The Husband She Abandoned

Divorce

"I already explained that as soon as I get what I need, I will return." Benjamin took a deep breath before he answered.

"But it has already been a year, the master…"

"Will wait till I am ready to return, tell him that." With that, Benjamin ended the call.

He stood watching the hallway where Diana and her friends had walked through with a sigh. He was close to his mission. He could not stop now. He owed his mother that much.

*

"Every time I see him, my mood turns sour. I just wish he would leave already." Elise, Diana's mother, scoffed loudly when Benjamin walked into the house thirty minutes later.

The very sight of Benjamin reminded her of everything she had lost.

The Cook family had been a rich family, not among the top elite by any chance, but they had standing in the city. She never wanted for anything, went for family vacations in nice resorts, wore expensive clothes, and never lacked for anything.

Then, a little over one year ago, her husband died.

While her life had been crumbling all around her, she was forced to deal with debtors who had come and taken almost everything; the only thing she had managed to keep was the family mansion.

Because of their fall in status, all their former friends had shunned them, and even the marriage matches she had prepared for her daughters to wealthier families had been cancelled; no one wanted to have anything to do with their disgraced family.

That was the only reason a poor university graduate like Benjamin had been able to marry her precious Diana.

"Whoever heard of a son-in-law living with his in-laws? " So shameless."

"Good evening, mother." Benjamin greeted, ignoring her insults.

After a year of living in the Cook house, he was used to Elise's hate toward him. The insults were a daily occurrence, and they no longer bothered him.

At that point, Benjamin had come to the realization that Elise was a bitter old woman who was regretful and angry about the state of her life and her failures, so she needed someone she could feel better than.

If it were not Benjamin, she would have found someone else to pick on.

"Who is your mother?" She snarled, " And why are you just coming home? What am I expected to eat?"

"I went to see Diana's performance. I will hurry and make something for you to eat." He explained and went straight to the kitchen.

As he stood at the kitchen washing up dishes, he heard a car's motor rev up.

A look outside showed an expensive car stationed in front of the door, and as Benjamin watched, Ariana stepped out of the car holding shopping bags before going into the house.

Benjamin waited for Diana to come out, but minutes passed, and the car remained in place, and after a long while, Diana came out at last.

His eyes narrowed as he watched as she adjusted her clothes, hair, and face. She scurried into the house, and Benjamin went to intercept her in the living room.

"Why were you out in that car for so long?" Benjamin asked immediately after she stepped in.

"And who do you think you are to question my daughter?" Elise erupted, jumping out of her seat.

"So you are stalking me now?" Diana asked coldly, "Am I supposed to report my every single move to you?"

"What have you ever done for us?" Ariana asked scornfully, then held up the bags she held.

"Just one evening, and look at what Mr Barry gave us. While all you do is take up space and try to boss my sister around."

"We need to cut him off quickly or else he will drag you down." Elise pointed a finger at his face. "You need to tell him right now!"

"Mother, enough!" Diana ran an impatient had through her hair.

Benjamin's eyes darted from mother to daughter.

"Tell me what Diana?" He demanded with narrowed eyes.

"You do nothing for my sister and we are sick of you," Arianna retorted. "She wants a…"

"Arianna, enough!" Diana exploded.

"Someone has to tell him." Arianna grumbled and looked away when her older sister glared at her.

With a deep sigh, Diana rummaged through her bag, then brought out some papers, which she handed to Benjamin.

He held the papers and looked through them; his face remained unchanged while he scanned the contents of the papers.

Recently, Benjamin had noticed that Diana was colder than usual. She had always treated him like marrying him was a favour, but now there was something sinister in the air, an added impatience about her.

'So this is where all that has been leading up to.' Benjamin thought and remembered the expensive car that had stopped just outside the gate that evening.

"So, a man can buy your affection with such cheap gifts." He said softly.

The room went silent for a moment, and an emotion which looked a lot like guilt crossed Diana's face, then her mother sprang to her feet.

"Who are you to say anything about Mr Barry?" Elise erupted.

"How dare you suggest I am a slut?" Diana, now recovered from her temporary moment of guilt, cried.

"I should never have allowed Diana to marry a man such as you."

"Sign the papers and leave, nobody wants you here." Elise spat in his face.

Looking at Diana, Benjamin spoke calmly.

"Is this what you want? Are you sure this is what you truly want?"

The intensity in his eyes made a shiver run through her entire body. It felt like her body was telling her that she was at an important crossroads in her life.

If she took a step, it would change everything from then on. On one hand, Cameron was kind and caring, very considerate of her and her family. He was basically her simp. It also did not hurt that he was very handsome.

But handsomeness did not equal currency.

She was at that point in her life where her career was about to take off, and she needed strong backing. Someone who could protect her in the entertainment industry, and that person was not Benjamin.

Mr Barry had already shown her a little of his power. If she stayed by his side, he would surely help her soar to incredible heights.

Even though she was not going to marry Mr Barry, she felt it would be better for her to be a single woman in the industry than to be with a man without value like Benjamin.

She lifted her head and stared square into his eyes.

"Yes, it's what I want. I'm at a point in my life where I don't need to be dragged down."

Benjamin raised an eyebrow at her comment about being dragged down then nodded and looked around. To Diana's surprise, he found a pen and started to sign on the dotted lines.

She had expected him to grovel. She knew he cared deeply for her, losing her should hurt him.

But his reaction was unexpected. He was acting like she, not he, was the burden, and it made her feel uneasy.

"Don't worry, I will send you some money since I know it's not easy to survive on your meagre salary." She said benevolently.

"I don't need your dirty money." Benjamin stopped her coldly. "I just need you to be at the courthouse in a week so that we can formally finalize the divorce."

Diana's nose flared in disbelief.

"Why are you acting all high and mighty now?" Elise snorted. "You can't have pride when you know you need the money?"

"Maybe he thinks that Diana will take him back, good riddance." Ariana cackled.

Benjamin did not say a word to them; he simply walked out of the living room without as much as a backward glance at them.

In the room, he leaned heavily against the door. It felt like once again, he had failed.

His eyes drifted shut, a memory sneaked in.

“Mom, please don’t leave me alone; I’m scared.” The little boy cried as the woman gently hushed him.

“I will be back for you soon, I promise. Just wait here like a good boy while I go and see what is happening, okay?" As she turned to leave, Benjamin's small hand tightened around her finger.

"Stay, mommy." In his little mind, something awful would happen; he did not want to let go.

She kissed his head gently. "I will be back in a minute.” She reassured him; his big eyes were brimming with tears tracked her movements.

“My brave boy, stay strong for me, okay? And no matter what you hear, don’t come out until I tell you so.” She hugged him and tried to hide her tears from him.

He had not felt brave, if he was brave he would have protected his mother.

When she was sure that he was hidden under the bed, she left him, running out of the room.

Soon, he heard the sound of raised voices, and a second later, there was a loud bang.

The little boy wanted to jump out, but he remembered his mother's words, and he remained silent. He bit his stuffed toy to stop himself from crying out loud and waited while tears streamed down his cheeks.

He spent that entire night waiting for his mother to come back.

She never came back.

With a sigh, Benjamin picked up his backpack and picked up a couple of books which he placed inside, before zipping the bag and leaving the house through the kitchen door so that he could avoid everyone.

When he stepped out of the house and had walked a few paces away, a fleet of luxurious cars came to a stop, and a distingushed looking man man in a pin-striped suit and horn-rimmed glasses stepped out and bowed to Benjamin.

"I'm sorry, boss, but your grandfather insisted that we come and get you, or else he would not sleep."