Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Chapter 24

24

(Flashback cont’d)

“You are pregnant,

Claire.”

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My mouth hung open in bewilderment. I am pregnant. I am, Pregnant!!!

I touched my stomach/I could feel nothing there. But with the disclosure of the news, my body became highly conscious.

“How could I still have him? I fell down the stairs and….” My words faded out as I was too startled to reason out how it was even possible.

“The doctors are shocked too. But the baby is a persistent little devil. Definitely his father’s offspring. He’s holding onto you somehow.” Penelope shrugged her shoulders.

I didn’t like her calling my baby a devil though.

We both remained silent for a while. Sobs harrowed through my body as all the events that transpired in the last few days plummeted into my consciousness.

I was pregnant. I had to find out about the baby moments after I decided to divorce his father.

Would it have made a difference had I found out about him earler? Maybe five minutes earlier.

I clutched the cloth over my stomach as I hiccupped. It would have changed nothing. We would still be having a divorce. Because now I know I’m wasting my youth and time on the wrong man. On the man who always ever saw me was like a wife of convenience.

“Look I don’t know what you will do now but the doctor has strictly told me to keep you away from stress. It’s a miracle that, he’s still in there. But your baby will be at risk if you continue to be like this. Also, the possibility of you conceiving again will become thin should you miscarry-

“No.” I yelped while my eyes widened. “I will not miscarry my baby.”

He’s not at fault that he happened to come at the wrong time. It’s my fate that my life is unfolding like this.

Maybe this is life. When you get something, you lose something.

“I will not let any harm come to my baby” I told myself before requesting Penelope to call Cole in

He

was outside my ward. With his help I summoned Hunter’s lawyer. 1 signed the papers and handed it to Cole.

He was in a state of stupor and white from looking at the divorce papers.

“Claire, this is… Are you really going to divorce him?”

I only smiled at him, “I will never forget your support, Cole. You’ve been the only person from Hunter’s side who ever took my back even if it meant that you had to go against him. Thank you so much.”

“Claire. L‘

“Give the papers to your friend and pass my message onto him cut him in. Tell him that he won. He managed to make me agree to divorce him. He’s free from me, and my imposing love. I will no longer bother him. He can enjoy his freedom.”

Flashback end…

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I took a deep breath and tried to see anything but Cole’s face in front of my eyes.

He was really sad when I told him that. He seemed more affected by my d

divorce with Hunter than Hunter himself.

Not to mention Cole came thrice already to see me since I took voluntary discharge against the doctor’s advice. Pain laced through my chest as regret seeped in. Even though Cole came, I didn’t meet him.

The fact that he was Hunter’s best friend was enough to tell myself that I was better off without his sympathy. I don’t want to keep any ties with anything or person connecting me to my heartless husband. My baby and I are enough for ourselves.

I came out of my room and into the rear garden. Scott was chilling on the grass under the bright sun with his friends. “Claire, you came at the right time. Come over, Shawn has something to show that would interest you. Scott waved at me.

He and the other three guys were sitting shirtless on a mat or either on chairs that were arranged for them. I was cognizant of his friends as they have been visiting us since they were like. Ten!

They waved at me. One of them even blinked and flirted. I couldn’t help but laugh.

Soon I found myself enjoying being around them. I sunk in a chair and watched as Scott and his friends presented a dance number for me on Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake it up song.

I was made to forget my worries. I was the old happy going Claire again. Considering how badly my jaw was hurting from all the laughing. I could bet I was glowing.

Nevertheless, a flash of a breathtaking face before my eyes wiped the smile off my lips. I was cocooned by pain again.

Exhaling a sigh, I closed my eyes in order to leash my tears in. I can’t forget Hunter. Even though he’s not here with me, he’s within me.

I hate to say it but I miss him. Does he miss me too?

Who am I kidding? Hunter… And miss me? He’s probably swelling with relief that I am gone.

I was never important to him, was I

I chuckled at my own thoughts before I opened my eyes to see the boys twerking rather vulgarly in front of me. My laughs, were back. Even if my heart was bleeding I was laughing

Hunter’s POV

I sat in my office going through the files I have to put my signatures on.

For the last two days I have been working non–stop. There’s no sleep in my eyes and not that I want to close them Because everytime I see dark, I see Claire’s face glowing on it. Her pale, teary face, with her lips trembling.

It is the last glimpse I took of her in the hospital bed two days ago after she told me she would not bother me anymore.

“I’m sorry that I happened. I’m sorry that our marriage happened. I’m sorry for everything. But know that it’s not going to last any longer and make it difficult for you.”

Those words haunt me. They ring in my ears like a siren alarm. So I stay awake. Mostly keeping myself occupied with back. to back work.

“Sir,” I was signing the papers one after another when I heard the meek voice of my secretary, Stacy.

Stacy Contham replaced her father, Ares Gontham, my real secretary for a few weeks since he’s not doing well. The man is

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in his late sixties. And if I’m being honest he’s the best employee I’ve ever had. He worked for my father before I stole him off for myself.

Although he should retire as his health keeps getting worse day by day, I can’t risk it.

That being said, I allowed him a long holiday with his wife while his daughter, who’s in her last year of university studying Company Secretary, agreed to replace her father.

“S–sir, your hand is bleeding”

Stacy’s like her father, focused and passionate. She replaced her father flawlessly. I think I hire her permanently in her father’s position if she continues to be this hard working and impressive.

“Sir, your hand, I felt trembling fingers on my shoulder.

Stacy was biting her lip anxiously when I cast a glance in her direction.

“What?” I asked as I wasn’t sure what made her look so red and nervous.

“S–sir, your hand is bleeding.” I followed the direction of her pointed finger.

It was indicated towards my right hand I was using to sign. I had a bandage on which was stained red. Blood was flowing out, creating a small pool of blood on the surface of my desk. I pulled my hand away before the blood stained the papers.

“S–sir, here, let me clean it for you.” Stacy hesitantly held my hand and removed the bandage.

She was slightly shaking at the look of blood.

“Tll do it myself, Stacy I said as I didn’t want her to look at it.

“It’s okay, sir. Besides, I know you will leave it untreated if I don’t do it. Her sad smile made me blink my eyes.

I looked away, feeling a cotton bud sweep across the gash on my palm.

“The stitches have come apart, Sir. You need to see a doctor” Stary said.

The

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