Chapter 9 THE DIVORCE

It's been four weeks since Grayson's and Lilian's wedding, and things have been looking too bleak. Lilian had moved into Grayson's mansion three days after their court wedding, and life had become unbearable for her since then. They were married, but they related like strangers; they even slept in separate rooms in the house. She feels more alone than she has ever been in her life, and even though Lily was actively present in her life now, she still couldn't shake off the feeling of loneliness.

To the public, they seemed like the perfect couple, but when they were alone, they became strangers to themselves. Lillian's life was different from the fairytale life she envisioned for herself while she was younger. But she had no choice but to accept it. One morning, Lilian woke up nauseated and ran into the toilet to puke. This had been happening for 2 weeks now, and she only waved it aside, thinking it was just a flu that would go away eventually. After another round of puking, she decided to visit the hospital for a medical checkup.

They had a family doctor whom they always used when their father was still alive, and he was still their doctor even after his death. She couldn't confide in any other doctor; she was too used to him. Upon arriving at his office, she realized that a long queue of patients was waiting to meet him, and although frustrated, she decided to be patient.

She couldn't afford to go back home with the way she was feeling. "Good morning, Mr. Fredrick." She greeted him as she entered his office when it was finally her turn.

"Ohhhh, good morning, Miss Hartley, it's a pleasure to see you again. How have you been?" He said in a joyous voice. Mr. Fredrick had always been a jovial doctor with gifted hands, and many found it more comfortable consulting him than any other doctor in the hospital.

"I am afraid I am not doing so well, sir. I feel something is wrong," she broke down in tears in his office as all the pent-up anger, sadness, and loneliness of the past weeks resurfaced. Seeing Dr Frederick again made her remember her dad, and knowing she wouldn't have gone through all she was going through if he were alive, moved her to tears even more.

"It's fine, Lilian, you are free to let it all out, it doesn't make you weak, it only shows how strong you are," he said soothingly. His voice bore a resemblance to Lillian's father's.

After what seemed like forever, Lilian was able to calm down. "I'm sorry, doc, I just kinda felt overwhelmed," she muttered.

"It's perfectly fine, I know the past months must have been a lot on you after losing your dad. I am so sorry about that," he replied with sadness evident on his face.

"Thank you doctor," she paused for a while before she continued, "l came here today because I haven't been feeling well in a couple of weeks, I always wake up nauseated and don't feel better until I puke my guts out. I also noticed that my appetite seemed to have grown more than usual," she rambled on, "I feel, I might be coming down with the flu," she finally finished talking.

The doctor laughed and asked, "When was your last menstrual cycle?"

"About 5 weeks ago, why do you ask though?" She was confused.

"We can't be sure of anything until we run some tests, but I think congratulations are in order," he declared happily. "I will take your blood samples and run some tests; only then can we be sure, and we will know where to go from there", he continued.

"Doc, I am very confused right now. What are you implying?" She asked and as if she realised something, "Are you trying to say that I....that I might be pregnant?"

The doctor nodded," But, like I said, we can't be sure until we run some tests." The doctor took her blood samples and ran the pregnancy test. Lilian was too anxious to come back for the results, so she decided to wait until the test results came out. "Please, let it not be, " she muttered continually.

"Oh no no no no, this can't be happening", Lilian muttered as another round of tears started to pour out from her face. She received the results, and they were positive. She was carrying Grayson's child.

Who was she going to tell that a one-night stand she didn't even remember had created a living being inside her? She decided she was going to tell Lily, as she was the only person she had in her life at the moment. She picked up her phone and sent a message to her twin.

"Lily, can we talk, please? It's very important."

"Alright, let's meet at our usual spot in an hour", she got a reply almost instantly.

Getting to the cafe, Lilian impatiently waited for her sister while sipping a cup of iced Americano. As soon as Lily arrived and was settled, she dropped the bomb, "I am pregnant, Lily."

"What!!!" Lily screamed in horror. "How did that happen? When does this happen? Who is responsible?" Lily continued to ask with a horrified look on her face.

"It's Grayson's from that night. I am scared, Lily, I don't know what to do," Lilian broke down in tears.

"Don't worry, we'll figure something out, but you need to stop crying for now," Lily said, trying to pacify her sister, but there were other thoughts on her mind.

She can't let Grayson find out about this. She can't lose everything she had worked for all because of some bastard baby. I need to do something, and I need to do it fast, she thought as she schemed on ways to get rid of her sister. "Excuse me, Lilian, I need to use the washroom." She hurried out without waiting for a reply from her sister.

Lily took out her phone immediately and sent a message to Victor Cadwell, telling him to push through with their plan. Victor instantly sent a text to Grayson explaining how Lilian had been the one who orchestrated the plan to have him sleep with her the other night. He told him that Lilian had confided in a friend, who confessed to him that Lilian only did that to gain access to his money and become influential. Still, it backfired. He narrated all that Lily did, but made Lilian the perpetrator instead. Lily turned off her phone and walked back to her sister. She spent another hour with Lilian before the two parted ways.

Lilian had decided to tell Grayson immediately she got home, but saw Grayson had flung her entire load out. She ran inside to confront him. "What's going on? Why are my loads outside? What have I done this time?" Of all the questions she asked, she got a reply to none. Grayson flung a paper at her, "sign the papers, you slut and lying bitch", he said in anger. " I can't believe I fell for your cheap tricks," he said as he paced around.

"I don't understand what...," he cut in before she could finish her statement,

"Oh, don't even try to play the innocent role on me, it isn't going to work. Lily told me about all your plans and schemes. How you planned that night so well just to gain access to my money," he said furiously. "I am sorry to tell you, but your plan has failed. Just sign the fucking papers and get out of our fucking lives", he shouted furiously at Lilian.

"Just so you know, you are fired", he bellowed and turned his back to her.

In that instant, Lilian realized her sister was the culprit. The one person she believed she could count on let her down, all for some guy she didn't even like. She was fed up, tired of her sister's sneaky behavior and Grayson's lack of warmth towards her. She took the papers and signed them, looked back at Grayson, and the only thoughts that could run through her mind were REVENGE.

She wasn't going to let anyone see her as weak again; she was ready to get back at them for everything they did to her.

She loaded up her stuff, headed to her old apartment, and grabbed the important papers she needed. She then booked a flight online to Canada, where she planned to start her life afresh, build connections, and gain the power to a point where she wouldn't be seen as small or weak again, and that she would return for her revenge.