CHAPTER4

1356 Words
When I signed the documents that Mr. Dre’s lawyer had in front of me, I felt a wave of regret when I put down the pen, that ink indelibly signifying a future I willingly entered into out of an inability to find love, not out of a want for it. This was reality and what baffled me more was that I was now married to this man not for my sake, but for Ariel. My daughter’s life was at stake and this sacrifice was all she needed. “That is the end,” the lawyer replied in a polite manner with a slight smile. ”You are now married to Mr. Dre He is now your husband You may… Even kiss him to conclude the wedding”. Kiss him? These words sounded strange in my ears; there was a dull ache in my stomach – a ball of fear rising. My mouth opened wide, I could not believe what I was hearing; I was glued to the seat and my eyes were fixed on Mr. Dre’s lips. “I—I have to kiss him?” I blurted out, my tone quiet, shaky, full of nervousness. The look on the lawyer face did not fade, unaware of the storm raging inside me. "Yes, to complete the marriage process” I shifted my eyes towards Mr. Dre and saw that he was just as expressionless as earlier with a hint of a sneer on his lips. He looked at me and his black meaningless eyes were filled with hesitation. This was not the kind of marriage the two of us signed for. I sucked in a nervous breath and moved closer, my mind not wanting to believe what my eyes were about to see. We kissed, lightly, without any feeling — we only touched lips in a brief moment. It was a cool dispassionate world; there was no affection, no coddling. About the kiss: It was not a passionate kiss; it was the kind of kiss that you could tell people: ‘I did it not because I wanted it, but because I had to.’ When we parted from each other, I realized how eerie it was to have the silence fill in the backseat of the car. We both stared at each other’s for a while, tension that filled the room as dense as the breathe we both took. I could feel the effect of the decision that has just been made; it is a decision that affected me, my children most especially, Ariel. The lawyer then burst into laughter by clapping his hands together thus relieving tension in the room. “Yes congratulations I now declare you husband and wife”, he said jovially as if we where a union or something. But I was far from feeling happy deep down inside me. The look on Mr. Dre’s face changed to one of stony indifference. He slammed down the phone and stood up, “I want her to move in with me today, and make sure she gets the money for her daughter’s surgery.” His PA just nodded and looked at me with pity in her eyes. "Yes, sir. " “Move in with you today?” I whispered. I did not wish to share the same house with this man, I didn’t wish to even glance at him, let alone spend time in the same house with him. Mr. Dre looked at me and his eyes were cold. “Yes. Today. “ He said this with no room for negotiation in his tone. I was about to argue with him but then I couldn’t find the words to say anything. I was trapped. I had no choice. I had done this for Ariel. I had to remind myself of that. When I walked out of his office with his PA, I felt like a boulder was on me due to the decision that I had just made. I got out of the building and my legs felt like they had weights on them as I made my way to the car, my head full of fear and confusion. What have I done? When I arrived at the hospital, which was a long time after Mr. Dre had sent the money for Ariel’s treatment, my heart flickered with hope. I ran toward the reception desk, I was almost panting. “I need to see Dr. James,” I said, trying not to jump with excitement. The receptionist led me to his office and I knocked before I was let in. “Come in,” he said from behind the door even though his voice was barely audible. I entered the shop holding the money very firmly in my hands. “Doctor, I have the money,” and she pointed at Ariel, “She can have the surgery now, right?” Dr. James was sitting at his desk, looking at papers when he turned his head to look at me, his face brightening up when he saw me. “Yes, Mrs. Dre,” he said slowly and quietly. “We will start operating on her this afternoon You arrived just in time.” Tears welled up in my eyes, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to breathe. "Thank you," I whispered, choking back sobs of relief. "Thank you so much." “You can go see her now before we prep for the surgery,” he added gently. I rushed to Ariel’s ward, my heart pounding. When I entered, I saw her tiny, fragile frame lying on the hospital bed. She looked so weak, but when she saw me, her face lit up with the faintest smile. “Mama…” she whispered, her voice barely audible. I knelt by her side, holding her small hand in mine. “You’re going to be okay, my love,” I said softly, trying to stay strong for her. “The doctors are going to fix your heart, and you’ll be all better soon.” Ariel’s eyes fluttered, and she gave me a weak smile. “I miss Gabriel and Zara.” “They miss you too, darling. You’ll see them soon, I promise,” I whispered, my heart breaking at how fragile she seemed. “But for now, you need to rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.” She nodded slowly, and I kissed her forehead before leaving the room, my heart heavy with the knowledge of the battle she still had ahead. As I left the hospital, a cab was already waiting for me — Mr. Dre’s PA, efficient as always. “Are you ready, Mrs. Dre?” he asked politely. I swallowed hard. Mrs. Dre. The title felt foreign, like a bitter taste in my mouth. “Yes,” I said quietly. “I suppose I am.” “We need to go to your house now,” he continued, “Your husband instructed me to help you move into his home today.” I clenched my fists. “Why the rush?” I asked, my voice trembling. “I don’t know, ma’am. But I have to follow Mr. Dre’s orders.” I sighed deeply. “Alright. Let’s go.” We arrived at my house, and as I walked in, the weight of everything hit me like a tidal wave. I was about to leave the only place that had felt like home. The memories of Andrew, the warmth of my children… all of it was slipping away. Later that evening, after moving into Mr. Dre’s grand mansion, I received a call that shattered the brief moments of peace I had tried to hold onto. “Hello, Mrs. Alison. This is St. Mary’s Hospital. I’m calling regarding your daughter, Ariel.” My heart stopped. “Yes, this is her mother. What… what’s wrong?” I asked, my voice trembling. “I’m afraid… Ariel’s condition has worsened. She’s…” The world spun around me as I dropped the phone, the PA’s concerned voice barely registering in my mind. No. Please, not Ariel. Not now. Not after everything
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