were nothing but fake. I think those tears were part of the tricks she used on me that made me endure her for so long but I'm no longer moved by them."

"I wanted the divorce to be a peaceful one but Rita is not cooperating which doesn't give me any other choice than to make me take steps that will make her forcefully sign the papers."

"I was nice enough to give her some settlements which are stated in the divorce papers but she still had the nerve to contact my lawyer yesterday that the settlement isn't enough."

"And she came crying to you two this morning about me divorcing her as if I'm at fault and she has done nothing wrong."

"Rita has pushed me beyond limits and I will make sure she signs those papers and not get a dime from me."

"I'm sorry for everything she put you through, " Brenda whispered as a tear rolled down her cheeks. 

Stanley wiped it off immediately. 

"No need to worry mom. I'm fine, I've moved on. The only thing remaining is to finalize the divorce and my lawyer is really working hard on it." He assured. 

"Let me know how it goes Son, You can always count on your mom and me for help. I'll also contact my lawyer to go see your lawyer so they will brainstorm the matter together." Kelvin said and Stan nodded. 

"So Lauren, hun!" He teased which made Stanley blushed. 

Brenda was forced to smile too. She had never seen her son blush this much at the mention of a girl's name. He must be truly smitten by her. 

"There was something fascinating about her the first time you introduced her to me. The way she looks at you is just so priceless."

Kelvin smiled, "I remember my birthday that I told you to invite her to. She stood far away and watched you interact with the guests with so much adoration in her eyes."

"Anita caught me staring at her and she started to get angry. Before she misinterpreted the whole thing and thinks I'm cheating your mom, I explained to her what I was observing and she saw it with her own eyes."

"I didn't even know you loved her but I got to know that you appreciate and care for her as your personal assistant because she's a good girl and she works hard."

"But I was hopeful and I knew that whatever will be will be. Two people that are destined for each other will end up together no matter how big the obstacle may be." Kelvin completed. 

"Is she really pregnant?" Brenda asked hopefully. Stanley could see the eagerness and excitement in his mom's eyes, he could tell she was hoping his answer would be yes. 

He smiled. "No Mom."

"Lauren and I haven't gone past passionate kisses and a little smooching. She officially agreed to give me a chance just a few days ago."

"But don't feel disappointed, it will eventually happen by God's grace. I want nothing more than to make her my wife and the mother of my children. Lauren completes me and She's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with."

Brenda smiled proudly, she was looking at the version of Stanley she has never seen before. She could see the love and sincerity in his eyes as he spoke about Lauren. Something that wasn't present when he told them of his intention to marry Rita. 

"I can't wait to meet, Lauren, " Brenda announced excitedly. 

Stanley and Kelvin gave her a weird look. 

"I know I've met her before but that was as your personal assistant. This time, it's going to be different because I'll be meeting her as the woman who my son cannot imagine spending the rest of his life without." She said proudly. 

Stanley blushed. 

"Thanks, Mom, thanks, Dad. Your support means so much to Lauren and I. Especially to Lauren because she's been insecure about everything that has been going on."

"It took awhile for her to accept me and what I feel for her because she doesn't want to be the reason for me and Rita's separation."

"And I'm sure your approval will mean so much to her."

"You can bring her for dinner next weekend" Kelvin suggested. 

"Yes, I'll get to show her your baby pictures, " Brenda said excitedly. 

"Mom!!!" Stan groaned.