Gain his trust and get him to sign the divorce papers
Dora’s mind was racing with one thought: I need to gain his trust first, make him believe I want to fix our marriage, and then get him to sign the papers. It was a risky plan, but she felt it was her only way out. Austin had outplayed her before, but this time, she was determined to take control. She knew how stubborn he could be, and fighting him head-on wouldn’t work, not with the law on his side. But she wasn’t the same Dora who would sit back and do nothing. She would protect her baby, even if it meant pretending to be submissive.
“I’ll do anything for you, even if I have to tolerate him,” she whispered, gently rubbing her still-flat belly. Douglas’s words echoed in her mind: Not everyone gets a second chance at life. And here she was, blessed with a new beginning in the form of her unborn child.
Later that night, Austin entered the room and found Dora asleep, her back turned to him. Drawn to her, he gave in to the urge to be close to her, hoping it would ease the storm inside him. He slid into bed and wrapped his arm around her waist. When he felt her shiver at his touch, he hesitated, ready to pull away. But then she relaxed, and he stayed, holding her gently.
Wait, am I dreaming? Did she just let me hold her? Austin wondered, his heart racing. To test his doubt, he pulled her closer, and she didn’t resist. A wave of relief washed over him. He was overjoyed by her silent acceptance, even as Dora focused on steadying her breathing to hide her nerves. She knew gaining his trust would require some surrender.
Austin, on the other hand, didn’t want to push too hard and ruin his chance. He kept a small distance between them, though he left his hand resting on her waist. That night, he slept peacefully, as if her presence had calmed the emotional storm inside him.
The next morning, Dora woke up suddenly, rushed to the bathroom, and threw up. Panic set in as she realized Austin might have heard her, but she sighed in relief when she found the room empty. After freshening up, she stepped out and saw Austin setting the table for breakfast. When he noticed her, a smile spread across his face. To his surprise, she smiled back. Though caught off guard, he didn’t question her sudden change.
Beggars can’t be choosers, he reminded himself. She’s giving you a second chance. Don’t overthink it and ruin it. He knew he needed to confess his mistakes, but he wanted Dora to be in the right frame of mind first. He wasn’t afraid of her anger, he was willing to do anything for her forgiveness. What scared him was the possibility of her leaving him for good.
They ate breakfast in silence, with Austin occasionally asking questions like, “Did you sleep well?” Dora responded with a soft hum.
“I forgot to make tea,” Austin said, standing up, but Dora stopped him.
“It’s okay. I’m done. You eat; I’ll make the tea,” she said, heading to the kitchen.
Austin paused, surprised. Before their separation, Dora always made tea for him, knowing how much he loved it. He had missed her tea, and the thought of having just one cup made him stay quiet. Meanwhile, Dora was feeling nauseous from the smell of eggs and used the tea as an excuse to escape.
By the time she returned with the tea, Austin had cleared the table and washed the dishes. To an outsider, they might have looked like a loving couple sharing responsibilities. But in reality, it was all an act, a facade they both maintained to buy time. Austin stole glances at Dora, unable to understand why he suddenly felt the need to be near her all the time.
When Dora handed him the cup, he snapped out of his thoughts. After finishing, they left the apartment together. Dora cringed under the curious stares of her neighbors, who didn’t know Austin’s identity. She wasn’t afraid of their judgment, but she hadn’t yet told her parents about the sudden changes in her life and didn’t want them to hear it from someone else.
The car ride, however, was surprisingly peaceful. They listened to old songs on the radio, something they used to do in happier times. Dora leaned back, letting the cool breeze ease her car sickness, while Austin couldn’t help glancing at her. He knew her obedience was an act, but for now, he was content to live in the illusion. He had broken their marriage piece by piece, and now he was willing to rebuild it, if only Dora would let him.
As they walked into the office, Austin hesitantly asked, “Shall we go out for lunch?”
“Okay,” Dora replied.
“What?!” two voices exclaimed at once, Austin, out of surprise, and Sienna, who had been trailing behind them with a frown.
“Are you out of your mind?” Sienna snapped, startling Dora.
“Ms. Addison, I didn’t know you had a habit of prying into other people’s personal lives,” Austin said, clearly annoyed by Sienna’s interruption.
“I’ll see you at lunch,” Dora said quickly, pulling a fuming Sienna away before she could say anything more.
“What’s wrong with you?” Sienna asked as soon as they were out of earshot. “Are you thinking of giving him a second chance?”
“I’m giving myself a second chance,” Dora replied firmly. “I have a reason to be happy now, and I’m not letting it go.”
“Then what are you planning?” Sienna pressed, noticing a determined look in Dora’s eyes.
“Gain his trust and get him to sign the divorce papers,” Dora said, leaving Sienna speechless.
Sienna grinned. “So, my vixen has her claws back. But you have to be careful...”
Before she could finish, Austin appeared out of nowhere. “Why does Dora need to be careful, Ms. Addison?”
Dora turned abruptly, startled. “Why are you here?”
“You forgot your phone,” Austin said, handing it to her. “Now, Ms. Addison, why should Dora be careful?”
Sienna, fearing Dora’s plan would be exposed, replied with a smirk, “Her doctor advised her to avoid intimacy for a while. I was just reminding her. Did I say something wrong?”
Austin looked stunned for a moment before glancing at Dora with concern. “Are you okay? What did the doctor say?”
Dora laughed nervously. “She’s exaggerating. It’s nothing serious. Just some irregular periods, and the doctor told me to watch my diet. We were talking about that.”
Before Austin could question further, Sienna added, “Well, Mr. Jess, you seem very interested in women’s health. Why don’t you join our club and learn more about it?” Her sarcastic tone annoyed Austin, and he left after giving her a sharp glare.
I need to do something about that woman and keep her away from Dora, Austin thought as he walked back to his office.
“That was close,” Sienna said, letting out a sigh of relief. But she stopped when she saw Dora glaring at her.
“Do you have to talk about intimacy?” Dora whispered, her face red.
“At least now he won’t try anything with you,” Sienna replied. “Isn’t that a good thing?” Dora thought about it and realized Sienna had a point. Relieved, Sienna changed the subject.
As promised, Austin took Dora out for lunch. She was surprised when they stopped at her favorite restaurant. She looked around, remembering the times they had been there before, and then at Austin. His sincere expression caught her off guard. Something about him had changed. The man he was two days ago seemed completely different now.
Don’t fall for his tricks. He’s done this before, Dora reminded herself.
But why did he want to be with her now? As she thought about it, a realization hit her: Just like you’re trying to gain his trust, he’s doing the same. And when the time comes, he’ll break you again, just like he did with the abortion.
“What are you thinking about?” Austin asked, noticing her lost in thought as she poked at her food.
“I’m thinking of buying a car for myself,” Dora lied smoothly.
“You can use mine,” Austin offered.
“I want something of my own. I don’t want to depend on others,” she said with a smile, though her words carried a deeper meaning.
“I’ll apply for a car loan,” she added before he could suggest anything else.
“Okay,” Austin said, though he wanted to say more. He was just happy she was sharing something with him. Unknowingly, he was falling into her trap.
The lunch went well, with Dora responding to Austin’s attempts at conversation. They talked about work, health, and current events, but neither dared to bring up the pain that still haunted them. Austin couldn’t bring himself to confess the truth, and Dora couldn’t tell him about the baby. Both longed for comfort from the other, but their past mistakes made them too afraid to take the risk.
Back at the office, Dora and Austin returned to their routines. Dora was careful to take her supplements with Sienna’s help, hiding the prescriptions and reports in her office so Austin wouldn’t find them. Meanwhile, Sienna handed her the divorce papers.
“How could you forget your medicine?” Sienna scolded in a low voice.
“I hid the reports and prescriptions in the office. I don’t want him to see them,” Dora explained.
“Just keep them in your bag. He won’t notice. You can’t skip your supplements. And where’s the divorce agreement?”
“I hid it between the loan papers. I’ll get him to sign it soon,” Dora said.
“Good. Just be careful. This is critical,” Sienna warned.
The drive home was nerve-wracking for Dora. She planned to get Austin to sign the papers that night and was sweating nervously. Austin noticed her tapping her foot in the car.
What is she so nervous about? he wondered.
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