Chapter 3 A Sacrificial Love

Patrick's POV

"Talk to me, Sebastian, you are scaring me. Did something happen to her? I hope she is fine? What's going on?" I asked worriedly, anxious to know why Sebastian was reluctant to talk.

"Concerning Susan... I went to see her, and she filed for divorce. I am sorry, Patrick." Sebastian finally confessed.

"What! No, Suzy can't do that to me! I thought she said she needed some time alone! What happened? Did she find out about all these?"

My eyes welled up with tears, and my heart broke at the thought of losing Susan. The worst thing I feared was finally happening.

"I don't think Susan knows, I spoke with her, and she seemed ignorant of what was happening. She only handed the divorce papers to me and told me to give them to you. I wanted to tell her you were in prison, but I remembered you warned me not to," Sebastian explained.

"I don't want her to know, Sebastian, she has been through so much lately." I said as I slumped back in my chair, a mix of defeat and frustration etched on my face.

This was too much for me to bear. Does this mean Susan doesn't love me anymore? How could she think of filing for divorce? Was our love that shallow?

Sebastian looked at me worriedly and asked, "What do you intend to do, Patrick?"

I didn't even know what to say or do. What was the essence of everything I did if the person I did it for doesn't want to be with me anymore?

After a long while, I made up my mind. "I will sign the divorce papers and relieve her of the pain and sorrow I have caused her."

Sebastian looked at me, shocked, and said, "But it isn't fair to you, you started all these things so that you both could have a better life. Why don't you just tell her?"

"Sebastian, Suzy means everything to me. She's the light of my world. I don't want her burdened with the knowledge that it was her illness and our desperate financial situation that pushed me into this mess," I calmly explained to Sebastian.

"I understand your desire to shield her from the harsh reality of the choices you made, but I still think she deserves to know," Sebastian said persistently.

"I know, but I can't bear to see the pain in her eyes or the guilt she would carry if she knew the truth. She deserves better than that.

Suzy had been through a lot. We met many years ago when she came to stay with her grandmother, who lived in my neighborhood.

She lost her parents in a ghastly accident and had to move in with her grandmother. She went through a lot to provide for and take care of the old woman.

She did all manner of menial jobs and barely had time for herself. She almost quit school until I came along and became her friend.

I encouraged her to continue schooling even though I was a dropout. I helped her pay some of her tuition fees and even took care of her grandmother during my free time.

At that time, I was living with my alcoholic mother, who never cared about me. She gave birth to me without even knowing who got her pregnant.

I learned how to fend for myself at the age of 15 and did so many menial jobs to earn a living. I was 18 when my mother died from intoxication.

I never shed a tear after her death because she was never a mother to me. I started living alone and was fending for myself until Susan moved into our neighborhood.

When her grandmother died, she got depressed and heartbroken. It took a while for her to heal from the pain of losing her grandmother.

We started dating, and after she graduated from college, we got married. She worked as a receptionist in a small office while I started a small thrift store.

I suffered a setback when the store was razed down by fire, and Susan had to take care of the bills till I got another job.

The love and adoration I had for Susan would never let me watch her go through pain and guilt.

Sebastian finally conceded and said, Determined. "I know this is incredibly difficult, Patrick. But right now, we need to focus on building a strong defense and clearing your name. I will fight for your innocence and do everything I can to protect you."

I looked at Sebastian with a grateful smile and was glad to have a friend like him.

"Thank you, Sebastian. I don't care how long it takes or how hard it gets. I will also fight to prove my innocence and win back Suzy's trust," I said, determined.

Sebastian nodded to affirm his support for me and said, "That's the spirit, Patrick. We won't give up. We will gather all the evidence we can to uncover the truth and win this case."

"Let me have the divorce papers."

Sebastian brought out a file and handed the divorce papers to me. I slowly opened it and saw Susan's signature on it.

I traced my fingers on her signature as I admired her beautiful handwriting. I couldn't help but notice the dry tears on the divorce papers.

"Suzy must have cried when signing these documents," I sighed painfully.

I took the pen from Sebastian and signed my name on the divorce papers. With each stroke of the pen, my heart seemed to shatter.

I promised her grandmother before she passed away that I would take good care of Suzy and stand by her side. Now, I was breaking that promise by letting her go.

I handed over the divorce papers to Sebastian and whispered softly,

"Wait for me, Suzy. I will clear my name, and when I get out of here and find you, I will never let you go again!"