Chapter 2 : Life Without You

"DIANA!"

Michael was jolted awake from his sleep, drenched in a cold sweat. He just had a nightmare. His hands gripped the covers tightly, trying to steady himself.

Minutes passed, but he did not calm down. In fact, it's only gotten worse since now, his breathing started to become irregular.

With trembling hands, Michael tried to reach for the small bottle that read "Panic" on the nightstand beside his bed.

After taking the medicine, he closes his eyes as he tries to take a deep breath.

inhale. exhale. inhale. exhale. inhale. exhale.

Michael repeated the breathing exercise until he calmed down.

After his breathing calmed down, Michael lay back down on his bed slowly. Tears slowly rolled down his cheeks as he recalled his nightmare.

"It's already been 10 years since you were left, but why can't I forget you?" Michael asked himself, a small sob escaping his lips.

Yes, it's already been 10 years since Diana's death, and since then, Michael has always lived in regret.

After being hit by a car, Diana was immediately taken to the hospital. All avenues were explored to save her, but unfortunately, fate decided otherwise:

Diana couldn't be saved due to a cerebral hemorrhage in the head.

It was enough to tear down Michael's world.

He couldn't stop blaming himself for being the main cause of Diana's death. Not only that, Michael even tried to end his life repeatedly, which left him in a vulnerable state. 

He was forced to undergo mental treatment until he was stable enough to continue his education.

After he graduated, he took over his family's company and married Gwendoline Ferguson, the only daughter of the owner of the same Ferguson Company and also, the person Michael slept with on the day Diana died.

Knock Knock

A knock on the door snapped Michael from his reverie. Wiping his tears roughly, Michael said, "Please come in."

A moment later, a middle-aged man came into the room and bowed to Michael.

"Master, it's already morning. Breakfast is ready; madam is waiting for you downstairs," said Payton, who is a butler at Michael's residence.

"Okay, Payton, thank you for informing me. I will get ready soon," answered Michael as he got up.

"Ah, and also, I have prepared clothes for you and a bouquet of flowers for today." Payton said. Ah, I was too busy to forget this important day.

"Thank you so much, Payton; you're the best. You may leave now.” Payton could only give his master a sad smile. 

Even though Michael never said it, he knew very well that Michael never loved his wife. He only loved Diana, who was now out of Michael's reach.

"Okay, master, it's my pleasure," Payton said as he bowed before leaving the room.

After Payton left, Michael sighed as he glanced at the calendar, which was marked with the words "funeral day."

"Well, today is the day  I will see you again, please wait for me, my darling," Michael said while holding the necklace tightly around his neck.

.

.

.

As usual, silence fills the dining room as they eat. The only sound that was heard was the clinking of cutlery.

A beautiful woman who sat in front of Michael looked sad when he once again ignored her presence.

Trying to muster up the courage, the woman takes a deep breath before starting the conversation: "How is the breakfast today, Michael? Is it good?" She asked  nervously, gripping the wheelchair's handle.

"Can you please just be quiet? Don't you know that eating while talking is impolite, Gwendoline?" Michael replied curtly to Gwen.

"Okay," Gwen replied while looking down, not daring to look at Michael.

Clang

Suddenly, the sound of a fork being put down was heard, indicating that Michael had finished his breakfast.

"Tonight, I'll be home late; don't wait for me," Michael said as he proceeded to leave the house before Gwen's voice stopped him.

"Can't you please just try to love me?" Gwen asked as she tried to hold back her tears before continuing, "At least once?"

Michael, who heard that, could only exhale roughly before answering, "Gwen, please. Don't even think about it. I thought we'd gotten over it."

"How can I not bring it up if you'll never forget about her, Michael? It's already been 10 years, Michael! 10 years! 

We've been married for a while, but you never look at me!" Gwen said it loudly, looking up at Michael. Why are you still thinking about that b*tch? She's already gone, but why–?"

"Don't you dare say that, Gwen! Everything happened because of you! If only that night you hadn't come to my house,

then Diana would never have died. And secondly, she's not a bitch! "You're the bitch here, Gwen," Michael exclaimed, becoming enraged as he stormed toward her!

Gwen immediately jerked her wheelchair when she saw that, but Michael was already holding the handles and locking the wheelchair.

"Listen up, Gwen," Michael called in a low voice, which frightened her.

"Before you spoke ill of others, why didn't you take a look at yourself?" asked Michael while rubbing her paralyzed legs.

"You're a crippled woman, Gwen, a crippled woman! Can't you see how pathetic you are right now? Don't you want to know what makes you like this? It's due to karma! Gwen, A Karma!" screamed Michael at the end of the sentence.

Gwen, who heard this,  could only shake her head weakly, and before she could say anything, Michael immediately preceded her.

"Don't you find it strange? A beautiful Gwendoline Ferguson, the only daughter of a wealthy businessman, could suddenly get a serious illness after marrying me?

And what's worse, no matter how much money your parents spend, it still doesn't prevent you from being paralyzed! Hah, it's even rare for people who have a disease like yours to get paralyzed as a side effect! I bet God has fun punishing you after what you did to Diana."

"ENOUGH! Why are you like this!? Do you think I want to end up like this?" Gwen screamed hysterically as tears streamed down her beautiful face.

But that didn't make Michael feel sorry; in fact, he felt disgusted!

"That's why, Gwen, next time, please think before you speak. If you feel hurt, feel free to just divorce me and find another man. That is, if they want to be with a crippled woman like you.

With that, Michael immediately walked away, leaving Gwen crying alone in the dining room.

.

.

.

In another place, laughter and chatter filled the dining room. The atmosphere was very different from Michael's residence.

"Wow, honey! How do you cook this dish?! it's so delicious!" said a man who was eating pancakes with gusto, making the woman sitting in front of him giggle.

"Really? Well, it's a chef's secret," answered the woman proudly while winking one of her eyes.

"Oh, okay, then, if the chef doesn't want to tell me, I will force her!" The man replied as he embraced the woman while giving her a kiss attack.

"Ahh, that tickles! Stop ha ha ha!" Shouted the woman while struggling, to which the man only responded with a chuckle and more kisses.

Ringgggg!!!

Suddenly the phone rang and interrupted their activities.

"Tsk! Who dares to interfere with my precious day? If I'm not mistaken, I already said that I'm taking a day off today," grumbled the man.

"Pick up the phone, who knows if the call is important?" the woman pushed him.

"Huh, fine! I picked it up because you told me to," said the man while picking up the phone lazily.

"Hello?"

"Ah, Doctor, it's me, Payton! I apologize for bothering you so abruptly; it's about Master. Master . . ."