I Was Fated to Love You

by Abigail Barnabas

  “Whose…whose..baby…”

  His voice was shaky and it sounded dry and coarse.

  “It is..yours..and mine”

  THUD!

  Darren slammed his fist against the table and he took in a deep breath before he stared at Abby, with a look of both despair and frustration.

  “How can you be sure..that.. it is mine?”

  Abby broke down. She was sobbing so hard that she found it hard to breath and she was gasping for air.

  “Because you were my only one!”

  Darren slumped backwards in his chair and he sighed miserably. He believed Abby alright. She did look like she had pathetic love experience. It was unlikely that any man would want to bed her with those specs and clothings of hers. Yet, why had it been him? Him? Him of all people?

  “It was just a one night thing… WHY AM I SO UNLUCKY”

  Darren had always just wanted to marry Tiffany, have a family with her, work hard on his career, and he will be contented. With the baby, that would change his life forever. It would change his fate. It would change his relationship with Abby. It would change his whole life. He was so miserable and he felt so confused. His mind was in a whirl.

  He had loved Tiffany so much, with all his heart. He was so devoted to her. He had waited for her to finally agree to wanting to settle down with him. He had done so much for her! And now what, he is a father? He hadn’t even learnt to be a good husband to Tiffany, much less a father to a baby he bore with some lady who had mistakenly entered the wrong room? How was he to face Tiffany?

  “ I am really sorry about it. I am really so sorry. I didn’t know why I had been so unlucky that day as well.. I remembered feeling giddy.. and…and..”

  “Enough! I am tired of how helpless you always are!”

  “What should we do about the baby?”

  He hesitated and then fixated his glace on the floor.

  “Abort it”

  “ A-bort…”

  “Please.. I beg you to just abort it. If ever Tiffany finds out that you have a baby with me, we will be over. You will destroy a beautiful relationship. Do you understand me? It’s not that I want to be cruel but I really do love Tiffany with all my heart. You are a kind girl. I am sure you know what is the best for the child as well. Do you really want the child to grow up without… a father?”

  “It is a life…”

  “Yes I know it will be hard. Look. If ever you need my help, here is my number where you can contact me. Leave me your number as well”

  She had left the room, clutching on to the name card he had given her. She left, feeling worse than before she had entered. She left, feeling even more confused and she wished she hadn’t entered at all. He was right to an extent. Did she really want to destroy someone else’s relationship? What about her child? Would her child have a healthy childhood without a father? Would her child be happy, knowing that his or her father had never wanted him or her?

  After work, Abby sat on the bench outside her home, and she spent hours there, thinking about the baby, thinking about him, thinking about life. She continued this routine for a week and by then, it was as if something had compelled her to follow his wishes.

  Chapter 8

  The Decision

  On the steeling morning of the Monday on the first week of February, Abigail Rowling had decided to go ahead with the abortion. She was an emotional wreck. She had lost weight. She looked like a living corpse who was soulless outside. She was haggard and her eyes had been puffy. She could cry but there were no more tears when she did. Abby dragged herself out of her bed, didn’t even bother to make herself breakfast, and took those heavy steps towards her destination. Darren had messaged her regarding the abortion some days back and she had replied that she would go for it.

  There were a few patients at the abortion clinic. Most of them were with their partners. She was the only one who was alone. That day, she felt even more hollow inside. She touched her stomach, and she felt her heart breaking. She would be losing the delicate thing, after she had walked out of the clinic. She hadn’t told anyone other than Darren about the abortion. There was a couple beside them who were conversing with the staff that they had wanted an abortion because of health complications and that they were terribly saddened by it.

  “ Miss Abigail Rowling, please see the doctor now. Room 3”

  Abby got up very slowly and she had a grave expression on her face. Her knees went so weak. She could hardly make her way to Room 3. But she knew it was the right thing to do, for the child would never have a happy childhood and she would be tearing someone else’s life apart.

  At the room, the doctor gave a reassuring smile and placed a hand over Abby.

  “ Are you sure you want to do this? I would advice that you think over it.”

  Abby looked so hesitant but she nodded her head reluctantly.

  “ I will be letting you watch a clip of the procedure for abortion. I really hope that you will think through your decision and hopefully change your mind. Nothing is ever impossible to solve. Life itself is a miracle”

  The clip showed the entire process of the foetus being sucked out by a suction device, and it was so traumatizing that Abby gave up watching it halfway. She felt so sick to the stomach and wanted to puke.

  “Alright.. after watching the clip, do you want to give it some more thought before we proceed with it?”

  “I think.so..”

  “Good. Actually for our policies, we don’t conduct abortions at the first visit. The first visit is just a preparation for what you will be going through and putting the baby through, which we hope can change your minds. There is really nothing too big a hurdle in life. Everything is solvable, so long as you are ready to put in some extra effort in it”

  After the whole ordeal, Abby heaved a sigh of relief. She never knew how much she loved her baby until that visit. She was now determined to keep the baby, even if she had to be a single mother.

  Just as when she was about to leave the clinic, Darren had rushed in and grabbed Abby by the wrist. He didn’t look threatening. He just had a look of pure worry and concern.

  “ Tell me.. did you?”

  “No..I am sorry.. I didn’t…I have decided to keep it..”

  To Abby’s surprise, Darren had breathed a huge sigh of relief and he wiped off the sweat off his forehead.

  “Good. Somehow my family knows of the fact that I have made you pregnant. They want me to bear responsibility for taking care of you during these times and also the baby.”

  The aromatic scent of coffee waffled in the air. Darren and Abby sat in Habitat Coffee café.

  “ Let me make this clear that it is not my will to want to marry you. My grandmother wants me to be married and she wants a grandchild badly. If I don’t marry you, she won’t let me run the company any longer. I am the only son. The baby will inherit much of the company’s shares when he grows up. He will have a much brighter future than when if he stays under your care . Your meagre income as an office girl.. I will make our baby someone special.”

  “ I .. I need some time.. to think about this…”

  After saying his peace, the pair then left the café.

  Darren flagged a cab down for Abby.

  “ I don’t need a cab. I can take the bus from here”

  He shoved a 50 dollar note into her hands and once she was in the cab, he told her to contact him once she had made a decision, shut the door and waved goodbye to her.

  Abby felt so confused. She didn’t even know Darren well. He was only marrying her to be able to continue running his company as CEO. She looked herself in the mirror. She knew that she wasn’t fashionable or pretty. Which guy would want her? Darren was far better than her. He was handsome, suave, tall and wealthy. He was the young CEO of the company she was working for. Which girl wouldn’t want to marry him? Could she consider herself to be lucky? He had been so nice to pay for her cab. She was starting to find that Darren was not as bad as he looked.

  Cha
pter 9

  Together For Now

  The wedding ceremony was a very basic and homely affair. Darren’s grandmother had not understood why Darren was so against a wedding ceremony. So to please her, he had compromised and reluctantly agreed to a small wedding lunch.

  Abby wore a simple white wedding gown, clad in her geeky black specs and with basic make-up. The crowd cheered when Abby entered the room. Darren looked at his bride. She was quite acceptable-looking, he guessed. Then, he nearly wanted to hit himself. He only loved Tiffany.

  The crowd had urged Darren to give his young bride a kiss. His face flushed and he felt like digging a hole to bury himself. He didn’t know why he was feeling so embarrassed. Probably because he had always been used to kissing Tiffany. And only Tiffany.

  He stole a look at Abby who looked equally embarrassed. Her face was flushed in hot pink and her eyes were so wide as if she had just seen a ghost. He chuckled at how comical she looked. It was kind of cute in an annoying way.

  “ Just do this for the crowd”

  Darren whispered in her ears.

  Then, he bent forward and gave a light kiss on the pinkish lips of Abby.

  Abby wondered why her heart skipped a beat and she struggled to compose herself. Darren wondered why he was feeling a little nervous.

  Darren led Abby to meet his grandmother who was a strong elderly woman who bore a homely smile on her face.

  “ This is my grandmother, Ellen. I call her Grandma Ellen. So you can call her that too”

  “ Grandma Ellen…”

  “ Good girl..good girl..your bride looks like such a caring lady! I like this daughter-in-law very much”

  Abby was happy. She had finally got herself off the shelf of the unmarried and forever alone. At least she had married herself to a decent man though he didn’t love her.

  Month 2

  Abby’s belongings had already been transported to Darren’s residence. After the wedding reception, Darren beckoned Abby to get onto his car and he drove her to this residence.

  Abby was stunned by the size of his mansion. It was huge alright, from the looks of it on the outside.

  “ Why are you still standing there? Come in”

  Abby nodded her head obediently, as if she had returned to her senses.

  His house had a huge living room which was filled with famous art paintings and some antique collections. It had a spiral staircase at the side and another staircase leading to what seemed like the basement.

  “ So this is my house!”

  “It is so beautiful!”

  “Yeah..you are lucky, aren’t you? Come on upstairs. I will show you to my room”

  Abby followed Darren upstairs. His room was in an earth tone where there was a built-in cabinet, a King-size bed and a solid wooden table. The floorings were parquet and it looked very cozy indeed.

  Abby felt her heart sink a little when she saw that he had placed photos of him and Tiffany on his table. She didn’t know why she felt that way. He had explained that he would never love her. So why was she feeling the way she felt?

  “ The toilet is beside my room. You can go get ready for bed.”

  “ Bed?”

  Abby gasped.

  The warm currents in the shower rejuvenated Abby. She had been so weary from the activity of the night. She was feeling excited about her new life, as if it were a new glimpse of light for her.

  Darren lay on his soft silky bed. He missed Tiffany.

  Abby came out from the shower and she walked nervously towards his bed. He was already lying there.

  “Where shall I sleep?”

  “On this bed of course”

  Abby sat on the big bed and she positioned herself a hand away from him.

  “Okay Abby. I will put a bolster in between us, if that makes you feel safe”

  There was a momentary silence as the pair lay on the bed, partitioned by a bolster, and with their backs facing each other. Their first night as a married couple had been so awkward and so uncomfortable. Abby tried to fall asleep, and so did Darren. They weren’t used to sharing a bed with each other at all. Coupled with their complicated relationship, it just made the awkwardness more pronounced.

  Darren couldn’t help but think of Tiffany. He wondered what was Tiffany doing. He wondered..wondered..if Tiffany was thinking of him at this very moment. He wondered if she had missed him at all.

  Most of all, he wondered how his life was about to change, from this moment onwards.

  Chapter 10

  The Agreement

  The next morning, Abby woke up to find that Darren was no longer on his bed. She quickly washed up and headed downstairs.

  The aromatic scent of waffles filled the air and Darren sat at the dining table, enjoying his waffle and cereals.

  “Good morning”

  He greeted her.

  “Good morning Darren”

  “ Sit down. Have breakfast.”

  Abby took a seat and quietly ate her breakfast.

  “My grandma is not in today. I have something to let you sign”

  “What is it?”

  He handed her an envelope which Abby found a long document inside.

  “Sign it. It is an agreement between you and me. You will stay in this residence where I will provide for you, until the baby is born. Once our baby is born, we will divorce and you will leave the residence, where the baby will stay with me. I will take good care of our baby, don’t you worry. During your stay, you are not to develop any feelings of that sort for me.

  She felt aggrieved. She didn’t know that there had been an agreement to the marriage. She thought that she had found someone who wanted to take care of her.

  “ I am sorry for being such a bastard. I am sorry…I still love Tiffany”

  He looked ashamed. He knew that he had tricked her into marrying him. He knew that he had hurt her.

  Abby took the pen and she signed the paper, trying to swallow the tears which had been forming at the brim of her eyes. She had no choice. She had already married him.

  9 months later and I would marry Tiffany, he thought. He just needed her understanding at this point.

  Darren kept the papers and hurriedly went upstairs. He slumped onto the sofa in his study room and he switched on his labtop. Tiffany was online and he made a video call request to her on Skype.

  Tiffany was excited to see Darren making a request as well, and she quickly accepted.

  “Darren! Sorry I have been so busy lately. I haven’t had the time to talk to you here”

  “ It is okay, Tiffany. I love you so much”

  “ Are you okay, Darling? You look like you have something on your mind..”

  “ Nah I am fine.. I just wanted to check how you have been and what you have been up to you lately..”

  “Haha.. I have been preparing for a new concert. Life is so busy as usual. How is Grandma?”

  “Grandma’s fine. Her health is good and she is very active for her age.. She has been attending frequent yoga lessons”

  “That’s great! How is my little Prissy doing?”

  “ Oh! Little Prissy is a little sad after she has not seen you in ages. I am going to pick her up from the pet hotel later.”

  “Pet hotel? Why did you leave her there?”

  Darren gulped. He had left her there because the domestic helpers had left for their hometowns for a short while and that his family had attended him and Abby’s wedding.

  “The pet hotel has a great salon service! I sent her there to trim her long coat”

  “Oh I see! Yeah you should! Little Prissy’s coat gets long really quickly. Did you miss me?”

  “Of course I did! You know I want you back more than anything….When are you coming back?”

  “I will be back in April! I know it is not very soon but I am trying!”

  The pair exchanged sweet nothings with each other until Abby was called by her director.

  He switched off his laptop and saw Abby by the door.

  �
��Sorry I didn’t mean to eavesdrop! I just wanted to ask you what you want for lunch. So I could make you some food…”

  He smiled. Abby was a really kind and sweet girl. She was a good wife, alright. But he loved Tiffany.

  “ I am fine with anything…okay..hmm..just make me a sandwich”

  The next morning. Grandma had returned home. She had purchased so many things! It was a busy morning for Abby since she had to prepare to go for her check-up. Grandma urged Darren to go along with Abby.

  “But she’s old enough to go on her own!”

  He retorted.

  “ It is okay, Grandma..I can go on my own..”

  “ NO! Darren, go along with her. My word is final!”

  Darren shrugged and he nodded his head reluctantly. He gave Abby an irritated look and picked up the car keys. Abby felt bad that he was being forced to accompany her. Somehow, he looked good even when he was throwing a tantrum.

  Chapter 11

  The Search

  At the clinic, Abby had to lift her dress upwards, which exposed her pink underwear. Darren flushed and she flushed too, since he had never seen her in her underwear before in the light.

  “ So nice of your husband to accompany you for your check-up. You must love your wife very much right?”

  Darren hesitated for a moment, staring at the embarrassed Abby, and he nodded his head forcefully.

  “ Alright. That is all for today! Everything is fine! See you next month!”

  Outside the clinic, Darren told Abby that he was going to pick up Little Prissy from the pet hotel and that if she liked, she could go with him. Otherwise, she could go shop around, as long as she returned home in one peace. Abby followed Darren to the pet hotel where they picked up a white Persian cat which meowed at Abby when it saw her.

  “ Awww so cute!”

  Abby went forward and cradled the cat in her hands.

  “ Yeah it’s Tiffany’s”

  Abby paused for a thought and she nodded.

  “ I see..”

  “ Let’s go home”