Chapter 9 Life time in prison

"What?" Dante exclaimed the excitement in his face washing away to a surprised expression

"Do you want me to read it to you?" Audrey couldn't help but feel bad for him, her family treated him cruelly ever since they started dating. It was her personal decision to marry Dante because she loves him, but her family didn't believe love could keep them together, they thought of Dante as simply a gold digger who wanted to attach himself to a wealthy family by marriage while bringing nothing to the table.

The only instruction from her father she didn't obey was marrying Dante, each and every passing day he reminds her how her life would have been better if she didn't marry Dante.

Thinking their marriage would go smoothly and she finally gets to prove to her family that Dante was a smart and nice guy, instead things went sour and harder for him, after dropping out from law school-because of her, he couldn't get a decent high paying job and to make matter worst he was now spending time in jail.

"We haven't spoken anything about this before Aud, where did all these come from?" Dante asked with confusion written all over his face

"Look Dante, I have asked myself a billion times if I really want to go through this lane and am convinced the kids would be fine knowing that I divorced their criminal father-"

"Shut up" Dante shouted hitting his hand on the table, the sound scared Audrey and the angry look on Dante face made her reflect on all the bad things her father says about him although it was the first time since there six years marriage that he was raising his voice on her.

The police guards walk up to their table, putting his hands to his back like he was trained to just incase he needed to retrieve his wooden batton

"Any problem here?"

"Not at all, talking to my wife that's all, we-"

"Your ex-wife" Audrey interrupted correcting him like she was very sure, her mind was already made up and there was nothing that could change it

"As long as there is wife attached" Dante said faking a smile at the police officer

They remained silent looking at each other and the police officer returned to his position.

"You are not my ex-wife" Dante whispered as he looked deeply into her eyes, he didn't deserve her but all through their marriage she was loving and supportive to him.

"I would say it again, I need a divorce. You are in prison, it is a big stain to my career" Audrey replied

"What? Tell me there is a pregnancy test in that envelop and you are pulling a prank on me" Dante said as he thought to himself, was she talking about the career that he helped to sustain when she was almost rusticated from the school for indulging in sex for grade?

He was smiling to Audrey but she didn't return it.

"My life is progressing Dante, I cannot let your mistakes hold me back"

"Staying here is hard for me already" he reached out to hold her hands in his cuffed hands, but she moves her hand away from the table, he spoke emotionally which Audrey ignored

"My lawyer is ready, the properties are mine already and nothing remains to your name, so the process wouldn't be hectic, the kids-"

"Our kids!" Dante corrected shouting again

"My father was right about you, I am not letting you have them or ever see them after everything that has happened"

"What has happened? Me being locked up for a crime I didn't commit? This is about your father, you are doing this because of him, you said he was never going to come between us now look at where we are now, don't you think he is coming between us"

"Dante, I have a career to think about, I cannot be tied to someone in prison"

"Oh, this is also about your career and public profile too, you don't want to be identified with a husband like me" Dante scoffed "The one who protected your shame from the public seven years ago"

"I have done more than you did for me, the public sees you as a poor man who relies on his wife for everything but I have covered up your shame all these years so don't come at me, reminding me you protected my shame when we were in the university" Audrey replied angrily with gritted teeth

They both fell silent

"I would have Shelia come pick up the paper when you have signed it, goodbye Dante" Audrey stood to her feet avoiding eye contact with him because she wanted to cry

"Is it true?" Dante asked

"What?"

"Rumors have it that you go on dates with the CEO of Prime interiors" he maintained eyes contact with her, looking up at her from his seated position

"It's for business negations" Audrey lied, it was more than that in fact she was going to see him when she finished from the prison

"And? All of a sudden you are divorcing your husband of six years?" Dante wasn't buying it, he knew Audrey enough to know when she was telling a lie

"Aside that you would no longer be in my family and my father's will as his son in-law, you have nothing to lose, you get money and property share worth billions, it is there in the paper"

"I have everything to lose! You, my two daughters?" Dante stood to his feet

"We would agree on a milder term about seeing the girls when you are out of prison, but if is life time imprisonment I will tell them you died in a car accident because I would not have them come visit you here while they grow up"

"I don't care about the money, property, inheritance, I just want to get out of here, come home to you-"

"Life time in prison Dante, I hate to break it to you, so far there is nothing your lawyer can come up with"

"I know that" he exhales remembering Attorney Yara "But am innocent of all allegations against me

"The evidences prove otherwise"

"Give me a bit of time, I would sign the divorce papers in the next two months after my court trail if am found guilty'

"To hell with that, everybody knows you are guilty' Audrey said shouting and her voice echoed in the room making the guard glance at their direction

Dante said nothing in response, he breathed deeply and takes his seat, with his handcuffed hands he managed to open the paper in front of him. Audrey watched him read the document

"I don't want the money and property, I want to see my daughters often, tell your lawyer that" he took the pen and signed the divorce papers and gave it to Audrey who was still standing

"Have a nice life in prison Dante" she said walking away

"Audrey!"

She resisted the urge to turn back to look at Dante, she felt like she was leaving something precious behind.

As she stepped out of the visiting room she broke down in tears, the softer part of her taking over, Dante had been right at one thing, she was divorcing him because of her father and her career, little did she know she just made a wrong decision!