ARIEL COLES
“I’m working late again; do not wait for me,” “Again!?” “Yeah. I have to go now.” He says and hangs up so quickly that he doesn’t have to hear what I say next. That was a phone call conversation with my husband of three years, Chase Coles. He has been working very late often, and although he comes back in the morning, I only see him when he comes into our room to change into clean clothes before he leaves again. We don’t even converse with each other. Sigh. I’m alone again for the umpteenth time in our penthouse with all the dinner cooked and set on the dining table. It is what I have been doing for three whole years for my husband, and he would eat my food and leave the plate clean. Cooking is something that I am naturally good at, so I wouldn’t see the reason why my husband cannot at least come home to a home cooked meal. But anyway, tomorrow is exactly our third year anniversary, so I am planning a day away with him. I have already called his PA to cancel his schedule for the day so that we can celebrate our wedding anniversary. I was a twenty-year-old virgin when we got married. We got married, not out of love, but out of pressure. Our families arranged our marriage to form a business relationship between us so that we and our future children could become the sole successors of the family business. I didn’t mind at all getting married to Chase. Although we were not in love when we got married, I believed that we were going to fall in love with each other in our marriage. Three years later, I am head over heels with Chase. I have fallen so much in love with him, and I can’t see myself living apart from him, but Chase, Chase is indifferent in our marriage. I feel like I’m still a stranger to him, despite how long we have been together. He is cold, hardly smiles in my presence, or looks at me in a way that I feel appreciated. The most expected of him is the least that he does for me. He doesn’t even touch me unless we are having sex, but that’s just it. He wouldn’t cuddle with me, let alone, kiss me. Well, the little that I receive from him puts me at ease. As long as he is with me. I know that he will see me differently someday and will love me the way I deserve to be loved. I get up from the dinner table and leave everything as it is before I head upstairs to take out the clothes that Chase and I will wear tomorrow. I always choose his outfits for the day every day anyway. I want us to match, so I choose the beige and white colour for the day, and for the evening, it’ll obviously be an evening wear. I’ll be wearing a red elegant dress, and he’ll wear a black tailored suit for a romantic dinner. I had it all planned out this year. I’m so excited. Hopefully, it'll bring us closer. *** Could I have overslept, or did my husband come home earlier than he normally would? I can hear movements in our room and shudding, forcing me to wake up. I open my eyes, sit up on the bed, and stretch my arms. “Chase?” I call out, getting out of the bed and heading to the walk-in closet where I find him putting his shoes on. He got up and faced me. Chase stood tall and proud, his broad shoulders giving him an imposing presence. His features were strong and sharp, with deep blue-set eyes that rarely smiled. His jaw was square and firm, his lips set in a straight line. His demeanour was serious and focused, giving the impression that he was always in control. He was the type of man who commanded respect and rarely gave it in return. This is the feature of Chase I got from him for three years in our marriage. "Why are you wearing that outfit when I chose this one for you, Chase?” He stands up, wearing black pants, a black shirt, and a black jacket. “It’s our anniversary today. I planned our day together,” I declare. “I have work to do,” “But I asked your PA to clear your schedule for the day,” “That’s the thing. You made plans behind my back without talking to me about it first, Ariel,” He then walks past me and walks out of the closet. “I thought I was doing something nice for you – for us at least. You have always worked so hard, so at least take this day off with me. We never got to celebrate our wedding anniversary,” I rebuke. He decides not to say anything. He opens his bag on the couch facing our bed and takes out a white A4 envelope, tossing it on the little table in the middle of our room. “Is it so hard for you to read the room all the time? How would you celebrate a wedding anniversary when there is no love between us? Are you not tired of all this pretence because I am!" He chastises. "That’s for you. Sign it so that we can get it over and done with,” With that said, he puts on his black sunglasses and walks out of the room. Only then do I breathe out the air I didn’t even know I was holding. I’m confused and, most of all, hurt. I didn’t see this coming. I drop my eyes on the envelope with bold printed letters of the name of the law firm our lawyer works at. I know what the is in there. But why is he doing this? I know our marriage is a work-in-progress, but I thought we were making progress. No, I’m not letting him have what he wants without him explaining why. I put on my slippers and not even bother to change from my pyjamas. I run downstairs as tears stream down my cheeks, not caring about the servants in our house. “Chase!” I scream out, heading outside. He is already in the elevator, and it closed before I even managed to get to him. I turn back to the house and look for car keys. “Car keys… where are my car keys!?” I yell. “Here, Ma’am,” One servant came running to me and slightly bowed to hand me the keys. I grabbed them and turned around. “Ma’am, you forgot to take off your...” Before she could even finish talking, I’m already halfway to the elevator. I tap my foot in anticipation as I impatiently wait for it to reach the ground. As soon as the doors open, I run to my car in the basement parking, and just then, I see Chase driving out. I start my car and follow him. Today, I have to see what it is that made him decide to do what he did to me. He can not just throw a bomb like that on me without any explanation. I refuse! I refuse to believe that there is no love between us. It is there, I can feel it. Something is just there in front of him stopping him from pursuing the love. “This is not the way to work, Chase. Where are you going?” I say to myself, following him as he gets on the left highway instead of right. Fifteen minutes later, he stops at a seven star hotel, which is part of Coles Group. I halt my car a little further and watch him as he gets off. Just then, a woman calls his name and waves her hand, running to him. For the first time, I see something on Chase that he never revealed to me. A gentle smile, he looked at the woman with soulful eyes and held her waist with his hands with so passionately that the two leaned to kiss. I feel a hot burning sensation on my chest and tears welling in my eyes. If it is because of another woman that my husband can’t love me. At first, it did cross my mind, but I did not want to think about it because I didn’t have proof, and I didn’t bother to even search his privacy. I wanted to trust him and make him trust me so that we could make our marriage work. I was so stupid and naïve to think that Chase would ever love me. Only if I had a way of saving my father's company three years ago, I probably would have never agreed to marry Chase and best could have avoided this heartache. My father's company was facing bankruptcy as he was hacked, and the hacker wiped the company's bank accounts clean. Chase’s father and my father were very close, so he requested that I get married to Chase and he would invest in my father's company if I agreed. Of course, I did it for my father, and now his company is not where it was before, but it is doing good. I had a tough time accepting the proposal, but I did it anyway. Fuck it, I’m going there! He can't get a happy ending on our anniversary! I get out of the car and walk down the street to them. People are looking at me like I’m some sort of a crazy woman. Maybe I was too good, and everyone took that for granted. I was always dependent on the Coles’ family and let my guard down, forgetting my worth and limits for a man who can’t even grin at me. I tried, I fucking tried and I want him to know that today. I’m hurt! “Chase!” I shout his name before I get to them. Chase raises his head, and the beautiful smile he had on his handsome face erases. It can’t hurt more, can it? No, it does. That smile and calm face was not meant for me. The woman turns around and notices me. It can’t be! He can’t have gone back to his ex! As I get closer, he holds his mistress’s hand and moves her behind him as if to protect her from being attacked by me. I stand no chance with him. He is protecting her with his body. If anything, he would save her first before me.CHASE COLESAs soon as I left the house, I drove to COLES seven star hotel to meet up with Monica. As soon as I parked my car, I got out of the car and as I was just about to call her, I heard her sweet voice calling my name, causing my face to heat up, and I turn and look at her, waving her hand with enthusiasm on her face. I wave back, and she hurries down to me, so I catch her in my embrace and lean down to capture her lips. “Hey, baby,” I say. “Hi… so, did you do it?” Monica asks in anticipation as I hold her waist, bringing her closer to my body. “Signed and delivered. Our divorce should be processed as soon as I hand in the papers after she signed, then I’ll finally be all yours, Monica,” I say, but it somewhat leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. “You’ve always been mine, Mr. Coles,” She steps on her toes to leave a peck on my lips. It didn’t take long until I heard someone shouting my name.“Chase!” I am forced to break eye contact between Monica and I, and I look up and
ARIEL COLES I walk really slowly into the penthouse, dragging my feet. All my energy is worn out, and I don’t feel like having any company in the house. I throw my car keys on the dining table and make my way upstairs to the bedroom that I shared with my husband for three years. If he never had hope in us, why would he sleep next to me in the same bed for so long? Why did he drag me with him until this day, only to spit me out like a meat that’s been stuck between his teeth? Why would he play with my feelings like that? I’m fragile – my heart is fragile. Did he take advantage of my kindness, or was it my stupidity of relaxing as a housewife? Now I feel embarrassed. Gosh, that girl Monica made me realise how much I missed out in the past three years. I’m only twenty-three, yet I missed out on so much of my youth, being a housewife to a man that was ice cold towards me. Monica looked very beautiful and sophisticated while I looked like I ran away from a loony bin. I can’t believe th
Ariel had woken up in the morning, feeling nauseous without vomiting. At this point, she became concerned about her health, so she decided to take a bath and get ready to go to the clinic to consult with the doctor. She arrived at exactly ten o’clock in the morning, and their family doctor assisted her immediately. “So, Mrs. Cole. Do you mind telling me what you are concerned about? Tell me about the symptoms you are having,” Doctor Jones says, sitting across the desk with his hands on the table, focusing on Ariel’s swollen eyes. “Well, I don’t even know how to explain it either, but I’ve been feeling nausea pretty often. I admit I have been stressed out pretty much, and it might be triggering my body to react, and also, I am late on my period,” Ariel confessed to the doctor who smiled in return, looking at the clueless innocent woman in front of him. “Have you vomited since?” He asked. “Yesterday in the late morning. Could it possibly be food poisoning?” Ariel wondered, pondering
ARIEL COLES “Are you going to be okay? Would you like me to call a driver for you?” Doctor Jones asked as I was preparing to leave. It’s been twenty minutes since I gained my consciousness, and just when I thought I had a dream about the doctor telling me that I am pregnant, well… I hate to disappoint myself because it wasn’t a dream. He confirmed once more to me to let me know that I am indeed pregnant. I am surprised, but I am not upset or anything. I guess I could say I am caught off guard about it, and it might take me a while to process it. “I’ll be fine, thank you, Doc,” I assure him. “Just so you know, Chase called, and I did as you asked. But something really caught me when he called. Why would he think that you would want to commit suicide?” I gasp and raise my eyebrow. “I am surprised as well. Um, but let’s be honest with each other right now. You know Chase, and you probably have an idea of what is going on because Chase is your friend. I did not choose to come here
CHASE COLESI am standing right across the table, staring at a version of Ariel that I have never met before. I won’t lie, she scares me. I have never seen her this defensive before. She never strikes me as someone who’d stand up for themselves like this. She makes me feel so uneasy because this could mean trouble. I am looking at her, staring at my mother who has had enough of Ariel’s drama as much as I am. “Ariel, what has gone into you?” My mother asks. “Oh, so are we all going to ignore the fact that Monica is here right now? Are we all going to ignore the fact I am getting divorced because of Chase’s mistress?” Oh, here we go again!“Yes! You are getting divorced because of me, so what?” Finally, Monica joins in, fed up. “I have always been in Chase’s life before you were even considered to be his wife, and you know that. Chase and I never stopped seeing each other because of you, you know why? Chase loves me and I can’t think this same for you. Do us all the favour and accep
ARIEL The divorce was processed quicker than I thought, but it doesn’t matter anymore because it is done. I should be grateful that everything happened as it was because I would have been a fool all my life. It is time that I pick myself up and be who I am made of. I am no longer responsible for myself but also the seed growing inside of me. I place my hands on my stomach and exhale. “Are you a girl or a boy? Well, it doesn’t matter because I am going to love you anyway. Daddy left me for another woman, so it is just you and me now. I am feeling down right now, but I hope that you’ll help me rise because I am not going to sit back and do nothing.” I say in my heart, rubbing my fat belly. I was undermined by the Coles because I am clueless about business. Well, I am a qualified professional doctor, so I have decided to go back to doing just that. “You are a medical practitioner, not quite clever when it comes to an economic business, so stick to your lane.” Chase’s words were me
CHASE COLES I walk down the stairs, holding my tie in my hand for my mother to make a knot for me. I reach the last staircase where I meet her and she immediately possesses the tie in her hands before she hangs it around my neck and make a fine knot, but not as perfect as Ariel’s knot. “You don’t look like a married man anymore, Chase,” My mother announces. “I’m divorced, remember,” I remind her. “But still, you do not look like you have a girlfriend. You do not look neat. The way you are dressing lately just seems out of place,” I think my mother is exaggerating. This is how I dressed before I got married to Ariel. “There is nothing wrong with how I wear,” “Well, I am just saying that Ariel knew how to dress you, and I can feel her absence now,” I sigh. “Mom, did she seem weird to you the last time she was here?” I ask. I am unable to shake off the feeling that something was offish with her when I last saw her. The words she even said to me are still lingering in my head, a
Pregnant!?” Chase exclaimed, unable to fathom the news. He wasn’t happy nor angry. He was caught by surprise, and his reaction caused a frown on Monica’s face. “You are not happy about it, are you?” She sadly noted.“No… I mean, I am just surprised. We just never spoke about having kids, so I am not sure how to take the news, but I can assure you, I am not angry or disappointed. I got you pregnant, so I will take responsibility. I will do everything right.” Chase pulled Monica into his chest and embraced her. Monica exhaled and smiled happily. “How far are you?” Chase asked. “Uh, just a couple of weeks,” Monica quickly dismissed the question, not wanting to dwell on it too much. Monica knows how far exactly she is, but wouldn’t want to jeopardise her relationship with Chase because if Chase realises that the weeks of her pregnancy and the time they started sleeping together do not collide, she might lose him for good this time. Chase never slept with Monica until the divorce wa