Chapter 146 - One Hundred And Forty-six : The Story Of How It Began
Niklaus' point of view
Isabella was right, I caused her death. Everything that happened to Kay Evans was because of me, the blame should be on me.
Where did everything begin to go wrong? After she spiked my drink? After Isabella's birth? After her craziness began? Or just all of the above?
Perhaps, if I had been told earlier that Kay and I would turn out that way, I would never believe it. We had gotten married with the hope that we would develop that love between us and inculcate it into our children.
Children? How funny, just a child we had together separated the marriage.
As everyone knew, after she had successfully drugged me, I forgave her eventually since she was my wife - I couldn't stay angry at her for long, anyway- but the damage had already been done.
The trust I had in her diminished with time and there came the unprepared pregnancy. I was angry I was rushed into fatherhood that quickly but I did my best to show my support. After all, it was my baby, not a monster.
At first, I thought it was normal for a woman in her condition since I sought counsel from medical practitioners and family members, but when I couldn't even leave the house without her going ballistic, I knew it wasn't normal.
"You don't like me anymore because I'm fat "
"You don't find me attractive because of my protruding stomach "
"You're beginning to spend less time with me "
"You no longer look at me with that adoring glint in your eyes "
Those were just many of her numerous nagging which never ceased.
Yet, I never complained, after all, it was her hormones speaking as an inexperienced pregnant teen and I loved her - I consoled myself.
But after Isabella was born Kay became worse, claiming I didn't desire her anymore because she gave birth to my child - note, not our child.
Just to please her, I had to visit the hospital with her to confirm it was safe to resume our bedroom activity.
But at night when we decided to continue where we dropped off before Isabella's birth, Kay stopped halfway.
She complained she doesn't want me to see the stretch marks and baby fat as a result of childbirth.
I assured her she was beautiful the way she was besides, what man thinks of those when having sex but my words fell on deaf ears.
The fire burning between us was doused completely that night. What I thought would occur just once became a daily occurrence to the extent I didn't hope or look forward to sleeping with my wife anymore - I had to put that little dragon man into submission each time the urge came.
But that was not the end, Kay became so paranoid that I couldn't even respond to the greetings from the maidservants at my place; said I was having an affair with any one of them that glanced my way.
Just to please and prove my innocence, all the female servants had to be replaced with the males but she wasn't still satisfied - She wanted me chained to her side.
Thanks to her incessant nagging, I dreaded coming home having known I wouldn't have a moment of peace with her.
So I spent late nights at the office even though I wasn't the CEO then, with the hope she would have fallen asleep by the time I was home. Unlike what I thought, that approach made things worse.
When Kay discovered my latest tactics, she cried, raved, and threw every tantrum known to man just to stop me from returning home.
She laid a guilt trip on me, saying I was busy frolicking with other women while she was left alone to take care of our three years old daughter - in reality, I was avoiding her, avoiding this.
Because of the love, I had for her; the times we spent together; the promise I made to her on the wedding altar, and the fact I couldn't take her heartbreaking sobs anymore, I became obedient to her wishes once more.
Until a day came, I couldn't take it anymore; I burst out - I wanted a divorce. I was sick of that bondage, I needed to leave that prison.
To some people, marriage was nothing but a chain wrapped around the neck and I was one of them.
When they heard of the divorce issue, our both families didn't support my idea - Both families had always been close, our separation would bring a division between them -but I had made up my mind already, there was no going back.
For a good six months Kay swore never to sign those papers, she wasn't going to release me to those other women warning my bed.
What other women? Even God knew I had been faithful throughout our marriage though there was temptation everywhere.
Being rich and handsome, I had always been a good catch for women generally. Many gold-diggers tried to seduce me, but I resisted all of their sly moves because of my wife and the sake of my child - I didn't want to be tagged as an unfaithful husband and father.
When none of her tricks worked on me - I was already familiar and immune to them- Kay gave in but on one condition, she would be the one to train up, Isabella.
That decision to hand my daughter over to her was my worst mistake but during that period, I just wanted to be free from her.
Being with Kay those months were hell on earth, I couldn't express my thoughts and opinion in fear of upsetting her. Her hysteria could last from any minute to an hour; it was always exhausting calming her down.
We separated eventually and my joy knew no bounds. All those times she had been suffocating me, it was so hard to breathe but now, the air had returned to my lungs.
From that day onward I swore off love, deciding never to give this heart to any woman ever again. Women were nothing but playthings and so my womanizing days began officially.
I became addicted to the taste of freedom after so many years of bondage, yet still didn't forget my responsibility to my daughter.
Though I was granted visiting rights by the court but each time I visited, my ex-wife wouldn't let me see her.
"You don't deserve to be her father, if you really love her, you would give her a complete family"
Sadly for Kay after our divorce, I became wise and knowledgeable to her wiles. It was as if the scale covering my eyes previously fell off and my eyes were open to realize my wife was a good manipulator.
That tricky woman tried to guilt-trip me into accepting her back but that was never happening, I left.
Knowing I would try to reach our daughter through school and playtime with other kids, Kay homeschooled Isabella and never once made her leave her side.
Then I began to hear odd news that she was crazy, I was worried over my daughter - a crazy woman wasn't fit to be the mother of my child.
With the influence of my family, I took Isabella away from Evan's. Yet it didn't go well, Isabella was so used to her mother that she came down with illness the first night she spent with us.
Kay's parents came pleading the next day for us to return their granddaughter- Isabella was the only thing keeping the rest of kay's sanity intact.
I refused but Adam changed my mind coupled with the fact the girl wouldn't stop asking about her mother.
Isabella returned to her and in exchange, I received more time to spend with my daughter whenever I visited.
Of course, her maneuvers never ended even to the extent of lying about our daughter's health and all, yet didn't give in until one day.
On the day of the deal with Sakuzi, for some unknown reasons, I had a bad premonition and a strong urge to visit my daughter.
But when I reached kay's manor that night, we had an intense argument. She questioned me about my recent relationship with a celebrity-I couldn't quite remember her name anymore.
I reminded her that she didn't have the right to question my personal life since we weren't together anymore.
After saying good night to my daughter, I drove off to the secret location with no idea that Kay had sneaked into the booth of my car - she probably thought I was going to see one of my lovers.
In the warehouse we had chosen, the transaction was going well until the siren sounded; the police were here.
Sakuzi, thinking I had betrayed him, opened fire on us thus, a shootout began.
I was busy defending and protecting my men when I saw it, Kay came out of her hiding place.
Everyone happened in slow motion:
"Niklaus! " She had yelled my name amid the heated altercations with Sakuzi and his men.
"Get the hell on the floor!" I instructed her while dodging the bullets flying from all directions.
But that crazy woman shook her head instead and started towards me and I watched it happen, she got caught in the crossfire.
A bullet fired by Sakuzi's eldest son shot her straight in the heart - an instant kill.
I froze, shock, and disbelief washing over me as I watched Kay Evans slump to the ground.
"No! " I roared.
In that moment of anger, I lifted my gun and shot back at him; Kay's murderer.
That was how it all began, the bad blood with Sakuzi.
After Kay's burial, her family released Isabella who I handed over to my father; the guilt of her mother's death couldn't allow me to stare at her face.
Visit freewe𝑏no(v)el.𝘤𝑜𝓂 for the best novel reading experience