Chapter 78

Elena’s POV:

I stayed in my room all morning without going anywhere. I woke up on the floor and soaked it in my sweat. My eyes were still filled with tears, and I had a hiccup from so much crying.

There was a knock on the door, and a familiar voice spoke up: “Good morning, ma'am; it's Irina. May I come in?” she asked.

I sniffed and exhaled. “Come in,” I said, wiping my eyes.

The door was opened slowly, and she rushed to me, seeing the state that I was in. “Ma’am, are you alright?” she asked, scanning my whole body and looking around.

"Ma’am, did you even get so much sleep?” she asked.

I ignored her and spoke up, “Irina, prepare my bath. I need to have my bath,” I said, my voice cracking and barely above a whisper. It was very hard for me to raise my voice and speak.

“Right away, ma'am,” she said, and she walked into the closet. She turned on the bath water and mixed the essential oils. The lovely fragrance filled the room. 

All my bones were hurting from lying on the floor, but I managed to drag my feet into the bathroom.

I got into the bathtub, and the water helped me feel relaxed. I closed my eyes and calmed my nerves.

After a short while, I cleaned up and changed into some fresh clothes. I packed my hair in a messy bun and walked into the bedroom, trying to distract myself and engage in something else.

Irina had finished cleaning the messy bedroom, and the chef served me breakfast in my room.

After eating, I lay on the bed and slowly drifted off to sleep.

****

“No, don't leave me, please." I shouted in my sleep, and I opened my eyes immediately to see Nicklaus standing in front of me and watching me.

His eyes were cold, and he gave me a daring look. I sat upright and got out of bed, hoping I could talk things out with Nicklaus.

“Elena, I have just one question to ask you, and I need you to answer me honestly,” he said, and I nodded my head.

“Are you pregnant?” he asked.

I gave a calculative look and shook my head tirelessly. “No, I am not.” I responded.

Nicklaus cussed under his breath; he ran his hand through his hair, and he dropped the envelope on the floor close to me. “That's for you. Go through it. I have no time to waste,” he said. 

He walked around the room cussing under his breath.

I bent down and picked up the envelope. I slowly opened it, and what my eyes saw made my head slam hard against my chest. 

“A divorce paper?” I asked

Nicklaus gave me a stern look as he stood on the other side of the room with one hand in his pocket and the other hand holding a cigarette.

My eyes became watery as I stared at the divorce papers. My husband's signature was already on it. 

“You have to hurry up and sign the damn papers, Elena. You haven't honoured your part of this marriage, and since you plan to bring me down, I have to divorce you,” he said. His voice was rising,

I was stunned, and my limbs were numb instantly. I quickly held on to the table stand for support. “Nicklaus, why would you do that? You haven't even given me a chance to prove myself to you,” I cried.

“Elena, you are not even able to get pregnant and give me an heir. My feelings for you were true, but you threw them away in the mud,” Nicklaus responded.

“I am innocent, Nicklaus. I have no idea where all these came from. Why can't you believe me? I pleaded. “I will get pregnant with time,” I spoke.

“Stop it now, Elena. Just stop it,” he responded, his voice rising.

I felt like my heart had been pierced into a thousand pieces. Tears rolled down my cheeks, and my chest tightened. I used my hand to hold onto the tablestand from falling off.

I walked towards Nicklaus. I wasn't ready to sign the papers and divorce my husband. 

“Nicklaus, this marriage is my life. I have nowhere else to go or to run to. Please don't do this to me. I have found happiness in you and in this house. Please let's work this out.”

“Elena, you are nothing but a ruthless woman. How do you expect me to believe you when all the evidence has been recovered?” He shouted, fixing his gaze on me.

There was silence in the room, and he broke eye contact and spoke up, his eyes boring into mine, “You are shameless. Your aim is not to get pregnant so that my father won't hand all of his enterprises to you,” he shouted.

My heart skipped. I tightened my fist and walked to him. “So this means it is all about your inheritance, Nicklaus. You don't even care about the baby; rather, you care about becoming the richest and most powerful. You are selfish.” I spat; my chest was rising and falling. I was filled with anger.