CHAPTER 2
DIVORCE WITHOUT A PENNY
A divorce?
Flora's face turned pale and colourless.
Her mind was taken aback at the colourful and most talked about wedding they just had last month.
Uncontrollable tears began to stream down the corners of her eyes.
"No Richard, please listen to me. We can fix this! I swear to God I'm innocent!" She cried, desperately desiring to run after him, but she couldn't. She's still naked, and has no option than to remain covered under the thick hotel duvet.
Suddenly, she felt a hand roughly push her with violence, until she nearly hit her head on the bed frame.
It was Ma'am Henya.
"Mommy!" Flora screamed, her voice trembling in fear.
"You've lost all the right to call me that name, you adulterous woman!” Henya cursed.
“How dare you go behind my son's back and cheat on him? Your devilish mission is to bring shame to my family, right? Now, let me tell you, the Wilsons can never tolerate a slutty attitude like this! And you must pay dearly for this mess!"
"Mother, everything's done!" Clara's voice echoed proudly as she clutched her cell phone to her chest.
"Good." Henya nodded with a smile that got rapidly replaced with a frown before she turned to Flora.
"Now, listen to me, you shameless bitch! If you know what's good for you, divorce my son immediately, or else, I'll send these pictures to prominent internet bloggers and also get a lawyer to sue you for a divorce." Henya warned.
In Richard's BMW latest model, a slim lady was seated on the passenger seat. She has a tiny oval face with beautiful and delicate features, her fair skin and blonde long hair accentuating her glamorous looks while she grins softly, twisting her body as she waits for Richard to come in.
"Richard, was the plan successful?" She asked.
Richard smiled, placed his hands gently on the narrow slit of her silk black gown, his fingers nearly touching the tip of her clit**. He bent his head slowly and grabbed the back of her head and began to kiss her gently until it got wild.
After a long and fiery kiss, Richard held her palms and smiled while gazing into her eyes and whispered, "Finally, I will be able to marry you soon, Debby. You only need little patience for her to sign the divorce." He assured
.
"Well, I feel bad for her, but it's high time I take what is rightfully mine. I've waited so long for you to say this, Richard." Debby pouted, then raised her head to initiate another kiss.
Flora lay on the bed, her body feeble and her eyes red and sullen from excess tears.
She held her phone, dialling Debby's number for the twenty-ninth time, yet there was still no response.
She knows that Debby works in a financial institution, but today’s weekend.
‘Ain't she supposed to be home?’ Flora thought.
Unfortunately, Debby is the only trusted friend she has in the city. And for now, she's the only one in the best position to give her a shoulder to lean on.
Flora still battled with her thoughts, trying to recall how she left the sight of Debby and Clara and ended up with another man in a hotel, but all her thoughts were unyielding.
"Oh, I'm finished!" She lamented.
In a flinch, she got off the bed and hesitantly picked up the scattered clothes on the floor before she strode to the bathroom.
There, she stood at the mirror and held her lower body, crying loudly in pain before she picked up a sponge and scrubbed herself violently.
She made sure to scrub it hard as if she's washing away the sin of adultery and the contamination that the strange man had left on her skin.
At sunset, Flora returned to the Wilson's mansion, her face still distraught from the incident that took place in the morning.
Richard was seated on the long couch, looking like a demon with his favourite whiskey and a glass cup set before him.
He crossed his legs, staring intently at the television which was displaying his favourite action movie.
His anger was very evident in his dark eyes.
As she approached, his breath suddenly changed and his fingers began to twitch, his red eyes staring at her as if he would strangle her in the next second.
Flora couldn't bring herself to apologize again. All that had happened was a disastrous blow to her face. She knows that it's useless to explain herself because his mind is already made up.
She took a deep breath and paused, her voice gentle and trembling as their eyes met. "Richard, I accept the divorce, but I want 40% of my grandfather's shares back. You can hold the remaining 10% as my compensation to you."
‘Hmmm.’ Richard bit his upper lip.
"Like seriously? This must be some kind of expensive joke, Flora." He sneered.
Instantly, his expression got replaced with a more deathly frown.
Definitely, he can never agree to this!
He was just promoted to the position of the governor of the Wilson's Swift Holdings after consolidating their shares.
With this, if he agrees for her to take 40% of the shares, his reputation and power will be jeopardised, and he might likely be demoted from the position of the governor.
Richard tossed his two hands into his pockets as he stood, fixed a cold gaze at her and bit his upper lips in a devilish smile.
"Are you for real, Flora?” He scoffed.
“What made you think that you can boldly ask me for the shares and I'll stupidly agree to your conditions?"
"You cheated on me and betrayed the vows we made at the altar, yet you think you can just dump me off with only 10% of your grandfather’s shares?"
"But 10% is still worth more than a million dollars, Richard! These shares were owned by my grandfather before he died.
Wait, are you claiming that a million dollars compensation is not enough? Besides, I never cheated on you!" Flora argued.
Richard lowered his head and smirked. His eyes darkened with hatred as he pulled his hands out and stepped forward and grabbed her neck abruptly.
She struggled to breath and free herself from his firm grip, but she was too infirm to pull out.
"Flora, you're really shameless, aren't you? Newsflash….you have no choice for now than to divorce me! And if you make any attempt to drag this in court, I swear, you'll wish to see yourself dead before the time God has ordained for you!"
Flora's cheeks soaked with tears. She held her neck, looking unbelievably at the tall figure standing before her. His deathly eyes and cold-hearted face made him look like a total stranger to her. She couldn't believe that he was the same loving man she dated for four years and got married just a month ago.
All his empathy and tenderness have suddenly got replaced by selfish desires and pursuit for ambitious growth.
But these are her grandfather's shares. She can't just walk away and leave it to the Wilsons!
"Richard, I'm not asking for too much. Please, just give my grandfather's shares back to me!" She whimpered.
"And they are completely mine now, Flora. You can't take them away from me! Either you sign the papers and get lost, or I make you disappear from the face of the earth completely!" He threatened and pushed her to the floor abruptly, then picked an envelope on the table and threw it at her. "Sign it and get out!" He instructed.
"I'm not signing anything!" Flora blurted out.
‘Did he really expect me to lose my marriage and still go with nothing?’ She mumbled in silence.
Richard lowered his back, his hands placed on his knees. Staring intently at her confident eyes, he whispered, "If you don't sign it, you'll end up losing not just the shares, but your prestige and probably, your life! Choose wisely, dearest Flora!"