chapter 125

chapter 125
Isabella's POV.

I could feel the sun shining on me through the windows of my lecture hall. I held my pen in between my fingers as I leaned back in my chair and I was smiling so much because for the first time in months my body didn't feel like a battlefield anymore. 

The surgery was behind me and the shadow of that deadly disease was finally pushed enough into a memory that I could now breathe and live my life without any fear anymore. I was alive and also strong, and nothing could feel more better than that.

But then my heart beat with only one name which was Declan. He had been there in my life and through it all.

Through the sleepless nights, through the weakness, through the fear I tried so hard to hide. His hand had been the anchor I clung to when my body betrayed me.

I thought about it for a long time and I realized that I didn't just want to love him back. I wanted to drown him in love and give him everything a man could ever need from a wife.

I felt happy and excited at the same time when another thought slipped inside of my head. It was reckless but intoxicating. I knew that he loved children so much and maybe one day I could give him the gift of a baby. His baby. 

Other students had already begun to leave the university premises but then I stayed still for a moment as I pressed a hand against my chest. Because life felt too good to be true.

Declan told me he wasn't working today and he was going to pick me up from school. He promised to pick me up when classes were done, I smiled to myself once again as I picked up my phone very eager to hear his voice.

I called him once and his phone rang but he didn't pick up. There wasn't any answer and I frowned at it then I decided to call him again.

I felt uneasy as I tried to call him again because I knew that Declan always answered my calls. He would never miss it so I wasn't used to being without answers.

Maybe he was asleep because lately he had been exhausted. Or maybe he was in the shower, my heart softened at the thought of him planning one of his little surprises. That was so because he was always scheming different ways to make me smile.

I dialed his number again but there was still no answer and a lump unconsciously formed in my throat. I swallowed it down and decided not to think too much about it.

Instead I called the one person who would pick up immediately. The personal driver Declan had assigned to me.

“Hello, Martin?” I said as I heard his deep voice over the phone.

“Yes ma'am. Should I come get you?” he asked as relief washed over me.

“Yes, please. I'm done with classes”

Martin didn't take long for him to arrive and he was at the gate already. He was punctual as always and I entered the car.

“Martin, is Declan still at home.” I asked carefully as he pulled out of the school driveway.

“Yes ma'am. I left him at home and I stepped out to the mall, then your call came in” he said as his eyes were on the road.

“You went to the mall? What exactly is it for?” I questioned as he glanced at me through the rearview mirror and smiled.

“Your husband instructed me to get some fresh fruits for you. He said you have been craving them lately” he said and a soft laugh escaped my lips.

“Awwww….I love him so much. He's too caring.” I said as Martin's smile deepened, like he carried a secret pride in seeing me happy.

By the time we reached the house, the knot in my chest had loosened. I believed everything was fine and Declan was fine.

I just couldn't wait to throw my arms around him and tell him again how grateful I was that he was mine.

“Martin, please ask Clara to help carry the things you bought into the kitchen.” I said as he parked the car and I stepped out.

“Of course, ma'am” he said, hurrying inside with the bags.

I stepped inside the house as I hummed a song silently in my head but the sound froze in my throat the moment I heard voices from the living room. Declan's voice and a woman's voice.

I frowned and followed the sound but then my heart stopped beating for a minute when I approached the doorway. 

Declan stood still with a pale face, and beside him was a woman I had never seen before. She turned to look at me as soon as I entered as her lips curled into a smile that wasn't friendly to me at all.

“Who is she, Declan? Won't you introduce her to me?” the woman asked as she tilted her head to look at me properly. 

Declan gulped hard as he turned to look at me and his eyes were filled with something I couldn't read. Either fear or guilt?

“Isabella please.” he said and my chest tightened as I was forced to speak up.

“Please? Why are you using that word? Why don't you just tell her that I am your wife?” I said as the woman chuckled lightly, making me feel some type of way.

“He is saying please because he has committed a blunder, " she said and at that moment a little boy of not more than four or five years ran into the living room as he threw himself on Declan.

“Daddy!” he screamed, wrapping his arms around Declan's legs. And in that moment the word daddy rang in my ears as it felt as though my world had fallen apart. Daddy was really a strong word.

“Daddy?” the word tore from my lips as I stared at the child. “Is this little boy your son?” I asked with a shaky voice and the woman's smile widened at me in satisfaction. That is what I felt and I was most definitely not wrong about it.

“Yes. He is our son. The fruit of our love story and my name is Sabrina, she said and I was forced to laugh out loudly as I lowered myself down to the boy's level. I forced a smile at him and that smile hurt my face so much.

“Hi, sweetheart. Do you like playing with toys? Watching cartoons and eating chocolates?” I asked and his eyes lit up in excitement.

“You are such a cute boy.” I whispered, kissing his cheek before my heart shattered completely.

“Clara!” I called out the maid's name and she rushed to my attention. “Please take him upstairs and show him whatever he wants to see.” I urged as her eyes flicked nervously between all of us before taking him away and my heart ached as I felt his small hand slip out of mine.

“Who are you?” I asked as I locked eyes with Sabrina.

“I was Declan's lover, long before you came along. We were so in love before but we had a disagreement and parted ways. I didn't realize I was pregnant until later. I was angry with him, yes but how long could I have kept his son hidden? A son deserves to know his father so here I am reuniting a father and a son.” she said as her gaze didn't waver from me. 

I turned to Declan as anger was burning through the cracks of my heartbreak.

“So we are hiding things from each other now? When exactly were you planning to tell me about your secrets?” I asked and I noticed the way his hand trembled slightly. 

“Baby, I swear I didn't know about anything. I am just as shocked as you.” he explained or should I have called that an explanation?

“Were you really shocked Declan? Come on Isabella deserves some honesty. You deserve the truth and that is why I brought this” she said as she pulled out stacks of papers from her bag and pressed them into my hand.

“What is this?” I asked.

“Divorce papers. I already knew about you. I won't lie and I hate that you exist. But this is the right thing to do, sign the divorce papers. Free him and let my son have his father.” she said and I couldn't breathe as my body shook but I refused to let her see me break.

“If you want the divorce papers signed so badly. Then give them to Declan and not me.” I said and Declan didn't move. He didn't defend me either. He just stood there and the silence was deeper than any words could hold as something inside of me broke.

And without another word, I turned and climbed the stairs. Each step heavier than the last. When I reached my room, I shut the door behind me and collapsed to the floor as tears streamed down my face.

“Declan what have you done?” I whispered silently.