Divorce

Aaron lay on the hospital bed, lifelessly. His face was pale and his life was hanging on by a thread. Next to the hospital bed, a woman sat on a white chair, stroking Aaron's hands. The woman wore a beige shirt tucked into blue high-waisted jeans, a coat that was a shade darker than her shirt, and black ankle boots. The woman's dark black hair was let loose and her electric blue eyes were red and swollen, indicating that she just cried. The woman was called Elise Black

She admired Aaron's handsome face.

She asked Aaron when he would wake up softly when another woman barged into the hospital room. The woman was Aaron's aunt, Rhianna Garcia. Rhianna wore a white V-neck wrap crop top with a bow tied on the left side of her waist, a white and blue striped knee-length skirt, light blue flats, and an orange handbag. Rhianna's jet-black hair was neatly done in a bun.

Elise greeted Rhianna warmly but Rhianna only looked at Elise coldly before handing a stack of papers to her. Elise looked through the papers and her eyes lingered on the words ' Divorce'. Elise asked Rhianna what was going on. Rhianna only handed a pen to Elise to sign the papers.

" Aaron was prepared to divorce you. I hope that you can respect his choices", said Rhianna.

Elise looked at Aaron on the hospital bed.

" He wouldn't...It can't be…"

Rhianna scoffed.

" It's been four years since the both of you got together but there has been no news from your belly. Aaron is the heir of the Garcia family. He needs someone to carry on his bloodline", said Rhianna

" Aaron wouldn't do such a thing!"

Rhianna looked at Elise.

" Just sign the papers. The Garcia family will give you 5 million dollars as compensation. That should be enough to live a comfortable life"

" I wouldn't sign it!"

" Aaron no longer loves you! Would you be willing to be stuck in a loveless marriage?!"

" He...Is this what he wants?", asked Elise.

" Yes, so just sign the papers and leave", said Rhianna.

With tears in her eyes, Elise grabbed the pen and signed the divorce papers. Elise stood up and went for the door. But before she left, she looked at Aaron and said goodbye to him in her head. Then she turned around and left.

…

At the old Garcia mansion, Elise was packing her things. Elise's sister-in-law, Laila Hunt, comes to find her in her room. Laila was wearing a blue floral knee-length sleeveless dress, blue heels, and blue diamond earrings. Laila had curly caramel blonde hair with chocolate brown eyes. Elise could see Laila's baby bump and felt sour in her heart.

" Have you truly made up your mind?", asked Laila softly.

Elise nodded as she zipped her suitcase. Laila could sense that Elise was upset so she went and hugged Elise. The tears she bottled up inside her, fell. Elise cried as she leaned her head on Laila's shoulder. During her time in the Garcia family, other than Aaron, only Laila was nice to her.

" Remember to call me and let me know that you are doing fine", Laila said and she patted Elise's back.

Elise nodded and wiped her tears. Then she walked out of the room. But Elise had trouble bringing her suitcase down the huge flights of stairs, therefore, she asked a maid to help her. But the maid sneered at her.

" Who do you think that you are? Mrs. Garcia? Wake up", the maid said as she started to walk in the opposite direction.

Elise balled her hands into a fist.

" Even if I signed the divorce papers, I was once the mistress of this household. Shouldn't you have some respect?"

The maid returned around, oughly grabbed the suitcase and brought it down the stairs. Elise followed behind. The maid, upon arriving at the front door, threw the suitcase and then proceeded to push Elise out the door when she tried to stop the maid from throwing the suitcase. The maid locked the door.

Elise's head began spinning. Her head hit one of the pillars that held up the roof over the front door. Elise still took her suitcase and started to walk out of the mansion. Her head hurt and she felt dizzy. When she was about to take out her phone and call for a cab, Elise lost her balance and fell onto the sidewalk.

…

When Elise woke up, she was in her childhood bedroom in her aunt's house. Elise was an orphan so she lived with her aunt, Melissa Howard, in the Sullivan mansion. There was a pastel pink canopy bed with pink fabric draped across the upper spaces between the posts, two bedside tables with lamps, and a marble pink stained wall behind the bed. Pink lace curtains were tied to the side, letting the sunlight flow into the room. A white L-shaped sofa was placed in the corner of the room with soft grey and pink throw pillows. There was also a 75" inch television, a white makeup vanity with many drawers.

Elise's aunt, Mrs. Sullivan was standing beside the bed talking with Ms. Anderson. Mrs. Sullivan wore a long green dress with ruffled short sleeves, gold flower stud earrings, and green pumps.

Elise called out to Mrs. Sullivan and Mrs. Sullivan looked in Elise's direction. Mrs. Sullivan knelt beside the bed and grabbed Elise's hand.

" Elise, how do you feel? Does your head still hurt?", asked Mrs. Sullivan

" It doesn't hurt that much anymore", said Elise with a tiny smile.

Mrs. Sullivan sent the doctor out of the room.

" Child, why didn't you listen to your auntie? Those people from the Gracia family are ruthless and care only about profit. Why didn't you listen to me and your cousin?", Mrs. Sullivan was in tears.

" I'm sorry that I have made you worried", said Elise feeling guilty.

Mrs. Sullivan wiped her tears.

" You are not allowed to contact the people from the Garcia family anymore! If you do, I will…I will-"

As Mrs. Sullivan was trying to come up with a threat, Elise started to laugh.

" You can still laugh! You are a pregnant divorcee now. I know that society is a lot more open about these matters but still I don't feel comfortable with this. What if the Garcia family finds out about the pregnancy?"

Elise was stunned and asked, " Auntie, did you just say that I'm pregnant?'

Mrs. Sullivan nodded. Before Elise could say anything, there was a knock on the door and a handsome man who looked to be in his early twenties came into the room.

The man has blue monolid eyes, messy black hair with a hint of blue, a straight nose, pale and smooth skin, pink lips, and straight eyebrows. He was also tall and was clad in a black sweater tucked into black pants. He also wore a silver necklace.

" Elise, Liam here saw you on the sidewalk and saved you. You ought to thank him for that", said Mrs. Sullivan.

" Thank you", said Elise.

" You are welcome", said Liam.

The room was quiet and Liam left the room after flashing a smile at Elise. When Liam left, Mrs. Sullivan began to talk again.

" Elise, I think that you should go overseas with your cousin"

Elise asked why and Mrs. Sullivan sighed.

" If the Garcia family found out that you are pregnant with one of their heirs, they will take you back and will cast you aside once you give birth. You don't want to be separated from your baby right?", asked Mrs. Sullivan.

Elise was silent for a while before she grabbed Mrs. Sullivan's hands.

" Auntie, please help me! I don't want to be separated from my baby! I don't want to!"

Elise began to get emotional.

" Ok, ok. Stop crying. It's bad for the baby. I will help you but first, come with me to eat lunch", said Mrs. Sullivan.

…

Elise changed her clothes and walked down the stairs to eat lunch with the Sullivan family and Liam. Elise was wearing a baby pink knee-length dress with butterfly sleeves that reached her elbows with a high neckline.

Brandon, Elise's cousin, and his father, Mr. Sullivan was also there. The atmosphere was awkward at first but slowly everyone began to feel comfortable and the dinner turned into a harmonious family dinner.