From Ex-wife To Heiress

5

Lorenzo

I stared out of the transparent window and continued to sip from the bottle of vodka I was holding. My shirt buttons were all open giving cold access to my bare body. I wasn’t in my right state of mind. My phone buzzed and I saw it was a message from Victoria. I tossed the phone aside and continued to drink.

“Mr Lorenzo, Paula is here to see you,” a speaker announced. I pressed the green button which meant she was allowed in.

Fifteen minutes later, she was standing at the doorway.

“Where is Laura? It’s been weeks now and she hasn’t been picking my call.”

“She’s not here,” I said, turning back to the window.

“What do you mean by she’s not here? Where the hell is she?”

“I do not have an idea,” I yelled.

“You do not have an idea? You are her husband? She never goes anywhere without telling you. You better tell me the truth right now or you’ll not like what I will do to you.”

“Do whatever that pleases you, Paula. I’m so ashamed of myself, right now.”

“Look at me,” she said with a low but commanding voice.

I turned to face her. I felt miserable.

“What have you done?”

I sniffed and wiped my nose. “I have done something terrible.”

“What is it? You can tell me. Did you hit Laura?”

“How can you say that? You know I’d never hit Laura. I’m not like that.”

“I’m sorry. It was just a guess,” she paused, her eyes raking me. “Tell me what it is. I’m getting more worried.”

“I divorced Laura—“

“You did what?” she asked with a mix of shock and doubt.

“I divorced Laura.”

“This is not the time to be joking, Lorenzo.”

I sat on the bed, hopelessly. “I’m not joking.”

“When? Why? What happened? You cheated on her? You must have done something. Laura would never have brought up divorce. She loves you more than she loves herself.”

I covered my face in shame. “I did it for her own good.”

“What the hell do you mean?”

“Mr Lorenzo, Victoria is here to see you,” the speaker announced again, interrupting us.

“No fucking way. This had better not be what the hell I’m thinking.”

Why was Victoria here? I clicked the green button.

“You cheated on her with Victoria, didn’t you?”

I guessed Laura must have told her about it.

“Every fucking time, Laura sang praises of you. Lorenzo this, Lorenzo that. Lorenzo is the best husband anyone can ask for. I don’t deserve Lorenzo, he’s too perfect for me. And this is how you repay her?” she snarled. “She gave up everything for you, Lorenzo. She gave up school, her job, her family just to be with you. Ever since you married her, she has been criticized, insulted, mocked and looked down upon. She endured everything because she loved you—”

“Hello, Lorenzo. Am I interrupting anything?” Victoria asked, walking into the room. She slowly turned to look at Paula. “Hello, Paula.”

“I knew you were nothing but bad news when Laura told me you’d returned—“

“Excuse you? Mind the way you speak to me. I won’t tolerate any disrespect—”

“Oh, shut up, you this ugly gremlin,” Paula scoffed. She turned to look at me. “I thought you finally had some sense when you married Laura. But you cheating on her with someone like this proves I was wrong all this while.”

“I—“

Victoria chimed in. “You should have seen the way Laura cried. Like a baby,” she said and laughed.

“She cried because the both of you betrayed her. Anyone would have done the same thing in her shoes.”

“Oops,” Victoria rolled her eyes. “If you care so much for her, then you can go ahead and search for her. I’m sure she’s still very much homeless and poor—“

Paula’s hands moved fast and landed on Victoria’s cheek. “No one speaks about my best friend like that. No one. Not in front of me. One more disrespectful word about Laura and I’ll make you pay for it.”

“What will you do?” Victoria asked, holding her cheek.

I didn’t have the strength to put a stop to their conversation and actions. I was too sober for that. I continued to sip my glass of vodka. I reminisced on Victoria’s words about Laura being homeless. If she knew she’d nowhere to go, then why didn’t she accept the alimony? She could have stayed here with me until she’d somewhere to go. I was getting more worried.

“Dare me,” Paula sneered.

“Stop pouring your anger on me. I didn’t do anything. If Laura really loved Lorenzo, she’d have fought harder for their marriage.”

“If your mother really loved your father, she’d have fought harder for their marriage—“

“Don’t you dare bring my mum into this,” Victoria screamed, pushing Paula to the wall.

Paula punched her in the nose, sending her reeling backwards.

“That’s enough,” I screamed. “Paula, I think it’s time you leave.”

“What!” Paula threw me a puzzled look. “You are asking me to leave your house because of this bitch?”

“She works for me, Paula. I won’t let anyone disrespect my workers.”

“Hello,” Paula drawled. “I’m your cousin. And besides, she disrespected your wife.”

“Laura is my ex-wife.”

“Wow,” Paula said with a laugh. “So that means anyone can disrespect her?”

“I didn’t say that. I still love Laura and I care for her.”

“If you cared a little for her, you wouldn’t have stooped so low,” she said, a tear rolling down her eyes. “Are you that blind to see that you disrespected Laura? You played with her feelings.”

“We would have a normal conversation when you are ready—“

“No need for that. But let me make something clear to you, you’ll regret this, Lorenzo,” she turned to Victoria. “As for you, you can never be anything like Laura. Taking her dad and husband won’t make you feel better. You’ll always be bitter and empty.”

Victoria maintained a smile on her face. “I guess you’re done. Now, get out.”

Laura never mentioned Victoria took her dad from her. What did Paula mean?

Paula looked back at me, then turned around and left.

“What are you doing here?” I growled, hoarsely.

“I came to check up on—“

“Please, use the door. I want to be left alone.”

“Lorenzo, I—“

“I said get out,” I yelled.