Chapter 5: Voracious

Bella frowned, the pleasant mood brought by the cake vanishing instantly. What did he mean by that? Did he think she was so desperate to marry him? She stabbed the fork into the cake angrily, "How come I never noticed how venomous your words could be before? Every sentence stabs at my heart! Proposing wasn’t hard? Then maybe divorce should be harder for you!" His face, always so cool and detached, yet his words ignited her anger like nothing else.

Calvin's expression remained unchanged, as if oblivious to her anger, calmly stating, "What do you want? I'll try my best to fulfill it."

Bella swirled the fork in the cake, uncovering the chocolate beneath the cream and tasting the slight bitterness. It reminded her of her current mood, subtly bitter. She wondered if his heart was as dark as the cake. Glancing at his handsome profile, she retorted, "I want you."

"Aren't you tired of my dullness?"

"I care about looks!" With his poison tongue, better he keeps silent.

Calvin smiled for once, "Not tired of looking at me for three years?"

Her gaze drifted down to his wrist, adorned with a watch, a scene straight out of a magazine advertisement. She had to admit he was right; a man like him wouldn’t need to put much effort into proposing. At thirty-three, tall, handsome, and successful, no woman could resist him. How could she let him go? She replied, "Do you think I'm like you? Getting bored and seeking replacements?"

Calvin fell silent again as the car stopped at a red light. The evening darkened, lights from the street and cars blending, casting reflections on the glass. Bella stole glances at him, his face still devoid of emotion. Whether he was just patient or truly indifferent, her sarcasm and hysteria never seemed to disturb his calm, at least not visibly.

As the countdown on the traffic light ticked away, she remembered how she had been distracted during his call and murmured, "Could you say something else to me?"

Calvin looked puzzled, "Like what?"

"Something nice to hear." She was tired of his weather-report tone, devoid of emotion and utterly boring.

"What do you want to hear?" Calvin seemed at a loss, believing the nicest thing he'd said was about giving someone a raise. His compliments about female actresses were more professional than personal, and now Bella suddenly wanted him to say something nice, leaving him clueless.

Bella felt disheartened, realizing she had to ask for what she wanted to hear. And yet, he was considerately letting her choose. Her anger flared again, "Start with 'I love you.'"

Calvin looked bemused, "Bella…"

She met his gaze defiantly, "Didn't you say you'd try to fulfill my wishes? I've never asked much of you over the years, just this one desire. Please grant it."

"Some things don't need to be said. Does saying 'I love you' mean love?"

"Fine, then show me." As soon as she said it, realizing how her mind had raced ahead, she quickly waved off, "That's not what I meant, don't misunderstand."

Calvin shook his head in resignation, what was she thinking? The green light finally appeared, and the cars began moving. Bella stared at her reflection in the window, lost in thought, before insisting again, "Say you love me."

"Just want to hear it?" Calvin glanced at her sideways.

"I don't care if you mean it or not, even if it's an act, make it convincing!" She refused to be pacified by a weather-report tone any longer. Calvin finally frowned, saying after a pause, "I'm driving." But just as he finished, they hit another red light. Bella smirked triumphantly, enough time for him to put on a little show. His reluctant expression was satisfying. She deserved this moment.

"Bella, I…"

Bella beamed, "Yes? Go on."

After a lengthy ten seconds, he sighed softly, took her hand, and looked into her eyes, fulfilling her request in a low voice, "I love you."

Bella was stunned; his performance was too convincing. With added hand-holding, she joked, "An actor, indeed. I almost believed you."

"I thought you'd say 'I love you too.'"

"You said some things don't need to be said, right?"

He nodded, "Then let's do it."

Bella paused, surely he didn't mean...? But then, her mood inexplicably lifted, and she leaned in closer, "Once more?" His acting warranted multiple listens. Calvin returned to his impassive state, "The light's green."

The traffic was heavy, turning a half-hour journey into nearly an hour. When they finally arrived at the residence, it was completely dark. It had been half a month since their last visit, and both Bella and Calvin had been bombarded with calls from their mothers. Calvin fared better; a mother-in-law wouldn’t inquire about his sexual activities. Bella had it worse, constantly grilled by both her mother and mother-in-law, causing her to tense up at the sound of her phone.

Fortunately, Calvin’s mother didn’t bring up anything else, merely urging them to wash up for dinner. But her silence made Bella even more anxious, ruining her appetite. After dinner, Calvin’s mother found an excuse to keep Bella in the kitchen for a talk, signaling the main event was about to start.

Calvin’s mother, seeing Calvin and his father watching TV outside, whispered, "Bella, tell me the truth. Why does Calvin want a divorce? Is there someone else? Speak up, I’m on your side, and I won’t let any fox ruin your marriage!"

Bella was at a loss; she genuinely didn’t know. To her, Calvin always seemed virtuous, almost ready to swear on his purity. So now, she could only shake her head, "I don't think so?" Without evidence, she couldn’t make accusations.

Calvin’s mother’s face darkened. No? Then was it really sexual incompatibility? "So... he said... it's... his problem?" She pondered, unable to believe her son, a fine specimen, could be impotent. And Bella? It seemed unlikely since women don’t typically have such issues. After much thought, she concluded it must be Calvin's fault. "Bella, you know men are sensitive about these things, especially regarding sex. Advise him, we must treat any issue, right?"

Uh... Bella was torn. Should she clarify for Calvin? She decided it was better to set the record straight, lest Calvin’s mother press her to encourage his treatment and aid in his recovery. "Mom, Calvin’s fine, really fine."

"Truly? Don’t cover for him."

Bella chuckled awkwardly, "Really..." At least, the last time they were intimate, there were no issues. Now, she couldn't be sure.

"So..." Calvin’s mother hesitated, "Is it you...?" Frigid?

Bella felt as if she'd swallowed a fly, cursing Calvin internally. She should've let his mother think he was the issue! Now, how to handle this?

Calvin’s mother, misinterpreting Bella's facial expressions, comforted her, "I understand. Women aren't as keen on sex as men, and a lack of interest usually points to the man’s lack of skill. You know Calvin; he buries himself in work and knows nothing about pleasing a woman, probably clueless about sex too."

"Mom..." Bella’s mind raced. Continue this topic? Perhaps Calvin's father should instruct Calvin. Calvin’s mother, equally embarrassed, handed her a bag, "Take this home and watch it together; you'll understand everything."

Ah? Watch together? An educational film? Bella's curiosity peaked, wanting to see the contents, but Calvin’s mother hurriedly stopped her, her cheeks a subtle red, "Watch it at home, together."

Driving back, Bella felt drowsy. The mysterious item from Calvin’s mother turned out to be a sex education DVD for newlyweds, something issued during marriage health checks. For someone as experienced as her, it held no interest compared to Fiona’s films. Calvin expected her to lash out after talking with his mother, but she remained calm, prompting him to ask, "What did mom say to you?"

Lazily glancing at him, Bella sighed deeply, "Now I get it; mothers always side with their sons. On the incompatibility issue, she first thought you were impotent and suggested I encourage treatment, probably expecting me to assist in your recovery. When I told her you're fine, she gave me an educational DVD, insisting we watch and learn. Either way, I’m implicated."

Calvin nodded, "Just keep it; don't mind it."

Bella didn’t respond, her mind wandering. Was sexual incompatibility truly the reason for his desire to divorce? Otherwise, why seek separation? Aside from the reduced frequency, what was wrong? His constant overtime left little time or energy for intimacy. Ignoring frequency, the quality seemed fine to her. And him? She glanced at him, warmth spreading through her heart. His face, illuminated intermittently by the streetlights, was irresistibly attractive, making her yearn to kiss him passionately. Taking a deep breath, she pulled her thoughts back. Was her desire so intense due to their prolonged abstinence? It felt sinful.

Yet, under current circumstances, even if she was willing, how could they act on it? Who thinks of intimacy while discussing divorce? She couldn’t help but look at him again, with only one thought—how she wished to pounce on him, tear open his shirt, and shower him with kisses...

Calvin, feeling her intense gaze, glanced at her, "What is it?"

Bella dared not voice her thoughts, diverting her eyes and muttering, "Tired... want to sleep..." Wanting to sleep with you! The unspoken words choked her, leaving her sighing deeply, her mind filled with their passionate encounters. Frustrated by the current situation, she wondered, how did things get to this point?

"Just want to sleep?"

"What else?"

Calvin suddenly smiled, "Or is it that you want to sleep with me?"

Bella, her desires extinguished by his question, wondered how he knew. Calvin loosened his tie, saying leisurely, "Your look has set me on fire." He wasn’t oblivious; such a lustful gaze was obvious to anyone.

Bella felt her mind explode. What did he mean? Had her gaze affected him? She felt voracious, like a wolf, a tiger.