**Zahra**
"Miss Betty? Are…you okay?" Lila's voice cracked from the door and chills went down my spine.
Footsteps were heard, hurried and breath coming in gasps.
I frowned. What could have happened? I gulped.
My mind couldn't process anything and I raised a confused brow towards that direction.
Betty in tears?
I had always known this myth that sister in laws are usually a thorn in their brother's wife's flesh.
However, with Betty that myth is false. She's the best thing that has ever happened to me since I stepped foot into this family. Even though her mother is a handful.
"Betty? I'm almost done setting the…," my voice broke miserably.
"But…?" At first, I thought my eyes were just deceiving me.
I didn't know what to think and I couldn't place my finger on anything either as it stands. For all I can remember everything was just fine, so perfect.
So why?
But I can't explain why my body is already weakened all of a sudden without hearing a word from her yet.
"I…Betty," I'm trapped dead in my steps.
"Zahra," her voice was dangerously low. A clear sign that whatever is breaking her down will break me more.
Numerous thoughts oozed through my mind. Nothing was clicking in my numb mind, it's as though my world had stopped.
Betty's body was trembling and shaking. Her entire being was frozen.
Before I could process anything, before I could perceive anything, she was all over me with a warm embrace.
My breath became unsteady and my mood soured.
"I know you're a strong woman Zahra, but we can't hide this from you. My brother, is…," her voice was measured and instantly a soft whimper cut through my thoughts as my phone buzzed.
My mind whirled with confusion and disbelief. I can barely breathe beyond the ache in my chest.
Tears blurred Betty's vision, and my throat burned, my words were stuck in it. As I parted my lips to speak, my pulse was pounding.
"I…don't know what you're saying right now Betty," my voice rose to match my emotions.
Before I could say another word, my phone fell from my hand when my ears caught those words that slipped through her mouth. I don't know whether it's just a lie.
Just maybe it was.
"He's gone. The aeroplane crashed. And…," her voice was low not above a whisper.
The air around me became thick and suffocating. Just maybe I'm hallucinating. Or I'm dreaming at this point.
I took a step back and muttered nervously. "Pinch me, please. Pinch me," my throat constricted. Just maybe I will wake up from his slumber now.
I couldn't breathe anymore as my heart was hammering in my chest. She kept patting my back and I could perceive the heavy beating of her heart too.
"We didn't want you to receive the news this way," she muttered under her breath as she wiped her tears with her palm.
Her beautiful eyes have turned puffy and red. One could barely recognise them. She gently pulled me towards the couch and helped me to sit down.
My vision was blurred too. The floor, the wall, and everything else were melting before me. I don't know what was happening to me.
"I don't know what to say. But this is… a joke, right?" Just as she slammed the screen of the phone towards me, the wall around my heart cracked.
Instantly, my world stopped making sense. I raced to pick up my phone from the floor, and my trembling fingers were running fast on the screen.
The airplane? That's the same type, the same colour, the exact thing he sent to me a few hours ago and…oh my God.
This is never true. My husband is not dead. Never!
I screamed! I cried! And Betty kept calming me down tirelessly.
My body collapses again and again. I'm yet to come to this reality. It can never be true.
My blood turns icy, and still, Betty wrapped me in a warm embrace.
Suddenly, there was an deafening silence and her voice broke through me once again.
"Mom…umm and Dylon would be back first thing tomorrow morning. They have already booked their tickets," Betty's throat is choked too and still sobbing.
They went on vacation even before my husband left for the business trip.
And they're coming home tomorrow?
Then it's over for me here. My protection, my solace, my happiness and everything is gone. I know that wicked woman is gonna blame me for this, it has been so, and it will be worse now.
Three freaking years of marriage! Not even a miscarriage to prove a point!
"Zahra, look at me. I know what you're thinking. All right? But I'm gonna be here to protect you like my brother does. Please, don't leave us," her voice was low and her eyes were filled with fresh tears.
Yes, she has tried her best for me. She's part of the reasons I'm still this strong. Her encouragement during this past years is out of this world.
I always perceive her genuine love for me when she voiced out her usual words. "You're my brother's priority and that should be more important to you than all the dramas around you."
Regardless of the fact that her marriage with that monster she calls her husband has been a nightmare to us all. She has been being my biggest fan in this house, but she can't handle her mom alone without her brother as it stands.
I can't say anything but I know that woman would behave more than a psychopath when she meets me here.
"I know. You have been a great support to me Betty. But you know…what I'm talking about right? If your mother mistakenly finds me here tomorrow, you know I would be dead."
She cleared her throat and ran her free hand through her long thick hair. "Unfortunately, you're right but you can't go home like this. Your mom's condition will get worse."
"Umm…Mrs Waltz, the table is set now," Lila cut through our conversation and her words sent me aback.
I clamp my eyes shut as I try to breathe through my nostrils and mouth. "Calm down, please. Just take a deep breath."
This is the same dinner arrangement I have been tirelessly working on, expecting my husband.
"Hey! Get the hell out of here Lila!" Betty's voice was sharp and vibrating.
"I want to be far away from this family, this city right now. I know your brother is gone. Gone forever. Just like that," then I trailed my hand around her arms.
"Betty. I can't even believe it. Or am I dreaming? Huh?" My throat hurts, as I continued to sob.
Before I could say another word, a soft click on the door broke through my reverie. "Let me check that out. Just relax."
As Betty strode towards the door, my mind whirled.
"Barrister? Come in," Betty's voice rang in my ears and my eart skipped a bit.
"Thank you. Oh, there she is," he said as he strolled inside.
My mouth hung open and tongue-tied. Fresh terror hits me but I need to reassure myself that everything is under control.
"Good day," the barrister said as he took his seat.
I gave a nervous nod, I wasn't sure what exactly to say at that moment. "On whose orders are you here, by the way?" Betty's words were a bit cold.
"I'm sorry I'm here unannounced. Mrs Waltz asked me to hand this document to her and gave her an instruction that she doesn't want to see Miss Zahra tomorrow when she gets back. Or she will have herself to blame," the barrister's words stabbed through my heart like a sharp knife.
I couldn't believe this right now. I'm now Miss Zahra. Really? I knew it, it's really over for me here now.
In just a twinkle of an eye? This is indeed a nightmare, right?
"What! That's a big fat lie!" Betty's temper flared.
I swallowed hard as I tried to be calm. "You know what? He's acting on directives so don't blame him. Let me check the documents first."
"Great," he replied as he handed over the brown envelope to me.
Without hesitation, I opened the envelope and pulled the documents out and I was frozen completely.
Goosebumps filled my entire body. "Divorce papers?!" My voice was dangerously loud.
"Huh? Impossible!" Betty cut me off.
"Yeah," he said, unbothered, unconcerned like fuck as he handed over a pen to me. "I'm only following orders, and I'm sorry, but this has to be signed before I leave here."
"What! How's that possible?!" She yelled as she tried dialling her mother's contact for the millionth time, all to no avail.
"50% of everything Mr Waltz owns automatically belongs to you if you sign this."
"That's bullshit! She should be jubilating right now just because of that! Really? Why the hell is this woman's contact not reachable?!"
"See, calm down for now I will get to the root of this. Okay?" Betty was restless.
I stared baffled. I couldn't even process anything anymore. Like I said earlier, I knew it was over me here and that psychopath is the last person I want to meet here tomorrow.
I cracked the lid of the pen open and my vision got blurred with fresh tears again. My stomach was in knots and absolutely nothing was making sense to me right now.
I don't know what to do but I know the universe has its way. And just maybe this is the way for me.
My fingers were trembling as I pointed the pen at the exact place I was supposed to sign.
"No, no, no!" Betty yelled.
"This is the end of the road for me here Betty. This is the only way to fix your family," as I voiced out those words, I scribbled my sign
ature on the document and my eyes drifted back to the barrister.
"It's done but I don't need that fucking 50% shares!" Anger ignited next to my heartbreak that second.