Divorce papers?
Bella was stunned. Andrew wanted to divorce her? Wasn't he going to find out if the photos were there? Wasn't he going to….?
“Hello? Bella?”
Bella snapped out of her thoughts and grunted. “I'm at the hospital. Can you come here?”
“At the hospital? What are you doing at the hospital?”
Bella didn't respond. She had no intention of telling him anything that could get back to Andrew.
“Text me the address of the hospital and I'll be there.”
Bella hung up and texted him the address before lying down on the bed and closing her eyes.
No matter how much she tried, she couldn't sleep. Her thoughts kept roaming wild and free and she couldn't stop them.
Soon, she felt tears rolling down her cheeks but she didn't make a move to stop them and just let it fall. She sobbed quietly, the pain of Andrew's hasty decision to divorce her weighing heavily on her mind.
How could he just toss her away like that?
How come when a man cheated it was just support to be forgiven but when a woman did it, it was a taboo?
Not that she cheated, Bella reminded herself as she heard a soft knock on the door. She ignored it at first but then there were two more in quick succession.
“Come in,” she shielded as she quickly dried her eyes with her shirt. She had handed the apron to the maid and sent her back home with an oath not to say anything to anyone.
A tall lanky man walked into the room. He was dressed in a suit that had to be custom-made because of the shine it had.
Bella ignored all that and looked at his face that held pity in his eyes.
Her face hardened when she saw it. “Where is it?”
“Bella I…”
She picked up her phone and dialed a number she memorized three years ago, one she could recite by heart and beard the phone ring repeatedly.
She was about to end the call when a gruff voice came on.
“Have you signed the papers?” He asked in a bored tone.
Bella blinked back tears and swallowed. “Is this what you really want?” she asked even though she already knew the answer.
“What do you think? You cheated on me with several men. We're done Bella.”
The dial tone rang in her ear for a long time before she finally had the courage to pull it away.
An awkward silence fell and one could hear a pin drop.
It was several minutes before either of them spoke again and it was Phill who spoke first.
“Bella,” he started, his tone unsure. “I'm sorry about this. I don't believe any of this is true and I'll try to make Drew see reason. You know how he gets when he is upset, don't you?”
Bella simply shook her head but she suddenly felt exhausted as if someone had drained all her energy. “Where are the papers?” She asked, lying back in the bed.
Phill gave her a long, hard look before he finally reached into a bag and brought out a brown envelope. He pulled out a stack of papers from it and handed it to her.
Bella took the papers with shaky hands and looked at them. Every word was like a needle piercing her heart. At last she got to the last page where her signature was needed.
She paused as she saw Andrew's scrawny signature boldly imprinted on the page at his side and stared at it.
“Bella, are you okay? You don't have to sign it right away. You can just stall until I can talk to Drew.”
Bella shook her head. “No need.” she accepted the pen he was holding out to her and scribbled her initials in the space meant for her.
When she was done, she stared at the two names and the words divorce agreement written at the top of the page and sighed.
“Are you sure about this?” He asked in a low voice.
Bella took a moment before answering. “Yes. If this is what he wants then so be it.”
“But shouldn't….”
“I'm tired,” she yawned for effect and his shoulders dropped.
Phill sighed. “Alright,” he gave Bella one final long look before he picked up his bag and slowly walked out of the room.
Bella waited until his footsteps weren't audible anymore before she broke down, crying like a baby.
How could Andrew dispose of her like that? Was he the one behind those pictures?
She banished the thought away immediately and sighed heavily. Andrew loved her, she knew it and she understood that he was angry.
What man wouldn't be if they saw photographs of their wife in a compromising position with another man?
But all she asked for was a little bit of trust from him. How could he have easily written her off like that?
As she lay there, she suddenly thought of something and sat up. Phil had seen her at the hospital and it was only a matter of time before Andrew found out.
If they did some digging and found out she was pregnant,.....
Her mind went blank for a second before she quickly caught herself and slid off the bed.
She dialed a number she had memorized as a child and waited for the person to pick up.
“Isabella, ¿cómo estás?” (Isabella, how are you?)
Her eyes watered at the sound of her favorite relative. “Abuelita,” (Grandma).
She sobbed silently for a few minutes before she continued. “I want to come over for a few months if that's okay.”
“Mi casa es tu casa.” came her response.
They talked for a while with Bella trying hard to hide the pain she was feeling. She didn't want to worry her grandmother from so far away. When they were together, she'd tell her everything and cry on her shoulder.
Bella made her way out of the ward and marched towards the exit. She would check herself into a hospital once she got to Barcelona but for now, she had to leave New York. It wasn't safe for her or her child.
She ordered a cab as she made her way out and had just reached the door when someone called her from behind.
“Ms, I'm sorry but you shouldn't be out of bed. Is there something you need?” The nurse from earlier asked, her face twisted in worry.
Bella shook her head and sent her a smile she hoped would reassure her. “I'm fine. I have to go somewhere but don't worry about me. I have heard what the doctor said and I promise to do everything as she has instructed.”
The nurse looked unsure so Bella patted her shoulder.
“I could drop my number so the hospital could check in from time to time?” she offered, hoping this would work.
Finally the nurse smiled and Bella relaxed. She produced a pen from her dress pocket and handed it over to Bella.
She scrubbed the 11-digits on her palm and stepped back. “Thank you for understanding but now I have to go.”
Then she turned on her heels and walked out of the hospital.
“Are you Bella Thompson?” A cabman asked as she walked out.
“Yes,” She got in and he started the trip.
Bella leaned her head against the window as they drove out of the hospital. This was probably the last time she'd get to see the city she had come to call home and loved.
She would be back of course but she just didn't know when.