Seventy-Two

Liam

She had changed a lot, she looked a lot fatter and her bump had gotten much bigger, she was wearing baggy cloth but I could see the bump clearly. Those things didn't make her less beautiful, instead, she looked prettier and more endearing.

I wanted to reach out and pull her into my arms, I wanted to hold her around the waist and kiss her senseless, I wanted to do a lot of things, but I couldn't, I had to remind myself that she is not the Laura I knew and definitely not the Laura from my short but amazing dream.

A part of me felt angry and I was glad, I was glad I could finally feel anger towards her, I was glad that I was able to slap the bowl out of her hand.

I meant it when I welcomed her to hell.

She was out of the room for over ten minutes and she came back with a cleaner and another dinner.

"And why can't you clean it by yourself?" I asked her as the cleaner was about to start cleaning

"I..."

"I'm sorry sir, I told her I'll do whatever she wanted to do, she is heavily pregnant and I do not think she should be bending over at this stage," the cleaner explained and it was like someone poured water on my anger that was beginning to burn.

I nodded and the woman cleaned it up, Laura helped me with the food again and handed it to me.

I ate and I took my drug, then there was this very long and uncomfortable silence, Laura was standing at the far end of the room her back against the wall, she looked very tired and heaven knew I was really worried about her.

"Sit down, you need all the strength you can if you want to make more money," I said and she nodded, she left where she was standing and sat down on the chair.

There was silence for several minutes till I couldn't take it anymore, I needed to say something, there were things I needed to know.

"What of your man?" I asked looking at her.

"My what?"

"Your man, or has he dumped you?" I asked looking at her again

"No, he didn't," she said.

"Then why are you here? Why are you not in his arms?" I asked getting angry at the image of her in another man's arms.

"I told you before, I'm here to tell you something important once you've recovered, and I've been employed by Ethan.

"I can't believe you really stooped that low, after 50 billion dollars you are still willing to work as a maid," I said and she smiled.

"As Ethan said, no money would ever be enough for someone like me," she said and I figured something was wrong, something felt off, 50 billion dollars is no small money.

"Did your man dupe you?" I asked and she looked at me.

"I don't think I'm obligated to answer you, I was employed to look after you, not to answer personal questions,"

"You are right, I shouldn't be asking a fraudster personal questions, she'll probably lie," I said but she ignored me.

I gave up and I used my phone till I began to doze and I eventually fell asleep.

I woke up the next morning to see Laura standing beside the bed carrying a tray.

"What are you doing?" I asked sitting up.

"Nothing, you slept in, breakfast is here already," she said and I closed my eyes waiting for the sudden headache I felt to pass.

"Are you okay?" She asked and before I could answer I felt her palm on my forehead, the headache left immediately.

Her touch caused sparks to run through my vein, I felt like a snowman under the scrutiny of the sun, I almost melted into her touch.

I knew I was beginning to warm up to her again, my feelings were gradually going out of control and if I was not careful I was going to do something crazy, like begging her or trying to convince her to leave her man for me, so I did the most rational thing I could think of at that moment, I hardened my heart.

"What are you doing?" I asked grabbing her hand and moving it away from me.

"I... I thought you were not feeling well and you needed something,"

"The only thing I need is for you to leave, go away, go back to your man," I said getting out of bed.

I went to the bathroom to freshen up, when I went back to the room, she was still standing beside the bed with the tray.

I sighed and I sat on the bed, she placed the tray on the bed then she stood straight.

"I'll leave soon, I'll go away as soon as you are completely fine and I tell you what I need to tell you," she said and she left the room.

For a minute I felt bad but I shook it off since her leaving was exactly what I needed, I ate breakfast, and a few minutes after breakfast she came in and took the tray out.

Ethan arrived with Isabella later in the afternoon and we chatted till late in the evening, I was teasing Ethan about proposing to Tracy when something struck me.

"Laura," I called and she moved closer to me, I looked at her fingers but there was no ring there, my head began to ache again.

"Where is my ring?" I asked and she looked from me to Ethan and then Isabella before looking back to me.

"I..."

"Where is my ring?" I asked again this time with a firm tone, I could feel the anger rushing through me, I felt hot and it was all because of my burning temper.

"Liam, calm down, Laura, where is the ring?" Ethan asked but she shook her head.

"The ring is mine to do whatever I want with, you gave me already, why are you asking?" She asked and I got off the bed, Ethan tried to hold me back but I slapped his hands away from me.

"The ring is for my wife not for a whore or fraud like you so give the ring back to me," I said moving closer to her.

"I sold it," she suddenly said making me stop.

"You did what?"

"I sold it, it was worth a lot," she said and I lost all control I had.

"You are crazy, you deserve all the hardship you went through, your abusive ex and those parasites you call parents, you deserve everything and more, that is if those things you said were even true," I said and she opened her mouth slightly.

"You are a liar, I pity your children, they don't know the kind of mother they are going to have," I blasted and her eyes widened, I could see tears beginning to pool in her eyes.

"Liam! That is enough," Isabella said pulling me away from Laura.

"No Isa, this is just the beginning," I said removing her hand.

I concluded at that moment, that Laura didn't deserve pity.