Chapter 49 Trash...

Chapter 49 Trash...
Chapter 49

Alex's POV

"Let's get a divorce," I said, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me. Stella had just returned home from one of her usual late-night parties, and I had gathered every ounce of courage to voice the thought that had been haunting me for weeks. I was done pretending; my focus needed to be solely on Sophie and Victoria.

"What?" she replied, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my words. "Honestly, I have no reason to live with you. We have no kids, we don’t love each other. Our marriage is just a formality; only on paper, we didn’t even have a proper wedding. We live like strangers, and you’re seeing someone else. Nothing good has come from this so-called marriage."

Stella dropped her bag on the table and sat down on the bed next to me, her fingers unbuttoning her blouse. "Did you meet your ex-girlfriend? Are you back with her?" she shot back, a hint of accusation in her tone.

"Nooo..." I stammered, the denial escaping my lips a little too quickly.

"Then why? Well... if you want a divorce then so be it, but you will leave my house, and leave everything I got you; clothes, shoes, including your phone," she said, her voice trailing off as she lay back on the bed, seemingly indifferent.

"Stella..." I called out, grappling with the implications of her words. I couldn’t comprehend the conditions she was placing on my request.

"If it's fine by you, no problem. Get the paper ready, and I will gladly sign it," she replied, her eyes already closing as if the conversation was over.

I paused, the gravity of the situation crashing down on me. I would be homeless. I didn’t have a house; I didn’t even have enough money to feed myself, let alone find a place to stay. The thought of being out on the streets was terrifying. I am unemployed. This is just the differences between Stella and Sophie, Sophie never asked me for the things she got me after I cheated on her with this same woman. I need to talk to her, I need to let her know I will become homeless if she does that.

"Stella..." I called again, but I could already hear her soft snores.

I lay down beside her, the mattress sinking slightly under my weight. I should have followed Sophie when she left Julian's house. She would probably be at her former house now, and I knew she would help me. Sophie had been with Julian for months and would have accumulated some money, if not a lot. I resolved to go to her first thing in the morning.

As exhaustion took over, I closed my eyes and drifted into a deep slumber.



I woke up to an empty bed, the space beside me cold and uninviting. Stella has gone out again, and relief washed over me. I couldn't wait to be free from this hostage called marriage. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, the wooden floor cool against my feet. After a quick splash of cold water on my face, I felt a little more alive. I fetched water and had my bath.

Once I was dressed, I picked up my phone and left the house.

I boarded a bus to Sophie's neighborhood. I arrived at her place and knocked firmly on the door, my heart pounding in my chest. When there was no answer, I knocked again, harder this time. My knuckles began to sting, but still, no response.

I tried the doorknob, but it was locked tight. Frustration bubbled up inside me. Where could she be? I looked around the neighborhood, scanning for any sign of her. The streets were quiet, the morning sun casting long shadows over the pavement. I felt a pang of desperation as I kept looking around. Had she just gone to get something down the street? Or was she inside -maybe she locked herself inside.

I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I turned to see an old woman standing with the support of a stick. "I see you roaming around the neighborhood. Are you a thief or a kidnapper?" she asked.

"No, I am not," I said, shaking my head drastically. "I am just looking for someone who lives there." I pointed at the door to Sophie’s house.

"Oh, you mean Samantha and her daughter?" she asked. I nodded even though I didn't know who Samantha was, but I guessed she was talking about Sophie and her mom because they were the only ones living there. "Samantha fell ill; she's in the hospital, and since then, we haven't seen her daughter here." She looked around as if sharing a secret and leaned closer to me, whispering in my ear, "We heard she got married to a rich man."

"Oh," I acted surprised. "Which hospital is her mother in?"

"St. Michael," she replied.

"Thank you, ma'am," I said and scurried down the street. I boarded a bus and was dropped at the bus stop beside the hospital.

I got to the hospital and made to enter the rooms but was stopped by the receptionist. "Young man, what do you want?" she asked, looking at me as if I were trash.

"I am looking for Sophie’s mother, Mrs. Thompson," I said, and she eyed me from head to toe with disgust.

"I think he meant Mrs. Blackwood's mother," a nurse beside her said.

"Yeah, I know, I am just wondering why a poor, wretched guy like him will want to see her," she said. "Anyway, go straight down, and you will see a VIP room at the end of the hallway; that's her room."

I nodded. I was definitely going to make her pay for looking down on me. She would lose her job after I got Sophie and her money.

I got to the ward and knocked lightly. I knew Sophie’s mother wouldn't want to see me here because I was sure Sophie would have told her what happened between us, but I had excuses to give. I opened the door when there was no response, and luckily for me, Sophie’s mother was asleep. I looked around the room, but there was no sign of Sophie.

I closed the door carefully so as not to wake her up and left the hospital. But where could Sophie be? I would make sure to find you, Sophie, and when I do, you would only be allowed out of sight when I acquired all your money!