Chapter 8
Soon I was lying in a hospital bed, listening to the doctor give me instructions.
“The baby’s okay for now, but you need to stay here for two days so we can keep an eye on you.”
The doctor closed my chart. “Try not to get too worked up. It’s not good for the baby.”
I nodded, about to say something when the door burst open.
“Cecilia!”
Arnold rushed in with his parents right behind him.
They looked nothing like their usual arrogant selves.
‘Honey, I messed up!”
He dropped to his knees by my bed, hitting the floor hard.
Please forgive me this time! I swear I’ll never do it again!”
I didn’t even bother looking at him. “You’re not welcome here. Get out.”
Arnold’s mom quickly came over, putting on this fake sweet smile.
Cecilia dear, I know you’re hurt. Arnold and Sarah don’t know any better, but I’ll make sure they learn!”
Then she gave Arnold a couple of weak slaps for show.
Arnold’s dad looked really nervous and humble, “Cecilia, we’re all family here. Let’s talk this through. No need for all this divorce talk.”
Who’s family with you disgusting people?”
couldn’t take it anymore and sat up. “The lawyer already gave you the divorce papers, right?”
Arnold heard this and started banging his head on the floor.
Baby! I really screwed up! Please, for the sake of our kid, forgive me!”
Oh, now you want to use the baby as an excuse?”
Tears filled my eyes. “Where was that concern when you were shoving me at the mall?”
ust then, my brother walked in with a stack of papers.
Cecilia, everything’s set for Switzerland. The private jet leaves in two days.”
What? Switzerland?”
Arnold’s head shot up, blood still on his forehead. “Why so far away? Can’t you have the baby here?”
Arnold’s mother immediately started screeching.
Exactly! Going overseas to give birth costs a fortune! You’re just throwing money away!”
‘Eighty thousand!”
When Arnold saw the bill, he jumped up. “Cecilia, are you crazy? Eighty grand to have a baby?”
His mother got all worked up too. “This is insane! We don’t have that kind of money!”
Looking at his twisted face, I suddenly found it hilarious.
Ten minutes ago he was begging on his knees, now he shows his true colors the second money comes up.
My brother looked disguště
Arnold’s dad’s face turned red.
“But if the kid’s born overseas, won’t that make them a foreigner? Our family’s grandchild can’t be a foreigner!”
“Don’t even think about it!”
I finally shouted, grabbing the water glass and threw it on the floor. The crash made everyone shut up.
“My child will only have my last name!”
‘Arnold, you’re signing these papers today whether you like it or not.”
I pulled out the divorce agreement. “Otherwise, you’ll be sitting in prison!”
Arnold was still on his knees, looking like a deflated balloon.
His hands shook as he took the pen and started to sign his crooked signature.
That’s when his mother rushed to the paper.
‘Don’t sign it! If you do, we’ll lose the house and car!”
My brother blocked her. “Lady, show some class. This is a hospital.”
Arnold’s father pointed right at my face and started cursing.
‘Cecilia! You’re evil! Leaving our son with nothing! You’ll get what’s coming to you!”
‘I’m evil?”
I was so mad my teeth were chattering.
Your whole family steals from me, almost kills my baby, and I’m the evil one?”
A nurse came running in to tell everyone off.
‘What’s going on? The patient needs rest!”
My brother started pushing all three of them toward the door.
You need to leave, or I’m calling security.”
Arnold was being shoved out but still turned back and yelled, “Cecilia! Give me one more chance! I’ll come see you again!”
I grabbed my pillow and threw it at him. “Don’t ever let me see you people again!”
The second the door closed, I collapsed back on the bed, tears streaming down my face.
My brother gently hugged me.
‘It’s okay. It’s all over now.”
I touched my belly, feeling the tiny heartbeat inside.
Yeah, it was over.
A new life was about to begin.
The afternoon we officially got divorced, my brother happened to run into Sarah.
Turns out she’d mortgaged that fancy condo and borrowed from loan sharks to scrape together three hundred grand for some “guaranteed” overseas investment fund.
What she didn’t know was that I’d set the whole thing up.
Chapter &
After Arnold and I divorced, his family was forced to pay back all my money.
They were still two hundred thousand short, so I got together with some friends and laid this trap.
Just like I expected, Sarah took the bait immediately.
Three months later, I was at the maternity center scrolling through social media when I saw wedding photos from a mutual friend.
Sarah was wearing this cheap wedding dress, standing next to some balding guy in his fifties, forcing a smile.
Someone in the comments mentioned that his last two wives had run away because he beat them.
“She deserve it.”
My brother was peeling an apple for me. “I heard her wedding gift was just one gold bracelet and some blankets. Her in-laws are pissed and make her scrub floors on her knees every day.”
Just then, a nurse walked in. “Ms. Cecilia, there’s a Mr. Arnold downstairs who really wants to see you.”
My brother was about to say no, but I waved him off.
“Let him come up.”
Arnold looked like he’d aged twenty years since I’d last seen him.
He stood awkwardly at the door. “Cecilia… I heard you’re getting discharged today. Thought I’d come check on you.”
‘What do you want?”
That bastard Sarah married beats her every day!”
His voice was shaking. “Could you maybe lend me some money to help her get divorced?”
I finally looked at him.
‘Arnold, how dare you even ask?”
Arnold was nervous and didn’t know what to say, “I know I wronged you, but Sarah’s still my sister.”
‘Your sister? What’s that got to do with me?”
My voice went cold. “Arnold, don’t make me destroy you completely.”
Just then, the baby started making little sounds in the crib.
Arnold’s eyes lit up instantly. “Cecilia, can I hold our child?”
‘No.”
I moved away from him. “My child doesn’t have a father!”
Watching Arnold leave looking totally broken, I quickly looked away.
Now he had nothing, got slammed online, couldn’t even find a decent job, and ended up as a homeless guy. Those good times of him were over.
This version of Arnold didn’t deserve my attention anymore.
The baby suddenly yawned in my arms, tiny fingers gripping mine tightly.
In that moment, I finally understood.
Some people are just meant to pass through your life, but real happiness was just beginning.
