Chapter 0009

Caroline’s POV:

After I proposed the divorce, William’s expression shifted to disbelief, complete with lingering undertones of anger. I had (wrongly) assumed that he would be happy to hear that I wanted to get a divorce, but apparently he couldn’t accept that I was the one who was wanting to initiate the divorce.

“What right do you have to negotiate with me?” He scoffed with bared teeth. “Don’t forget that all the luxuries you had were because of me. You couldn’t even pull your own weight around the house!”

I was appalled by his statement. I wasn’t pulling my own weight? It was because of him that I couldn’t even have a job! What right did he have to criticize me for not bringing income when he already made billions?

I opened my mouth to speak, but William was quick to interrupt. “You owe everything to me. The house you live in, the clothes you wear, and the staff you hired around the villa; those were all paid for by me. Once we get divorced, all this will be gone and you will get nothing. Are you sure about this?”

I felt nothing but disgust at his obvious threat. It was William who had filed for divorce in the first place, so why was this even a discussion? What did it matter?

“Isn’t that the outcome you always wanted?” I countered, before deciding to deliberately provoke him just for my own sake. “Unless, of course, you still have feelings for me.”

“What did you just say?” William sputtered, reacting strongly just as I had predicted. All it took was a good taunt and he was ready to blow. Soon enough his skyrocketing self-esteem came into play. The hand he had on my waist suddenly tightened and I felt anxiety well up in my chest.

Just when I thought he was going to spit more rage out at me in a verbal assault, the words caught in his throat as his attention suddenly shifted. When no barrage of threats came, I studied his face closely to see that he was inspecting my frame. “Why have you lost so much weight?”

I was sure that my face was drained of all color once he said that. I was immediately put on the defensive and worked to figure out how to explain myself. Frankly, it was none of his business! All I wanted was a divorce!

I parted my lips to say something, but I was suddenly hit with a tidal wave of nausea. Dizziness overcame me and I slumped over on the couch on my side. I only barely grabbed the nearby waste bin in time to empty out my stomach contents into it.

William watched the display with wide eyes, clearly startled by my sudden nosedive in condition. “What’s wrong with you? Are you sick?” Then, he said quietly, almost in a whisper; “The baby is gone, so why are you still having morning sickness?” I still heard his words all the same.

I laughed in his face contemptuously. Little did he know, it was far too late to start worrying about me now. I was already sauntering my way to an early grave. That wasn’t even mentioning how casually he mentioned the death of our own child.

It had my blood boiling at the injustice. That was a brand new life that had been snuffed out, and he didn’t show even an ounce of care.

“It’s probably your face,” I scoffed, speaking deliberately and making sure he didn’t miss a single word. “You make me feel disgusted!”

“Caroline! You—” William was positively fuming at that moment, which was an almost satisfying sight to see. “You know what? Good! Women like you really don’t deserve pity! You are right. Of course we should divorce. Do you think I really want to be with you? We’re getting this divorce as soon as I can manage; and I promise you I won’t regret it!”

William was speaking in an angry roar, one that was actually hurting my ears. He snatched up his coat and stormed out of the villa, leaving me here alone yet again.

I wouldn’t mourn his loss because I now knew that I didn’t need him anymore. I was tired beyond all measure, but I didn’t sleep on the couch.

Instead, I walked over to the room that had once been prepared for our unborn child. I stared at the empty cot longingly, letting out a long-suffering sigh as I stroked the railing. “I’m sorry, Daniel,” I whispered, speaking the name of my unborn son. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.”

Tears fell from my eyes as I laid myself down by the cot. Sleep tugged at my wet eyes and I slowly fell asleep.

When I woke up from my restless and dreamless sleep, I looked out the window and saw the first rays of dawn shining through. William hadn’t come back yet, but I was used to that.

I picked up my phone and looked through the messages I’d received (of which there were very few), and I quickly came across a video from an unknown number.

Checking out the video, I was disgusted to see it was of William and Sophia kissing intimately while in one another’s arms.

“Darling,” Sophia hummed so sweetly, fluttering her eyelashes in a deliberately sultry fashion, “did I look good in the dress I wore for the party?”

A chuckle fell from William’s lips as he looked at her so lovingly. “Of course, babe. You look good in everything.”

She tilted her head, much like a cute puppy. “Even compared to Caroline?”

A noise of disgust left him, and he gave her a serious look. “She can’t compare to you.”

Having seen enough, I turned off the video with a huff of anger. Sophia was now constantly invading my life and nothing I could do would rid me of her presence.

Even if she and William could be together forever in a couple of days, they were unwilling to give me even the slightest bit of respect!

It was unforgivable, and now a wave of discomfort was washing over me at the prospect of having to see the both of them very soon.