Julian was shocked; she paused in her strides, rooted to the spot.
"You- You'" she stuttered
Natalie turned towards the stairs without giving her a second glance.
She had had enough of this whole drama.
On her fourth climb, she stopped and turned to look at the head maidservant, Mrs. Clara.
"I want all this mess of a decoration out by the time I get up from bed, and I need a cup of coffee and some snacks in my room. Thank you"
"Yes, young Madam," she responded. Natalie nodded and continued her ascent up the stairs to her room. She was in dire need of a hot bath, some food, and a clear head. She would need her strength for the war coming.
Natalie wasted no time clicking the door shut and flinging her purse onto her bed. She flung her sandals to some part of the room and headed for the adjoining closet to pick up some nightwear.
She headed for the bathroom and wasted no time in letting the robe slip from her shoulders as she entered the tub. The water felt refreshing, causing a sigh to escape her lips.
Her mind trailed off to Daniel, and her eyes got cloudy. The tears were threatening to spill. She thought long and hard, wondering what she could have ever done to lose her husband's heart.
She did everything he wanted.
She stopped working because he wouldn't let her, and had to put her dreams on hold.
She became a housewife, did everything she could to show her submissiveness, not just to him but to his mother.
She never refused him intimacy despite his infidelity.
'Stupid,' she muttered, sniffing and wiping her tears off, then stood up weakly, heading for her room.
Knock knock…The sound from the door.
Natalie walked to the door in her robe to find the maid with some snacks and coffee. Without a word, she made way for her entrée and watched as she placed the meal on the bedside stool.
The maid soon left, leaving Natalie to her space.
Natalie calmly locked the door and walked to the bed, and picked up her cup of coffee when her phone rang. She dropped it to pick up her phone, then saw the caller.
She picked and held her breath.
"What is up with you, Natalie, and why is Mum calling to complain about you again. Why didn't you get home early to help with the house arrangements for her birthday, and since when did you grow so much that you do not respect your elders? Look, I do not have time to handle these petty matters; you know better. Stop creating drama. Mum is elderly, you ought to listen to her. She knows best."
Click.
She hung up without saying a word and blocked him.
Natalie took in another deep breath and released it shakily as she walked to sit at the edge of the bed, just by the bedside stool. She sat looking dazed and completely lost.
Her phone rings again.
She doesn't hear it for a long time until the caller rang the third time, bringing her back to earth.
She picked it up without looking at the phone screen quietly.
"Natalie, what happened? I've been trying to reach you all day."
"I am tired, Kayla," she said softly.
Sensing Natalie's demeanor from over the phone, Kayla sighed.
"It's Daniel, isn't it?" She asks
Natalie sniffed. "It's everything, Kayla, it's Daniel, his mum, and me." She said, bursting into tears.
"I don't know who I am anymore.' She said in between tears. "I'm drowning in so much pain, it hurts." She said, crying loudly.
Kayla soothes her over the phone, pacifying her until Natalie quieted down.
"Deep breaths, girl. Tell me, what happened?"
After Natalie quieted down, she began to narrate the previous evening's experience and the most recent. Kayla chips in a couple of encouraging words and pleads with her to calm down.
"Is something wrong with me?" Natalie asks suddenly
"Don't you dare, girl. You are not going to second-guess yourself or, worse, look down on yourself. You are one of the most caring, talented, super smart, and, not to mention, world-class beauty I know, and I will be damned if I sit here and watch you beat yourself silly or question your worth.
Natalie smiled, "You are just saying that to make me smile."
"You know I don't joke around, Natalie. I have an idea.
"What is it?"
"How about you come overseas. Take a break, to you know, find yourself. A girl's trip?"
"That would be nice," Natalie replied as she leaned back into her bed. "But, not now, though. I still have some issues to discuss with Daniel and to see if we could have some conversations about our marriage and everything in between."
"What could there be to talk about? Honestly, babe, I think you should consider a divorce.
"But-"
"No buts, Natalie,' Kayla cuts in. "I know you love him, yes. But does he love you?"
Natalie sighed, a deep frown on her forehead as her heartbeat grew louder.
"Maybe once upon a time he did, but his actions for the past three years scream otherwise. People fall in and out of love."
Kayla continues, her anger skyrocketing as she is no longer able to hold her anger at the scum bag of a husband, her best friend is married to.
"And enough of the excuses, Natalie. Marriage should be a happy place between you and your significant other. What use is it when you have you, his crazy mum, and numerous sexual partners in the mix? What use is it when he talks down to you the way he does? God forbid he hits you!" She stopped suddenly as though hit by lightning.
"Has he hit you?" she asked.
Natalie gasped.
"Heavens, Kayla! He would never."
"You're sure you're not covering up for that scumbag, because he had better not." She retorted.
Her fierce protection brought a smile to Natalie's face despite the chaos in her heart.