Chapter 1: His Surprise

As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, a feeling of loneliness and emptiness envelops me. My husband Franco is away on a business trip, leaving me alone in our large bed. Despite his previous absences, this time feels different. It has been a year since our wedding, and our relationship has changed. I never expected things to take a turn for the worse after his grandfather's death.

Despite my attempts to be understanding and give him space, it seemed like he had completely shut me out.

Reaching for my phone on the nightstand, I scrolled through my contacts until I found his name. With a heavy heart, I dialed his number and waited for him to pick up.

"Hello?" His voice sounded gruff, and I could sense his irritation.

"Hey Franco, it's me, Celine," I replied, trying to sound cheerful.

"What do you want?" he snapped.

My heart sank as his words hit me hard. I knew he was busy with work, but I had hoped he would be happy to hear from me. Ignoring his rude tone, I continued with what I had called to say.

"I just wanted to check in and see how your trip is going," I said, masking the pain in my voice.

"It's going fine. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do," he impatiently responded before hanging up.

Tears filled my eyes as I ended the call. I couldn't believe how more distant and cold Franco had become. Was he still working at this late hour?

Lost in my thoughts, I eventually drifted off to sleep, unknowingly holding the pillow next to me with tears streaming down my face.

The following morning, I woke up and styled my hair in front of the Vanity mirror. I checked my phone, but there were still no messages from him.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself and thought, "Maybe he's really busy."

As I made my way downstairs, I could already sense the tension in the air. From the kitchen, I could hear my mother-in-law's sharp voice scolding someone. I knew it was directed at me. Gathering my courage, I took a deep breath and faced her.

When I entered the kitchen, I saw her standing in front of the refrigerator, hands on her hips, surveying the almost empty shelves. She exclaimed, dripping with disdain, "What is this, Celine? We barely have any food left. What are we going to eat now?"

"You're responsible for taking care of the house and ensuring we have enough food to eat. You're so irresponsible!" she added.

Feeling guilty, I lowered my head. I knew I should have gone grocery shopping yesterday, but I was too exhausted after a long day of house chores.

"I'm sorry, mom. I'll go to the grocery store now to buy food," I apologized.

"Stop acting like an idiot. Just do your job!" she commanded.

"And make sure you prepare a special dish for lunch. Franco will be home this afternoon with a special visitor," she added.

I was surprised to hear about my husband's arrival. Part of me felt hurt because he didn't even tell me he would be home today.

"Is Franco really coming home today, mom?" I asked in disbelief.

"What did I say?!" she raised her voice.

"I just want to confirm because he didn't even tell me," I explained.

She laughed at me and shook her head.

"He might have a surprise for you later," she said.

A surprise? I didn't know how to feel. Part of me was excited, thinking that maybe he didn't tell me to surprise me. But why did I have a feeling that something was off?

I paused for a moment before speaking, “Come on, Celine. He just wants to surprise you and make it up with you.”

“But who could his special guest be?” I was puzzled. 

I could feel my heart sinking. I didn't know how to cook anything special. I barely knew how to cook at all. My mother-in-law had always been critical of my cooking skills, and I didn't want to disappoint her again. But I also didn't want to let my husband go hungry especially his visitor.

“Can you please leave my sight? You’re just making my blood boil,” my mother-in-law snapped.

Her words hurt, but I was used to hearing them every day. Not just from her, but also from Franco’s sister. They treated me like their maid. However, I endured it all because I love Franco and didn't want any trouble with his family.

Feeling overwhelmed and anxious, I quickly got ready and headed to the grocery store. As I wandered through the aisles, I felt a sense of unease. I had no clue what to buy for Franco’s visitor, so I opted for ingredients for Pork steak and pasta. 

On my way back from the store, I couldn't shake off the urgency I felt. I knew I had to hurry and prepare lunch for everyone. With a heavy bag of groceries in my arms, I tried to walk as fast as I could without dropping anything. 

Upon entering the living room, I was taken aback by what I saw. There, seated on the couch beside my husband, was a stunning woman. She wore a form-fitting red dress, her long dark hair flowing down her back. I couldn't believe my eyes. Who was she, and why was she here? Could she be Franco’s visitor?

My heart raced, and my palms grew sweaty. I attempted to compose myself and put on a smile, but internally, panic consumed me.

"I'm glad you're here now. I just returned from the grocery store. Is she your guest?" I inquired, attempting to conceal my unease.

The woman simply glanced at me from head to toe, as if underestimating my appearance and attire. However, I needed to remain calm in front of my husband.

"She's Athena," he introduced.

"Your friend?" I asked, but he remained silent.

"Celine, we need to talk," his voice asserted dominantly.

My heart suddenly quickened as he disregarded my inquiries, his serious and cold expression fixed upon me.

"Of course, what is it about?" I asked, striving to sound nonchalant.

"I want a divorce," he declared.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, causing my hands to tremble. The man I had loved for the past year, my husband, was telling me that he wants a divorce? Is he joking? Is this his way of surprising me?