THE BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: I Shouldn't Have Divorced Her

Chapter 1

Divorced on my birthday

"Honey, you've not said anything since we got here. You neither compliment my dress nor comment on my food," Lila said.

Grey kept mute, as though she were talking to a ghost, not even lifting his eyes and looking at her.

"I suppose today should be my happy day. You brought up the idea of us coming here to spend some time alone, and now you're staring at me without a word? Are we doing a retreat?" Lila was losing patience with the serene environment.

"You would have allowed me to party with friends rather than with this attitude you're giving me now."

"Enough of the talk already, Lila!" Grey yelled at her, dropping his spoon on the table.

"In fact, I'm done! I'm done with you. You and I know that there's no chemistry between us." Standing up, he ducked his hands into his pocket, brought out a piece of paper, and handed it over to her.

"Ensure you go through those papers and sign the divorce. If there's anything you don't understand, you can contact my lawyer." With his face devoid of any remorse, he gently moved closer, giving her a kiss on the forehead. He whispered to her, "You should be grateful I endured you bearing the title 'my wife.' But now, I have to go for the person I love, someone more deserving."

Lila was dumbfounded; everything sounded like an audio series of a video clip to her. Her silver jubilee turned into the worst day she could ever imagine.

"Is this really the man I married? Handling me a divorce on my birthday?" Lila questioned herself unstoppably. She tried to control her tears to maintain her make-up so that no one would notice something wrong with her, but she couldn't; the pain was unbearable.

Even though she had never known what it means to be happy and loved in marriage, she was always ready to be patient with Grey, keeping to her promise of "till death do us part" made at the altar, hoping for a better Grey with time. The meal she took four hours to prepare was not half eaten by her soon-to-be ex-husband.

Lila was every man's dream back then, in high school. Over ten men were ready to marry her if only she said yes, but she made her choice of Grey, following the way he presented himself to her as one who could not hurt a fly. Little did she know that all the humility was because of his poor financial condition, which she mistook for being nice.

She had never talked about her miserable marriage to anyone, not even her parents.

"Besides, I was never my parents' favorite; I would rather die with my pains than involve them." She told herself.

She tried all she could to put on a smile whenever she had visitors.

Her hands became stiff as she held the papers, tears rolling down her succulent cheeks. She lost her appetite immediately.

"Why did he bring me here only to break me into pieces? What have I done to deserve this?" She asked questions, but no one was there to give an answer. She was still weeping when a call rang on her phone. She ducked her hands into her pause and brought out her phone; it was Eucharia calling.

"Oh, my God! Eucharia!" She was astonished. Eucharia was her childhood friend, born with a silver spoon, with whom they did primary and secondary education together. As the only daughter of her family, her wealthy dad sent her to study abroad; hence, they lost contact for over ten years.

She ignored the call because, from the tune of her voice, even a deaf man can deduce that she's miserable. She needs to save herself from being mocked.

Her phone rang consistently, and she finally picked up the call.

"Hello, Charia, sorry I missed your calls." She said it with an unfriendly tone, which doesn't sound nice for a person one has missed for over a decade.

"Yo girl, Happy birthday! I'm in town already, purposely to celebrate your birthday. Please, when and where are we hanging out?" Eucharia asked with so much joy, as she couldn't wait to set her eyes on her friend.

"I'm sorry, dear; I didn't plan for any celebrations." Lila said.

"Lila, I know it has been long since we heard each other's voices, but this doesn't sound like you on an ordinary day, not to talk of a special day like this. Don't you miss me at all? Eucharia was bothered because that doesn't sound like her friend.

Lila texted her the address, and Eucharia headed straight to the location.

"Baby girl, I'm here." Eucharia shouted with joy as she went and exchanged hugs with her friend.

"Oh, my dear, I'm sorry I missed your wedding. That's why I just have to try my best to surprise you on your twenty-fifth birthday." Charia kept talking without taking a keen look at Lila's face.

"Thank you for coming, my dear. I'm happy to see you again," Lila responded.

"Oh my God, Lila! Are you crying? Why are your eyes red and bulky? Besides, today is your birthday; where is your husband? I mean, why are you all alone here putting on a moody face, but I'm seeing two plates here?" Eucharia has a million and one questions she needs answers to.

Lila didn't say a word because she didn't know which of the questions to answer. She quietly handed over the papers to Eucharia.

"I think this can provide all the answers you need." Her eyes were full of tears, and she carried her white handkerchief and wiped her face off.

"Oh, my gosh! This is unbelievable. You mean your husband served you with a divorce on your birthday? This is heartless!"

"I'm sorry, my dear. Let's get going. You need to rest," Charia suggested.

"Sorry to say, but that husband of yours must be an ingrate! Lila, all our colleagues in school can attest to the fact that you were the best-behaved girl in our clique. And now this? That man must surely regret it. I hope you're not planning to just sign this divorce and let go of everything." Charia reacted, feeling bad for her friend.

Chapter 2

Signing the divorce

Lila sat on the bed, with a towel still tied around her chest. She reached for her handbag on the bedside table and carried the divorce papers.

She was still reading the papers when the door flung open.

"Com'on, girl, how often will you keep staring at those papers? This is a new phase of life you need to face. What you should be doing now is figuring out how to rebrand yourself and move on while you plan on your revenge, not sticking to old pains." Eucharia said as she dragged the papers from her friend's hands.

"I'm not taking any revenge. Even though I'm heartbroken by the way he served me the divorce, it will do more good than harm to me. At least I'm free from bondage."

"Bondage? What do you mean by bondage? I thought you said earlier that you've never suspected him of having an affair." Eucharia said.

"Even though I never suspected him of that, I've never been happy in my marriage."

Lila instantly became mute, recalling the torment she passed through, not only from her husband but from his family as well. She was just bearing the title of a woman, but she has never been in control of her home.

She had to contend with her mother-in-law choosing what to cook and what not to cook in the house. What to wear was also decided by her mother-in-law.

Many times, she complained of not being comfortable with his mother's interference in her marriage; the only response she could get was that his mother's choice superceded all.

Waving her hands at her face, Charia shouted, "Ha, what are you still thinking?"

She was about to answer when a call cut her response short. She carried her phone and checked, only to see her soon-to-be official ex-husband calling.

"Once you're done signing the papers, you can come and get your valuables tomorrow at the house by 4:00 p.m." He hung up, not giving her even a second to say a word.

"Girl, ensure you go through the conditions of the divorce first before signing," Eucharia advised.

"Like seriously? Is he trying to buy your silence? Oh no! I can't believe you ended up with an ingrate like this. I'm sorry you might feel bad. I'm disregarding your husband, but girl, this is too much." Eucharia exclaimed.

Lila became silent for some moments. If anyone had told Lila that Grey would one day betray her, that person would have been her worst enemy. Their relationship was envied by many, and he gave her a shoulder to lean on. Despite the frustration and hatred she gets from her family, he is always there for her. Lila believed that Grey was the perfect partner for her, and she wasted no time saying 'yes' when he went to the ground with one knee and popped the long-awaited question to her in the most romantic manner she ever expected-at her friend's engagement party! But now, here she is holding her divorce papers just after three years of marriage with the same man who portrayed himself as her perfect match in a seven-year relationship.

Not only divorce but leaving her with nothing compared to her investment in the marriage. Lila wept the moment his conditions of divorce flashed through her brain.

"How could he be so wicked as to give her only the uncompleted duplex and only one car out of the four cars? Not even a share in the company she bought for him out of love with the only treasure her late mother left for her." Her mind was preoccupied with several thoughts and questions.

"Charia, I'll just sign the papers to gain my freedom. Let's just forget about his condition. I'll avail myself at the house tomorrow by 4:00 p.m. and carry my things for good," Lila concluded after a long gaze at the papers.

"Any decision you take, just know that you have my full support," Charia replied, patting Lila on the back.

Lila made sure she availed herself at the house at exactly 4:00 p.m. She can't believe that the home she had planned to spend eternity with is no longer hers.

"Welcome, ma, please let me call my boss and inform him that someone is here to see him," the maid who was cleaning the compound said.

"No, my dear, no need to stress yourself. He's aware of my coming already. I'll just go in and wait for him," Lila responded.

"Someone? I can't believe that I'm now addressed as a stranger in my own home. Only for two days, and he has employed the services of a maid?" Lila was lost in thoughts, seeing the way things had changed around the house within the twinkle of an eye.

She stepped into the living room but only saw a movie display on the television with no one watching.

"She has finally gotten what she wanted. Well, I don't see a need for me to go to her room to check on her. Let me just go up and start getting my things before he returns." Lila mumbled, referring to her mother-in-law.

She ascended the staircase, heading to the master bedroom to get her things before Grey came back and she handed him the divorce.

Getting closer to the door, she dipped her hands into her back to bring out her key and unlock the door. She heard something awful that made her put a halt to her steps. She stood at the door for a few seconds and heard the sounds of moaning, loud and slow. After twenty minutes, the sound stopped, and she began hearing voices.

"Aw, thank you, my one in a million. I can't wait to have the signed divorce papers from that foolish woman so that I can boldly plan my forever with you." That, for sure, was her husband's voice.

She listened keenly to the sound of the woman's voice to respond but didn't hear any.

Chapter 3

Secret exposed!

"Why am I not hearing a woman's voice? Could he be talking to himself, or maybe watching a movie? But what a coincidence that his movie will be talking about signing a divorce paper." Lila's mind was buried in thoughts.

Her chest was burning like fury; she felt like pushing the door and pouring acid on whoever was behind the crashing of her marriage. But a sudden thought came to her: that action would only lead her into more trouble, as she would be charged with a case of murder and might be sentenced to life imprisonment.

Sounds of kisses and moans continued. She was dazed to hear her husband moan and scream a woman's name, something he had never done while married to her for a whole three years, making promises of giving her heaven on earth. Lila was just imagining how her husband was on top of another woman, banging her like one who had been starved of s*x for decades.

"I don't know how dumb she is not to have known that we're in a relationship. Poor girl, she must have thought that the attention you were giving her back then was out of love," the woman said.

"Kaycee, my love, I'm grateful you waited patiently for me to divorce her. She never knew I was only there for the little money; if not, I'd have nothing to do with an unexposed and ugly person like her. My love for you is eternal." Grey said.

"I can't wait to have my complete family with you. At least I can play a full father role in my daughter's life." He added.

The woman's voice sounded familiar to her, but she couldn't remember knowing any woman that bore such a name as "Kaycee."

And she had never seen a contact on her husband's phone like Kaycee.

"What a fuck? Grey has a daughter somewhere."

The statements provoked Lila to push the door with her whole strength, like one who was running away from danger, only to see two unclad adults, her husband and her half-sister, on her matrimonial bed.

"Cynthia!" Lila shouted.

Cynthia immediately jumped down from the bed and wrapped herself in a blanket. Grey sat on the bed and stared at Lila without any atom of fear or remorse.

"Lila, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. It was never my intention for you to discover us this way." Cynthia pleaded with a remorseful face.

Without any reply, Lila landed a heavy slap on Cynthia's face, with the design of her five fingers mapped around her face.

"I can't believe that my blood is the cause of my misery in marriage. You address my husband as an uncle, saying that he's just like a second father to you, yet you have the mind to do this to me? Besides, who is the father of Janell?" Lila became furious at her.

"Don't you dare try that shit again. Yes, she's your sister, but I find love and peace with her. At least, I can wake up every morning and hear a child's voice calling me "Daddy," something you failed to offer for a whole period of three years.

He stood up and embraced Cynthia, consoling her.

Janell is Cynthia's two-year-old daughter.

Cynthia conceived her when she was in her final year at the university. Every effort to make Cynthia reveal who was responsible for her pregnancy proved abortive. She open-mindedly told her family that she'd be forced to harm the baby and end her life if they continued to disturb her about the child's paternity if that was a secret she had decided to keep to herself.

Even though Lila and Cynthia are not always on good terms, Lila was good to her during her pregnancy and delivery. If not for Lila's persistent plea with her knees on the ground, their father would have denied Cynthia the right to have an illegitimate child. Even Mrs. Elena, Cynthia's mother, despised her for bringing shame to the family by conceiving a bastard, but that was just an act because she was fully aware of the father of Cynthia's baby. Mrs. Elena was just putting up those attitudes so that Cynthia's father would not think that she was supporting her daughter's bad character. Lila was the only one in the family who gave her full support and attention during her pregnancy. She loved and adored her niece, Janell. Despite her husband's cruelty to her, he was always nice to Janell and Cynthia. But that didn't give her a reason to suspect something wrong, for she thought it was a normal regard a man gives to his in-laws.

Lila went straight to her wardrobe and arranged her things.

She carried her box and stood at the door. Looking at how remorseful her husband was, her eyes started producing water, but she summoned all her courage and never let her cheeks feel the rolling of her tears. She had to be brave so that she wouldn't be laughed at. She needs to make Grey feel that she is also tired of the union and is ready for divorce.

"I wish you good luck," she told them as she descended the stairs with her two boxes.

"Dan, how long has this been going on?" She asked their gateman, who opened the door for her, to leave.

"M.......ma, I...I..I"

"There is no need to be afraid. I'll not confront your boss or his mother. So, your job is safe. I just need to know how long this has been going on." She cut him short of his words because she could sense fear in his voice as he was stammering already.

"Ok, ma, this has been going on since the first time Cynthia visited you two months after your marriage. Since then, all those three days and one week of business trips that my boss used to go on are not truly business trips, but the driver has to always be carrying him to the apartment he rented for her in the state capital." Dan exposed everything to her.

"Ok, thank you. Take care of yourself." She squeezed five thousand dollars in her hands and gave them to him as she left.

"Aww. I love what I'm perceiving. Wow! This is the perfect definition of a delicacy." Charia said as she stepped into the living room.

"You're not serious!" Lila said as she laughed.

"You don't even know what I'm cooking, and you're calling it a delicacy already. What if you discover that I was only boiling water? I thought that as we're all grown now, your love for food might have deteriorated." She added.

"Aww, my joy is that I can finally see my friend smiling. So tell me, how did it go? Were you able to give him the papers? Charia asked.