Chapter 4
"Every time we're in the middle of making out, Doleen calls and interrupts us. Is she jealous of you touching me or what?" I taunted.
"Shut up!" Kyle snapped.
His face went pale, and he suddenly exploded with rage, reaching for the phone.
"Give me the phone!" he demanded.
I dodged him quickly, pushed open the car door, and bolted out.
Kyle chased after me and blocked my way at the elevator.
"Alvera, it's not what you think between me and Doleen. I'm just looking after her for Jason," he said.
I flung off his hand, still feeling disgusted.
"So now that Jason's gone, you're supposed to take over all his husbandly duties? Even comforting her in bed?" I sneered.
"I told you, it's not like that." Kyle was totally losing it, his anger making him reckless.
Smack!
A slap sent my head jerking to the side.
Everything around us went dead silent.
The burning pain spread from my cheek to my ear, and I could taste blood in my mouth.
Kyle looked at his hand like he couldn't believe what he'd just done, panic flickering in his eyes.
"Alvera, I..." His voice trembled.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
I slapped him across the face repeatedly, and when that didn't feel like enough, I kicked him for good measure.
"Kyle, even my parents never laid a hand on me. Who gave you the right to hit me?" I screamed. "You're just a cheating scumbag. You're nothing."
My voice was raw, humiliation and fury burning through me.
"Alvera!" Kyle yelled. His eyes were wild with panic as he grabbed my shoulders.
He explained hurriedly, "I'm sorry. Don't take the messages to heart. I didn't cheat. Doleen's been mentally unstable ever since Jason died. She just..."
"Just what?" I snapped, shaking off his hands.
I shot him a look of utter disgust. "She just can't wait to take my place and live happily ever after with you? You seriously disgust me, Kyle!"
Kyle looked totally freaked out, swaying on his feet.
He looked like he wanted to say something, but I was done listening.
I glared at him, disgust and fury burning in my eyes. "Let's divorce."
He jerked his head up, and for a split second, I saw a fierce, almost vicious look in his eyes. It was something I'd never seen before.
"Not a chance," he snarled.
"That's not your call," I shot back.
I turned to leave, but he held onto me tight, refusing to let go.
Right then, his phone went off again.
I glanced at the caller ID and gave a sarcastic laugh.
He did what he always did: let go.
"Alvera, it's not what you think with me and Doleen. I swear, I never cheated. Trust me, I'll explain everything," he insisted.
"Don't bother," I retorted.
As soon as he picked up the call, I took the chance to slip free and sped off in my car.
My nerves were shot, and there was no way I was going home. I ended up calling my best friend, Celeste Langston.
*****
When Celeste opened the door, I couldn't stop shaking.
She understood right away and said furiously, "Let me guess, he ran off to Doleen again, didn't he?"
Celeste wrapped her arms around me, and the familiar citrusy scent of her perfume washed over me. I lost it and broke down in tears.
That night, I deleted every photo that had anything to do with Kyle from my phone: our honeymoon in Bisgan City, our first kiss back in university, the rainy night he carried me to the hospital...
Seven years together, and all that remained were 2,000 pieces of memories sitting in my deleted photos folder, waiting to be erased forever.
*****
At the hospital, Kyle kept calling my phone. For twenty times in a row, his name lit up my phone screen.
He wouldn't stop, dialing again and again, but I ignored every call.
Still not giving up, he bombarded me with messages, but I left them all unread.
"Kyle." Lying in her hospital bed, Doleen watched him, unsettled by how strangely he was acting. "Sorry for bothering you again. Did Alvera misunderstand something?
"Don't worry. I'll talk to her and clear things up."
Kyle stood at the doorway, not stepping any closer like he usually did.
He said coldly, "Doleen, if you need anything from now on, talk to my assistant. He'll arrange for someone to help you."
Doleen sat up abruptly."What are you trying to say? So you're just going to leave me for Alvera now? You promised Jason you'd take care of me and the baby."
Kyle's voice was hoarse as he said, "We shouldn't be like this.
"It's only been six months since Jason passed, and Alvera and I have barely been married three months.
"You know damn well Alvera's the only one I've ever loved, always has been."
Doleen let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, so you love her? What about me, huh? Why don't you just come clean and tell her everything?
"Why not tell her we hooked up back when you and her were fighting in university? Why not tell her you cheated on her ages ago?"
Kyle's face twisted in shock and anger.
He snapped, "That's enough! Shut up!"
"Scared now?" Doleen asked.
She wasn't angry at all; if anything, she looked pleased with herself as she got out of bed and walked up to him.