No Longer Yours, Ex Husband!

Amy smiled as she watered her plants. This was one of the two things that brought her immense joy. She loved painting and gardening.

When she was sure the plants had received enough water to keep them going, she went inside to continue her painting.

She was very good at what she does and soon, a beautiful painting was visible on the canvas. It was a picture of a perfect family she had always imagined but never had. A man holding his wife and their son.

Three years ago, her husband had told her that he might give their marriage a chance if she gave him a child.

She was finally pregnant and couldn't wait to break the news to him. Maybe their marriage would take a positive turn at this point. She already imagined him kissing and hugging her at the news.

She completed her painting and tucked it safely away at one end of the room.

"Serve dinner," she instructed the maids. They nodded and went out to carry the tasks. They looked at her with traces of pity in their eyes.

Amy always tried to be a perfect wife for her husband. She prepared food for him everyday but it ended up being eaten by the maids, dogs or thrown away. He never spared a glance at the dinning table, not even for a second.

7pm but her husband wasn't home yet.

"He'll be back soon. Maybe he was caught up in traffic," she assumed, trying hard not to be negative.

8pm, there was still no sign of him. She decided to call him. She picked her phone with trembling fingers and dialed his number.

The phone rang and he didn't answer. He had only answered her call once throughout their three years of marriage and that was because his grandmother was around.

She called again and it was still the same old story. No answer. She tried her best to stay calm and prevent the tears from falling.

She glanced at the dinning. Dinner was served but he wasn't at home yet. She wore a nice dress specially for him but he didn't show up at home. She decided to try once more. She waited anxiously as it rang.

After two rings, the call connected.

"He..hello, Anderson good evening," she stammered.

"What is it?" a cold voice which contrasted sharply with her quiet voice was heard over the phone.

"I..I was expecting you for dinner. It's 8pm and you..."

"So what? I will return when I'm done. I have dinner with a business partner."

"Andy, do you want anything else?" a lady's voice was heard over the phone.

Andy? That sounded very intimate. Wait. Was her husband with another woman?

No!There was no way that would happen.

"Anderson would never cheat on me. Maybe it's the waiter or a business partner."

Damn! Why will a client address him as Andy?

The thought of the man she adored and loved dearly in the arms of another woman shook her badly and the tears fell in torrents. She cried until she was too weak to continue. She just lay on the couch, distressed and heart broken.

The rays of the morning sunlight struck her face from the curtains as the maid pulled it open. She opened her eyes and realised she had slept on the couch last night while waiting for her husband.

By reflex, she turned and glanced at the dinning. Sure enough, the dinner lay there, untouched.

"Did Anderson return home last night?" she asked the maid with doubt.

"No ma, he didn't."

Her heart went cold and stopped beating for a second. She wanted to cry again. Anderson was...

She felt her stomach rumble and this took her away from her thoughts. She didn't have dinner last night as she was waiting for him.

"This isn't good for the baby," she thought as she went inside.

She had just finished breakfast when she heard his car drive in. Her heart was suddenly filled with excitement as she waited eagerly for him. Her heart did a mad palpitation as she heard his footsteps and anticipated his entrance.

With a smile plastered on her face, she walked towards him.

"Good morning sweetheart."

She opened her arms to hug him but he halted her. He flung an envelope at her.

Amy stopped and looked at him in shock. She perceived a female fragrance from him and swallowed hard. Was he really cheating on her?

She picked the envelope and opened it.

"Divorce papers? Anderson? Why? We can sort it out..."

He couldn't divorce her now that she has gotten pregnant. She loved him and would do anything to keep him.

"Sort what out? Are you that dumb that you can't see that I have no interest in you?"

His words hurt and pierced her heart like sharp arrows.

"I don't love you and I will never love you. Sign those papers and release me from this mistake."

He just told her to her face that their marriage was a mistake. She thought of the baby in her womb. She didn't want him growing up in a broken home with a single parent. She didn't want him to feel neglected just as she was while growing up.

Anderson might reconsider his stand if she tells him about her baby.

"Anderson, don't do this. We can talk about it. I have something to tell you. Don't do this for me, do it for..."

"Save it. Just say the damn papers. I won't say it again."

"I won't sign it. I will not divorce my husband," she yelled.

Hot tears streamed down her face. She thought of everything she had given up, everything she had done and gone through just to be with him. And he wanted to end it all just like that. To him, she was a piece of filth.

A familiar perfume wafted into her noistrils and she turned in the direction it came. A beautiful pair of legs walked gracefully into the house. She looked stunning as she chewed her gum and walked towards Anderson.

"Andy baby, what's taking you so long?"

This was the same voice she heard over the phone. The perfume she perceived from her husband's clothes belonged to her too.

She looked at Anderson, awaiting his response.

"Oh dear. You didn't have to trouble yourself by coming. I was waiting for her to sign it."

The lady raised her head and studied Amy carefully. There was an unconcealed look of disdain on her face.

"Alright. I will be in the bedroom," she finally said and made her way up the stairs. But that was after giving Anderson a kiss and a flirty look.

"You better be fast about this!" Anderson said flaty and walked away.

Amy was too shocked to cry. Anderson even let the woman kiss him in her presence.

From the way she went upstairs, it was certain that she knew her way around the house. He must have bought her home before in her absence!

Finally, her defence wall broke and she let her tears flow.

Two months ago, she had seen these signs but she pretended not to see them.

She believed so much in the love of her life and their marriage. She didn't want to think of any external force working against the marriage.

The lipstick marks on his shirt, the perfume he was wearing on his suit, the smile that was always plastered on his face when he returned from his rendezvous; she had pretended not to see any of them.

She looked at the divorce papers again. She was determined not to sign them. She wanted the best for her child. She was willing to bear anything from Anderson to make sure her son grew up in a complete family with the love of both parents.

She opened her eyes two hours later. It was just in time to see Anderson stepping out. She hurried to him and held him tenderly.

"Anderson, please don't do this. I love you so much and you know it. We can start all over. Remember, you promised to give me a chance if I give you a child."

"Really?" he asked with mockery.

Amy failed to notice it. She was too focused on telling him about the baby and having her man back.

"Yes, that's what you said and I will do that soon..."

"No need. I will not have anything to do with you. I can't even stand the thought of having a baby with you. That beautiful woman you saw is the one I love and want to start a family with. She's learned, intelligent and hardworking. Sign the papers and get your sorry self out of this house. I will fulfil the conditions written in the divorce papers," he concluded and off he went.

He didn't want her child! He just said she wasn't learned. He had proposed to her immediately after she graduated from college, or rather, his grandmother had persuaded him to get married to her as soon as possible. She had been more than glad to say 'yes' at that time.

Her family members were eager to get rid of her so they didn't mind. Her family was a family of four. Her mother loved her eldest twin brothers while her father loved her eldest sister. She was the last child and an outcast.

Her parents had already shared their love between the older children and there was none left for her.

It was only one of the twins, Elvis, that merely told her not to get married. He didn't give her reasons because he said he owed her no explanation. Somehow, the boy had a soft spot for her. He was the only one who sometimes treated her as family.

Amy was head over heels and blinded by love to listen to anyone. She just wanted to be away from her hell of a home and in the arms of the one she loved so much.

Now, after three whole years of lovelorn, Anderson was throwing her out like she didn't matter. Of course, she didn't matter.

She had made a mistake three years ago and she was sorry for it now. She was the reason Anderson's grandmother had asked him to marry her.

Now, she regretted every single thing that happened. It was a mistake and Anderson didn't have to make her pay for the mistake in that manner.

The only thing she could do was cry and that she did.

She thought about this carefully. Now, this wasn't about her but her child. She would bear it all for the unborn baby.

Anderson brought Jane, the other woman into the house without minding that Amy was still there. Amy had to sleep in the guest room while her husband was in the arms of another woman all night.

Amy was watching the television in the sitting room when Jane entered.

"Hey you! What are you still doing in this house? Isn't it obvious that you are not wanted?"

Amy ignored her because she didn't want any more problems.

But Jane wasn't done yet.

"Listen. I will give you an advice for free, although you don't deserve it. Andy doesn't love you and he will never. Just sign the divorce papers and give him the chance to live a happy life with me. I am here to do that which you could not do even after three years. Meanwhile, go and get me something to eat."

The last statement annoyed Amy. She sprang up in anger and asked,

"Get you something to eat? Have you gone nuts?"

Jane raised her hands to slap her but Amy dodged. Jane lost her balance and almost fell to the floor but for the timely intervention of Anderson.

"What have you done? I have always known you to be this callous. Now, you want to kill my fiancée and child!"

"I didn't do anything. She was..."

"Oh baby! Thank God you are here. She has been abusing me and she hit and pushed me just now." Jane reported.

Amy was backing the door and from an observer's point of view, it looked like she had pushed Jane.

"What? Jane?"

"Just leave us alone. Don't ruin our happy home. I know that's your sole plan!" Jane continued.

Anderson made no move to defend Amy. He just stood there holding Jane closely and looking at Amy like she was a devil.

"Fine. I will sign the divorce papers and leave your lives. Give it to me. I will sign it right now!"

Amy stood outside the house in deep thought. This was the house that housed her and brought her grief for three years.

She was finally outside the house but she had nowhere to go.

"I should have taken the money from him," she thought.

She had declined his offer because didn't want to have anything to do with him. She didn't need him anymore.

She thought of what to do, where to go and how to make a living but no answers were forthcoming.

She looked at the working class who were hurrying off to work and a teardrop fell from her eyes. She wiped it off with the back of her hand.

She had graduated with very excellent grades and a lot of organisations were willing to work with her. She studied business administration and when she was still in school, she attended a lot of competitions that helped to broaden her knowledge.

But she turned down all the job offers because she wanted to get married to Anderson.

He wanted her to be a stay at home wife. She forgot about her degree, her qualifications, her dreams and the fact that she had always wanted to leave a mark in the sands of time.

Everything meant nothing to her anymore. It was only Anderson that mattered.

She recalled how they met and the first time she saw him.

During one of the school trips for competitions, she met Anderson's grandmother who was highly impressed by her intelligence, character and overall personality. They got along and Amy visited her often.

One day, she came to the house and there was an extra person at home.

"Ohh, my dear Andy. Look who we have here!"

A tall and handsome young man with the nicest eyes Amy had ever seen turned in her direction. Amy was awed at his beauty and fell in love with him at first sight.

She was swept off her feet even more when he flashed her his mister cool smile and extended his hands for a handshake.

"Hello, Amy. Granny here has told me so much about you. It's nice to meet you."

Did he just smile at her? He's so handsome.

Damn! She should not be staring in that manner.

"Same here. Nice to meet you too," she responded and shyly averted her gaze. He was probably used to such stares.

He smiled at her even more, making her flush red in embarrassment.

"Amy, tell me more about yourself," Anderson stared a conversation to her greatest surprise.

As the conversation progressed, she fell in love the more. He was fun to be with and he provided her a nice company.

But when Anderson brought this girlfriend home, his grandmother didn't approve of her. She wanted him to settle down with Amy. She believed Amy was the perfect choice to guarantee her grandson a life of happiness.

Anderson was enraged. Why will his grandmother ask him to marry someone he wasn't in love with?

Grandmother had cancer and his marrying Amy was her dying wish. He had to fulfill it because she was all he had left in the world.

"Now it has come to an end," she muttered under her breath.

As she walked on, her mind was occupied with thoughts of where she should go and what next to do. She heard the screeching of brakes behind her and there was a blackout.

***********************

"Are you okay? I will take you to the hospital," she said to the dying man.

"No! Save my son and heir..." the man responded between heavy breaths.

Amy turned and looked inside the car. A young boy of about five years older than her was bleeding. She hurried to his aid and....

*************

Amy's eyes flew open and she looked around her. Everything was white and she wondered where she was.

Was she at the hospital? What happened?

She remembered her strange dream but she wasn't able to make out anything from it. Worse still, she was having a splitting headache.

She shut her eyes to relieve the pain. As she shut her eyes,the dream came again.

This time, she helped the injured boy to safety and bound his wounds as he requested. She took one more step and something hit her from behind. She screamed in pain and fell face down on the floor.

She woke up with a start on the hospital bed again.

"Easy dear. You need to relax," a kind voice said to her. She looked in the direction and saw a lady on uniform. She was probably a nurse.

"Where am I? How did I get here? What's going on?"

She tried to get up from the bed but her body ached all over.

"Ahhh!"

"Take it easy, Miss."

The nurse ran over and helped her lie

properly on the bed.

"You had an accident but right now, you need more rest. You've been unconscious for two days now."

"T..two days? My baby! Is my baby alright?"

"I'm sorry. You lost the baby but what matters now is your health."

"No! Don't tell me that. My baby..." Amy wanted to scream but her strength failed her. She could only lie down and let the tears flow down her face.

The office was tastefully and lavishly furnished. It was crystal clear that it belonged to a very wealthy person. A tall and handsome youth sat in front of his laptop. His thin lips were firmly pursed and his brows furrowed into a frown.

His gaze was drawn to the door by a soft tap.

A tough looking guy came in after he was given the permission. He bowed before him respectfully and said,

"Young master, we have found her. The woman from three days ago has been confirmed to be the lady we've been looking for."

For the first time in a long time, a thin smile appeared on Logan's face.

Amy watched as a familiar yet unfamiliar fellow entered her ward. With a smile plastered on his face, he walked towards her and stopped by her bedside.

"Hello sweetheart. We meet again."