Chapter 96: Chapter 96

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"Thanks for coming, Diane." I say to my assistant slash secretary.

"I have something to report to you, ma'am."

"Call me Natalie. What is it?" I say, leading her to my bedroom.

"I kept an eye on Caleb, just like you asked me to. I saw him with another woman in the board room."

"Who is this woman? And what were they doing?"

"I took a picture, but her face wasn't visible. By the time I got to the door, it was obvious they were arguing, but I couldn't make out what it was they were talking about. I saw them kiss." Diane says, handing me her phone.

I can see the picture of a woman with blonde hair and almost my height.

"No one must know what's in this or what you saw. No one, Diane." Apart from keeping her safe, I needed to keep the photo because I would definitely need it. It was a weapon that could destroy Caleb and Kelly. It would be my trump card, the one thing I could have over Caleb's head.

"Sit, please." I tell Diane. I sit and continue, "I'm throwing a party on Wednesday. I need you to organize it. I'll send you a list of names that you'll send invites to. Now, the theme of the party. . ."

******

After my discussion with Diane, I am in Luke's room, preparing everything I'd need to expose him on Wednesday. His pictures and pictures together. I couldn't wait to see the look on Rose's face.

I didn't have anything against Rose, but the fact the she was with my man, and the fact that she was being so smart mouthed, angered me to my very core. I just wanted her to get out of the picture, to go as far away as possible.

There's a knock on the door. "Hold on a minute!" I get up and head to the door. I didn't want anyone entering the room.

"Hi, Ashley."

"Hi, um, your. . . Husband? He's here, and he wants to see you."

I sigh. "Let's go."

*

"Natty."

"Hello. What is it?"

"I miss you. When will you come home?"

"This is my home, Rocket."

"Natalie, seriously! You are hurting me, my love. I've waited since we were teenagers for this moment. Why are you so cruel to me? All I've done is love you." He says. He looked completely disoriented and unkempt. He hadn't shaved, his hair, rough. I turn around to leave, not ready to be a part of his craziness, but I stop. I scoff, irked. "Have you had something to eat? I'll fix you something."

*

"Here," I say, handing him two homemade burgers. "I really don't know how to cook, so manage that. You look miserable."

"Heh. I always knew you cared about me. You just confirmed it. Thanks."

"Why do you still love me, Rocket? I mean, I'm not the same Natalie you once knew in college. I've become manipulative, selfish amongst other things. I really don't care about anyone except myself and my son."

"I made you become that. Lucas made you become that— but it's a half truth. Yes, you might've become manipulative but I don't think you're selfish. I don't think you don't love others. You made me food, didn't you?"

I look at him, unsure of what to say. Alexander wasn't crazy for sure, but maybe Rocket was. Maybe he was the crazy one, for still holding on to the fact that we could be something more— that I loved him.

"Grant me a divorce." I state. He doesn't respond. The room is as silent as a graveyard.

A few minutes later, he responds, "Why should I?"

"Because, you're better off without me. I guarantee you, you will never be happy with me. You will be unhappy for the rest of your life and I'm sorry to say this, you might die of loneliness. Set me free, and go find the woman who's there specifically for you alone."

He gets up, eyeing me viciously. He begins to walk out on me. I rush behind him, hoping to make him see sense. "You know deep down in your heart, I'm telling the truth! Why are you so stubborn?" I grab his hand, but he jerks it off.

"Rocket!" I yell.

"I don't want to hear it!" He barks at me, making me flinch in fear. It reminded me of when Lucas would get upset. He moves closer to me, and I take a step back, my heartbeat, increasing. Suddenly, he kisses me, and I stand there, frozen. He breaks the kiss, and I look on in shock.

"One night with me, and I'll do as you please. Whatever you ask of me, I'll do it."

"Bastard." I respond, quivering. The look in his eyes scared me to my bones. He turns around, and I watch him leave. I rush inside and hold the staircase railing for support. Rocket must've lost his mind.

******

Laurel's POV

I take off my beret and scarf as I slight from the train. I take in the fresh scent of the air.

"Oh, I missed you." It was good to be back home, after fleeing for my dear life. Laurel had fled London, fearing for her life after trying and failing to kill Natalie. However, this wasn't Laurel returning. This was Natalie.

"I'm Natalie. Natalie." And who could do a better job murdering Natalie than me, Natalie herself.

I walk out of the train station and hail a cab. "Lantern's inn, please."

Rose's POV

"I've just received Natalie's invite." I say, waving the card at him.

"Why did you accept it? We shouldn't be around that woman."

"I accepted it not because we're going but because we're buying enough time to counter whatever it is she's plotting."

"I'm sorry?" My husband asks.

I sit on the couch next to him, fondling with my ring. "I had a feeling she was planning something and she confirmed it when she invited us for her party."

"So you're planning your own party, the same day as hers?"

"Yes, Richard. Do you have a problem with it? Or perhaps, you want to go to her party?"

"No. I don't." He responds.

"Now that you're no longer in Quebec. . .I hope you won't see her again, or anyone else."

"No." He states quietly, focusing on the book in his hand. Sun Tzu's book, The Art of War.

"How am I sure you're not lying? Can you prove it to me?" I ask, nervously waiting for his response.

"Rose. . . Would you let me, please?" He gestures to his book.

"Answer me. Please."

"What exactly do you want to hear, Rose? When you know exactly what it is you ask."

I chuckle, in complete disbelief at my predicament. Why did he even marry me, to begin with? "You begged my father so that he would let you marry me— how can you even go back on your word?! You courted me!"

"I refuse to have this conversation with you, Rose. I've told you before— I'm celibate."

"You told me that after we took our vows, you traitor." I respond.

"We will consummate our marriage, when the time is right." He states and begins to walk out.

"Will it ever be?"

*******

Natalie's POV

My mind replays the incident that occurred between Rocky and myself, over and over again. His words rang in my ears multiple times. I park my car properly and get down. I enter the hospital and check in, to see Alex.

*

"I've waited for you like crazy." Alex says as I enter his room. He gets up to hug me. We share a hug, a much needed one.

He leads me to sit, but for the first few minutes, it's as though we're both mute as none of us say a word. Amidst the silence, tears begin to fall down my eyes. I don't know if Alex noticed or not, but he doesn't speak. I begin to sob, and it intensifies into a loud cry. Alex holds me as I cry some more. I needed to get it all out of my system. From Lucas returning, to finding out that Rocket was being shady, to finding out about Alex's situation and finally, to the altercation I had with Rocket yesterday.

"Alex. . . I'm sorry you had to stay here, locked up in this place for no reason. I don't know why or who's behind it, but I have reason to suspect that it was because of me." I state, sobbing. Rocket's outburst yesterday had just confirmed one thing; he would go to any length to keep me.

"Honestly, I'd always wondered about that possibility too."

"If only I'd come visiting earlier, if only I didn't get our marriage annulled."

"There's no use playing the blame game now, Natalie. All I want, is to find out who put me here."

"I want to know that too." I answer, purposely leaving out the fact that I possibly knew whom it was. It was either Rocket or Caleb. Deep down, I prayed to God that it would be Caleb and not Rocket.

I wipe my tears off. "The question is, how do we get you out of here? If you were out in here against your will, surely they won't just let you waltz out of here."

"Correct. We have to find a way, a loophole or something to use over them, or can we bribe them? I'll pay you back when I'm out."

"No, no. We need something bigger. Something that can be used as evidence too."

"We can pay off a staff or coax them into doing our bidding." Alex responds.

"I hope this room isn't bugged?" I ask, scanning the room.

"No, it isn't."

"There's a party at mine tomorrow. I can send an invite to the chairman of the hospital."

Alex smiles sheepishly at me. "Why are you smiling?" I ask.

"Nothing. I'm just impressed." He responds.

"Don't you mock me now." I warn him. I continue, "I can try to get close to him, or her— who's the chairperson? Is it a man or woman?"

"You were correct. A man."

"Well, is he married? If he is, his wife would be the easier target."

"How so?" Alex asks.

"Let her but into the idea that I want to be friends and whatever rubbish these women do." I respond.

"Should we let my mother in on the plan?"

"No!" I warn. "I don't have anything against your mother, Alex, but right now, you can't trust anyone except me."

Alex sits down. "I've never harmed anyone. Why would someone try to steal my life away? I just wanted to be happy, with you."

I caress his shoulders. "Bad people don't need a reason to be bad, Alex. I learned that a long time ago."

"How did you?" He asks, and I move to sit beside him. I laugh.

"Heh. Well. Sometimes I wonder, all the things I've done to people, did they truly deserve? Or did my blindness and rage make me hurt innocent people? Was I truly wronged or did I do wrong to others first?"

"What exactly did they do to you?"

I smile at him. "I'd rather not talk about it, Alex. I should get going now. I've got a party to plan."

*********

As I'm driving to the office, an idea suddenly hits me, and I step on the brakes. I reverse, and begin to head to Croydon. I needed to see my mother.

I dial Aunt Ruth's number. "Hello, aunt. I need a favor, please."

"Well, tell me already."

"I need you to pick Louis up from school. I'm headed to my mother's."

"To Judith's? My God, is she okay? What has she done?"

I chuckle. "No, aunt. I need her advice. I need to speak to her."

"Oh, well. Good luck! I'll get Louis from school, alright?"

"Yes. Thanks, aunt."

***

Ding Dong. Ding Dong. Ding Dong. The door opens, revealing my mother who's face is masked. She takes the cucumbers off her eyes. She gasps, "My goodness, Natalie."

I roll my eyes. "I know you knew I was at the door, mother." I go into the house. "The help told you I was here."

"Fair enough." She responds. "So, what do I owe this Christmas visit?"

"I know we haven't had the best relationship as we should, but right now, I need your help and full support."

"Well, in cases like this, people usually say if Mohammed won't go to the mountain, then the mountain must go to Mohammed."

"It's vice versa, mom."

***

"Would you like some tea? Coffee? Pineapple juice or some water?"

"Nothing, mother. I'd like to get to the point."

"Go ahead."

"I need you to help me prove Lucas is really Lucas."

She laughs, "But how can I do that, honey? I'm just as confused and lost as you are."

"The document. I believe you were given a copy after the marriage documents were signed that day. I need that document."

"Well, I suppose. . . I should. But, what can you with that?"

"I need to compare his hand writing and I need to use those papers in particular to prove it."

"If he really is Lucas, what makes you think he won't be smart enough to change his writing? That man cornered me and stole all of our money cunningly once upon a time, Natalie. He's as sly as a fox. You may think you're ten steps ahead of him, but in reality, he's twenty one steps ahead of you."

"It's twenty, mom." I remind her, forcing myself to not burst out laughing.

"I know. Twenty one because he's that sly."

I heave a sigh of relief. "I'm not the old naive Natalie, mother. I'll beat Luke at his own game. It's high time we became a normal family."