A Wife for the Billionaire
Chapter 45: RICHARD

Chapter 45: RICHARD

Six years later and I’m yet to really forgive myself for that night. And I know why.

As much as a piece of me feels proud that I had done that to him, the other had wrecked me for days.

Someone once said that the deal with forgiving and forgetting is to do it constantly. Consistently. To keep reminding yourself that you’re over it, that you’ve chosen to let go.

And I think that’s the same with not giving a damn. Each day, you will have to remind yourself not to care. Not to give a shit. You have to harden your heart against pity and regret.

Yes, I felt bad that I had landed my dad in the hospital, but he deserved it. Besides, I was paying back the favor for that time he did the same to me in senior year.

My grades had dwindled that year because of Claire. That was the year she lost every privilege of being my mom. Of being called ’mom’.

I still don’t really remember all the details, but I had come back from school and surprisingly my parents were home.

They were arguing in the living room, their voices unusually loud against the wonted dead silence of the house.

"How could you, Claire? How could you?!" My father yelled.

I remember hearing a sniff of tears before Claire returned,

"How could I? Edward, are you really asking me that? Unbelievable!"

I had hid behind the drapes, not sure my presence was required. Besides, I had wanted to know exactly what was happening before they swept it away as if it was nothing.

They usually did that. Pretend all was fine once they saw me. I was sixteen then, but they still didn’t treat me like an adult, not even after the fit I threw when they hid my health condition from me.

If anything, that made them more seclusive.

"In spite of knowing" my father was saying, "just how much I disdain that wretch, you still chose to visit him. Even after knowing how wrecked I was by what you did all those years ago, you still went behind my back to see him. Even after my explicit warnings, how could you?" Then softly, he added, sagging to the sofa, "how could you, Claire?"

When I heard him sag to the sofa, I dared a peek. My father sat with his palms on his face, as if he was trying not to cry.

"Ed," Claire began, rising to go and be by his side. But,

"Don’t you come any closer... please don’t"

"Oh for fuck’s sake, Ed. You are making a fuss about this more than it should be. I’ve apologized time and time again for what I did more than six years ago and I thought we were over it_"

"Over it?" My father repeated, his voice laced with anger and disgust. "Tell me Claire, in what world could one ever be over the fact that his wife cheated on him with a world renowned criminal?!"

He rose then, the anger in his words causing Claire to take a step back.

I remember gasping at my father’s words. I remember telling myself that it wasn’t true. That he must be joking. That it was impossible, they loved each other. That it wasn’t likely, because they loved and adored each other, so why?

"And I have told you time and time again that I didn’t know that he was a criminal at that moment, but_"

"But what?" Edward cut in, "Claire, what? You didn’t know when he was pounding in and out of you or you knew but chose not to accept it because you were so in love with him_"

"Just stop already," Claire spat, pacing and rubbing her temples as if my father’s words were giving her a headache, "I have said this over and over again and it seems you never listen. I didn’t know and maybe if you had made time for me like you should, I wouldn’t have found myself entangled in the arms of another!"

"Wait a minute, this is new. Let me get this right, Claire, are you in any way implying that it’s my fault that you couldn’t keep your legs closed?"

"And what if I am?" Claire challenged, "do you have any idea how lonely it gets sleeping all by myself while my husband chooses work over the comforts of his wife’s bed? How cold the nights get? How devastating it is that I feature in these happily-ever-after-romance movies and series whereas my marriage is a stark contrast? How much I miss you when I’m away on shoots, and when I call it’s always sent to voicemail, do you know what that feels like? How wrenching it feels when it seems the one person whom your heart beats for, no longer loves you? Now, tell me Ed, would you really blame me for falling for someone who showered me with all these things I expected from you?"

Like a blow to the stomach, I watched my dad sit down, dumbstruck.

I wasn’t spared either. My mother’s words... Claire’s words were too raw, too unflinching despite the tears that cascaded down her cheeks for me not to feel its effects. Her words made me want to sag to the ground right there and then, but I didn’t.

Perhaps it was because a part of me saw it as bullshit. That those weren’t enough reasons to cheat on one’s husband, and that was all I needed to keep standing.

"But Claire, of all persons, it had to be him. Why him?" My father asked, tired.

Claire sat on the sofa facing him and answered,

"Like I’ve said so many times before, I

didn’t know who he was, I swear."

My father had leaned back on the sofa, reclining his head upwards.

"But why the visit today, Claire? Why couldn’t you leave the past in the past?"

Slowly, she said,

"Because the past caught up with the present. He sent me a message two days ago, threatening to tell everyone that I was a part of his dealings. That I shared and partook in his spoils. Unless I came to visit him for further instructions. And you know, that would’ve ruined me and you, most of all. He told me not to tell you or anybody for that matter or else Richard will suffer for it_"

"And you fell for that? How could you possibly believe that someone locked up behind bars could hurt our son?" my father interjected.

" You don’t know that. You don’t know him like I did, he has connections everywhere and if he threatened Richard, he meant it. Besides, he shouldn’t have known of him unless he was keeping tabs which he confirmed that he was and from the information he gave me during my visit, he knew of Richard’s goings and comings, even to the last deets. So, believe me when I tell you, I had no choice but to go" she finished, sitting back on the sofa.

"And what exactly were his demands?"

"A negotiation for the release of his wife," Claire began.

"That’s absurd! He can’t possibly think I would ever solicit for his wife’s release, after he almost ruined my marriage. He must be nuts!"

Somehow I knew that worse was yet to come. And Claire confirmed it as she

continued,

"200 million dollars_"

"200 million what?! What does this guy take me for, Bills fucking Gates?" At Claire’s flash of irritated look, he returned to silence, giving her the avenue to continue.

"Like I said, 200 million dollars to be distributed to accounts of his choosing, using a certain ratio to be provided by him and lastly to stop sending men for the purpose of killing him."

My father tsked, biting his finger.

As if talking to himself, he muttered, "The guy has balls. He’s really gutty and I’m yet to discover how he manages to keep escaping the guys I send, even Rax couldn’t get a hold of him."

"Urgh!" He yelled after a stretch of silence. "Now he sends demands like he expects them to be followed, I will show him who Edward Wellington is and this time there won’t be any mistakes"

"But honey_" Claire called as my father started towards me. He had turned then, and in a voice as gelid as the Arctic, he cut her off,

"DON’T YOU DARE call me that"

As he walked past me, I remember praying for him not to look back lest he discovers me and decides to unleash some of that anger on me. Thankfully he didn’t, and I remember appearing before a weeping Claire and saying,

"So, it is true. You really cheated on dad_"

"Richard, what... What are you doing here? How... is it... how long have you been listening?" She stuttered, trying to wipe away her tears.

"Enough to know that you are despicable. I truly resent you and bear this in mind, today you just lost the privilege of being my mom. I will never call you by that title again because I know you don’t deserve it... Claire"

I could never forget the hurt that marred her features as she stared at me, her mouth opening to say something, and closing as she decided against it.

She knew that nothing she would say would change what she did or the peril she just put our family in.

To be continued.