CHAPTER 2

My sheets were soaked with tears as I woke up. Yesterday's events fought its way back into my memory, making me feel every emotion that I felt all over again. A part of me hoped and prayed everything had been just a nightmare.

Taking a deep breath, I swing my legs to the side of the bed, summoning the courage to face the day. Then, the truth dawned on me. After our wedding, Martin never agreed to us sharing a bed. He only came to me when his desires demanded fulfillment and had always made me believe in the narrative that it was an unbreakable rule in the Lancaster Family, which he was compelled to obey. It only made sense to me now — Maybe I had been foolish for seeing all this and still believed his lies.

It was never about rules– It was about him not wanting me. It was about me being nothing more than a game to him.

Shoving the pain aside, I slipped into something comfortable and headed down to the kitchen. As I descended the staircase, my gaze fell on an envelope that was sitting on the table. My curiosity piqued and I opened it without hesitation.

Divorce papers?

Martin's signature was already inked at the bottom. A sharp ache settled in my chest.

So that was it.

No explanation? No apologies?

Why would he think of getting a divorce. After all he'd done. I didn't come to him asking for a divorce and yet, here he was asking for it as though I was in the wrong.

I placed the papers back onto the table, my mind racing on what to do. If there is one thing I know about Martin, then it's the fact that when he’s made up his mind to do something, there is no undoing it

If he went to the extent of filing for divorce, he wasn't bluffing and he wouldn't hesitate to make my life unbearable.

The door creaked open and I could smell him coming from his bedroom as he walked down the stairs. I didn’t dare to look up at him. My eyes remained glued to the paper as if staring at it long enough could change its content. I was painfully aware that he didn't care.

The sound of his footsteps echoed in my ears, each step growing louder as he got closer.

“Have you signed them?” He asked, his voice detached

I took in a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest “Martin, Can't we solve this differently? We don't need to get divorced. Please”. I said my voice barely above a whisper

For a moment, the room fell silent. The only sound was the ticking of the clock on the wall.

And then he laughed.

“Solve?” he scoffed mockingly. “This isn't a problem to Solve. I think you don't seem to get this whole thing, Bella. Do you?”

“You meant nothing to me and you never will.” He said with a sharp voice. “You were just a game and now that game is over. Is that hard for you to understand?”

Tears burned behind my eyes.

“I loved you, Martin”.

“That was your mistake and not mine, Isabella, you should know better by now. I don't need you anymore. Have some dignity and leave.”

“Martin, you know my parents wouldn't take me back. They already told us before we—”

“And is that supposed to be my problem? Face it, Bella, you have nowhere else to go and frankly, no man out here would want a woman like you. Your parents don't want you. Neither do I.”

He turned to leave, just before stepping out he paused. Something in me hoped he would still care. “Isabella. I don't want to see you here when I get back”

Those words were the final blow he needed to shatter me.

And with that he was gone.

I stood there frozen. My vision blurred with tears.

I clenched my fists, trying to calm the storm inside me. I marvelled at how my life just came crashing down in a span of just a few hours. I never expected life to be perfect, but this felt like a sharp blow, one that was too harsh for me to bear.

With a heavy heart, I went back to the room and grabbed my phone, dialling my mom immediately. Maybe after listening to my side of the story, she would have sympathy and take me in.

It wasn't my fault after all. But deep down I just hoped I could convince her.

“Mom,” I forced out, my voice trembling

“Isabella”, she greeted, her voice tight. It was as if she already knew something was wrong.

“Mom, Martin is requesting a divorce”.

“What did you do?”

“I did nothing, Mom; he never loved me.” I said, my voice breaking as tears kept streaming down my face.

“He had been cheating on me all this while. I caught him yesterday and this morning I woke up to divorce papers”.

“You know you can't get a divorce right?” Her voice now shifted to one of authority.

“What do you want people to say?”

“But Mom, He doesn't love me. It was all a….”

“It doesn't matter.” She interrupted sharply. “You made a vow and you're going to keep it. I know we raised you to understand that. If you sign those papers, just know we are not going to take you back into this house.”

My breath hitched, “You wouldn't do…”

“Oh just try it.”

“But Mom….” The call ended with the dial tone ringing in my ears before I could even finish my sentence.

My heart dropped, tears flowing down my cheeks. I knew they were not going to understand, but maybe if they had listened to me they would have given me support.

I had no one else to turn to. But I wasn't going to sit here doing nothing.

I reached out for a pen and signed the divorce papers. My mom's words, still ringing in my ears.

I wasn't going to make my life miserable because of him. I was going to find a way to start all over. Without everyone else.

If it's the divorce he wants, I'll give him that.