"Miss Foster, please listen to me and sign the consent form, so we can start your treatment right away. Your cancer is already at its last stage, and as it is, there's only a slight chance that the chemotherapy will be successful, so please don't delay this any further." The doctor advised, but Fay kept a blank face.
It was certainly not the first time she had been to the New York City hospital, and it surely wouldn't be the last. The doctor's warning should have induced some kind of fear in her but it didn't, rather it did the opposite.
Faybelle held the diagnosis slip and stared at it absentmindedly. Her face was so pale, that it almost seemed like there was no blood flowing in her veins. She was lean and her muscles felt weak. The pain in her lungs was indescribable, which was surely a direct indication that her life was slowly slipping away.
She didn't know how it happened, but she never could have guessed that she had cancer.
After finding out, any normal person would instantly take any available options to save themselves, but she couldn't - and money certainly wasn't the issue. She had more than enough of it. She couldn't start the chemotherapy because she had to conceive a child at all costs…..
She pursed her lips, and finally turned to the doctor.
"Doctor, when can I get the injection that I came for?"
The doctor sighed, unable to understand her obstinance.
"I've been thinking of telling you that we have to stop the injections. The injection consists of a drug that's meant to suppress the rapid growth of the cancer cells in your lungs, but it unfortunately hasn't been having any effect on you. You've been taking these injections for half a year already, and there's been no improvement at all. Your condition is only getting worse. It's best to give it up, and give chemotherapy a chance, while there's still time."
As the doctor disclosed this, for the first time since she arrived, Faybelle appeared to be visibly shaken. His words were like needles to her already aching heart.
She was dazed for a second, her body began to lean backward, but the doctor quickly intervened and held her up before she could fall.
He spoke with a worried expression.
"Miss Foster, are you OK?" Fay gently rubbed her temple and stood up straight.
"I'm……I'm fine. I don't care how much it costs, you can demand any amount you want. I only want you to keep me alive, without Chemotherapy, for as long as possible."
The doctor hesitated, before replying.
"I really don't get it. Why are you so adamant about this? You won't be able to carry a child in your current condition, and even if you do get pregnant, the chances of survival for you and your child will be very slim."
Fay knew very well that there would be terrible consequences, if she went ahead with this, but she still insisted.
"I know, doctor, but I still want to try, please. If there's even a slim chance that I can birth a child, I'm willing to take it. I want you to please help me in any way you can, doctor, don't take this chance away from me."
Fay pleaded, tears brimming at her eyes.
The doctor sighed deeply, before finally giving in.
"Since you are so insistent, I'll try my best to help you fight this. Just as I've told you before, within 12 to 16 days before your period, is the best time to conceive, so please remember not to miss it."
Fay nodded gratefully. "Thank you so much doctor."
************
By the time Faybelle returned home from the hospital, it was already 9PM.
She walked through the huge, empty villa, lackadaisicaly heading straight for her room.
The place was beautiful, richly furnished, and not lacking in any luxury, but she couldn't bring herself to even smile in there.
The villa was cold, empty and most importantly, held so many painful memories.
She knew very well, more than anyone else, that he hated her - but his angst towards her had only seemed to increase because recently, he had stopped coming home altogether.
She couldn't even remember the last time she saw him, and though it was difficult, she had gotten used to the feeling of loneliness that had been created in her heart.
Whoever thought that money created happiness, was yet to meet her.
She went to the bathroom and took a long shower before returning to the bedroom to get dressed. After contemplating for a bit, she finally picked up her phone, with shaky hands, and hesitantly dialed his number.
No answer.
She wasn't surprised, she knew him well enough to know that he wouldn't take her calls, yet she still dialed again, holding on to a little bit of hope.
He still didn't pick up, and with each failed attempt, her heart skipped a beat, but she still couldn't stop trying. He finally picked the call on the ninth ring.
Her eyes lit up in that instant, her hope slowly returning back to her. She tried to speak but her voice was raspy.
"Treyton…."
Immediately Treyton heard Fay's voice, his thick eyebrows rose in anger.
"Why the hell did you call me? Speak up now! If you have nothing reasonable to say, I'll end the call."
He threatened, his tone lethal. His words tugged heavily at her heart, but she tried to hold back the tears, and speak up quickly, so he wouldn't hang up.
"I….. I agree to the divorce."
The words felt like bile in her mouth, but she had no choice.
There was an awkward silence on the other end of the phone for a few seconds.
"You're not kidding, right? You'd better not be."
"I'm serious. But I have a request, I want you to come back home tonight."
She spoke softly, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. She heard Treyton's scornful laughter, through the phone, and it caused her to shiver.
"What plan could you be cooking up, in that devious mind of yours, this time?"
His sharp voice rang, cutting through her heart like a knife.
Fay took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
"You can think whatever you wish to, but, don't forget, this is your only chance to get rid of me. Unless you want to keep Iris as your mistress forever, and never be able to give her your name, you'll grant my request."
She didn't want to force him, she was just gambling, playing around with the odds, but something told her that he would come.
After all, he was madly in love with, Iris Delaney, and was willing to do anything for her sake.
The phone call ended before she could even finish her thought. She sighed, got up from the bed, and sat down in front of her dresser.
She took a look at herself in the mirror, and could only see a shadow of her former self. She was deathly pale, there were heavy bags under her eyes, and she looked sick.
She smiled sadly.
If he saw her like this, she was almost sure that his hatred for her would only increase.
She picked up the red lipstick, and smeared it on her lips in a fine line, giving life to her cracked, dry lips.
Fay was a natural beauty, she looked absolutely gorgeous, with or without makeup, but she doubted it would even be noticed in her current state.
She directed her gaze to her window and stared at the beautiful starry sky, and she couldn't help thinking about their past with a heavy heart.
So much had happened, much of which, she had little to no control over.
She surely had a lot of regrets, but if there was one thing she would be eternally grateful for, it was their son.
He was a perfect replica of his father, and they were supposed to be a happy family, but fate obviously had other plans.
Their son was currently lying in the ICU, critically ill and waiting to be saved by the bone marrow of a direct sibling.
He was the only reason she would have to endure Treyton's taunts once more.
Nothing mattered more than her son. She had to conceive another child tonight at all costs.
But, what if Treyton refused to show up? What would she do then?
She tried to shake away the bad thoughts but just then, she heard the door of the living room shut harshly.
A small fear washed through her, but it was quickly accompanied by relief - when she realized that it must be Treyton!
Fay quickly stood up and straightened out her dress, ready to go greet him, but she apparently didn't have to as he suddenly barged into the room, an icy expression on his face.
Before she could even open her mouth, he rushed towards her and grabbed her arm roughly, pushing her hard against the wall.
He held both of her arms tightly, keeping her glued to the wall.
His familiar, but intoxicating scent mixed with the strong smell of alcohol and made her heart flutter. He pressed hard against her and Fay could feel how hard he was. As he rubbed against her, a huge blush spread across her cheeks.
She certainly could never have expected his next line of action. He roughly pulled up her gown, even tearing it in the process.
He tore off her panties, grabbed her right leg and mercilessly thrust into her, without any form of warning or foreplay.
