Chapter 77 Divorce
Rafael’s POV
I felt a wave of dizziness.
Natalie was pregnant?
As if Debbie was reading my mind, she smirked. “Yes, Rafael. She was, and it’s obvious she didn’t trust you enough to tell you!”
I couldn’t control myself; I had the urge to kill that snake standing before me. Without a second thought, I attacked her. I placed my hands on her neck, trying to strangle her. She had pushed me to the utmost degree, provoking the bitterness within me.
“Ek… Emm,” she coughed and stammered, trying to breathe. Her eyes rolled back, and her face turned red.© NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.
Jack, Mechenzi, and the officer were desperately trying to free her from my tightening grip.
“Don’t, Mr. Merrin. Let the law handle this. Don’t dirty your hands,” the officer said.
“Rafael, please. Let the officer handle this!” Jack pleaded.
I tightened my grip on her neck even more and roared, “How could you ask me this? She killed my child and harmed my wife! She manipulated us. How can you ask me to be calm?”
“Natalie needs you, Rafael. She must be broken and sad!” he argued.
I fixed my eyes on Debbie’s pale face and growled, “I’m gonna show you hell, Debbie. Believe me, I will!” Then I pushed her until her back slammed into the sofa behind her.
I stormed out of the police station. I couldn’t believe I was going to be a father-Natalie’s child. But that bitch Debbie, I swear I’ll make her pay!
I started the engine and headed straight to the hospital, hoping to see Natalie, hug her, and comfort her. She must be sad and alone.
She must be waiting for me to stand by her and support her. We will face all of this together and stay together for the rest of our lives.
However, all my dreams and hopes were shattered when I heard the words, “Sorry, Mr. Merrin. Miss Steel has left the hospital.”
“Left? To where?” I asked.
“She just signed the discharge papers and left,” the receptionist answered.
“Are you a relative of Miss Steel?” a female voice asked from behind.
I turned to see a doctor standing before me. Clearing my throat, I replied, “Yes, I’m her fiance.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. …” she mumbled with a sad expression.
“Merrin. I’m Rafael Merrin,” I replied, extending my hand to her.
She shook my hand and continued, “I’m the doctor who treated your fiancee. She was subjected to severe physical assault. It’s not just her physical safety at risk; she’s also psychologically damaged. She needs all the psychological support that can be provided by those around her.”
“I see,” I nodded.
“Her arms were full of scratches and deep cuts as she tried to protect her stomach,” the doctor sighed, as if she couldn’t believe what she saw.
But when did Debbie do this to her? Why didn’t she tell me? I remembered the last time I saw her in her room; she was very sad. I thought… I… Oh God! What did I do?
“She tried to contact you because she needed you. Please try to make it up to her,” the doctor added before leaving, leaving me in a daze.
I wiped my face with both hands and headed back to my car. Once inside, I called my men to track Natalie’s phone, as I had equipped it with a tracker.
Once I finished giving my instructions to my men, I slammed the steering wheel furiously. Where is she? Why is her phone off?
I ran my hands through my hair hundreds of times, trying to focus on my next step. I started the engine and began driving along the roads, thinking of the places she might be. I knew she didn’t have relatives or friends except for Fello and Rebecca, and both of them said they hadn’t seen her!
Where could she be?
I sighed in frustration, “Where are you, Natalie?”
I sped up, remembering the sadness and desperation in her eyes when I last saw her in her room.
How did I not notice?
I was so focused on my plan that I unintentionally neglected her.
Suddenly, I stopped the car, causing a loud car horn to beep around me.
“Jerk,” someone shouted.
“Quit driving if you’re a dumdum!” yelled another.
I didn’t even bother to look at them; I was so immersed in my thoughts that I forgot I was stopped in the middle of the road.
How did I not realize that earlier?
That night in my room, she kept talking about pregnancy and children. Why didn’t my stupid brain think of that possibility?
Why?
Why, damn it!?
Did she leave me?
I’ll never let that happen!
I can’t live without her.
I unlocked my phone screen and called her number again, but the same cylinder was repeated over and over.
I stared at the photo on my phone’s background. It was Natalie’s photo, where she was smiling happily. She looked so beautiful and gorgeous. I remember this photo; I had taken it from her Instagram, where she had posted it from my so-called engagement party.
How much pain did she feel that night?
How much did I hurt her?
Even our first night was so stupid.
A tear rolled down my cheek. I tasted its saltiness and bitterness in my mouth. It had been a decade since I last tasted my tears!
Tears continued to flow uncontrollably down my cheek. I traced her picture with my finger and murmured, “Sorry, Natalie.”
Her sweet smile provoked me, as if she was saying, ‘You don’t deserve me!’
I hit my head on the steering wheel and growled between heavy breaths, “I ruined this smile. I ruined us!”
With all the frustration and helplessness I was feeling, I hit the steering wheel again with both hands and shouted, “I’m so sorry!”
I ignored the inquisitive eyes staring at me from passing cars as I remained stopped in the middle of the road. Resting my head on the steering wheel, I started weeping.
I knew she wouldn’t forgive me easily after losing the baby. I just knew it!
“I love you, Natalie. I’ve always loved you. I realize that now,” I confessed softly, as if she were standing before me.
In the evening, I returned home and headed straight to my study before anyone could shower me with questions.
To my surprise, once I entered, I found the company lawyer waiting for me there. He was the same lawyer who had drafted the marriage contract between me and Natalie.
Without saying a word, he handed me a file.
My instinct told me that it wasn’t a file I wanted to read.
However, as I flipped through it, a bold red font flashed before my eyes: “Divorce Agreement”. My heart quickened. This wasn’t what I expected.
This couldn’t be right.
But when I saw her signature under her name at the bottom of the document, I realized it was real!