CHAPTER 2

LAURA'S POV

The very next day, I was lost in thoughts of how to convince my husband to join me for some couple therapy sessions. I had spent the whole day scrolling through the internet, searching for a nearby couple's therapist that was highly recommended. I was distracted by my thoughts while cleaning when the front door opened, revealing a stunning blonde. We stared at each other wordlessly, me in confusion and her in derision. 

"Who-" 

Antonio suddenly stepped in after her, his hands encircling her waist. I stared between both of them in horror. What was going on? 

"Antonio, you're back." I tried to smile at him even though a sick feeling had suddenly begun in the pit of my stomach. I just knew that the woman's presence spelled disaster. She was tall, with big, blue eyes and a well made up face. She had on a fitted white suit with sky high heels. She was beautiful and classy while I was in an old T shirt and shorts, cleaning. I felt embarrassed at her seeing me like this. Why hadn't Antonio warned me that he was bringing a guest over? I could have at least made an effort to look presentable or made myself scarce. 

"Who is she? Is she the maid?" The woman asked. 

"She's nobody." Antonio said, steering the woman towards the living room. My mouth dropped to the floor in shock as the two walked off, the woman's husky laughter following their exit. 

Had my husband just called me a nobody? 

I dropped my mop and went after them. I found them sharing a drink at the wine bar. "Antonio, can I speak to you?" 

He glared at me. "speak."

I looked at his guest meaningfully. "In private, please." 

"Anything you want to say, Laura, you can say it in front of Helen or forget about it." He said. 

Helen smirked at me, looking smug. I wanted to punch her in her stupid face and disfigure it a little. 

"Who is she?" I finally blurted out. If possible, Helen's smirk only got wider.

"She's my girlfriend." 

I stared at Antonio. "Your g- girlfriend?" I parroted. "You can't have a girlfriend, we're married." 

"Married to who? You?" He scoffed. 

"Honey, can you make her leave? She's making me uncomfortable." Helen whined. 

I was this close to strangling her with her expensive diamond necklace.

"You heard her. Leave." Antonio barked. 

"How long has this been going on?" I asked, gaze shifting from my husband to the woman. 

"For a long time now. She makes me happy. Something you could never achieve." Antonio said. "now if you're done with your useless questions-" 

"You were cheating on me!" I cut him off. "Is this why you changed all of a sudden? Because of her? Didn't you vow to love me for better and for worse and barring others. You vowed to be faithful to me and now you're telling me that you've been seeing this woman behind my back? How could you!"

"How could I?" Antonio roared. "For the first time in a long while, I'm happy and you don't even want that for me. You want me to have clung to you? A sinking ship? Never. I'm going to marry Helen and I advise you to go ahead and sign those divorce papers and allow me to be free to find happiness and peace of mind." 

"You bastard!" I roared back. 

"I plan on making life very unpleasant for you if you continue being stubborn." 

"Do your worst, I'm not letting you give up on us."  

"Aren't you tired of being a desperate, unwanted shrew. How embarrassing." Helen piped up, face screwed up in disgust. "He doesn't want to be with you anymore. Let him go." 

"Never." I said before storming out, my blood boiling in fury. But underneath my anger was intense sorrow like I had never felt before. I couldn't believe that Antonio who had once treated me like I was his everything, adored and revered me was now treating me in such a manner. 

I went back to my cleaning to distract me from the thought of what the two were up to in the other room. I could hear giggles and breathless sighs, all of it tearing me apart from the inside. 

That night, I couldn't sleep. The sounds coming from what used to be Antonio and I's room kept me up all night. I cried into my pillow to muffle the sound of my heart breaking all over again. Could I live like this? How long could I survive watching someone else take my place in Antonio's life? I had been kicked out of my own marital bed without any regard or sympathy. It was obvious that Antonio didn't love me anymore and I was simply clinging to a useless hope. 

The next morning, Antonio made breakfast for them, something he hadn't done for me in a very long while and from my position in the living room, I could see them feeding each other and laughing like a couple on their honeymoon. 

I had had enough. Antonio was right, there was nothing left between us. It was time for me to give up and try and pick up the pieces of my shattered heart. 

After they both left for work, I packed up my things, leaving behind all the things Antonio had bought for me during the course of our marriage. I couldn't bear to be reminded of him. The first step to moving on and closing this hurtful chapter of my life was forgetting that he ever existed. That was the only way I was going to get through this. 

With my things packed, I walked to the kitchen where the divorce papers still sat untouched and scrawled my name at the bottom of the page. A tear slipped out of my eyes as I finished signing the papers. 

I took one last glance at the house that I had lovingly decorated with Antonio. 

And then I walked o

ut the door and out of our marriage.