HUMILIATION

NIA.

"You are kidding, right?" I asked, giving a fake laugh despite feeling my heart ache from the looks of disgust he threw at me.

 

"Why do you just have to be so pathetic?" He enquired, and I froze, the thin lines of my eyebrows jumping up in shock, while the doctor beside me let out a gasp of surprise.

My cheeks burnt in embarrassment.

"Nate." I whispered, hoping he would stop. We were not alone.

 

"Yes, you are. I gave you a paper to sign, and you have so little dignity to still cling on to a man who obviously doesn't want you". His sharp words sent more tears gushing out of my eyes.

I suddenly found it difficult to breathe. My entire body trembling on the bed as I shut my eyes, not wanting to witness the look of irritation that crossed his face.

'Why was he doing this to me?' I pondered. Was it because she was back?

"Mr. Vaughn, y...." The doctor tried interrupting, but Nate cut him off rudely.

"Get the fuck out; you are intruding, or are you one of her lovers?" He accused him, and it was my turn to gasp this time as I opened my eyes immediately, my lips parting in disbelief.

"Please don't embarrass me this way." I pleaded, crying, baffled at how he could regard me in such a manner.

"Stop with the act, Nia. I could be telling the truth because why else is a mere stranger trying to defend you and acting so intimate?" Nate demanded, and I sobbed more, clutching my chest.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed the doctor glaring at Nate, shaking his head sideways before he adjusted his glasses and left the ward abruptly.

 

I couldn't blame him. He was obviously embarrassed. What if someone was passing by and heard? They could have misunderstood.

"Sign those papers Nia. I wouldn't want to repeat myself". Nate said calmly, but I could hear the traces of warning in his words.

 

"Please don't do this. I will do anything, but don't leave me Nate". I begged pathetically, like he claimed I was, weeping and trying to reach for him, but couldn't because he was further away.

He scoffed, wrinkling his nose at me like I was some sort of garbage.

"What a fool!" He insulted me, but I didn't care and still begged him, pleading he chose me. He burst into laughter immediately.

"Choose you over Ashley, What are you, nuts?" I bit down on my lower lips, my eyes itching from too many tears.

His words are like bullets.

 

"I can't be that dumb Nia. So please, sign the damn papers". He suddenly yelled, startling me, his icy, blue eyes, directing piercing glares at me, ones which sent shivers down my spine.

 

"Don't be stubborn". He added, before turning around and leaving, ignoring my calls and pleas for forgiveness if I had offended him.

 

As soon as I was alone, I grabbed the pillow and buried my face in it, crying my heart out and not minding the pain I got from aggressively removing the drip from my hand while trying to get to Nate, who just ignored me.

 

Why? We just lost our child. He could have at least been sympathetic instead of just demanding divorce.

 

Remembering the loss of my child brought another ache to my heart, and I screamed out into my pillow, not minding I was in a hospital and could be disturbing patients.

 

'Where did it all go wrong?' I pondered, having no idea but remembering how all these started. My feelings for him when I still worked as his assistant.

 

Nate was the best then. He was so nice, caring, and compassionate that I couldn't help developing a huge crush on him, despite knowing he was engaged.

 

Nate now was like a monster, almost as if I didn't know him anymore. When he told me a year ago to order preparations for his engagement banquet because he wanted to ask Ashely to be his bride.

I was devastated and annoyed, but tried to be happy for them. Unfortunately, on the engagement night, Nate and I found our way into bed and made passionate love.

I can't vividly remember the entire details from the night then. All I knew was I was drinking away my sorrows as I watched them dance and began to feel hot all over.

 

I tried moving to one of the hotel rooms to rest since we had the banquet in one of the best hotels. Nate joined me afterward, drunk and tipsy too, and as he made love to me, all he chanted was her name, but I didn't care. I just wanted him.

A tear slid down my cheeks as I remembered him changing his behavior to me entirely from that day. He thought I had drugged him and intentionally ruined his engagement since I was in charge of everything in his life.

Somehow, the news of him cheating on Ashely with me got out to the public, and Ashely broke up with him. To clear the scandal, his parents made us get married.

I was so happy, endured his mistreatment, and how he tried to chase after Ashely till she left the country for her career. Nate returned to his usual nice self afterward.

We had a nice, normal marriage and I thought he was finally beginning to love me, but I was so wrong. He could never forget her, and neither could I compete against her.

 

.......

.......

I got back home and wanted to enter the mansion when I was suddenly stopped by one of the guards.

 

"You can't go in, ma'am." He prevented the entrance with his hand and body, giving me a stern expression.

 

I was taken aback and arched my brows at him.

"John, it's me," I said, just in case he thought I was an intruder due to the way I was dressed.

Currently, I do not look like Mrs. Nia Vaughn. I was more like a maid because my face was pale, and I looked worn out from walking all the way from the hospital down here.

 

No one came to pick me up, and my things were gone. It was almost like I was just abandoned there.

 

"He didn't say he is blind, Nia." A voice rang out, and I looked up to see Ashley walking down the stairs, majestically, her hand on her waist.

 

'What was she doing here?' I pondered, clenching my fists together.

"Ma'am." John turned to acknowledge her with a bow after he noticed her, and I widened my eyes in shock.

 

Did he just accord her the respect he was supposed to give me?

 

"What is the meaning of this, John?" I demanded angrily, fury running through me. I do not tolerate disrespect from my employees.

 

Yes, I allowed John to be a guard here, but he just rolled his eyes with a snort. Like John actually dared to snort at me, like I was some unworthy being.

 

I reared backward in shock, stunned beyond words, and Ashley laughed, obviously enjoying my disgrace.

 

"You really have no shame. How dare you try to act all high and mighty when you have already been divorced?" Ashley asked, and my entire body went rigid.

 

Divorced? But I haven't signed the divorce papers.

 

"Ashely dear, come on in, the fo.....". The voice suddenly paused as its sight dropped on me.

"Mother." I greeted her with a bow, but she just ignored me and climbed down to meet Ashely instead.

 

"This is the piece of trash you left your meal for?". 

Tears, once again welled at my eyelids as I watched Nate's mum acting so loving to Ashely. Something she never did to me. Instead, she frustrated my life.

 

"Come on, let's go; she isn't worth your attention." They were about to leave when Ashely stopped her.

 

"Mum, wait! We can't just leave her like that, she looks so pale". Ashely said, suddenly sounding like a caring person.

 

She walked away from Mum to me, the side of her lips curling up as she grabbed me by my hand tightly. 

 

I winced and immediately struggled to free myself from her. Her touching me, was making me want to puke. I glared at her, with so much hatred, gritting my teeth against one another.

 

This woman killed my baby. Just then, she released her hold on me and fell to the ground on her butt with the loudest scream ever.

 

I was confused but when I saw Nate came out, it all made sense. He was on call, but immediately, he saw Ashely on the floor; he dropped it and rushed to her.

"Baby, baby" He called tenderly, wrapping his arms around her protectively. Something he rarely did to me.

I just stood there, my lips pressed tightly together as I watched him tender so much love to her.

 

"She didn't mean to do it, Nate. I am sure". Ashely blurted out and it was then Nate saw me.

 

The love and care in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced with a cold glare, as he stalked towards me, leaving Ashley alone, who had an alarmed look.

"N-n-nate," I stuttered, trying to move backward, feeling fear creep into me, my legs wobbling and rooting to a spot.

Before I could say another word, he gave me a sharp slap on my cheek. The force was so heavy, I fell to the ground, my cheek hurting as I felt the cold, metallic taste of blood. Heat radiating from my cheek.

Everyone around us let out a gasp, including Ashely who looked at him in disbelief.

 

"Serves her right". His mother approved clicking her tongue together.

 

My breath hitched, and I slowly took my hand to my aching cheek in awe.

 

'Did Nate just hit me?'. I was dumbfounded.

 

"Guards, throw her out". He ordered and I immediately dropped my hands and rushed to his legs, holding his knees to plead. The slap was forgotten.

 

"No, please. I have no one else". I cried out, looking at him with teary eyes, but he just shoved me to the side and walked in with his arms around Ashley and his mum while the guards bundled me out roughly.

 

Later in the day.

After roaming the mansion, begging to be let in to speak with Nate, with no one answering me. I slept off and woke up to one of the maids informing me, with pity in her eyes, that Nate had gone to work.

I hurriedly dashed there and was allowed to enter the company easily. I wasn't surprised. Everyone knew me as his P. A and I guess that hasn't changed.

 

I made my way to his office and as soon as I entered, I saw men in police uniforms and badges on standby.

 

"That's her officer. The snitch and criminal in the company". Nate said, pointing at me; my tummy dropped, and my mouth opened slightly to speak, but nothing came out.

 

What? My mind reeled, trying to grasp his words till I was grabbed by the officers.

 

"Ma'am, you are under arrest.".