A Divorce

Staring at the amazing meals in her presence, Clara smiled widely feeling satisfied. 

She checked the time, seeing it was almost time for her husband to get home, she giggled to herself. All she had to do was wait a few more minutes.

Hours passed and her husband hadn't arrived. She wasn't so surprised, it happens frequently. 

“Ma’am, do you want me to clear the table? I don't think Mr. Miller will be arriving soon.” The butler asked staring at her with pity. 

“No, it's fine. I will wait a few more minutes, you can go to bed.” She replied. He bowed before walking away. 

Clara exhaled heavily as she stared at the time, it was almost midnight already. This has been going on for almost a month, and her husband has been missing dinner. 

Every night, she hoped it would be different, she got her hopes up hoping he would show up. 

She knows her husband doesn't love her, their marriage is based on a contract between their families. The reason she got married to him was to give him an heir but throughout the years, she was unable to conceive. 

They have visited the best doctors in California, in other countries too to know what the problem was but they all confirmed nothing was wrong with them and they needed to be patient.

Clara was patient but her husband and his family weren't. They never fail to remind her about it. His mother always reminded her she was barren since she couldn't produce a child after two years of being with her son.

Despite all this, her marriage has been going well for the past two years. Everything started changing a month ago when he started missing dinner. 

Clara glanced at the time one last time, she made her way out of the dining room. She was about to go up to her room when the door opened revealing him.

Immediately, all the negative thoughts she had disappeared, and she had a wide smile.

She loves her husband so much and hopes one day, he will warm up to her and reciprocate her love for him.

“Xavier, you are back.” She said with a smile as she moved closer to him. He ignored her greetings as he made his way to the stairs. 

Clara ignored this and walked after him. As she got closer to him, the strong scent of alcohol hit her nostrils. 

She ignored this and trailed after him till he got into his room. 

He noticed she was following him, he turned to her with a questioning look. 

“I… I made dinner. I can heat it… “

“Not hungry.” He replied as he took off his jacket. 

Clara nodded and bit her lip as she thought of what to say, she always tried to not get him upset. She has always been like this for the past two years. 

“Did… did you drink?” She finally asked.

He ignored her, he made his way to his table and picked up a brown file. He walked back to her and handed it to her.

“What is it?” She asked with a smile as she opened it.

Her smile faded immediately seeing what was in it.

“I can't keep lying to you, Clara. Kathrine returned to the city a month ago and we are back together. It's about time we get a divorce.” He said. Clara looked up at him, and slowly she laughed.

“Oh, what a great joke.” She said as she laughed. She slowly stopped laughing seeing the stern look he had on.

“Oh, you are serious.” She muttered. 

It wasn't a joke, he was serious.

Immediately tears welled up in her eyes.

“Why are we getting a divorce?” She asked, her heart racing. 

“Isn't it obvious? I don't love you.” He scoffed.

Clara felt her heart shatter as she stared at him in tears. 

“I… I know but… “ She trailed off as she felt herself choke on her words. She had nothing to say, she couldn't think of anything. 

She knows who Kathrine is, she was his ex-girlfriend and his first love. They broke up because of the contract marriage, that was part of the reasons why Xavier never loved Clara. 

He blamed her for everything even though it was all their parent's idea. 

“She is pregnant too.” He added and Clara felt her heart shatter. Of course, this was the main reason. 

It's not her fault she is barren, her heart gets more broken every month when she sees her monthly flow. She badly wanted to get pregnant too.

“I… I... “ Clara paused as she sniffed.

“You don't have to say anything. Just sign the papers, I will send you twenty million dollars to start afresh and… “

“I don't want your money.” Clara cut him off in tears.

“And I don't want a divorce too.” She added. 

“You have to sign it, Kathrine will be moving in tomorrow.” He replied. Clara stared at him in disbelief before looking down at the divorce papers. 

His signature was there already. He really wants to go through with this. 

Clara shook her head, she had no life without him. She can't return to her parent's house, they will murder her. They are not her biological parents, that was why it was so easy for them to get her into a contracted marriage. 

“No, no, no.” She shook her head again and looked up at him.

“We can make this work out, please. Don't kick me out. She can move in here with us, I don't mind. My love is enough for both of us, please don't do this to me, Xavier.” She pleaded as she moved closer to him. 

His expression was cold, it was obvious he had made up his mind and nothing could change it.

“Xavier.” She pleaded and held his arms. 

“I don't want this, please. I love you.” She pleaded.

He slowly pulled away from her and took a few steps back.

“I will never change my mind no matter how much you cry.” 

“Sign the papers, Clara. You have until tomorrow to leave my house.”