CHAPTER 72
ROBERT’S POV
~ “Just pass the phone to her,” I insisted, becoming impatient and angrier.
“I can’t.”
“Why?” My brows pinched in sharply.
“Because she’s dead.” ~
Noah’s words hit like a thunderbolt, leaving me confused and speechless. Blinking repeatedly, I brought the phone down from my ear and checked the screen to make sure I was speaking with the right person. And yes I was, Raphael Walsh the same man Scarlett left for me, Jake’s biological father.
“This is some serious talk, Raphael,” I said as I brought the phone back to my ear. “Are you being serious right now or is this some trick…? Did Scarlett tell you to do this so she can escape me and what’s coming for her? I know she’s there with you. Pass the fucking phone to her or else I swear I’ll come over there and make you regret it.” Anger lit up my tone as I vented my frustration on him.
“I’m serious, Robert,” he said, his voice heavy and trembling, as if he was on the verge of tears. “I’m telling you the truth. Scarlett is dead. She overdosed last night. When I came home from work, I found her lying on the bathroom floor with empty bottles of pills and insecticides scattered everywhere. It was unbearable…”
His voice broke off mid-sentence, tinged with an emotion so raw and painful I could feel it from my end.
“She killed herself, Robert. I…I’m still in shock. I just don’t understand how this could have happened… Everything was going fine…I had forgiven her for leaving me and promised to love her till the end of days… we were going to raise our son together and become the perfect happy family. Yet, she threw all that away and killed herself as if we didn’t matter without a clue on why she did it. I haven’t told our son yet. I left him at a friend’s place. I’m just confused. I don’t know how to break the news to him…”
I kept calm and took a deep breath, my breath catching and heavy on my lungs. This wasn’t some joke or trick. He was being deadly serious. For what Scarlett did, I wanted a death penalty for her to even the scales but after hearing the sudden news of her suicide, I was conflicted, not knowing how to feel.
The thought of the devastating effects this will have on Jake if he learns about it only made me feel worse. The poor boy wasn’t even up to ten years old but would have to live the rest of his life without a mother. How could Scarlett have been so selfish as not to consider him before choosing to do something this crazy? She might not have been the best mother, but the least she could have done was stay alive to watch her son grow, to see him become someone in life. A parent’s presence is irreplaceable, it shapes their children’s lives in ways nothing else can.
It dawned on me that Jake could have been her one saving grace if she hadn’t killed herself. Considering him, I don’t think I would have gone ahead with seeking the death penalty or even jailing her for life. Though what she did was cruel and unforgivable. If my father heard about it and she was close, he would have probably shot her to death immediately with his double barrel. But the last thing I want is to do anything that’ll hurt Jake or make him suffer, and taking his mother from him was one such thing. Even though he wasn’t my biological son and I shouldn’t be bothered, I had created a strong inseparable bond with him over the past nine years we were together and I can’t bear the thought of seeing him unhappy or in pain.
“Please help me, Robert…” Raphael’s tear-stricken voice trailed off pitifully.
I felt for him. I really did. But in this kind of situation, I didn’t know what to do or how best to handle it. I was never good at comforting grieving people and didn’t like staying around them.
“I’ll come over first thing in the morning to pick Jake up. He can stay with me for the time being while you sort things out and get hold of yourself,” I managed to say since that was the only assistance I could think of. I just hope my mother and the rest of the family will accept Jake back even though he wasn’t our flesh and blood. I had seen how my mother behaved the day he left the mansion with Scarlett and Raphael and it wasn’t nice at all because he still considered her as his granny.
“Thank you so much,” he said, feeling very grateful like I had done a huge favour for him.
I was a bit hesitant to offer that kind of assistance. A part of me had thought he wouldn’t agree to his son spending another second with the man his wife left him for and filled his paternal position for the past nine years, and would have continued if he hadn’t shown up and the truth surfaced. In normal conditions, he should have hated me and seen me as his greatest rival but he didn’t. That made me know he was a good person.
“You’re welcome,” I said with a slight nod of my head. “But sooner or later you’ll have to tell him about his mother’s death. If you don’t and he somehow finds out from somewhere else, trust me it won’t be good.”
“I promise I will,” he said while still feeling grateful. “Thank you again for your help. I really appreciate it.”
“You said something about Scarlett escaping you and what was coming for her at the beginning of the call. What did you mean by that? Did something happen?” He asked curiously, suddenly putting me in a tight corner as I didn’t expect it.
“Forget it,” I said with a forced smile as if he could see me. “It’s nothing to be bothered about. Just get some rest and stop worrying for your sake and that of your kid. You’re all he’s got now so you have to stay strong for him.”
“Ok,” he let out a deep, loud breath.
We talked a little more about Scarlett, the morgue her body was taken to and his plans for her funeral. But I wasn’t really into the talk. I couldn’t care less about the person who orchestrated my grandpa’s death and made me mistreat and send Lily away. But for his sake and Jake’s, I forced myself to listen and offer support.
After he cut the call, I couldn’t help thinking why Scarlett would choose to take her life. Though she put herself in a terrible situation, she was beautiful and always got what she wanted for how long I have known her. Perhaps, she was still hurting from what she did to me. I never forgave her and treated her very harshly. Maybe she couldn’t bear living with the guilt and shame and felt ending her life was her only escape or was there s piece in the puzzle I was missing? Again? But whatever it was, I didn’t want to dig further and find out. It’s of no use. She’s gotten the punishment she deserves.
As I tucked my phone back into my suit pocket and headed back inside, I saw that Frank had the lady all tied up and immobilized as if she were some dangerous criminal. As my gaze settled on her, I couldn’t help but ask, “Scarlett is dead. She committed suicide last night. Tell me, did you have a hand in her doing this?”