The Billionaire's Wife by N'Dia Rae

Author:N'Dia Rae [Rae, N'Dia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-05-27T00:00:00+00:00

19

Haven

The news didn't just crush my spirit, it shattered it into a million irretrievable pieces. I couldn't breathe, the weight of it all suffocating me. My heart physically ached, as if it had been ripped out of my chest. I wanted to collapse and fade away, to join her in whatever afterlife there may be. But I couldn't. I was stuck in this endless agony.

When Arlan rang the doorbell, Smoke checked the camera and a chill ran down my spine. His usually cool face contorted with worry and dread. I knew without even opening the door that something terrible had happened. My connection with her was so deep that I could sense when she was no longer alive. And now, she was gone...and I could do nothing but wait for the dreadful truth to be revealed behind that door.

“Who is it?” I asked.

“Arlan.”

“Oh, let’s go let him in,” I tried to be chipper. But whatever he saw in Arlan wasn’t chipper. It was devastation. He could see it on Arlan’s face and I could see it on his.

“Okay,” he replied, his voice heavy with anticipation. I held my breath as we walked to the front door, my heart pounding in my chest. Through the frosted glass, I could see Arlan's red eyes and his pained expression.

Smoke opened the door and before he even had a chance to speak, Arlan broke down in tears. They flowed freely from his eyes, a dam finally bursting open. He didn't need to say anything for us to know the news.

“She's dead,” he choked out between sobs.

“Fuck,” Smoke cursed loudly.

“No, no, no, no!” I cried out as I collapsed to my knees. Smoke helped me up as I wailed uncontrollably. Arlan joined us on the couch, his face buried in his hands as he sobbed.

“I'll be back,” Smoke said, excusing himself from the room. He returned with tissues and water bottles.

“I need something stronger than that,” Arlan said as he reached for a bottle of water from Smoke.

“Please bring the whiskey from upstairs,” I requested desperately.

In a matter of moments, Smoke returned with a tray holding three tumblers and a bottle of whiskey. We sat together on the couch, drinking and mourning our dear friend Dru.

Arlan quickly downed his drink and poured himself another before finally opening up about what had happened. By now, the alcohol had taken its toll and his words were slurred and unsteady.

“They called two days ago to tell me they found a body,” he announced tearfully.

“What?! Why didn’t you tell me?” I shouted at him.

“Haven, let him finish,” Smoke sternly interjected.

“I’m listening,” I sighed.

As Arlan spoke, the tears rolled down his cheeks and his voice shook with emotion. "They found a severely burned woman's body that fit Dru's description," he said, his words coming out in broken sobs. "But they couldn't identify her. They told me they needed to match dental records. I didn't tell you because I was holding on to some hope. I was hoping the dental records would come back and it wouldn't be her.

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