2

ISABELLA HERNANDEZ

I curled up in the corner of the couch, anger and disappointment swirling inside me. The clock on the wall ticked away, reminding me of the late hour already.

I just can't help it, I can't believe Lucas had to lie to me that he was in a meeting. Meanwhile, he was there with another woman, caring for her. I even had to call him several times before he could answer my calls.

Or am I overreacting? Should I just confront him? Will he get angry if I tell him I saw him with another woman earlier at the hospital?- All these thoughts were still running through my mind when, suddenly, I heard the sound of the locked door, making me turn my head towards the main door and realize that he was finally home.

The door creaked open, and he walked inside, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on me, sitting on the couch.

His brows furrowed slightly as he asked coldly, "Why aren't you asleep yet?" His tone was detached, lacking any warmth or concern.

I didn't respond, I just kept my eyes fixed on my phone screen. Usually, I would greet him at the door, smiling and asking about his day, listening attentively to his stories about work and how good or stressful it was. But tonight, I didn't even have the energy to pretend or smile at him.

He seemed to sense something was off, and as he walked closer to me, his gaze stopped at my forehead.

"What happened to your forehead?" he asked, his voice still flat.

"I was in a car accident" I answered softly. I had expected him to be worried, to show me the loving gaze he had given Sophia earlier, but no, his reaction disappointed me instead.

He muttered a simple "It's fine, it's just a scrape" in an indifferent tone. No concern or any empathy.

Wow!

What was I expecting? That he was going to care for me?

Someone who could lie to me that he was in a meeting when he was actually with a woman. What could I possibly expect from a man like that?

He tried to walk past me, but I stopped him, grasping his wrist. "When are you going to tell me?" I asked, trying to sound calm even though my voice was beginning to rise.

"Tell you what?" He replied, feigning ignorance.

Liar!

"Don't play dumb with me, Lucas!" I exclaimed. "I know you two are dating already. Sophia, she's now your girlfriend, isn't she?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, and stop spewing rubbish" His expression remained neutral as he answered me in a nonchalant tone, removing his hand from my grip.

I stared at him unbelievably and then let out a dry chuckle. I can't believe he's looking me straight in the eyes and lying to me at the same time. He can't even be brave and be honest with me.

"Stop pretending, Lucas! I know everything already. I know you two are going out. Is she the reason why you've been ignoring me and giving me the cold shoulder in this house for the past few months now? Are you now sleeping with her?"

I know my questions sound silly right now, but I just can't help it. I feel like I'm losing my mind already.

He just looked at me with those 'what a pity' eyes, and without a word being said, he turned around and sauntered up to our room.

I stared at his retreating back incredulously.

Did I overreact?

Was I really doing too much? Or, maybe they aren't really going out together. Maybe I was just overthinking things?

I followed him silently as we both entered the room. He dropped his office bag on the couch and sauntered straight to the bathroom. I gently sat there on the bed, staring at the floor blankly.

Seven years of marriage, and we are now living like roommates in the house. Separate bathing routines and never disturbing each other's peace.

I could bet this is all because of her. No, I refused to admit that I was overreacting. I should have been suspicious when he started to give me a cold attitude in this house.

What really went wrong between us? What have I possibly done to deserve this treatment from him?

We used to be inseparable, sharing every moment and thought together. And now, we barely speak to each other.

To think that tonight was supposed to be our seventh wedding anniversary, and I was even putting on a lingering.

His favorite color.

He came out of the bathroom in his robe and got into bed, lying down with his back facing me. Not even a word to me.

Why won't he just look at me? I am his wife, for goodness’s sake! I thought frustratedly.

No happy anniversary messages or gifts. He just acted as if I was a nobody in this house.

"We haven't had sex in so long" I said, my voice barely above a whisper. But he remained aloof, not even glancing back at me.

It's almost three months since we last made love.

"I'm not in the mood" was the only thing he said. The way those words came out very cold, I knew it was seriously over between us.

His phone beeped, and Sophia's name appeared on the screen.

He instinctively shielded it from me, but I had already seen her name.

Sophia... Sophia, every time!

It's always her!

He doesn't care to listen to anything or anyone whenever it comes to her. Whenever I tried to talk to him about my inconvenience with his relationship with her, his excuse would always be the same: She was the daughter of his father's friend who had asked him to take good care of her before his passing.

But I know better now. I saw the way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her in a very calm manner.

He got up from the bed and sauntered to the closet. Picking a simple black t-shirt and matching pants, he began to get dressed.

"Where are you going to?" I asked, despite knowing where he was already heading to.

To be in his mistress's arms.

"Don't wait for me, just go to sleep. I might come in late or tomorrow morning. I have somewhere important to be."

"Really, Lucas?"

"What do you mean, really? I said I have somewhere important to be" he hissed, wearing his shirt.

"And you think I didn't know that the important place you claim you needed to be was... to be with Sophia? She's the one calling you, Lucas!" I burst out angrily, but he never responded. He just concentrated on his dressing.

"What are you doing, Lucas? You're a married man, for goodness’s sake! Don't tell me you'll leave your wife, lonely at home, to go attend to another woman. It's our seventh anniversary today. Have you suddenly forgotten? Aren't we supposed to make it a memorable one?" I bombarded him with questions, but he seemed unbothered.

He just muttered, "Like I said, don't wait for me" and tried leaving, but I abruptly got up from my bed, hugging him tightly from the back whilst wrapping my hands around his waist, pleading with him not to go.

"Please don't go, Lucas. I am your wife. Spend the night with me"

He gently removed my hand from his waist, and without a word being said, he walked out of the room without looking back.

A lone tear slowly slipped down my cheek as I collapsed weakly on the floor. The pain is too much, and it's beginning to suffocate me.

As I sat there on the floor, I couldn't help but think about how our love had started. We used to be happy, he used to love me so much, but now, we seem like nothing but strangers.

NEXT MORNING

I slowly fluttered my eyes open, groggily realizing that it was morning already.

I couldn't believe I slept on the floor all night. I felt my body aching from the hard surface, but I don't think it's up to the pain in my chest right now as the memories of yesterday's incident came flooding back.

The pain in my chest felt like a fresh wound, racing with every beat of my heart.

I found it hard to believe that Lucas could actually choose her over me.

I slowly got up but stumbled on my feet. At the same time, the door swung open and Lucas walked in. I was expecting to see a sign of remorse on his face, but there was none. Rather, his eyes were cold like ice, and I felt a chill run down my spine.

He walked closer to me and handed me an envelope. No greetings, no words being said.

My mind began to race with so many thoughts even though I don't know what it is yet.

"What is this?" I asked, my voice hoarse as I took the envelope from him.

"It's our divorce papers" he answered, his voice firm and flat. "I've already done my part by signing. You should sign yours too."

Immediately those words left his mouth, I felt like my whole world had come crumbling down. My breath got hitched in my throat, and I found it hard to breathe. I don't know what to think. "D... Di...vorce papers? How? Why?" I asked, my voice shaking.

He was supposed to apologize to me for leaving me all alone in this house to be in his mistress's embrace! Why is he giving me the divorce papers instead?!

"We're clearly growing apart every day, we're not compatible. It's best we both go our separate ways now" he answered flatly.

No, I refused to believe him.

I shook my head. "This is because of her, isn't it? You're leaving me for your mistress?" I asked.

And his silence proves me right, confirming my suspicion. The flimsy excuse he had just given me was a lie. The truth is, he was divorcing me to be with his lover—his childhood friend, like he always called it.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I felt so broken right now. But I don't want to let go either. "Please, don't do this to me, Lucas," I begged, my voice cracking with desperation. "Don't divorce me. We can work things out. I can make you love me again. You once did, and you can still love me" I whispered, my eyes pleading with him to change his mind.

7 years of marriage, I can't let it all slip away like that. I have now realized that I can't compete with her in his heart, but I have to try to fight for my husband, for our marriage.

But his eyes just looked at me coldly. "Just sign the papers, Isabella. There's nothing left for us to work on" he said, his voice firm and cold.

Then, he turned around and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

I was left standing, rooted to the ground. The divorce papers still clutched in my hand as my heart shattered into a million pieces, tears streaming down my cheeks uncontrollably.