Chapter - [ 5 ]

[ Charlotte ]

The excruciating pain surged through my lower region, I yelped as it became unbearable with passing seconds. The wait of nine months was about to be fruited. I went into labour at the wake of the night and now it had been ten hours, the doctors were waiting for a natural birth but I didn’t think I could do it. I was all alone in the ward.

I missed Sebestian, who didn’t try to contact me again. In a corner if my heart, I had a faint hope that he’d somehow find about his baby but with passing time, I gave up the idea of ever seeing my child’s father again.

“Ahh..I can’t do it.” I cried as another contraction hit me.

“We can’t wait anymore, if we don’t perform C-section now, we fear the baby wouldn’t survive.” The doctors looked at me with pity. They knew about my divorce and also that I had no one except my old grandfather.

My blood ran cold upon hearing their words. It was my worst fear since the beginning of my pregnancy. The doctor warned me that it’d be full of complications yet I decided to continue bearing the only good outcome of my marriage.

“Charlotte, please decide. We can’t wait.” Their voice snapped me out of my past and another wave of pain splintered through my lower body. I gripped the bars on the bed tightly to supress the urge of screaming in agony.

“Please..do..do it and save..my child.” I pleaded them.

The main doctor nodded his head and they infused me with sedatives. The face of my ex-husband danced in front of my blurring eyes as the anesthesia soon kicked in.

“Can I make a call?” I asked a nurse under the misfunctioning of my hazy senses. I just wanted him with me despite our differences and his disloyalty. I wanted him for his baby.

“Sure, whom should I dial?” She looked at me for permission to use my phone.

“Sebestian, my husband.” I said weakly.

She gave me a pitiful look but dialled the number anyway. The ring went on so my senses getting numb. I could feel my pain fading, just little ache in my lower abdomen and core.

“Charlotte is that you?” I heard the most despicable voice answering from the other side. I cringed on its hollow sweetness.

“Whe..where is my husband?” I asked her trying my best to stay awake.

“You mean your ex-husband and my fiancé?” She asked me mockingly and I thought someone had slit open my heart once again.

“Wh…what do you mean?” I asked her like a fool though she told me in clear words that he was no longer the man who once loved me madly.

“You heard me well, Charlotte, now I advise you to delete his number from your contact list as I am going to do the same because I do not want my would be husband to keep any link with his pathetic whore of an ex-wife. Do not ever try to contact him again.” She spatted with so much disgust.

I felt humiliated as everyone present in the room heard her calling me names. The phone got disconnected. Tears of hurt and shame rolled down from my eyes as I finally closed them to welcome darkness. Once again, I let my guards down and allowed my tormentors to crush my feelings and pride. I had to stay strong and never let them have an upper hand on me.

I opened my eyes as I heard shrill cries of my new born baby. My whole body ached as if someone had beaten me into pulp. I looked around for the source of my happiness and my eyes landed on the cradle from where the musical sound my baby’s cries were coming. A faint smile crept on my lips. I forgot all the pain and miseries fled out of the window as soon as the nurse lifted the bundle of joy wrapped in a white blanket.

“Do you want to hold you child, Ms. Charlotte?” She asked me.

“Yes.” I nodded my head as I was getting impatient to see my baby’s face. Another nurse lifted my bed so I could hold my baby properly.

“Here’s your son, Ms. Charlotte.” She laid the baby carefully in my arms and assisted me to hold him properly.

My heart skipped a beat. My baby boy looked exactly as his father except his eyes which he inherited from me, the black pupils blinked at me innocently. Tears of joy filled in my eyes. I forgot every single agony and nightmares of my life and fell in love with my source of happiness.

“Hey, handsome man, it’s your mommy.” I rubbed my thumb pad on his feathery soft cheeks.

He smiled as if he recognized his mother’s touch. I rocked him gently, observing every single moment of being a mother.

“I love you so much baby. Always remember that your mother will be there to protect you and teach you everything. I will play both parents’ role in your life. You won’t miss your father. I’ll fill his place as well.” I made a promise to my son and kissed his head.

A knock on the door forced me to divert my attention from my son to the intruder. My ailing grandfather was standing there with a proud expression. My heart ached. He was seriously ill and probably wouldn’t survive for more than a few months yet he was always there like a guardian angel and my only family.

“Don’t you want to hold your great grandson, Grandpa?” I indirectly invited him inside as he was hesitant to come near us due to his sickness.

“I am good here, Charlotte.” He pressed his lips.

“Please, Grandpa. You’re my only family and your great grandson needs your blessings.” I said.

He slowly walked inside with the help of his walking stick and sat on the chair beside the bed. His eyes adored the child in my arms with love and admiration.

“He’ll be my heir after you, Charlotte. I prepared a will when my illness was diagnosed.” He said with a grim expression.

“You’ll live, Grandpa.” I knew I was only consoling us.

He smiled sadly, “I can die in peace now, my child. I met you, my blood and got to spend a short yet great time with you. I have no regrets except I’d not see your ex-husband paying for what he had put you through. He didn’t wait for your divorce to be finalised and got engaged with his mistress.” He said with only hatred.

My heart sank but I didn’t let it affect me. Grandpa placed a folder on the bed. I frowned as he looked thoughtful as he gestured me to open it. I put my son on the bed beside me very carefully and picked the folder to see what he wanted me to read. My eyes widened in shock and I again snapped my eyes at me to confirm whether it was true or I was hallucinating.

“You’re the new director of Skylark Group from the effective date, which is today. I transferred all the assets on your name which aren’t reversable even after my death. I want you to take this empire on new heights. He mistreated you, his family never respected you because they thought you were poor and money signifies someone’s status then be it. You’re richer than them now.” He smiled in satisfaction but it felt like a weight on me. I wasn’t ready for such huge responsibility and I wanted to give my time to my son first.

“Do not be afraid, Charlotte. I know you have a child to look after and I understand that he needs his mother more than my company. So, I have someone who’d assist you and represent the Skylark Group until you’re ready to step up as the face of my fortune.” He said and clapped his hands.

My confusion was answered in the next moment when a tall handsome figure entered inside the ward. I recognized him. He was my childhood best friend.

“Jonathan Turner! Is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me, Lottie.” He smiled brightly at me.

The fate finds a million ways to complicate my life.