The only way is divorce
Austin stood by his mother’s bedside, staring at her pale, motionless face. The steady beep of the heart monitor filled the room, a constant reminder of how fragile life was. He had spent hours sitting there, wrestling with his emotions. Holding onto resentment toward his comatose mother only made his inner turmoil worse. He knew he had to make peace with the truth if he ever wanted to move forward. After a long pause, he leaned closer to her and whispered, “I’ll seek forgiveness from Dora and Paulina on your behalf. So… just… come back. Please.”
His voice cracked as he added, “Dad needs you. I… need you.” A lone tear escaped his eye, sliding down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away, feeling a mix of relief and sorrow. For the first time in years, he felt a small sense of closure.
As promised, Noah returned to the hospital an hour later with breakfast. Austin excused himself, saying he needed to check on Paulina. He carried the food to her ward, his mind still heavy with thoughts of Dora and the mess he had created.
When he entered Paulina’s room, she was sitting up in bed, looking much better than the last time he had seen her. She smiled weakly when she saw him. “You don’t have to skip work for me, you know,” she said, taking the food from him.
Austin sat down beside her, his shoulders slumping. “I’m scared,” he confessed, the words spilling out before he could stop them.
Paulina raised an eyebrow. “Scared? Of what? Ruby aunty will be fine. She’s strong.”
“No, not that,” Austin interrupted. “I’m scared of facing Dora.”
Paulina’s eyes widened. “What?!”
Austin hesitated, then decided to tell her everything. He started from the night at the club, how he had treated Dora, the accusations he had thrown at her, and how he had forced her to stay with him. Paulina listened in stunned silence, her hand covering her mouth in shock.
“Oh my God,” she whispered when he finished. “So… you mean… all this time, you’ve been treating her like this?”
Austin nodded, shame washing over him. He thought about how Dora had trusted him, how she had given herself to him, only to be called horrible names. He remembered how he had disgraced her at the office party and how he had forced her to stay with him, using the law as his weapon. The weight of his actions crushed him.
“What will you do now?” Paulina asked softly.
“I don’t know,” he admitted, sighing in helplessness. “I’ve messed up so badly. I don’t even know if she’ll ever forgive me.”
Meanwhile, Dora was in her own world of fear and uncertainty. She couldn’t stop thinking about the baby growing inside her. The thought of Austin finding out terrified her. What if he knows I’m pregnant? she thought, her heart racing. He’ll either force me to get rid of it or call it a bastard. His anger, his stubbornness… How will I protect my child from his wrath?
She had spent the entire day at work on edge, constantly looking over her shoulder, expecting Austin to appear at any moment. But he hadn’t shown up. When her shift finally ended, she rushed out of the office with Sienna, desperate to avoid him. They went straight to Sienna’s apartment, where Douglas was waiting.
When Dora told Douglas about her pregnancy, he was speechless. Sienna tried to lighten the mood. “It doesn’t seem that complicated,” she said, though her voice lacked conviction.
“It is,” Douglas mumbled, his expression serious. “If it’s announced that Dora is expecting Austin’s child, there’s no way she can avoid him. Legally, he could force her to stay with him until the baby is born.”
Dora’s heart sank. “And if he learns about the child, he’ll use it against me. Or worse, he’ll take the baby away from me.”
Douglas nodded, his face grim. Even he couldn’t come up with words to soothe her anxious mind. The situation was far more complicated than any of them had anticipated.
The next day, Dora went to work, still dreading the possibility of running into Austin. But once again, their paths didn’t cross. She was grateful for the space but couldn’t shake the feeling that it was only a matter of time before he confronted her. She stayed late to finish a report, her mind constantly drifting to the baby and the uncertain future.
As she packed up her things and headed for the elevator, her heart raced. She was almost there when a hand grabbed her elbow, pulling her back. She turned to face Austin, her breath catching in her throat. Her body trembled, and her mind spiraled into panic. He knows. He knows I’m pregnant. He’s going to hurt me. He’s going to hurt my baby.
“No,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “No, don’t.”
Austin looked confused, his brow furrowing as he took in her terrified state. Her eyes were wide with fear, and tears streamed down her face. She looked like she was on the verge of a panic attack.
“Dora, it’s okay. It’s me, Austin,” he said softly, trying to calm her down. He had no idea why she was so scared of him. He had asked Ronan to keep an eye on her and knew she had been staying with Sienna, but this reaction was unexpected.
“Please,” she begged, her hands pushing weakly against his chest. “Don’t.”
Seeing her discomfort, he loosened his grip but didn’t let go. When he realized her legs were shaking too much to support her, he pulled her into a gentle hug. “Dora, trust me. I’m not here to hurt you,” he said, his voice low and sincere.
She looked up at him, her eyes searching his. “You won’t hurt me?” she asked with a low voice.
He nodded, his expression earnest. “I won’t.”
For a moment, she believed him. The fear in her eyes softened, and she allowed him to guide her to her apartment. She didn’t resist, her mind too overwhelmed to think clearly. Austin noticed how unusually quiet she was, but he had bigger things on his mind.
Back at her apartment, Austin paced the hallway, trying to figure out how to tell Dora everything. He needed to come clean about his mother’s manipulations, about how she had ruined their relationship by making him believe Dora and Daniel were having an affair. He wanted to ask for a second chance, but he didn’t know where to start.
Dora, on the other hand, felt like she was walking on thin ice. One wrong move, and everything could shatter. She knew she wanted to keep the baby, no matter how it had been conceived. But she also knew Austin would never accept it. In his eyes, the child would always be a reminder of her supposed betrayal. She couldn’t let that happen.
The only way is divorce, she thought, her mind racing. I have to get it done as soon as possible. But how?
An idea began to form in her mind. I’ll have to gain his trust first. Make him believe I want to work on our marriage. Then, when he least expects it, I’ll get him to sign the divorce papers.
It was a risky plan, but it was the only way she could protect her child. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. The battle for her future, and her baby’s future, was just beginning.
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