I want a divorce

“Darling, are you not going to call her back?” Kate asked as she pretended that she cared after the call ended. But all she wanted was to see how he would answer her call. Wale, who hated to be questioned said,

“Don’t you know my stand? I’m only with her because she’s carrying my child. Once the baby is born, I’ll divorce her immediately. She doesn’t need me now, she needs a doctor, if she is thinking straight.”

Kate smiled. Even though Wale didn’t want intimacy at that moment, his words were very reassuring. While Wale was busy in the wardrobe, looking for something to wear, she sneakily took Maya’s number. What she did next was a disaster. She had been recording their conversation and used a new number to send the recording to Maya. It was a well-planned move, and she deleted the audio right after seeing that it was delivered. To divert his attention from Maya, she asked with a seductive grin,

“Please, can you come with me? I am going for a manicure and pedicure…. I want to look beautiful for you alone.”

“Hmm…I have a business meeting in three hours, but I can spare two hours with you,” Wale replied softly.

Maya’s heart tightened when she listened to the audio still on her way to the hospital. Liam, who was driving, also heard it. He felt helpless and equally disappointed in his boss. From the back seat of a posh car, Maya raised her eyes against the rear mirror and asked, “Did my husband really tell you he was coming to meet us at the hospital?”

The driver’s throat felt parched. He had always been able to make excuses for his boss, but this time, everything had backfired. That audio they both listened to had ruined everything. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I just didn’t want to see you sad.”

Maya’s heart twisted as a bitter smile curled at the corners of her lips. But then, she couldn’t stop her eyes from bringing out tears as she felt like a fool. She realized she meant nothing to Wale even when in great pain. The little gestures that had ignited her hope were merely orchestrated by her driver. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recover from the pain. It was at this devastating moment that suddenly, the car was struck against where she was sitting at the back, causing the car to swerve off the road and flip over more than three times.

Maya felt unbearable pain as blood spurted from her mouth and nose, pooling between her thighs. Her previous birth pain was just an iceberg. There was an enormous pain in her belly. Having the thought of her baby, she struggled for survival and managed to pick up her phone. At the instant, her brain knew one person to call and that was her husband. The ringing of the phone was her first hope.

“Maya, am I your doctor? Why seek for care you never deserve? I’m busy.” That was Wale’s response when he answered the call, clearly not wanting to hear what she had to say. His response was enough for her to lose consciousness and before she closed her eyes, she heard the same voice that answered her call minutes ago.

“Sweetheart! Come and help me to wear my dress? Don’t you think I can wear this?” She chuckled.

“What about your bra? Don’t tell me you can’t put it on. You always want me to wear them on you and…”

It took several hours before Maya woke up in the hospital after a series of surgeries. Her face felt bloodless and there were painful expressions on her face. Her driver was sitting close to her bed. He had gained consciousness an hour later and seatbelt prevented him from many injuries.

“Madam, you’re alive.” He made a fist.

Maya felt relieved to see that Liam was already fine.

“Doctor…!” He called out immediately as she turned herself on the hospital bed. A male doctor immediately came into the room.

“Mrs. Wale, how are you feeling?” the doctor asked as he examined her, jotting down notes. Maya was only concerned about one thing. “How is my baby?” She asked.

The doctor immediately stopped talking at first and gave eye contact. “I’m very sorry, but your baby couldn’t survive the impact. All we needed to do was to save your life and we had to operate on you immediately.”

Tears brimmed in Maya’s eyes, but she fought to hold them back as they fell across her ears. She had lost everything. She had left her father’s business to support her husband, nurturing his business while enduring the taunts from his arrogant family. Her heart turned cold at the loss of her child.

“Excuse me?” She raised her voice as she was traumatized. The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry aloud, as any woman in her situation would, but Maya wanted to weep alone. She could endure Wale’s indifference, but she would never forgive him for the loss of their child. His childhood sweetheart appeared, and suddenly, Maya had been in an accident. She needed to find out everything, but as for Wale, he no longer occupied a space in her heart.

The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Maya stared at Liam, who had stood in the doorway since the doctor arrived. She wanted to break down but couldn’t bring herself to do it in Liam’s presence. She had been weak for too long, which had led to the death of her child, a child she had already named. She had spent most of her time with him, especially after the doctor told her the baby could hear her voice at seven months. She spoke to him when Wale wasn’t around, which was most of the time. Her bond with her baby was so strong it felt like she’d known him for years. If she had left when Wale first asked for a divorce, none of this would have happened. Back then, she had begged him to reconsider, and shortly after, she discovered she was pregnant. Once she found out, she agreed to the divorce, hoping to at least have his child as a reminder of the love they once shared.

“Where is Wale?” Maya suddenly asked. Liam felt a chill from her tone. This wasn’t the woman he once knew; she had never spoken like this before.

“Madam, it was an accident. A car hit ours, and it’s beyond repair,” Liam said, trying to dodge her question and divert her attention. Liam was almost twice her age, and she had always trusted him, but now everything seemed different. Had he been lying or covering for his boss all this time? This mindset threatened to spoil the close relationship she had with her driver, whom Maya had always trusted completely.

“That’s not what I’m asking.” She didn’t blink. Maybe Liam was scared, as Maya’s voice now mimicked that of a strict boss, or perhaps someone that was interviewing him.

“Madam, my boss left here in tears a few minutes ago,” Liam replied, but he only made things worse. She couldn’t hold her anger any longer.

“Don’t lie to me again.” Her voice was stern, filled with contempt. “I’ve had enough of your lies. Any more, and you’ll have to leave. You will never drive me again. Where is my husband?” Silence followed, until Liam finally broke it.

“He said, ‘If the doctors couldn’t save your baby, what could I have done?’ He’s still busy at the moment.”

Each word from Wale reminded Maya that staying in the marriage had been the wrong choice. She should have left when he first mentioned divorce. Tears flowed freely now. Her attempt to save her marriage had led to the death of her precious child, the one she had come to know and love. She had hoped to hold her baby’s hand the way she caressed her belly when he kicked. Liam was about to say something when Maya interrupted.

“Leave and shut the door.”

Liam hesitated, unsure whether he should leave her alone. “But, Madam…”

“I said, leave, Liam.” Maya’s voice rose. Reluctantly, he waited outside the door.

“Okay.”

Once he was gone, she took out her phone, crying, and called her father.

“Dad, I’m sorry. I made a mistake, and now I’ve lost everything.”

Her dad had never supported her marriage, but she’d wanted to prove him wrong. Expecting him to scold her, she was surprised when his voice was soft as he asked, “What happened, Maya?”

“I had an accident and lost the baby. I want to come home. Will you forgive me?”

“Oh, Maya, my love for you hasn’t changed. I’m coming to get you. Just send me your address.”

“Please, Dad, I need to take care of a few things first. I want to…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll do whatever you want,” her dad interrupted.

“I don’t want to burden you. I’ve grown up, and I need to handle this myself.”

“Hmmm… if that’s the case, I’ll prepare to see you soon.”

“Very soon, Dad. I miss you.” Her voice faltered again as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Are you still crying over leaving Wale?”

“No, Dad,” she said, sounding more confident as she wiped her face.

“Call me when you’re ready. I love you.”

Maya smiled at her dad’s words, grateful for his kindness and that he hadn’t rejected her. As she ended the call, only one thought filled her mind.

Throughout her week-long stay at the hospital, Wale hadn’t visited or called. Maya knew why—he was with the woman who could casually answer his calls. While in hospital, she had prepared the divorce papers.

When she got home that evening after being discharged, she held the brown envelope, but Wale wasn’t home. It wasn’t until the next day at 10 p.m. that she heard a car pull up outside the mansion.

“That must be Wale,” she muttered, getting up from her bed. She rushed downstairs and paused at the top of the stairs when Wale entered the living room with his suitcase.

Upon his return, Wale was not greeted by the woman who usually smiled at him.

“Congratulations, Mr. Wale. My baby’s gone. I want a divorce. You’ve taken the last reason I had to stay."

,”she shouted coldly at the man she had once loved.