01

Theodore:

The cold evening breeze kissed my skin and I gently inhaled. It had been so fucking long since I had experienced this.The evening view was magnificent. The darkened sky and the twinkling stars, the cool breeze and the sight of the amber lights of the street lamps.

Five years felt like forever and I felt tears pricking my eyes at the sight and feeling of freedom. I made a mental note to thank Pedro, the lawyer that had handled my case, for being able to negotiate my sentence and gain me my freedom.

I had expected to see my husband's car and when I didn't see his familiar red Porsche, the pang of disappointment that weighed on my heart had my hands quivering but it didn't quell the happiness inside me. Perhaps Fred had gotten so busy that he had forgotten to pick me up. After all, it was his lawyer that had gotten me free from the shackles of hell.

I dug into my purse and fished out my phone, groaning in frustration because my phone was dead. Sighing, I took off the stilettos and began walking down the lone road, trying to combat the ache not seeing him waiting for me brought.

After walking for what felt like hours, I finally managed to hail a taxi. I slipped into the backseat after informing the driver of my address and rested my head on the edge of the headrest, enjoying the howls of the evening breeze. My eyes absentmindedly stared at the beautiful scenery of lights glowing in the night and people going about their business while realizing how nothing much had changed since I got locked up.

I hadn't realized I had fallen asleep till a soft tap of my arm had me jolting awake. I glanced up and found myself in front of the familiar black gate. A wild wave of nostalgia washed over me as I gawked at the tall cream-painted building and my heart skipped a beat. 

He had really added a lot more pizzazz to the place. A Cupid sculpture fountain stood in the middle of the greenery, surrounded by wild red roses and trimmed shrubs. Flashing a smile at the driver as I paid him off with the little I had, I walked down the fancy pavement, eager to set my eyes on Fred.

I wondered what he'd say about my appearance. I imagined his excitement and it made me smile. After all these years, I was finally going to see him again. Drawing a deep breath, I climbed up the the steps, eyeing the big black door the closer I got.

Usually security guards were always scheduled by the gate and the door, standing alert and vigilant but I figured the sight of none could be as a result of them being confined somewhere taking a break. I chuckled to myself because Fred was sure to rain thunder on them should he find out they were slacking.

Arriving at the last step, I braced myself and gently pushed open the door that led to the entrance. I blinked twice at how different the interior was. The touch of gold was almost everywhere and I definitely did not recall ever entertaining such flashy designs and detail. Fred and I had chosen a classy touch of white and black so why was almost everything having a touch of gold?

Did Fred do this? 

I walked into the guest's space, eyeing the new sofas with disdain. I led myself into the living room, looking around and not a single maid was in sight. Was it their day off? I began taking gentle steps, running my fingers along the walls and sculptures. A massive renovation was done here because even the sculptures were changed.

I turned to glance at the pictures and paintings hung on the wall and my heart skipped a beat as I wandered around the living room. I took a proper look at the large picture frame that had caught my attention and my heart dropped. Nothing else mattered to me as I moved closer to stare at the picture that had my heart thudding in my chest.

A sharp gasp escaped my lips as I staggered backwards in shock. “No, no, no, no…” I kept chanting to myself as  I moved closer to stare at other pictures and my heart collapsed in my chest. Tears stained my eyes as I stared at my husband in the arms of another woman.

One was of his in a black tailored suit and the woman in a white wedding gown, another was of them in front of the Eiffel tower and he was on his knees with a ring. There were others but they all further pronounced a fact that I never would have believed in a million years. 

Fred had gotten married while I was in prison? A sharp pain struck my heart and I raised a hand to my chest. Breathing had become difficult as the realization took me to points beyond imagination. How could he? While I was away in prison suffering for his sin, he dared take another wife?

My heart squeezed as my vision blurred. I had began hyperventilating and my head was spinning aggressively. I kept staggering backwards, wheezing as I suffered a horrible panic-attack. My whole world had collapsed. My feelings were set ablaze. My pain knew no bounds.

I felt eyes on me and saw a few maids coming to my aid but it was too late, I had already fallen to the floor, unable to keep my eyes open.

***

I awoke to an aching head. My chest was hurting but I still managed to force myself to a sitting position. I suddenly remembered everything and began laughing to myself, well convinced that it was just a cruel dream that my mind had weaved.

I looked around and saw myself lying on the sofa. I raked a finger through my hair, struggling to steady my breaths. I felt eyes on me and immediately looked up. My eyes widened at the sight that welcomed me. Right in front of me was the very woman that I had seen in the pictures with Fred.

I felt like a bandage had been ripped from my wound and it had begun bleeding afresh. I stared at her with tears in my eyes, unable to come to terms with whatever was going on.

“What are you doing in my home?” Anger rose in my voice as I eyed the woman down.

“What are you talking about? I should be asking you.” Her irritated voice came.

I heard approaching steps and turned to find Fred walking up to us. I made to rush out of the chair and run into his arms but the strange lady acted before I could. She threw herself into his arms and Fred reciprocated by snaking his arm around her waist.

He rubbed her cheek and stared her down in worry, “are you okay?”

She shook her head and turned to me, “there's a strange woman in the house and she claims it's her home.”

Enraged by what was playing out in front of me, I charged at her with a raised hand, ready to smack her. She was the fucking stranger in my home and there she stood refering to me as the freaking stranger. “You fucking bitch!”

She shrieked and further moved into Fred and just when I thought this was a cruel joke that Fred was yet to explain, he caught my hand with blazing eyes. The warning in his eyes shattered my heart to smithereens.

“Do not lay a hand on my wife!” His tone was cold and all I could do was gasp with tears in my eyes.

“Fred? What are you–”

He cut me off by growling, “why are you here?”

I forgot how to breathe as I stared at him in disbelief. What had gotten into him? What the hell did he mean by such a question? Where else was I supposed to go after getting released from prison?

“I-I don't understand what you're say–”

He raised his hand, cutting me off yet again. “This place isn't open to you anymore. But if you're in need of a place to stay, I'll offer my guestroom–”

A scoff escaped my lips as I shook my head in utter disbelief, “wow… just wow, Fred. A guest room? I get released from prison, you don't come to pick me up and now you dare utter a guest room after asking me why I'm here?” 

He looked away for a minute, least expecting the broken look on my face that accompanied my anger. I never would have believed in a million years that Fred would be able to look me in the eye and say all this to me. I never believed that everyone was right about him.

“I want her gone, Fred. This is my home and I refuse to have her around. How can you get married when you already have a wife?” I screeched at him with tears falling down my face.

“You will not speak to my wife that way!” His thunderous voice boomed and my heart shattered even more upon hearing how possessive his tone became when he referred to the woman as his wife.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose and faced me with serious eyes, “listen Theodore, a lot of things have changed. Refusal to comply would leave me with no choice but to send you back to the prison which you just came out of.”

When I thought my heart couldn't break anymore, I was proved wrong. I was bleeding inwardly. I shook my head in disbelief and pain, refusing to believe that he had actually just said such words to me. 

How dare he use something that was a sacrifice on my path against me. Had he forgotten that he was the one supposed to be getting released today if I hadn't done what I had done? How could he treat me like my actions were unwarranted and solely my consequences to bear?

Thinking back to it, Fred barely visited me in prison. The only guests I got were Serena and the lawyer who had defended my case. I had been deluding myself all these years that he loved me while he never did. I was never someone important to him. In fact, he looked almost relieved to get rid of me after dealing with the consequences of his actions for him.

Wiping my tears, I raised my eyes to gun him with darkened puffy eyes, “I want a divorce, Fred. I want a fucking divorce.”