1: Divorce

Kiara's POV

Lately, I have been suspecting my husband.

Whenever I confronted him about my suspicions, he'd kiss me on the lips and tell me not to worry—it's just business deals.

He'll never lie to me, right? He loves me. And I love him too.

I have been married to Nicholas Chavez, a top billionaire in Florida, for three years now. We don't have kids yet, but I've been seeing signs of pregnancy. He's not bothered about having kids, but his mother is. So, I plan on going to see the doctor tomorrow. It's his birthday and I want to spend time with him as he promised.

I was covered in flour, focused on making his favorite cake for his birthday when he walked into the kitchen. I didn't hear him at first, too wrapped up in wanting everything to be perfect. It had been a while since we'd spent a real evening together.

He is always going on business trips and barely even has time for me, his wife. Today, which was his birthday, he promised me he wouldn't go to work, yet I woke up alone without seeing him by my side.

Deep down, I knew something was wrong. The signs had been there for months—the late-night phone calls he wouldn't answer in front of me, the text messages he always hid, the distance in his touch. But I told myself it was just business, just as he assured me.

I fought back my tears and made up my mind to bake a cake. I wanted to remind him of us, of how we started our love. I told my maid, Agnes, to leave the kitchen island for me because this was something I needed to do myself.

I just wanted to impress him. I smiled to myself as I soon heard his footsteps approaching. The smell of his cologne filled my nostrils as I breathed in. He was looking just as handsome as the first day I saw him.

"Hey, baby. Happy birthday!" I called out, grinning as I whisked the icing. But he didn't smile back. He didn't even look at me like he used to. His eyes...they were cold.

My heart sank, but I ignored the feeling. Maybe he's just tired. I thought, trying to reassure myself. That was when I noticed the folder in his hands.

Why was he holding a folder? Did something happen at the company?

My chest tightened as he placed the folder on the counter.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, forcing a smile.

He clicked his tongue, avoiding my gaze. "Kiara, I need you to sign this. " His voice was like ice, each word cutting through me.

I was trying so hard to think positively. It's probably just a business deal his wife needs to sign. Yes, I remember I signed one last year!

But...he didn't even look happy. My heart was beating very fast as I rinsed my hands and dabbed it on my apron.

I stared at the folder, my hands trembling as I opened it. The words on the first page hit me like a slap: Divorce Agreement.

"No," I whispered, my heart breaking into pieces. My stomach churned so hard I could hear it. "This can't be real."

Nicholas finally proved me right. I saw this coming, I did. But I never thought it could happen this way, or now, or forever.

I swallowed saliva and looked up at him, desperate for an explanation. "Nicholas Johnson Chavez, is this some kind of joke?"

His face stayed emotionless. His eyes were darkened like I was some piece of shit standing in front of him. "I'm serious, Kiara. Sign it."

I couldn't breathe. My hands shook as I clutched the papers. This wasn't happening. We were supposed to be happy. I had ignored all the signs because I loved him too much to believe he could ever hurt me like this. He couldn't even look at me...oh God.

"We're happy... aren't we? Three years of being with you, I've always done right by you, Nicholas." My voice cracked, the words feeling heavy in my throat.

"Things change," he said coldly.

My legs felt weak, tears slowly streaming down my cheeks. "Things change?" I repeated in my head, disbelief crashing over me. How could he say that after everything we've been through?

"Sarah's back."

His words felt like a punch to my chest. I froze, staring at him, my mind racing. So, it was Sarah all along. The trace of lipstick I found on his shirt that day was Sarah's. The woman he said was his past. His college ex-girlfriend.

I muttered something under my breath as I bit my lip so hard it was bleeding.

"She...has my son," he said softly like that would make it easier for me to hear...

A son? My whole body went numb. I thought I knew Nicholas. I thought I was his everything. But all this time, there was a part of him I didn't know, and now it was here to take him away from me.

"Hold on." I wiped my cheek, sniffing to regain my composure. "Remember, my birthday last month, you suddenly left dinner when you had a phone call. And you never came back until three days later. Was it her?"

He nodded his head, staring blankly into my eyes. "Yes, Kiara. Look I'm sorry..."

I cried out, holding my chest as tears spilled down my face. "You're sorry? For leaving me?" I whispered, almost scoffing. "Throwing everything we have because she came back?"

"It's the right thing to do, I can't let her go to another man with my child." He said it as if it was just something simple.

The right thing? For whom? Not for me. Not for the woman who loved him enough to overlook all the red flags. The woman who gave up her dreams just to be by his side.

"Nicholas, please..." I begged at the thought of losing him, my voice trembling. "We can fix this. We can—"

"There's nothing to fix, Kiara!" He yelled, his eyes burning like inferno crystals. "Sign the damn papers and stop making this harder than it needs to be."

It was these eyes I first noticed when we met three years ago at his dad's office. I remembered the day like it was yesterday.

Yes, I am an orphan.

I worked so hard to go to college and get a degree. Afterward, my first job application was at Nicholas' dad's company. He was yet to be the successor at that time, and I was just a girl trying to get a job.

After getting the job, we got along and became love birds, and on my 21st birthday, he proposed.

He promised never to leave me, he promised he would stand by me through life and death.

But what now?

I flinched at his harsh tone, my heart breaking even more. When I didn't move, he stepped closer and grabbed my wrist. "You're are my wife, and I have the right to do whatever I want with you."

His grip was firm, and before I could react, his lips crashed against mine, passionate and demanding.

"Stop, Nicholas!" I cried, trying to push him away. "Let me go!"

But he didn't stop. He removed my apron and his hands moved to unbutton my shirt, and I felt a surge of anger and despair.

"Enough!" I yelled, kicking him hard in the groin. He stumbled back with a groan, his eyes burning with fury.

"Madam!" Agnes' voice broke through the tension as she rushed into the kitchen. Her eyes darted between us, taking in the scene...

Nicholas straightened, his face darkening with embarrassment.

"Please don't hurt her sir," Agnes said softly, placing herself between us. Her voice trembled, but her resolve didn't waver.

Tears streamed down my face as I grabbed the pen, my hands shaking. Every stroke on that paper felt like it was tearing through my soul.

"There, it is done," I said, pushing the papers back to him. My voice was hollow, lifeless.

"I don't want to meet you here by the time I'm back." He commanded, grabbing the folder without a word. His jaw tightened as he stormed out of the kitchen.

I'll never forget that last look on his face.

Agnes turned to me, tears in her own eyes. I broke down, sobbing in her arms. It felt like my heart was ripping out of my chest.

"It's over, Agnes, it's really over." I cried more, holding her tightly.

"I'm sorry, Madam." She broke into tears. I coughed, choking on my saliva as I wanted to speak again.

"I don't know what to do anymore... I- I love him." I cried out, feeling a pang of nausea.

"I know, I know you do. You have to be strong, Miss Kiara. This isn't the end." Agnes said in a shaky voice.

My stomach grumbled as I slowly sat on the floor and I threw up, feeling dizzy and weak.

"Oh my, I need to clean you up. Are you pregnant?" She knelt, examining my eyes.

A few minutes later, I had managed to eat a bowl of porridge Agnes prepared after cleaning up. Agnes was the only person I always talked to and confided in. Even though she was old enough to be my mother, we were best friends. She taught me a lot of things, she was there for me when Nicholas wasn't.

Nicholas just made me his housewife and wouldn't let me work. Agnes sighed, her warm hand touching my forehead. "Do you feel better now?"

“I'm fine, Agnes. Thank you for everything you've done for me.” I said, tears breaking through my eyes as I gave her a final hug.

Later, I packed my things and left Nicholas's house with nothing less than fifty dollars in my account. I had nothing. No friends, no money.

All because I loved him, I lived like a caged bird in his mansion, having everything I wanted, but never free.

As I was about to cross the road, with a lot of thoughts flooding my mind, a car suddenly hit me, and the last thing I heard was yelling.

Everything went black.