Mark walked out of the hospital feeling a bit tired and perplexed. The words cut him deep to the bone. If anyone had said those words he might not have taken them to heart but hearing those hurtful words from the only woman whom he loved so dearly messed with his brain and he didn't know how to get over it. It was as if his heart was shattering into pieces.
" Why don't you just let this woman go, that's what she wants right?" His subconscious spoke and he sighed deeply. This was a temptation that he had to scale through. She was probably doing all of this to make sure that she was free from his so-called shackles of marriage but he wouldn't give up.
He shook his head. If his people saw him, they'd probably shake their heads in scorn at how he had stooped so low to become a pauper. If not for the fact that he was trying to keep a low profile and make sure that his life took a new turn, why would he be involved in such a case. It was getting annoying and he hoped that nothing would take him away from Lacey. Call it obsession or whatever, he was ready to make things work out.
He kicked a stone into the ditch and watched it tumble twice before entering into the ditch. " Good shot."
" Only if you can get your life to go in the right direction." He heard Mrs. Richard's voice messing with his subconsciousness. It was a thing of annoyance.
So he left the place he was standing. He walked to and fro the street and at one point people were beginning to point fingers at him causing him to stop his movement before they picked him up and tried to take him to rehab. He chuckled at the scene and saw a few people standing at alert at his demeanor.
He straightened up and trudged back to the hospital. Mrs. Richard would not cause him to divorce his wife. She had agreed to behaving like a couple and he was going to make sure that she followed through with it even if she didn't like it.
An agreement was going to remain that way.
He went back into the ward and met Mr. Richard cradling his daughter in his arms. It was funny because the daughter was already bigger than him. But it was the thought that mattered anyway.
" Baby, why are you speaking to him that way? He's still your husband." He said in a very calm tone.
" Well, not for long, it's high time I divorced his sorry ass. I will pay a more expensive lawyer to take up the case. Let's see how he manages to get out of this one this time." She said, resolutely.
Mr. Richard sighed and stroked her head slowly. " Why are you behaving this way? You and I know that this man has never done anything to you. He is faithful, loving and honest, what more do you want darling?" He asked her softly.
Mark watched from the doorway, this was supposed to be the mother's role that this man was playing effectively. Was she switched at birth? Was an hostile button switched on during her birth? Mark wondered because this was not making sense to him. All he could see was a selfish and wicked woman who was privileged to have a child.
" I don't think that you should address him as her husband. He doesn't bring anything to the table. It's not like he's even good in the other room." Mrs. Richard said and Lacey gasped.
" Mom!"
" What?" She shrugged nonchalantly. She spoke the complete truth. There was nothing that beat Lacey having a deadbeat husband who couldn't cater to himself and talk more of her and her family.
" I warned you from the beginning but you are repeating the same thing you were doing. Giving that fool a chance."
Lacey's eyes widened considerably, " Mom, don't speak about him like that."
Mrs. Richard scoffed, " What makes you different from me? I don't talk smack about him behind my back, I tell the truth as it is. While you skirt around the truth. Are you afraid to get rid of that man? This is a perfect excuse. He tried to poison you for crying out loud, you have the doctor's report. What more do you want? Till you are neck deep in poverty from feeding the spineless thing?!" She exclaimed.
" I still don't think that you should talk to him in that manner. He's a human." Lacey said.
Mrs. Richard rolled her eyes at her daughter." He's not a human, as long as he's broke." He said without feeling remorseful. She was speaking the truth to whomever it may concern. If anyone couldn't talk about it, she would.
"Mom, I don't want you to talk about him anymore." She said, she felt a bit weird whenever someone else spoke to him harshly.
" I hope you are not defending this guy again. I ask what did he do to make you love him this much?" Mrs. Richard inquired, " I think I need to take you for exorcism."
" That's extreme, Stacey."
" Don't tell me what is and what is not." She snapped at him.
" You've done more than enough damage with your words, do you even consider his feelings? What if he was your son?"
" I wouldn't give birth to a useless son. He's as good as dead."
" Mom, it's enough, that's my husband we are talking about."
Her mother clapped in horror, " And there we have it, a brainwashed woman, did I really give birth to you"
" I don't think you should talk to my wife in that manner." Mark jumped in, he couldn't watch her talk to Lacey derogatorily. He would take all the blame, they should leave Lacey out of it.
" As if you are worthy to be called a husband. Reserve that strength till you are fit for the post." A familiar male voice said and he turned.