Chapter 003

The look on Mr. Fernandez’s face was distraught yet satisfying; he was going to be a father after all. But he stared at Isabelle disdainfully as he turned and left the office informing the doctor that his assistant will contact her.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?” Dr. Kim asked her gaze on Isabelle with narrowed brow. 

“This is a big mistake, Mrs. Williams.”

“Well, I couldn’t just stand and watch you and every other staff lose their jobs for something I know I can take care of,” Isabelle replied with an assuring tone.

Dr. Kim was still boiling in worries knowing that the young lady didn’t understand the grave consequences of her actions – what she was getting at. However, in her expression, she was grateful for her brave intervention.

“You really did save our jobs. Thank you, Mrs. Williams, but this is a big risk you're about to take,” Dr. Kim said. “This contract comes with conditions that may not sit well with you. It’s not like the surrogacy you have known of.”

This caught Isabelle’s attention hanging. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “I don’t understand, doctor,” she said, looking bemused.

“You have to live with him all through your pregnancy period. He believes no one can take care of his child well outside his shelter. You must not develop any form of intimacy with the child, and when born, you’ll have no access to it…” the doctor explained.

A hushed silence took over the environment as Isabelle sat motionless with furrowed eyebrows casted steadily on the doctor.

“Yes, this is the problem, and there are more,” Dr. Kim added. 

The mention of ‘more’ made Isabelle flutter. She could feel her heart beginning to pound against her chest as if trying to escape its bony cage. She thought about her marriage with Morris, the divorce waiting to be served after which she would be homeless, and the money involved, big enough to start a business for herself after all this was done.

“I will do it!” Isabelle said with no iota of uncertainty.

The doctor stared at her, wondering such courage. “How about your husband?”

“I will take care of him,” Isabelle assured. “He won’t be a problem at all.”

“Alright then. One of the nurses will reach out to you by tomorrow for the contract and to put you through other things you need to know."

**

Isabelle got back home wondering if she was doing the right thing. The conditions highlighted by the doctor came taunting her. The thoughts of those words hung in the air, sharp and cutting.

It was quite a long day.

She removed her phone from her bag and googled the name Carlos Fernandez. She was thrilled by the classy pictures that filled her screen and the interesting news headlines about his achievements.

Feeling exhausted, Isabelle dragged herself to the kitchen. She opened the freezer, it was empty, just water in containers. She sighed and removed bottled water and poured it into a glass she removed from the shelf and drank.

She had been the one footing the bills in the house for the past few days.

She understood the funding of the IVF must’ve drained her husband’s account, so she didn’t bother. She heard some voices from the seating room as she went to find out who they were. At the wall clock, it was 10 pm.

“As you can see, Alison is moving in with me, “he said authoritatively. “I want you out!”

“What?” You can’t be serious, Morris,” Isabelle barked. Her screams was trapped in her lungs, her voice stolen by sheer disbelief. Her tear gland was distorted, eyes welled with tears.

Isabelle’s widened eyes moved from her husband to her friend who didn’t bother stabbing her at the back. She lost words and her whole body numb. The welled tears began to stream down her cheeks. 

What did she do to deserve such cruel humiliation? The betrayal from the only two people she took as family.

Isabelle wandered back to how sweet her marriage was with Morris. Though she couldn’t conceive these years, husband never showed any form of dissatisfaction of her. He maintained the love and care. He met me when I was still with my grandmother, living a tattered two-bedroom apartment, yet, he never treated me like a tramp, but showered me with love till we got married.

Now, what suddenly changed him?

“Morris, you need to stop this. I’m your wife for crying out loud,” Isabelle cried out, her voice trembling.

Alison struck her a disdainful look while Morris chuckled. “Wife you said? The wife that couldn’t give a child, just one child,” he said, pointing a finger. “For five years, Isabelle, five years. Am I not patient enough?” His blood was beginning to boil beneath his skin.

“But we’ve been trying….together, and the ivf have just…”

“Enough, woman!” Morris interjected before could complete the sentence. In a blink second, Isabelle was happy complete what she was about say knowing that the child wasn’t his after all. “I have my lawyer send you the divorce papers for your signature before the end of tomorrow.”

Morris angrily staggered upstairs to their bedroom, dragging her along and ordering her to pack whatever belonged to her to the guest room and leave first thing tomorrow morning. 

That said, Morris returned to the seating room to meet his new found love, leaving Isabelle brooding in the bedroom. 

Seeing how resolute Morris was and haven had enough, she quickly picked out her phone called the doctor.

“I will like to move in with Mr. Fernandez tonight,” she said without flinching. 

Dr. Kim was shocked. “At this time of the night? Are you sure you’re okay, Mrs. Williams?”

“No, I’m not,” Isabelle replied, her voice stern, yet resolute. “And if I don’t leave here now, you may be coming for corpse the next day.”

The finality in her words prickled the doctor. Truly if anything should happen to Isabelle at that point in time, she may be having her head in a platter. The almighty Fernandez had made sure of that.

“Oh, god!” Dr. Kim shouted. “Just stay where you are. My driver will come pick up in a few minutes.”

Isabelle carried few things important to her and climb down to the seating room where Morris was seated with his new fiancée, both in each other’s arms, releasing themselves from a deep kiss when Isabelle abruptly showed up carrying a bag outside the house.

“What do you think you’re doing, woman? Do you know what time it is now?” Morris asked with furrowed brow.

“Yes, I know what time it is, Morris. It is about time to leave you for good. Isn’t that want you want?” she thundered, dashing a cruel look at Allison.

“Here’s our divorce papers,” Isabelle threw the brown envelope at the center table. “Have it signed. I have done same.”

Isabelle had earlier met with her lawyer to prepare the divorce papers haven realized her stand with Morris. It came as a shock to Morris. He was the one that first asked for the divorce, and Isabelle had always being the one pressing for his reconsideration.

What now inspired her change of mind? 

Alison stood up and held Morris’ hand. “Honey, let her go. We don’t need her here after all.”

Isabelle turned to Alison. “You’ll regret this, Alison. 

Alison gave a chuckle, blinking her eyes. “I will regret nothing! She returned.

“Yeah? Okay, let’s wait and see when the truth finally gets out. Isabelle said, pointing at her belly. “Nothing is hidden under the heavens.”

Morris was stunned, his gaze moved from Isabelle to Alison and then back to Isabelle, wondering what truth she was talking about.

Isabelle swung outside with her box to the car already waiting for her. Morris stared at her till she vanished.

“What truth was she talking about?”