Nothing to hold on to

" All this years. I have tried to be a dutiful wife hoping you will love me eventually. No matter what effort I put on this marriage, you never really gave me a chance... Am I really this hateful? You never really listened to my end of the story about that night. All you do is listen to other people..." She laughed as she looked at the pen next to the drawer 

 

Maria's voice trembled with a mix of sadness and anger as she continued, "You believe every word that comes out of Ivonne's mouth, don't you? You've never bothered to hear my side of the story, to understand the truth. You've let her poison your mind against me."

Thompson's eyes narrowed, his face contorted with rage. "Don't you dare bring her into this! This is about you and your deceitful ways. I trusted you, and you betrayed me!"

Maria's laughter turned bitter, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Betrayal? You think I'm the one who betrayed you? Thompson, you have no idea what lengths Ivonne went to in order to trap you into marrying her. She orchestrated that night, she manipulated everything. You were not the target. I accidentally went into your room while trying to run from them but you never cared to listen to my end of the story. Even if I told you everything now, it will not change anything. "

Thompson's grip on the table tightened, his knuckles turning white. Confusion flickered across his face as he struggled to process Maria's words. The anger that had consumed him now mingled with a hint of doubt.

"Why would Ivonne do such a thing?" he asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.

Maria didn't answer him. If he wanted to know, he would've found out about long time ago. It has been years and nothing can be changed. Her marriage was dead even before it begun. The negative beginning was set to fall eventually. She was trying to hold on to the little hope of better future with him. There was no point being tied to a man who has no feelings for you. Her miserable life with him was enough for her.

Thompson's gaze wavered, his anger slowly giving way to a flicker of doubt. He had never considered the possibility that Ivonne could be behind the turmoil in his marriage. But as he looked into Maria's eyes, he saw a glimmer of truth and pain.

With trembling hands, Maria didn't wait to read the whole divorce paper and just signed it. It does not matter what he offered. She didn't want any of it. She just wanted to get out of hell she has been living. She signed and gave them to Thompson. That's what Thompson didn't expect. He thought since she married him for his fortune, she would fight for the marriage.

He somehow felt dissatisfied and pained. How could she just accept to sign the divorce just like that? What was she planning. From what he gathered form the people around her, she was a gold digger and would do anything to remain as the young madam of the Brown family. She was very manipulative that's how she got his father and mother to accept her into their home. But he had to accept what he got was somehow different from the  woman he had seen over the years.

She was quite and always by herself and not an outdoor kind of person. How could such a person be manipulative? There was a hint of doubt but he them thought of how they got married in the first place. 

" Just as the papers say, I will leave this house for you. I will also transfer 200 millions into your account tomorrow for your upkeep." He though she would be pleased but she didn't even answer him. He could see tears dropping down her cheek. and at the sight of clear water going down her cheek, he felt his heart pained. This was the first time he saw her tears. Though he heard her cried few nights in the room when he came in late from work.

" No need. I will move out of your house. I also don't need the money." She said as he walked out of the room in anger. How could she think of manipulating his feelings at this moment. He thought she was joking and trying to change his perspective of her. He smirked and walked away

Sitting in the dining room all alone, Maria thought about her life  over and over. She cried bitterly silently all alone. She didn't even have anywhere to go. Ivonne and her mother had taken all the assets her father left behind after his death a year ago. The only thing under her name was the company that was going bankrupt. She didn't  want to have to tire herself with the fights with the mother and daughter and handed over the company as well. She thought she could rely on Thompson all her life.

She didn't see the divorce coming.

And so, as the clock struck midnight, Maria extinguished the candles one by one, symbolizing the end of an era. With each flicker of the flame, a spark of determination ignited within her. The journey ahead would be arduous, but she knew deep in her heart that she deserved more.

As she left the table behind, the remnants of an anniversary dinner untouched, Maria took her first steps towards a future filled with hope and the promise of a love that would never again be shrouded in darkness.

She went to their room and she didn't find Thompson in the room. She sighed with relief thinking he probably left to his study and would not come back till morning. She had encountered the experience over and over. Her cold nights were all she knew. Not once