I Hope You Will Never Regret

It was Christmas Eve, and it was raining cats and dogs. At the Martins residence in Mount Edgecombe Estates, South Africa, the atmosphere was tense. August Martins was sitting at the edge of the bed looking at his stunning wife with tender eyes. His gaze was filled with love and affection. August Martins had a calm and graceful aura. His beloved wife, Elizabeth Martins, was breathtakingly beautiful. Elizabeth’s eyes were red, brimming with tears. Her husband tried to coax her to no avail.

“August, I’ve told you several times that I don’t want this baby, but you forced me to keep it. You promised to find a full-time nanny for her, but to date I haven’t seen anyone, and I am due anytime from now.” His wife, Elizabeth Martins, was leaning on the headboard; she was thirty-seven weeks pregnant. She then started sobbing. August’s heart ached when he saw his wife crying. He tried to hold his wife’s hand, but she slapped him. He smiled and said, “Honey, I will bring my daughter’s nanny to the delivery room. Also, I will take care of my baby myself. Please don’t worry your beautiful face about anything. Have I ever lied to you?” He tried to kiss her, but she put her hands in front of her and pushed him. He was caught off guard. He fell on the floor, but he was not angry. He smiled at his wife and shook his head. She was so angry when she saw her husband smiling and said, “It is clear to me that you are taking this matter as a joke. If I don’t see the nanny in the delivery room, don’t blame me if I leave your precious daughter at the hospital.”

When August heard his wife’s words his expression darkened. He looked at his wife with cold eyes and replied, “Elizabeth, I’ve had enough. Did you forget that before we got married you promised me a big family? I am tired of your nagging. Since we have built this marriage on lies, why don’t you abort this child and get out of my house?” Elizabeth was so shocked she couldn’t believe her ears. Was her husband chasing her out of their house? She stopped crying, she was expecting her husband to hold her in his arms and coax her. It was clear to her that it was her wishful thinking. She knew that she had gone overboard. She wanted to apologize but pride held her back. She was praying to give birth to a stillborn. She hated her unborn baby to the core. She vowed that she would make her life miserable.

Her husband walked to his closet and took his jacket, and then he looked at his wife and said, “When I get back, I don’t want to see you again. Do whatever you want with the baby, I don’t care anymore.” He headed down to the living room and asked Rose Walker, the housekeeper, to pack everything for his wife. He then told his butler, Bruce King, to drive his wife wherever she wanted to go. Butler Bruce was puzzled, since Mrs Martins was heavily pregnant, but he didn’t ask. He left his house in heavy spirits. He went to his garage and walked to his black Mercedes Benz SL 65 and drove away.

August Martins was so sad for his unborn baby. When they were dating, his wife promised him a big family. However, after they got married, she told her husband that she didn’t want to have kids. In the end, she compromised to give him one child. After she gave birth to their son, Aiden, her fallopian tubes were permanently blocked. Three years later, Elizabeth Martins became pregnant again. When she discovered that she was pregnant she was so angry she wanted to sue the hospital. She told her husband that she wanted to abort the baby. However, her husband threatened her with a divorce. From that day onwards, there was no harmony in their house.

He drove his car to his company, the Martins Group. It was so quiet because it was the festive season; Martins Group’s employees were on holiday. Only the security guards were present. He didn’t even switch on the lights in his office; he sat in darkness in deep thoughts. His deepest regret was marrying his wife, Elizabeth. The Martins family was one of the wealthiest families in the country. The Martins Group had a number of businesses from hotels chains, restaurants, imports and exports, resorts and construction industry. They had dominated the construction industry for a decade.

At that moment, he received a call from his friend, Paul Evans. He was fifteen years older than August Martins. Paul and August met at the orphanage. When August was one day old, Pastor Basil found him at the church doorsteps. He held the child in his arms and blessed him. He looked at the baby smiling broadly and said, “You will be called August and you will be great. May the Lord bless you with wisdom and peace. I pray that everything you touch turns into gold.” Then he took baby August to His Miracle Orphanage.

As soon as August learnt to walk, he was following Paul around. Paul took him under his wing and protected him. After his 18th birthday, the orphanage hired him as a security guard. When August was six years old, he was adopted by the Martins couple. They treated him as their own son. August was highly intelligent, he skipped grades at school. At a young age, he started investing in stock markets. He earned a lot of money and he established the Martins Group when he was sixteen years old. He asked his friend, Paul, to resign from the orphanage and went to university to study. He gave him a lot of money to start his business. However, he didn’t have business acumen and his company went bankrupt.This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

August Martins helped Paul Evans nine years ago in a critical situation. After that incident, August offered him a job at the Martins Group as Construction Director. August smiled and said, “Hello Paul, how are you?” Paul replied, grinning from ear to ear, “Hello August, we are well, thank you. Are you at home?” August told him that he was in the office. Paul indicated that he was on his way. Then they hung up. August switched on the lights and walked to the window. The Martins Group was facing the Mount Edgecombe Golf Club. The scenery was breathtaking. He was thinking about the love they shared with his wife, Elizabeth, before they got married. He was reminded of all the promises she made to him; it was clear to him that it was all lies. Since that day she wanted to abort his child, something had been dead in his heart. The love he had for her had faded.

At the Martins residence, the housekeeper, Rose Walker, walked into her boss’ bedroom with empty boxes to pack her Madam’s stuff. Her heart ached for her boss because he was a good man. She smiled and greeted Mrs Martins with respect, “Madam, I am here to help you with your packing.” Elizabeth laughed out loud and replied, “My husband was just joking I am not going anywhere. Please put those boxes away.” Rose Walker looked at her with questioning eyes, then she left Mrs Martins’ bedroom without uttering a word. She then took her phone and dialed Mr Martins’ number. When it was connected, she said, “August, your wife indicated that she was not leaving. What should I do?” Mr Martins sighed and replied, “Aunt Rose, let her be.” Then they hung up. He called his butler and told him that his wife was no longer leaving.

Half an hour later, Paul Evans arrived at the Martins Group. He greeted his friend and asked, “How is beautiful Elizabeth?” August looked at his friend with sadness in his eyes and replied, “Let’s not talk about her, my friend. Please ask your lovely wife to find me a full-time nanny. I prefer an older woman, someone who would not be scared of my wife. How is your family?” Paul smiled broadly and replied, “They are busy preparing for the Art Exhibition. My daughter asked me to remind you about the Art Exhibition on the 5th of January.” August smiled broadly and replied, “I will be there to give her support.” Paul was happy to hear that, and then he gave his boss feedback about their current project. Six years ago, the Martins Group won the government tender to build the largest concrete gravity-arch hybrid dam in Durban. When completed, it would serve as a water reservoir and tourist attraction.

An hour later, they went to His Mercy restaurant for lunch, which was under the Martins Group. His Mercy restaurant was famous for its delicious food. The restaurant manager, Mr Sands, ushered them to the private room, then he took their orders. Mr Martins had ordered Chef Stuart’s signature dish which was a Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Blue Cheese Sauce served with grilled veggies. Mr Evans had ordered Roast Rack of Lamb served with crushed potatoes and creamy spinach. A few minutes later, their food was served. It was mouth-watering. Two hours later they left the restaurant and walked to their cars. August looked at Paul and said, “Please don’t forget to ask your lovely wife to look for an old lady for me. Send my regards to your beautiful family. I will see them on the 5th.” They shook their hands, and then they got in their cars and drove away.