Chapter 79: Chapter 79

CHAPTER 36

"Aunt Ruth." I say, as I enter the room. She looks at me, her eyes swollen and red. She must've cried all night.

"Natalie." She says, getting up. I drop the flowers on the table. We hug.

"I missed you." I say. "Did you cry all night?" I ask, arranging her hair. I look at uncle Mark. I can barely recognize him. He's lost so much weight and has little or no hair left. It seems like he's unconscious or sleeping.

A few hours later. . .

It's about six in the evening. "Aunt, will you be fine? I've got to go home early."

Aunt Ruth nods at me, smiling. "I'm glad you came, although Mark couldn't see you. Thank you, my darling."

I nod. "It's nothing, aunty. You've done so much for me. If you need anything, you know I'm just a call away." I say, squeezing her hands reassuringly.

"Go safely, okay?" She says and I nod.

****

As I'm walking out of the hospital room, Alex's call comes in. I don't want to take the call. I ignore it. He calls again. I respond.

"Hello." I say, more of a statement than a response.

"Hi. . .Natalie? Do you hate me?" He asks.

"I don't hate you, Alex. I hate this situation. I never thought that I'd be married again, I haven't even figured out how to tell my family.”

"I understand. I do. I will give you a divorce if you request it, but deep down, I won't lie, I like this. I know you don't trust me and you might not trust my intentions, but Natalie, I don't have any negative intentions towards you. I'm different, believe me." He responds.

"Okay. If you're so serious about me, how about I ask for something? Can you give whatever it is I ask, hm?” I ask, walking towards the hospital exit.

"I don't know if I'd be willing to give my life but, we'll see." He says, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Give me all your shares in C.I. Transfer everything to me. Then, I'll consider being in a serious relationship with you."

He's silent for a moment. He ends the call. I scoff, shocked at his action. How could he hang up just like that? Did I overstep my boundaries? Was he unto me or did I just trap him in a cage?

Next day. . .

Olga and her team had begun with the house. They had started with Louis’ room and they were almost done. My bedroom was next in line.

"Do you need some money?" I ask Ashley, as I eat my bowl of pasta. I was craving some good old traditional shepherds pie.

"I still have some left from the last time. May I leave now?" The teenager asks. Ashley had started attending school, although, the distance was kind of disappointing.

"Your phone!" I remember, feeling sorry. "Ashley, I'm so sorry. I tend to forget these things, you must always remind me. I'll send you some money you can stop by an Apple store and get a phone. You should get going, I want you home early." I say to her, tucking my hair behind my ear. She giggles. "Aren't you going to use your camera?" She asks.

"What camera?" I ask, stuffing some meatballs into my mouth. God, I had been neglecting my stomach for the longest. "Did Delores make this? It's good."

"Your Polaroid camera? Didn't you order one?"

"Oh. That. Where is it? I wanted to take pictures with my baby. I'll go play with him. Be safe." I say, getting down from the island. I head to the living room, where Louis is.

*****

"You can go get a nap now, Delores." I say, bending down to Louis tent. "Where's your paci, young man?" I ask the boy, looking for his pacifier. He's playing with his bricks, a bottle of milk by his side. He completely ignores me. "Seriously? You're not going to smile at me? You won't even look at me? Come here!" I say, carrying him. He begins to giggle, my hands entangling with his tiny hands.

"Why don't we go take some pictures huh? Mommy loves you so much."

**

Louis and I are upstairs, in one the guest rooms. I begin to take pictures of myself and my son. He doesn't look interested as he continues to bite on his toy doughnut. "Are you hungry?" I ask, and almost immediately, he turns to look at me, dropping the toy on the floor. I wipe off the spittle coming out of his mouth with my shirt. "You've got a large appetite, little man." I say, as I carry him, heading back downstairs.

"Sorry." One of Olga's workers says, as I bump into her on the stairs. She was holding a bottle of water. I smile at her.

I drop Louis on the counter. "Don't move, okay?" I begin to scan the kitchen for what I can quickly make for him. I didn't want to give him milk. "Eggs." I say, as I begin to prepare something for him.

I've made eggs, apple slices and whipped cream for Louis. I'd carefully arranged the food on his wooden suction baby plate. It looked beautiful.

"Come on." I carry him to the living room, alongside the food.

I place him in his high chair. "Are you sharing with mommy?"

"Nuh!" He responds, in a very high pitched tone. I chuckle, my mouth open in disbelief. Did I just hear correctly? My baby was talking. "Louis!" I say, kneeling beside him. "I have to document this moment." I say, bringing out my iPhone. I begin to take pictures, although Louis is focused on his food— mostly the whipped cream. Just as my phone rings, the doorbell rings. Shit. Delores was probably asleep and I didn't feel like getting the door. I pick the call.

"Hello? Lydia? Hello, Lydia? Did you get a new number? Wha— The Senator? Slow down, slow down. I'll come see you tomorrow. The park? I'll be there, I promise." I respond. The bell rings again. Jesus, what was happening with Lydia? I hope David wasn't hitting her. "Bloody hell!" I yell, irked, as the bell rings yet again. I go to the door. I open it.

"How did you get in here?" I ask, still irked. The manor was extremely secured so nobody could just waltz into my home. The doorbell rarely rang, because whoever came over to the house was either returning or my family.

"I'm Lisa. Lisa Higgins. Alexander Robinson sent me here. Natalie Robinson?" She asks, and I eye her suspiciously, my heartbeat increasing. Did Alex send his lawyer here for a divorce already? That was quick.

"Right. Come in." I say, letting her in. "I'll just sign the divorce papers. I don't want alimony or anything." I say, leading her to the dining room.

"Divorce?"

"Yes. Isn't that what you're here for? Hand it over." I say, stretching my hand out for the document.

"No. Mr. Robinson didn't mention anything about a divorce. It's my first time hearing of this. Would you like me to relay your message?"

"Wait, hold on. These aren't divorce papers?" I ask, confused.

"No. Mr. Robinson has transferred half of everything he owns to you. Including his shares at PRJ." She says and my mouth drops.

"I'm sorry, he gave me what?"

"Fifty percent of his property. These aren't divorce papers, ma'am."

I cover my mouth in shock. I had thought he had lost all interest in me the moment I asked him for his shares at C.I. The way he ended the call and didn't return any of my calls since Thursday made me assume that he wanted nothing to do with me again. I was certain he knew my true intentions. This was extremely shocking and mind boggling.

"You just need to sign these documents, and everything will be yours."

"Including his shares from Carrington Industries?" I ask, still trying to fathom what I'd just heard.

"Yes. Everything. However, if you decide to divorce Mr. Robinson within 12 months, all your rights will be revoked."

"Our marriage then, must exceed 12 months then I can keep them forever?" I ask. I would file for a divorce immediately I was done with Luke and C.I. I had more than enough money. I was only after Alex's shares just so I could have my revenge.

"That's right. Would you like to read through?" The woman asks, handing me the file. I nod and collect them. I begin to flip the pages, reading through comprehensively. "Alright. Do you have a pen?" She hands over a pen, and I sign the documents. C.I was officially mine. What a good way to start the day.

"How did you get in, by the way?" I ask Lisa as I walk her out.

"I said I was your lawyer. I was shocked myself that I was let in without confirmation from you. You might want to talk to them." She says.

"Yeah. I'll do that. Thank you." I say to her as I shut the door. "And we'll meet again, Carrington." I whisper to myself