CHELSEA

[Flashback]

"Harder! Push harder! More, Chelsea! Come on, Chelsea, you know you're capable of it!" After hearing what Nicolas had to say, I mustered every ounce of energy I had left and pressed on.

"Oh goodness!” I cried out in pain as I continued to push harder.

"A little boy!" The matron exclaimed, joyfully.

Just as I was about to look at my baby, another agony then coursed through me, forcing me to grab Nicolas' hand even more tightly, both of us shrieking in anguish.

“Ahhhhh!” Just as I was about to gaze at my baby boy, another pain then coursed through me.

"Damn it, please don't say there’s another one," I uttered, crying in pain.

Nicolas let out a shout, “Chelsea!”

"Ms. Sheldon, we are going to require you to push even more for us. Is that good with you? There will be one more child joining the family soon.”

‘Oh heck no! Twins? I will have two babies?’

I wasn't prepared for one kid, so the idea of having two was completely out of the question.

It was a poor decision on my part to wait until the last minute to find out what I was going to give birth with. I didn’t go for an ultrasound to reveal the gender of the baby. So here I am, paying the price.

"I can no longer do it, please. I really feel so exhausted. It’s too painful. Oh, please!” I yelled out as I shed another tear.

I was going to cry out for more in anguish when Nicholas beat me to it and sent another wave of discomfort across my body.

"Chelsea, come on! You have my word that if you don't start pushing that goddamn kid out, I will put an end to your life!”

[End of flashback]

….

And here is just another reason why Heidi is a little miracle.

As soon as I stepped inside the café, I was welcomed by the intoxicating aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

‘Oh, I've been so lost without this smell.’

Since there seemed to be just one other customer in line, I went ahead and stood behind them while I perused the menu.

That’s it, the perfect drink for Maxwell. After taking my eyes from the menu for a moment, I saw that the gentleman had not yet completed his order.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry to tell you this, but I don't have a single penny on me. Please release me from this obligation as soon as possible.” The man uttered, with a slight of trembling voice.

"I am sorry, sir, but you will not be allowed to leave until the drink that you ordered has been paid for."

‘Damn this guy, for real?’

"How much does he owe you?" I inquired with the teller. After she informed me that it would cost just amount of cents, I rummaged through my purse in an attempt to locate any pennies to pay her.

In the end, the only currency I had on me consisted of nickels, dimes, and a few quarters. I was just carrying a few coins with me.

“Don't be concerned about the change, Miss,” I replied as the girl glanced at me in what seemed to be amazement before she picked up the penny.

"I can't thank you enough! I informed that cretin that he did not provide me with sufficient penny for this beverage. May I know your name-" After turning around, the guy posed the question.

I could tell by the expression on his face how surprised he was to see me as I turned around. And same goes with me.

It wasLeo, of all people.Leo was my former spouse's closest and most trusted buddy.

The same gentleman who attended our wedding and served as my ex-husband's best man.

"Chelsea?" He stared at me in a way that suggested he had seen a spirit.

‘Damn it. If he’s in this location, then it is quite likely that Raphael is not far away.’ I thought as I nervously smiled at him.

I immediately turned around and communicated my request to the girl while praying that the time would pass more quickly.

After that, I went to the counter where the drinks are created and waited for the other person to complete what he was doing there.

This day just cannot be much worse than it already is.

"Chelsea what are you up to in the town of Mourningham? You must be aware that Raphael has been searching for…"

"It makes no difference to me why I'm here. And he had no right to come searching for me since I cheated on him, don't you remember?” I said that without a pause, avoiding making eye contact with him.

I interrupted him once more just as he was about to say anything. "I didn't come here to find someone to have idle conversation with. I came here to get some drinks. If you’ll excuse me.”

As soon as the man put the drinks down on the counter, I handed the lady the appropriate amount of money and paid for them.

Before I headed out the door, I stopped to get some beverages at the counter.

Once I was outside, I started walking back in the way that I had come, but I stopped when I heard someone slam a door.

I turned my head to gaze in that way and came to a complete stop as soon as I spotted him. The person I never wished to see this moment.

‘Raphael… So you’re really here…’

I immediately reversed course and made sure that the annoyingly long and wavy hair that was framing my face was out of the way as I proceeded to go in the direction that led to the building.

"Hey! Have you considered getting any assistance with those?”

‘Oh my gosh, it sounded completely different even in his voice!’

Wait, what the fuck is going on? Why am I behaving like a young teenage girl while I'm already in my mid-twenties?

Before speaking in a lower tone, I swallowed many times to clear my throat. "Uh, no thanks man, I'm good. I can handle it alone,” I stated without even gazing up at him.

‘What did I just call him? Man? What was that, Chelsea Sheldon?’

I can't believe how stupid I am. I didn't bother waiting for an answer before I sped away from him and towards the building in order to bring Maxwell's his coffee.

I would say anything like that could never happen again, but the guy who divorced me over few years ago is someone I will ultimately have to see, tomorrow.

After all these years, we will meet again.

RAPHAEL

Time passed like a rapid storm. A few years had already passed in just a snap.

And it's been almost five years since I committed the worst decision I made out of my whole life.

And it meant parting ways with my wife, Chelsea.

I was too naïve back then, believing that such graphic images were truly representations of real events. And because of that, I lost her.

As soon as Chelsea moved out from our house, I started slacking off in terms of my job.

I was so certain that she had cheated on me that I couldn't even bring myself to pursue a new relationship or even just get laid while I was still under the impression that she had done so. It was impossible to imagine her acting in such a way.

My own mother would not even let me to see her or my father until I had put things right with her, and my father was in agreement with this decision.

When I would attempt to come over, he would always speak about how much he missed his daughter-in-law and how much of a fool I am to even consider Chelsea doing such a thing.

Wasn't he also blaming her for what happened?

And I am well aware that I committed one of the most serious errors that a man is ever capable of doing. I was an idiot who let his rage and envy cloud his judgment, and as a result, I fell for a trap.

Trapped by who? Who’s behind this scheme and why I let my marriage get ruined?

I have a few theories about it already, but after years had passed, I still haven't figured it out yet.

Chelsea begged me to trust her, but she swore under oath that she had not cheated, and I just refused to accept her.

‘Fuck… fucking other men? What are you saying? Are you kidding me Raphael!’

‘So, you assume me of cheating and chose to ignore me for nearly a month instead of confronting me about it? What the hell, Raph! I haven't and never cheated on you! You're my first everything and cheating on you was never on my mind!’

‘Please, Raphael!’

These are the words that kept resurfacing in my mind every time I think about Chelsea and that night, the night we had a major argument. The night I proposed a divorce to her to which she accept.

And after the divorce, everything was ruined. After giving each image a careful examination, I was able to determine that the lady shown in those photos did not in any way resemble her. They had in fact been modified; I have no idea what was going through my head.

I have searched for Chelsea in every possible location, but it seems as if she has just left our world and relocated to another one.

Even though there was no trace of Nicolas in North Cardova following our most recent meeting there, I went looking for him nevertheless. Consequently, I reasoned that they must be present together in some location.

Even if they weren't dating, the very idea of them being in the same roof made my anger boil at the prospect of them seeing one other after all of these years.

Chelsea is my wife, and she will always be. And she needs to be with me.

I had such a strong desire to talk to her. To see her. To apologize to her. To communicate with her. Try to touch her one more time.

Hear her giggle anytime I attempted to prepare breakfast or made jokes that were too simplistic. If necessary, I would even ask her to give me another opportunity to prove myself, which is something I would do without hesitation.

Since I haven't been able to find Chelsea, my life has returned to the dull state it was in before I met Chelsea.

…..

As I waited forLeo to finish buying the coffee, I looked out the window and watched the vehicles go by. I checked my watch and it's been nearly five minutes since he was last seen in there.

“What’s taking that man so long?” Getting a cup of coffee shouldn't even take that long; it shouldn't take that long.

Before slamming the door behind me in exasperation, I switched off the vehicle's engine and then stepped out of the vehicle.

I strolled across the street and was about to enter the tiny café when I observed a small person strolling with her hands full.

At that moment, I turned around and continued walking. I have no idea why, but I had the overwhelming need to assist the young lady.

"Hey! Have you considered getting any assistance with those?” I stated out of concern as I got closer to her as I was walking.

"Uh, no thanks man, I'm good. I can handle it alone," she said. The young lady talked hastily while making an effort to use a low voice.

I came to a halt in my approach to her and observed, rather perplexed, as she picked up her pace.

"Okay?" I mumbled something under my breath before turning to enter the coffee shop. Just as I was approaching the door,Leo rushed out and stood there staring at me in disbelief.

"My dear friend! Before you say anything, you didn't give me enough penny, so I had to stand there like a broke person while an old friend of ours helped me out. Do you realize that I was really strapped for a small amount cash? Five cents, Raphael! Five cents!"

It was an exclamation he made as he pushed the beverage into my hand.

"An old friend?"

"I had a lot to say and that’s the only thing you focused about? Well, yes. You didn't see her?" He asked.

"Who?" I was beginning to feel aggravated by the situation.

Justin then proceeded to grin in an odd manner at me before shaking his head and heading towards the vehicle.

"Oh, bro, you’re hopeless. But, never mind."

‘Who could that old friend be?’