Sacrifices

Ethan’s POV

 

As I sauntered down the stairs, I felt a sharp pain in my head that caused a groan to escape my lips and the pain worsened when I caught sight of something that I didn’t expect to see. I ran my hands through my disheveled hair in anger, a wave of anger rushed through me instantly.

 

Junia was sitting next to my grandfather who was currently in a wheelchair and my mum who shot me a glare as soon as their gaze fell on me.

 

At that moment, I knew that Junia was the reason why they were here, and the fact that she had to involve them in the issues that only concerned me, pissed me off badly.

 

My mum clambered up and reached her hands for the paper that was on the center table. I knew that it was the divorce papers and that made me glance at Junia who quickly lowered her head as soon as she locked eyes with me.

 

“I think that we deserve an explanation for this!” My mum said sternly as she glared at me menacingly.

 

I bit the corner of my lower lips in anger while taking long strides toward where they were sitting. It took more than a miracle for me to be able to control the wave of anger that rushed through me at that very moment and if it weren’t for the fact that my grandfather and mother were there, I would have engaged in another version of heated arguments with her.

 

“What explanation? Why are you here?” I said nonchalantly while my mum and grandfather both scoffed at the same time.

 

My grandfather who had been silent all along suddenly yelled at me as he wriggled his index fingers at me in a warning. “Watch your language, young man! You surely know the reason why we are here and everyone around the world knows what you did! Do you want a divorce? That would never happen. She would be the one that you would spend your life with for the rest of your entire being”

 

My mother further added. “Yes, your grandfather is right. There is no way that you would be allowed to divorce Junia, she was the one who made sure that you reached where you are. She made you , Ethan!”

 

Then my mum sauntered in Junia’s direction, placing her hands on her shoulder while assuring her that everything would be fine and the mere sight of her made me burst into a peal of hysterical laughter.

 

Junia’s amber eyes met mine and I was taken aback by the extreme sorrow that her eyes held but I quickly shoved it off as I pointed at her with fury and anger blazing in my eyes. “You called grandfather and mother here just to convince me? Do you honestly think that this would work or what is the meaning of all of this?”

 

Junia shook her head in denial as tears glistened in her eyes while she pursed her lips slightly. “I didn’t call them here. Everything that you did was all over the news. I swear that I wasn’t the one that called them, they were the ones who came on their own willing” She said, shaking her head vehemently while my grandfather suddenly thundered in a way that the whole mansion was enveloped in silence.

 

“Quiet now! How dare you, Ethan! How dare you talk to your wife like this, how dare you address your mother and me in this horrible manner! What the hell is wrong with you? What has gotten into you that has made you lose your senses?”

 

“ Do you know what Junia did to make sure that you were happy? She had to put her life, her career as an actress on hold for you. She is the only reason why you are at the top and you have to give her the respect that she deserves!” He said, his fist clenched but with everything that he said or did, I was unfazed by it.

 

 

I yelled back at him. “Stop acting like I wanted to be in this marriage because you knew how well I didn’t want to get married to her. You forced me into this and her putting her life on hold for me, did I ask her to? Was I the one who told her to abandon her career”

 

My grandfather and mother stared at me in disbelief while Junia’s mouth slackened as tears cascaded down her cheeks

 

I continued. “I didn’t do any of this so you all should stop acting like I am the villain here! I never wanted this marriage, In fact, I never wanted to get married! If Junia thinks that because of the sacrifices that she made for me would stop me from leaving her, then I am ready to pay it back!”

 

“You son of a bastard, you are just as cold-hearted as your father” My grandfather attempted to stand up from his wheelchair but fell to the ground and my mother quickly rushed to him as she yelled and cussed at me.

 

I transferred my aggression back to Junia. “You see what you have caused? Don’t think that you can hold me down because of the sacrifices that you claim that you made for me! I know what to do. I have prepared for this day for a long time!”

 

I slipped my hands into my pocket and brought out a check as I forced it into her hands. “This is a cheque of 200 million dollars, take this, sign the divorce papers, and never show your face before me again! This is the compensation for all of the sacrifices that you made! I guess that we are good now!” I wanted to walk away but she grabbed me by the wrist in a way that I had to turn to look at her.

 

Her lips wobbled as she bobbed her head slowly and her voice was slightly above a normal whisper. “ Are you saying that this is the compensation for everything that I did for you? Do you want to think that I did everything for you just because I wanted money? I can ask my father to give me times ten of this and he would give me in a matter of seconds''

 

“I didn’t put my life on hold for this nonsense!” She screamed at the top of her lungs as she tore the cheque into shreds while her chest rose and fell steadily.

 

I shoved her hands. “I honestly don’t care Junia, if your father could give you so much. Shouldn’t you be grateful that you would be returning to your father’s house? Look, I appreciate everything that you have done for me and that is why I am trying to settle you. If you want more money, I will surely give it to you!”

 

She shook her head as tears rolled down her cheeks while she buried her face in her palm and balled out her eyes.

 

Somehow, there was this tinge in my heart and I felt pitiful towards her but she wasn’t the one my heart yearned for. When we were in college, I had never really noticed her because the only one that my heart had always belonged to was Maddie.

 

Maddie was the only one that my heart yearned for! I didn’t know how to love another woman except for Maddie. Maddie was the only one that made sense in a world filled with chaos.

 

My mum suddenly yelled. “I can’t believe that I raised you! I can’t believe that you turned out to be this cold, heartless monster” She slumped right on the couch behind her while I rolled my eyes to the back.

 

Then I was about to talk when Junia made a tiny sniffle and said. “Is this because of Maddie? Are you doing all of this because of her?”

 

I stared into her amber eyes intently as my palm calloused and I bobbed my head in affirmation. “Yes, I am doing all of this because of her. Maddie is back and she is back for good, she was the one who broke my heart and she is here to mend it back for good”

 

“Maddie!” My mum and grandfather exclaimed at the same time.

 

“Yes, you heard right, she is back for good. Then, you forced me into marriage because I was powerless, and now that I have become the richest billionaire in New York City! I would do whatever I want and without giving a damn about your opinions”

 

Then I turned to look at Junia. “Sign the divorce papers before I get back….”

 

Before I could take a step, Junia grabbed me by the arm. “I wouldn’t allow you to leave, we can still sort things out. Maddie doesn’t mean well to you. I am sorry if I have been clingy or if I had offended you in any way but I wouldn’t allow you to leave” She cried.

 

Despite my repeated attempts to remove her hands from me, she persisted, and that intensified my anger toward her. The situation escalated to the point where I felt compelled to push her away forcefully.

 

At that moment, a silence that gave me chills enveloped the room as an unexpected sound pierced the air—a soft thud resonated through the space.

 

I stood there, paralyzed with disbelief, as my eyes beheld an unimaginable sight.

 

Junia, with an expression of shock written on her face, crumbled to the floor, her head colliding with the center table.

 

My eyes almost popped out of their sockets when I saw the blood that trickled down her face as her eyes screwed shut, welcoming the silence and darkness that soon engulfed her.