Semua Bab Divorced: Ex-wife Heiress Strikes Back: Bab 31 - Bab 40

ISABELLA. I pulled over at the parking lot of the lounge I had agreed to meet with Bruce, and I parked beside a Ford truck which I suspected to be his. As though to prove me right, the driver’s door of the truck went open, and Bruce alighted and began walking towards my car. He got to the passenger door and knocked twice on the window, before he opened the door and settled in. “You were late. I almost thought all of this was a facade,” Bruce said as he closed the door after him. “Funny that you think I flew all the way to Texas for a facade,” I said, chuckling dryly.  “Still doesn’t change the fact that you were more than thirty minutes late. I have other important things to do, for God’s sake,” He fired. “Oh please, spare me the details,” I snapped angrily, holding up a hand to his face. “I was the one

FREDA. I hadn’t always believed in love. Hell, I detested the word with everything in me and I wanted to have absolutely nothing to do with the word and whatever it entailed. I’d been steadfast in my chosen path, staying away from guys as much as I could and warding off every single guy that showed interest in me, till that warm evening in October, the very day Bruce walked into my life. I had met Bruce Blake back in college, at the birthday party of a mutual friend of ours. I’d been sitting and chatting with a few friends for more than half the duration of the party, when I saw a tall, charming figure walk towards us. I was sure to notify my friends of the incoming intrusion, knowing that he was one of those guys who usually made passes at ladies in parties such as the one I had attended that evening, but I was shocked to my bones when this tall figure ignored everyone else seated on the couch I was on, and walked directly

FREDA.I dashed out of the hall towards the parking lot, pressing the unlock button on the car just before I got to it. I quickly opened the door and jumped in, starting the car at the same time I closed the door behind me. I cared less about using my reverse camera as I backed out of the parking lot, and with the surge of fear running through my veins, I nosed my car towards the gate and sped out of the premises towards the highway. As I sped through the busy city traffic, the thought of reporting the issue to the police occurred to me, but the cold voice of the caller and the stern warning he had given me sent chills running down my spine. I decided against the idea and headed home instead, scared that something could and would happen to Bruce if I refused to obey the simple instruction I’d been given: to go straight home. My hands gripped the steering wheel firmly and my body shook in fear as I continued to race home, and soon, my eyes had become misty with the tears that had well

FREDA. “Freda,” Mena called out. I heard her the first time, but because I was completely lost in my thoughts, her voice felt feathery in my ears. “Freda!” she called out again, taping me lightly this time. “Are you alright?” I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to face her. “Yes?” “Are you alright? What happened?” she asked me. “I’m… fine,” I answered hesitantly.  “Well, I’m not convinced that you are, because you don’t look like you’re fine to me. In fact, you look like you just saw a ghost,” she said. I said nothing as I continued to stare at her blankly.  “Who was that? I heard you call him Lucas. Who’s he and what did he say that put you off so bad?” Mena asked again.

CLARISSA.I’d known that there was something off about the way my breakfast tasted that morning, but because I had chosen not to overthink it, I’d ignored it. Or wait — it wasn’t like I didn't want to overthink it, but I’d instead chosen to keep the uneasiness I felt all morning aside and focus on the meeting I was to have later that day. I’d made frequent glances at my phone screen while I continued to eat, waiting for a message notification which was supposed to be my signal to start leaving for the meeting. But halfway through my food, I began to feel an odd, painless tightness in my chest. So when my phone rang, I was grateful to have a very valid reason to leave the table and figure out what was wrong with me before I started to prepare for the meeting. I couldn’t afford to show up for the meeting feeling uncomfortable or disorganized. When I staggered the first time, after I had finally stood up from the dining table, I still tried to reassure myself that everything was fine, b