CHAPTER 3

Serene 

"What? What is this!" I yelled, my voice quivering with rage and agony at the sight of Diego and Nelly.

 When he turned around, he realized he had forgotten to lock the door "I can explain... "

"Explain? How would you explain this?"

I entered the room, my face filled with grief and betrayal. My gaze shifts to Nelly, who is gazing down and avoiding eye contact. "Serene, let us discuss this at home." Diego reached out to me, saying, "It is not what you think." 

"Not what I think? I believe I just walked in on my husband in bed with another woman, So, what might it be?" I questioned, taking steps backward.

My eyes welled with tears, but I refused to let them fall. I stormed out of the room, turning on my heel. Disappointment enveloped me, and the prospect of blind trust being broken shattered my heart.

"Serene, please wait!" Diego cried behind me. He tries to get out of the bed, but Nelly clutches his arm.

"Let her go.Let her go!"

"What have I done?" Diego moaned. 

[Home]

When I reached home, I jumped out of my car and slammed the door behind me, furious.I ignored Nora's query and proceeded directly upstairs to our room. "Is everything fine, Ma'am?"  

Diego stormed in right as I was going to lock the door. I received another message from the same number, but this time it included photographs of Diego and Nelly snuggling and having a good time on what appeared to be a picnic, something he had never taken me on in all those years as his wife.

"Take a look at this, Diego. What exactly does this mean?" I asked, my heart aching. 

" Serene." He looked at me sympathetically and remarked, "I suppose I have not been honest enough."

"I gave up everything to make this work, Diego; what have I not done for you? Is this how you have rewarded me for everything?

He responds, "Serene, I am afraid I do not feel the same way about you now. I tried telling you this several times, but you just would not listen.” 

"Do not even bother telling me how you feel about me, Diego Myers. I have loved you unreservedly for the past five years, and you were not scared to open doors for Nelly, who abandoned you for another man.

“Stop, Serene! I will not allow you to talk about her that way; Nelly is back for me, and we will be stronger than ever; you are just someone I kept to fulfill your father's dying wish but I can't anymore ," he replied firmly.

"I was going to tell you sooner, but I did not want to put you through another painful period after you miscarried our baby.I even question if I could be a decent father to it," he continued. 

I took a deep breath and asked him, "Diego, what are you saying am I not your wife?"

"Well, not anymore; Nelly is my first love; she is the only woman my heart has ever beat for; now that she has returned, we should have a..."

I interrupted him, "Do not think about it, Diego; I am not getting divorced."

"Up to you," he mumbled, leaving me alone as he returned to the hotel.

What had transpired was unbelievable to me. My husband is preparing to leave me for his first love, who abandoned him for another guy, and he has thrown away all we have built together especially my father's sacrifice to save his life.

"Madam, you are going through a lot. I pray God restores the joy between you and Sir," Nora said, attempting to wipe my tears. 

"Nora, I want to be alone." I pleaded. 

"No, Madam, I am not going anywhere; I will stay here with you," Nora stated. 

"Nora!"

"All right, Madam. I will be in my room in case you need anything," she said, turning to go. 

When I remembered Diego's remarks, I could not stop sobbing. I entered the shower and turned on the tap, allowing water to cascade over my face and mask my tears as I lowered myself.