A NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL'S SON

ANNABELLE FINN

"You cheated, spare me the fucking lies!" My so-called darling husband yelled, throwing his already-lighted cigar stick towards me.

I dodged it swiftly and its ember narrowly missed my cheek, landing on the plush carpet and filling the room with the stench of burning tobacco.

"How long have you been with him, two years? Six months? Huh!" he demanded, staring at me with disgust.

He had suddenly returned from a three-month trip after refusing to pick my calls for about three days and the first thing he did upon arriving was ask me to sign the divorce papers he came with.

I gulped hard, letting out a tear as my gaze landed on the divorce papers for the third time that evening..

"So you came all the way from Ireland to bring me divorce papers? Because you saw a sex video that was never even mine?.. I'm disappointed in you Lewis!" my tears rolled freely, making me hate my emotional weakness even more.

"Never yours you say? You must be insane to think I'll believe that when your face was clearly shown in the video! You even posted the video yourself!" his last words came in a yell as he grabbed another cigar stick.

There was so much cold and that was only what he could do to keep himself warm since he had never for once loved to wear a cardigan.

"Every video on earth can be edited and photoshopped! Besides, you still haven't shown me the video. I will not accept false accusations that have no evidence!" my last words came with a raised voice.

Being emotionally weak didn't mean I couldn't defend myself.. I only had issues in stopping my damn tears.

He angrily took out his phone, going over to a social media app and showing me a page which displayed people's status updates.

"Your fucking status update deleted already and I couldn't save it before it did. You made the post three days ago, didn't you!" he yelled.

"My account was probably hacked! I never did!" I yelled back, saying that for the second time since he began accusing me.

"Hacked and you never noticed?" he scoffed.

"I'm not a fool, Anna!"

I gulped.

"Even if I was to post such a thing, won't I block you from viewing it? Huh, besides I can't post such a shameless thing! I can't even cheat on you" I added, breathing hard.

"You've always wanted a divorce, didn't you? You said that six months ago!" he said.

I scoffed.

Six months ago?

"When I was lying in a psychiatric hospital because of the trauma of losing my two-year old son?. You caused his death by leaving him in the car without opening the windows and I demanded for a divorce because I was broken. I never meant it!"

I cried even more. I hated the way things were going.

I'd just been framed and he thinks it was my intentional deed?!

What the hell!

"I've endured a lot as your wife Lewis, and it's so hard to believe that you don't trust me a single bit!" I said again, amidst my cries.

"Just sign the damn papers, I'm not interested in furthering a conversation with you. Besides, we don't even have a child anymore, leaving my house shouldn't be a big deal" he spoke with the 'I don't care' tone and reaction.

I felt stabbed in the heart.

Where on earth was the love he had for me?

It was nowhere to be found in his eyes!

"Someone is behind all this Lewis, trust me! There's an enemy!" I tried convincing him but that only made him more wild.

"I will not keep listening to your lies!" he threw his cigar stick at me again and this time, I wasn't so swift so it burnt me by the side of my neck.

I winced and brushed off the cigar quickly before it could burn my cashmere sweater which was skimmed over the expanse of my black stockinged legs.

"It's over between us!" He reminded me of the situation.

"For fuck sake Lewis, I have nowhere to go, I don't even have a family and you know it!" I suddenly contacted his F-word syndrome, lamenting with it.

How could he let me go, just like that?..

Even when I was still suffering from the pain of losing my child!

Gawd..

Without warning nor a reply, he grabbed my hand and forced a pen into my palms.

"Sign it!" he yelled, pulling my hand to the table.

"Else I'll publicly disgrace you!" He added.

I couldn't stop my tears this time, they fell freely, giving me no chance to stop or control them.

This was worse than a nightmare.

"At the countdown of three, Anna!" his tone became more fierce and he lighted the third cigar stick, bringing it closer to my cheeks to scare me.

"3.."

"Lewis, are you really doing this?.." I whispered, trying to make him get back to his senses.

He scoffed.

"It's funny how you think I'll be moved by those crocodile tears of yours? You're so happy about this yet you keep pretending!" he accused me harshly.

I stared at him with so much disappointment.

"You still believe I'll be so shameless to do and post that?"..

"2..!" He continued his countdown, ignoring my words and puffing out smoke from his nostrils.

"Fine.." I said simply, scribbling my signature on the paper and wiping my nasty tears. I'd heard enough of his derogatory accusations.

For a second, I wondered who had done such a thing to ruin my marriage but that wasn't even as painful as not being trusted by the one you call a husband.

"I hope you regret this sooner" I said as I dropped the pen and with that, I rushed out of the house in tears..

Oh yeah.. that inability to control my emotions again!

I didn't even remember taking anything from the house except my phone which had actually been in my pockets. Even my debit card didn't seem necessary to take at that point. Blame it on my overwhelming emotions..

I just needed to be far away to heal from the unbearable pain..

My wound from six months ago just got more sore and I doubt if I was ever going to heal again..

However, just as I made to open the door and rush out, it opened on its own, revealing Eileen – Lewis' secretary.

"Hi" she muttered but I couldn't even say a word.

I'd once suspected her likeness for Lewis but I wasn't sure if it still lingered. She gave me an unexplainable look on seeing my tears and without further ado, I walked past her and left, feeling her gaze on my back as I moved..

By the way, what was she doing here by this time of the day?..

I could remember, the last time my gaze met with the clock's, it was well past 6pm.

Well..To hell with whatever she came to do. That was the least of my worries.

Whoever had edited that video and posted it with my account really succeeded in causing me pain. But wasn't it crazy that I had no one in mind as a suspect?

Wait!..

Meaning, everyone who saw that post too had also gotten a wrong impression!..

Oh heavens!

Why was this happening to me?

My reputation was.... Damn!

Absentmindedly, I settled into a cab which stopped right in front of me, and the next thing I saw myself doing was asking him to drive me to the bar.

I guess I needed to lessen the pain I was feeling by getting drunk..

I couldn't explain how I managed to make him believe that I forgot my purse at home when I alighted, all I could say was that I did it and yes, he didn't add to my problems by yelling that evening.

I walked into the bar which was in the premises of a large hotel, placing an order for bottles of alcohol which I knew I couldn't even pay for..

I just needed to be drunk. Every other thing comes later and when I get to each bridge, I'll find a way to cross it...

Including starting a new life without a son.. without a husband...WITHOUT A HOME.