Divorced, A Broken Heart

Nerves forgotten, a big smile lit my face as soon as I stepped into the garden of the five star hotel.

That was where I had met Christian. He used to work as a bell boy. I had come here with dad for few business meetings.

His charm and handsome features has swept me off my feet. It was in the garden of this hotel we had first kissed. This was the same place he had proposed to me. 

This place held memories that were dear to me and if he had invited me here to meet with me, he also cherished the memories. 

My eyes scanned the arena, searching for him. 

"Hailey." 

I turned to see him standing close to a table for two. The setting was intimate, making my heart flutter within. 

I had missed him so much. I ran to give him a hug, he wrapped his arm around me and every nerves unknotted, excitement grew. 

That got me emotional and I struggled to hold back tears. "I'm so sorry, Christian. I-it was a mistake. I-I was not aware. I p-promise it won't happen again. Please, forgive me."

My words were rushed as my voice shook, tears lodged in my throat and some even escaped through my eyes. 

He pulled back and kissed my forehead. "It's okay."

I sniffled. "Are you sure? Am I forgiven?" 

"Of course." He patted my arm.

I hugged him again and pulled back laughing through my happy tears. "This was where we met, had our first kiss..."

"And where I proposed, I know." His boyish charming smile was still in place. "That's why I invited you here for another memorable event."

"Really?" I squealed, unable to contain my happiness. 

"Yes." He replied.

"What is it?" My eyes scanned this part of the garden, we were the only ones here. "Did you book the whole garden?"

"Yes, I did. Just for this event." He said.

"Oh, that's so sweet." I said, rising on tiptoe to kiss him.

He responded but pulled me back almost immediately. "I want to say thank you."

"Thank you for what?" I was still in my fog of happiness to take note of anything else. 

"For everything. You made me who I am today and gave me everything."

"It's nothing. I love you and you're my husband." I replied, my foolish, lovey smile still in place. 

"I still need to say thank you." He cradled my face, staring into my eyes. "You're a good, trusting person and I hope you find someone who loves you one day."

"You know I love..." A frown appeared on my forehead as his words registered. "W-what do you mean?"

"What do you think he means, stupid?" 

Then I heard the steady clock of heels walking towards us with a file in her hands. 

Fluttering turned to buzzing. Butterflies morphed into bees. Nerves knotted tighter than before and apprehension gripped my heart. 

"What is going on?" My voice trembled. 

"You thought you were here to reconcile?" Denise taunted and burst into laughter. 

Christian didn't laugh but his eyes twinkled in a way that had chills run up my spine.

Tears filled my eyes. "C-christian?"

"I actually called you here to give you this." He took the file from Denise and thrust it towards me. 

I caught it and read its contents. "D-divorce?" My hands shook, tears fell on the paper with neatly typed words.

"Yes, divorce. Sign it and go live your life with that bastard in your womb." Denise mocked.

"H-how could you?" I cried, my heart breaking even more. 

"That's what you get for cheating!" Christian boyish charming smile had morphed into a hateful snarl. 

"B-b-but...I..."

"There goes the stuttering again." 

They both mocked and made jest of me. I sniffled and wiped my tears. "What about my company, Christian? The house and everything else? You have to give them back."

They laughed some more. 

"What proof do you have the company and everything else is yours?" He asked, his brows quirked mockingly.

"Let her take you to court." Denise commented. "Take him to court if you really have any evidence." She directed to me. 

He had played me. I had no evidence. I had handed everything over to him and even signed in the presence of my company's lawyers. 

"I'll meet my company's lawyers, Christian. I won't let you take what belongs to me." That was my only and last resort.

"You still don't get it, do you?" Christian said, stepping forward. "No one is going to stand by you. Not even the company's lawyers or the board of directors. No one."

Then it dawned on me. He had bribed everyone of then against me. "Y-you bribed them?"

"It's exciting and scary at the same time what money can do." Denise chuckled evilly.

I was dumbstruck, tears flowed freely down my face as my mind was flooded of everything I'd done to help Christian grow. 

Dad had always been wary of Christian, saying I should be careful with him because he didn't really trust his motive with me but I had been stubborn and had refused to listen.

"I should have listened to my father." I cried in regret. "He had always seen you for what you are, Christian. A gold digger. A wicked one."

He hit me across the face, I gasped in shock holding my face. Christian had never laid his hands on me. Who was this man I married?

"I'm an opportunist. A smart one. There is a difference." He spat in my face. "Now sign those documents and get out!"

Denise threw a pen at me. "Don't waste our time. My boyfriend and I have made reservations for a suite in this hotel." She boasted. "We plan to celebrate our victory by fucking and drinking and more fucking all night long."

She was trying to get to me. She wanted to hurt me with words and while I wished it not was working, it was. 

Her words and their mocking laughter pierced my heart and had more tears uncontrollably stream down my eyes. Trembling, I held the pen and shakily signed on the papers.

It was hopeless fighting for the marriage anymore. There was obviously nothing to fight for, but my father's legacy. How could I have been so stupid to give it all to Christian? 

"Good girl." Denise patted my head.

Christian snatched the papers and pen from me. "Congratulations on your freedom, ex-wife." They made to leave then Christian paused. "Oh, and thank you once again for helping me actualize my dreams of becoming a millionaire. I won't take your kindness for granted."

I swallowed pain, standing motionlessly and speechlessly as he spoke but the intent was clear — more mockery of me. 

When they left, I crumbled to the ground of the place that used to hold loving memories and wept like a child, my heart ripping into two.