Chapter 4 Chapter 4

I had gotten an insane amount of missed calls and text messages from the same person I tried to reach out to a few days prior.

I bit my lip as I scrolled through all the messages.

“What is going on? You said plans changed. Why? What happened?” I read a few of the messages.

Another one read, “Please talk to me. I'm getting worried. I've been calling you.”

Another message which came in about an hour ago read, “If I don't get a response from you before the end of today, I'm flying over there first thing tomorrow morning.”

Seeing how my eyes remained fixated on my phone's screen and noticing my worried expression, the doctor had to ask again, “Is anything the matter?”

“It's nothing serious.” I answered quickly. “Can you please excuse me?” I asked, courteously, and he nodded slowly.

“Alright, that's fine.” He bowed slightly and left the room.

As soon as I was sure that he had left completely. I dialled the person’s number.

Thankfully it was picked almost immediately. “What is going on? Where have you been? You scared the hell out of me.” A voice tore through the receiver.

My senses remained at high alert, and my eyes remained fixed on the door as I whispered, “I know you must have been scared, but like I said, plans changed.”

“I can't really give out the details right now. I just called to let you know I'm safe. I'll call back in a few hours.”

“Okay. But are you fine? I can come and get you right now, you know.” The voice replied, worriedly.

My lips curled into a slight smile. “I know, but there will be no need for that. I can handle it. I promise you.” I said, assuringly.

“Okay, if you say so. Just make sure to call me.” The voice said again, but this time, the tone held a bit of relief.

“I will….” I answered, and right then, the door opened, and Tyler walked in.

“I'll call you back.” I said quickly, my voice slightly inaudible, and ended the call.

Seeing how I quickly ended the call, Tyler raised an eyebrow, suspicious.

“Who was that?” He asked me, curiously.

“No one important.” I answered, shrugging, my expression completely blank.

He slipped his hands into his pockets and raised his eyebrow again. “Really?” He inquired.

I nodded slowly. “You can come check if you want to.” I stretched my phone forward.

He walked towards me, and although my heart began to beat fast, I maintained a calm composure.

He narrowed his eyes, waiting to see my reaction, but I didn't even flinch. He stopped and then said, “There'll be no need for that.”

“Who could you possibly be talking to when you literally know NO one and have NO one.” He added, like it was some sort of cruel joke.

I didn't react. I just remained calm, my expression blank.

“Anyway, I got another call while I was outside. It was from Mr Grayson’s assistant.” He began and my expression remained blank and unreadable.

“Remember him?” He asked, and I nodded.

Mr Grayson was one of the top three foreign investors, who also had a chain of businesses all over the world. So, meeting him was a very BIG DEAL for Tyler, who had been hoping to meet him for more than seven years, with no luck.

“He is finally coming into town in two days and he has agreed to finally meet us. Wow… this is like a dream come true. For me. For the company. Finally!” He said, his eyes lightening up with so much excitement.

“Us?” I asked, looking confused. “I don't understand.”

“Well, he is having a grand party in two days, and asked that I come with you. He’ll be meeting with us there. That's the only condition attached to giving me an audience, and I'm sure you already know why.” He answered and I sighed.

Well, Mr Grayson is family-oriented and for some reason, he believed that men who were happily married were more responsible, more serious minded and could be trusted. He also believed that wives were back bones and support systems for their husbands. So he prioritized marriage in many cases.

“And you want me to come? Why?” I asked him.

His demeanor changed immediately. “Are you daft? What sort of silly question is that? Aren't you my wife?” He snapped at me.

“I'm sorry.” I muttered. “I thought you would want to go with Hannah.” I added, and he hissed loudly.

Just then, the door suddenly opened and Hannah walked in, beaming with smiles.

“Babe, you're here.” Tyler welcomed her with a hug, and a kiss on her forehead.

“Yeah.” She replied, clutching onto him like a purse.

She looked at me. “Thank you for saving my life, Claire.” She said, her tone lacking sincerity.

“I and Tyler are here to check the baby's health. You know, with everything I've been through in the past couple of days, it is only wise for us to check how our baby is doing regularly.” She said, rubbing her not-yet-protruding belly.

She then went ahead to add, “I just dropped by to check on you too, but it's pretty obvious that you're fine since you have nothing to worry about. After all, you're not carrying any child.”

I stared at her, forcing a smile as I nodded. I knew what she was doing. She definitely wanted to remind me of my past hurt, and possibly get a reaction from me.

I had also gotten pregnant with twins after some years of marriage to Tyler, only for it to be an ectopic pregnancy that almost took my life.

The moment the doctor informed me, I broke down in hot tears. I cried until I almost went blind. In fact, I collapsed a couple times, but Tyler wasn't there. He was in the arms of his lover and had the effrontery to tell me it was all my fault.

“If I had been there, what difference would it have made?” Those were his exact words to me when I called to inform him after my surgery.

He then proceeded to say, “You have a dark aura, Claire. That's why your own kids have refused to stay.”

Those words cut through me. The words cut deeper than a knife. I couldn't help but wonder why he would think that an ectopic pregnancy was my fault.

“Please don't disturb me. I'm trying to have a good time, don't ruin my mood.” He had said, before tossing his phone aside, forgetting to end the call, and so I heard Hannah's mocking laugh as they both laughed at my condition.

“We'll be on our way now.” Tyler's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “I'll tell the driver to pick you up when you're ready to be discharged.” He said, and I nodded slowly.

“Don't forget, the meeting with Mr Grayson is in two days. 9pm. Don't disappoint me.” He reminded me, and I nodded again with a weird smile which I was sure must have startled him a bit.