Chapter 2: FREEDOM

Freedom 

ROYAL POV

The cold rain pour  felt like a soothing elixir against my heated, inflamed body as I walked out of the house and into the black, dark night.

Everything inside of me hurt. It felt like I had swallowed down on a million razors and blades and they were ripping through my throat with every intake and exhalation of breath.

The black Mercedes V-class was parked a good distance from the house, and I walked slowly towards it, letting the density of the situation dawn on me with all its gloominess. 

It was done. And I don't think after that walk out the door, there was no going back,

I had delivered what I had been dreading for this whole entire month. And I had gained my freedom. It was supposed to feel all merry like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders and that I could finally fucking breathe for the first time in a very long time. 

But why the hell did it feel like a part of my soul had been chipped from me? Why did I feel so empty inside?

The car honked, and I stared ahead before sighing out loud, then quickened my pace towards it. 

The door slid open and I threw myself inside, then collapsed onto the seat and pinched my eyes shut as the door whirred closed behind me.

“So…” A warm, soft hand landed on my thigh, spreading the much-needed heat all over my system through my drenched jeans. But something about the touch felt so wrong. “How did it go?” A gentle voice called out, and I peeled my eyes open.

In front of me was a waterfall of blonde hair, and ocean blue eyes that made you want to look the other way.

It was the kind of eyes that held so many secrets, the world-weary secrets… the kind that made you feel naked by just staring into them. The kind that made you feel like you were nothing but a grain of sand on the beach. 

The eyes of a bloody snake!

“I guess it's done. We can sign the contract.” I responded, taking the soft hand in mine and squeezing it. 

The lady smiled gracefully and looked down, her blonde mane following her gracious movements. 

“I knew you were a bright one.” She complimented me, and I took a long second contemplating whether I had just made the brightest decision in my life or whether I opened Pandora's box of worms, and now they were going to bite me in the ass. 

Warmth escaped when Kimberly shifted in the seat from me shuffled to the hidden compartment on her right, and then retrieved two champagne flutes. She pulled the bottle from the bucket of ice that was placed in front of us, then opened the bottle. Her loud screams of heavy guffaw and chuckles filled the entire space of the car as she celebrated my divorce, or as she put it, the beginning of my legacy. She poured the liquor into the glasses and then offered one to me.

I took it with a small mumbled ‘thanks’, then waited to see what she was up to next. 

She clinked her glass with mine, then smiled at me.

“To glory awaiting you.” I forced a smile, then raised a glass before chugging the whole liquid down in one big swig. She remained seated in her spot, carefully watching me like a hawk locked on its prey. 

I winced as the liquor burned down my throat, blanketing me in much, much-needed heat. 

I placed the glass onto the cup holder, then fell into my seat and shut my eyes again. I didn’t want to think of anything. I just wanted this night to be over with. 

No. Not just this night. I wanted this whole nightmare over. I wanted to be happy again. 

But what happiness can a man get after selling his soul?

“Your mind is too loud.” Kimberly renounced before pressing a button between our seats. The whirr of the machines rang into the air as the privacy screen rolled up, enclosing us in the back of the car. 

The engine roared to life, and smoothly, the car pulled out of its parking and onto the road. 

Smooth hands landed on my thighs Before moving in slow, teasing circles. I clenched my teeth when a hand cupped my bulge through my jeans, then peeled my eyes open to find her watching me intently.

“Let me help you get your mind off things.” And with that, I succumbed to hell. 

~~~

KENYA POV

The following day blurred out to snowy visions and a tear-streaked face. 

The heaviness in my chest was enough to take me to the hospital, had it not been for the stomach flu I had suddenly come up with.

Last night after being left in a cold house, Anna arrived shortly before taking me to our previous place, then pulled me in a tight hug and listened to the sounds of my sobs for the rest of the night. Anything from there was a distant memory. I could barely think or do anything without feeling like the weight of the world was on my shoulders, and all I did was nothing but wish I could run away from all of this pain and come back when it hurt less. 

"He's such a dick." Anna's voice pierced through the haze of hurt. I turned my head to find her shaking hers in disbelief, then smiled sadly to myself before staring at my hands that were placed on my lap.

Even now, seated in the hospital corridor, I wished the ground could just split open and swallow me whole. 

Every single part of my body hurt, and I very much wanted to make it stop. But how… how could it stop? How could I escape reality when everything reminded me of Royal and how he shattered my world?

“Kenya Brown?”  A nurse in Maroon scrubs called out staring at the small information board in her hands, ripping my attention from the rabbit hole it currently was in. 

"Here." Anna jumped from her seat, and the nurse walked towards us in sure strides.

"I am to take you to ward five." She informed simply, and the two of us got up from where we were seated and followed closely behind her. 

We turned around the corner and then got into the other door that had the giant number 5 written on it.

"The patient is very dehydrated and malnourished, which is not good for the baby. We are going to put you on a drip which is a safer option than needles since your whole body is weak." She dropped the board onto the table before turning to look at my paper-white face!

"You..." I countered, unable to form any word.

I wanted to fuckin' scream. This couldn't be happening. This was the last thing I asked for and it just had to happen today?

"No. Are you sure she's pregnant?" Anna stepped forward defensively, and the nurse wore a perplexed expression before taking hold of her board and scanning through it with furrowed brows, then glared back at my red face.

"I have been having my periods every month... and...."

"I understand this can come as a shock. Cryptic pregnancies are always weird, miraculous to say. So they are highly detected until the mother goes into labor." She dissected the words, and I wished I could just crumble on the floor and die.

With a lump in my throat, I nodded and then wobbled forward towards the bed where I dropped like a bag of potatoes. 

Without doing anything further, I lay on my back and let the tears pour. 

This had to be the ugliest nightmare I have ever had in all my had. 

This whole thing had to be crafted straight from the kitchen of hell because there was no way this pain could be heavenly. 

The nurse finished off her work silently before excusing herself from the room, and then Anna climbed onto the bed and lay by my side when everything came crashing down in front of me. 

"I don't know why the hell this is happening, but I know one thing you need to know is that I am not going to leave your side." words sipped through the heavy fog of heartache.  "Not now..." She tightened her grip around my torso and then placed her head on my shoulder. 

"Not ever! I will always be here"