HE BEGGED FOR MY LOVE

Clutching the result of my latest surgery, I navigated through the lobby in an electric wheelchair, excitement bubbling inside me. Since I had gone under the knife for the fifth time, I couldn't wait to inform my husband of the latest development - I could hear and walk again without aids. I had perfectly planned the surprise...

"You still haven't told Andrea?" The echo of a vaguely familiar voice pushed me to a halt. It was my husband's best friend, Kent. He usually visited our home on alternate months or special occasions.

"Oh, come on. Don't be naive." My husband responded, stimulating my curiosity. I edged closer. They were in his study and had left the door slightly open. So, I peeped in and the smell of alcohol oozed out.

"Nicholas, this would break her." Kent continued.

"What makes you think I care?"

"She is your wife, your other half."

"Come off it, Kent. You know it was a marriage of convenience. I never loved her. Maya is the love of my life and will always be."

My mouth went agape! I didn't want to believe what I was hearing. Maya? Who the heck was Maya? The world stopped spinning.

"Nicholas, be smart here. Andrea has been good to you. She has left everything she owns under your control and even donated an organ to Maya. What more do you want?"

"She did not donate it willingly, Kent."

"What do you mean?"

Nicholas let out a cackle of laughter. "You witnessed how I played her. I told her my mother needed a kidney and I was not a good match. And she believed me. So dumb."

"Nicholas, you'd kill your wife someday and blame her for dying."

"That would be a perfect ending to our love story, don't you think?"

"Far from that. It would put you at risk. Everything you have now belongs to her, the cars, mansions, billions of dollars worth of shares in her family's company..."

"I already handled that, my friend. I made her sign a legal document that permits me to inherit all her properties in case of her death. And of course, she made me a joint owner of the house and gave me control of the company after her mishap..."

"You call that a mishap? A car accident which you orchestrated?" Kent protested, and there was a short pause. "My gosh! You are worse than satan," he added.

"Cheers to that, my friend." Nicholas giggled. "There is no need to worry about her. When she finally passes on, I'll give a major share of the company to Maya, and we can finally be together. Happily ever after."

"What about me, Nicholas?"

"Well, your family is wealthy enough already. So, you can have me."

"What am I going to do with you?"

"I don't know, you tell me." They both burst into hearty laughter, just before I let myself in. They quickly adjusted their demeanors and raven tuxedos, with Nicholas crossing his legs and dropping his glass of wine on a table beside him. He took a closer look at me and signaled to his friend.

"She isn't wearing her hearing aid," he commented, conceivably indicating that I did not hear anything they discussed earlier. This would have been true the previous days, not today.

I just pretended to be an ignoramus and allowed a bright smile to spread on my face, even though my insides were seething with rage.

"Honey," I began.

"My love," Nicholas stood, came over, and planted a kiss on my forehead. "Are you okay?" He inquired with a calm voice. Looking at his navy-blue eyes, any woman would be trapped, not knowing what horror he was capable of unleashing.

My smile slowly waned. "The medical results arrived," I reported.

"Oh, my darling. I don't like how you look." He gently brushed his hands over my hair, pretending to give a crap about me. "Don't worry, whatever it is, we shall find a way to work things out as usual." He kissed my lips and I almost threw up but held myself.

"I already read the report," I said, with a tear-filled voice. At that point, I was almost going blind from the hot tears blurring my vision. In truth, it was not because of the report, but the heartbreak that followed as I stared at the man I had adored all my life and realized that he was an Oscar-worthy actor.

"Don't cry, my darling." He hugged me. "Tell me what it says."

"I'm still under monitoring for now and may never walk again since the progress has been poor. I mean, it's been two years." I spat out a professional lie, while fluid greased my cheeks.

"Pay no mind to that, my baby. Alas, Kent is here to support us."

"For sure," Kent nodded. And I instantly hated him for that.

"Indeed, we shall prevail. Together." Nicholas broke the hug, pulled out a white handkerchief, and wiped my tears.

"You will forever be my wife." He said. "For better or worse." His voice assumed a sensual baritone, but I knew better. He was evil. I peered at his cunning face once more, taking in his beautiful appearance one last time before starting my plot of revenge.

"Forgive me, honey, Kent. I need some air." I said conclusively and pressed a button on the electric chair and it moved me swiftly away from the chamber. I didn't even look back to know their facial expressions. I just overheard Kent.

"Let her be, my friend. She needs some space to process this." He said.

Indeed, there was much to process. Before I knew it, I was in my car and the family chauffeur was driving me to a restaurant a few miles away. Not long after, I was sitting beside a roof-to-floor window, staring blankly into it as the sky wept outside.

Nicholas Harper had taken everything from me - my life, wealth, and even my very organs. And I would take them back - all of them - even if it killed me.