Chapter 47: Chapter 47
MY BUTTERFLY
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CALEB’S POV
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My heart is heavy and burdened as I watch the woman who has come to mean everything to me wither away before my eyes. I see her pains and how she tries so hard to hide them with a smile.
Sometimes I want to break down and cry but for her, I try to be strong. However when she is not watching I go to a private place and cry. They say strong men do not cry but for Angela’s sake I agree to be a weakling for her sake I agree that I am not man enough.
We have only known each other for a short while now but to me; it seems like forever. We both have never been intimate, as we agreed to only remain friends. Angela's choice, not mine. My marriage with Sophie was just a contract and we all know that and now that she is pregnant, it would only be a while before she sends me the divorce papers.
I had been a fool earlier to think that she would be attracted to me. The family still sees me as a no-body but I have a big surprise for them. I will squash their pride like a bug. I had wanted to forget about my planned revenge on them, but their son David keeps poking at me, insulting my family, and demeaning me as a person.
And now he had given me a better way to destroy them all completely. The fire was a sad event, unfortunately, caused by their son. Yes, I know, because I had a private detective investigate the incident. Turned out the patriarch and matriarch knew too, but because it was their son that committed the act they refused to press charges.
They made another gruesome mistake too; they listed 25% of their shares up for sale not minding that they only had 65% share control after their so-called son sold 15% of his shares before the arson. Guess who has 45% control of the Fernandez business.
Yes, you guessed right, me. I have already called for a shareholders’ meeting, but am yet to get a reply from them, but I know they must be worried. No family business, especially the likes of Fernandez, wants a new person to become involved in making decisions and calling shots.
I smile to myself as these thoughts flash through my mind. Just then Angela moves in her bed. She looked so small in between the white covers and her cropped hair made her look tinier; she felt as light as a feather as I carried her to the bathroom to relieve herself and then brought her back to the bathroom.
“Take me to the terrace, I want to feel the fresh air on my face.” Angela requested.
“But your doctor said that you should not be exposed to too much air to avoid you getting pneumonia,'' I answered worriedly.
“Please, just for a few minutes.”
I carried her into the Terrance and placed her on the couch then went in to get enough blankets to keep her warm. “Thank you,'' she whispered.”
“Should I call your parents, they need to know.”
“No, I don't want them to see me like this. A child is supposed to bury their parents, not the other way round.” Angela coughed into her blanket
“Should I carry you inside?”
“No, I'm okay here.”
“Did you send them the pictures from our trip to Mexico,” Angela said after some minutes of silence.
“Yes' ' it has been 3 months since we went on the trip, from Mexico to Egypt. Angela had insisted on taking loads of pictures and I gladly clicked away. I never knew she was making plans for her demise. A tear tried to escape and I wiped it off.
“They would love it.” Angela gave me a weak smile, she was getting weaker day by day
“Yes, they will but for what purpose is this?” I ask angrily.
“I want them to remember me as that bubbly child who came back to them after almost five years apart. Please promise me you will tell them I died happy and in no pain.”
“This is deception, they should spend your final days with you. Think about this again, you still have time to change your mind. Just say the word and I will have them here.” I tried to convince her for the umpteenth time
Angela looked at me, her eyes so sad and almost lifeless, “I can’t hurt them again, it would seem as if I came back into their life to hurt them more. They should receive the news that I died in my sleep and with these pictures you are sending to them on my behalf they can create a perfectly happy story for my last days on earth.”
I went to her and scooped her up from the couch. I expected her to complain but she didn't, her body felt unusually cold.
Slowly I tucked her in and sat beside her in the warmth of her bedroom. Then I held one of her hands in mine, her hands were thin and almost white.
“You will make a very good husband,” Angela said, shocking me
“Where is this coming from?” I smile at her
” You take good care of me, I sometimes wish the circumstances were different.”
“Me too,” I answer sincerely
“But you still have the chance to be,” Angela replied
“Be what?” I ask confused
“A good husband.”
“To whom?”
“Sophie of course, who else. Don't tell me you have another wife.”
I laughed so hard at her comments, and so did Sophie, it had been a long time since we had a hearty laugh, and it felt so good.
“Sophie is pregnant, I thought I told you that.” my mind flashes to my wife, I won’t lie that I was not jealous when I saw her bump.
“Does it matter?”
“Of course it does, she must have someone she is dating and as I speak to you now the divorce papers might be ready.” the earlier we divorced the better, I thought to myself
“But she loves you.”
“No, she doesn't.”
“You might not know this but she was rude to me the last time she came to the office and even refused to work directly with me.”
“It might not be because of me.” I tried to convince her.
“Then why did she lie that she did not remember who I was even when I told her I introduced her to me and vice versa.” Angela insisted.
“I don't know but I know this for sure, Sophie hates me,”
“What if she doesn't hate you. Would you try to work things out with her?”
“Are you trying to matchmake Sophie and me?”
“What if I am.”
“Then I would ask you to stop.”
“Why.”
“Because the person I like is not available.” I try to keep my voice void of the sadness I was feeling. “She is dying and I'm helpless.”
“Don't say that, even if I wasn't dying we could not be together.”
“I would have wooed you with my masculine charm and you would have fallen head over heels in love with me.”
“You are hilarious. What if I keep saying no.”
“Not for long, you can't resist my charm.” I make funny faces at her, making her giggle.
“Unless you promise to make delicious meals for me and take me around the world, then I might agree to your request,'' Angela said smiling. I could see colors coming back to her face and I was hopeful that her demise was not as imminent as the doctors made us believe.
“We would have a dozen children, all girls,” I say to her enjoying our tales
“A dozen children.” she acted overwhelmed
“Yes, they would all look like you and have your gorgeous smile.”
“I want a male too, he would be just like you, kind, courageous, and good looking.”
I look at her and find the Genuity in her face, it was the first time she had ever acknowledged wanting more from me rather than just being friends.
“I feel tired already, can you get the nurse for me?”
I knew she wanted me gone because she slipped and revealed a part of her desire to me, but I didn't mind. However, I had to respect her wishes and I got the nurse for her. I had ensured that the hospital allowed her to have two live-in nurses, as she had insisted that she wanted to spend her last days in the familiarity of her home.
I watched as the nurse made her comfortable and injected some painkillers to relieve her pain. When she finally slept, I left her apartment and went for a stroll. I had a lot on my mind.
Angela passed away in her sleep two days later at exactly 2:45 pm according to her nurses as I was not around but at work. I remembered a butterfly entering my office at that particular time, perched on my fingers, and flew away.
I had her cremated as she wished and sent her ashes to her parents personally. They were at first angry that I did not call them before cremating her, but I cooked up some stories as to why I did not. They later took the incident in good faith and kept the urn containing her ashes on their shelf, even the pictures I had been sending were all kept on the shelf.
I said goodbye and left. On the way to the airport, my lawyer called; the Fernandez family was ready for a board meeting. GAME ON.. I muttered under my breath