Wife By Benefits

Prologue

The night was bleak; the sky gray and overcast. The phone call from the hospital has woken Nathaniel Carter from a sound slumber. His son Kenneth and daughter Olivia lay beside him on his king-size bed. His wife Natasha has been admitted to hospital over two weeks ago. She fell in a coma caused by a terrible car accident. Because of her critical condition, Natasha has been placed in the intensive care unit.

Matters, however, had quickly turned for the worst. Natasha’s spine had been broken; six of her ribs pierced her lungs, cutting her airway, making her slip into coma faster. After two weeks of sitting by her bedside, Dr. Quentin sent him home, promising to immediately contact Nathaniel if there were any changes. Now he was proving true to his word.

"Mr. Carter, can you come to the hospital? It’s urgent," Dr. Quentin said on the other line.

"Is there something wrong? Is my wife okay?" Nathaniel demanded, hearing the weary frustration in the physician's voice, which wasn't a good sign.

"It'd be best if you come to the hospital. I'll explain things better once you're here."

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The hard sound of a fist hitting a smooth surface echoed throughout the doctor's office.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. Not like this.

An hour after arriving at the hospital, Nathaniel Carter's heart broke into tiny shreds at the news of his wife's death; not a sound escaped his lips. The powerful fist of pain, agony, disbelief viciously punched at him. Feeling weak and dizzy, he slumped into the molded plastic hospital chair.

"We did everything we could to save them both," Dr. Quentin murmured, his voice subdued with defeat.

It wasn't supposed to happen like this.

The knowledge of their unborn child in Natasha's womb added to Nathaniel's pain. Had he known she was pregnant he wouldn't have allowed her to leave. It was only six weeks, still a fetus.

Nathaniel glanced up at the man opposite him. "I'd like to be with my wife for a minute if I could. Just for a minute."

After a while, Dr. Quentin nodded and led the way down the calm, quiet hallway to Natasha's room. Nathaniel felt his heart pounding savagely, his head whirling, his legs almost giving way. He felt as though his world had crumbled on him as he walked cautiously towards the new cause of his nightmare.

"I'll be outside waiting," Dr. Quentin said through the quite hall, opening the door and stepped aside.

Stepping in the room, the first thing he noticed was that all the tubes had been disconnected. His wife’s once glowing face still looked glowing, if not more. For a moment he thought they could have all been mistaken; she was only deep in her slumber.

If only she was.

He could still remember the first day he met her; beautiful face transcended nature itself. Memories of Florida were still vivid in his mind. The image will forever haunt him. That he was sure of. The baking, the knitting, the painting all went down the drain. The ray of sunshine hitting her blond hair, a free flowing beauty at the age of twenty. No woman had ever moved him the way Natasha Mullins did; his heart stopped, his breath cut short at the mere sight of her. At that moment he knew he would make her his forever by tying the knot with her.

Five years ago, the knowledge of a woman in his life seemed terrifying. But a moment spent with Natasha proved otherwise.

Within eight months of marriage, they were blessed with their first child Kenneth Carter. Nathaniel thought his heart would burst with pride. A son! One of his wishes just came true. Then came Olivia, another bundle of joy.

However their bliss was immediately cut short one fateful night. Natasha left to get the beverages for their daughter that she forgot, despite his disapproval. He received a heart-tearing call from an unknown man through his wife's phone saying her car had been hit by a drunk truck driver.

Nathaniel looked down at her and his heart felt heavy and empty. It was as if she'd taken his life with her. What would he do without her? How would he possibly face life without Natasha by his side? How would he cope with two kids?

"Natasha, why? Why must you leave? How am I supposed to take care of our kids? How?" Nathaniel shed tears out with a sob finally overtaking him.

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