Chapter Two- Loud and Clear

Immediately, she switched on the light, she saw Ethan in another woman's arms. Claire immediately recognised her, the woman was Samantha.

Ethan's first love.

Everyone quickly left the room, leaving three of them alone. The silence that followed after everyone left was defeaning.

"When you have sorted yourself out, call me," Samantha had said before going out and slamming the door. Claire stood there looking at Ethan, the man who was supposed to be her husband.

"You shouldn't have come here", was all Ethan said and then he walked out after that.

They had come back home in their different cars and retired to their separate bedrooms.

Claire sat down on her bed, but her mind was far away. The scene at her husband's office kept replaying in her mind. Everything finally made sense. Claire finally understood the reason for the frequent late nights, his excessive irritation.

Claire's mind drifted to her high school days. She had been in the same high school with Samantha and Ethan. She had seen how much Ethan adored and cared for Samantha. The way he would hold hands with her while walking in the hallway had been so admirable, and that had made Claire fall hopelessly in love with him. Ethan, being extremely handsome, had also fueled her passion, and she kept crushing on him for years. Her prayers had been suddenly answered when Ethan had proposed just after they finished college. Even though everyone had warned her to think twice before accepting his proposal, Claire just couldn't hold herself back. Ethan was all she could see and all she could hear.

After her wedding, it became clear that she may have jumped too soon. Ethan found her revolting, and he didn't hide it. Every time they made love, he would hurriedly leave and go back to his room. Spending time with her felt like a chore to Ethan. The more he distanced himself from her, the more Claire tried to please him. She had planned his twenty-fifth birthday for months. She had beautiful gifts selected for him, alongside something she was hoping to tell him that would finally make him love her. But seeing him cling to Samantha a few minutes ago finally woke Claire to the reality she had been avoiding. Ethan never loved her. Their three years of marriage didn’t change that fact, and sadly, nothing would.

The following morning, Claire just couldn't bring herself to leave the room. She was so sad it ached. She finally understood why it was called a heartbreak, she actually felt like her heart was breaking.

She was hungry, but the thought of food made her nauseous. She heard a soft knock on her door, and it opened to reveal Ethan. For the first time, she didn't want to see his face.

"We need to talk," Ethan said as he entered the room.

Claire didn't say a word, and so he continued.

"I am sorry you had to find out the way you did. I was planning to tell you, I just didn't know how "Ethan said.

Claire looked at him, and for the first time she saw a monster, Ethan wasn't sorry he cheated. He was sorry he had been caught.

Claire turned directly to look at him as he spoke, "Now the cat is out of the bag it's best to take the necessary decision. Claire, I want a divorce, "Ethan said.

Everywhere was suddenly quiet, "Did you hear me?"Ethan asked.

Claire blinked, trying really hard to remain calm. She wasn't going to shed tears in front of him, "I can hear you.", she responded.

She closed her eyes for a few seconds and when she opened it, she looked calm, it was almost as if she was happy.

"Ethan, I can hear you loud and clear. You want a divorce. let's get a divorce, "Claire said.

Ethan was taken completely aback. He hadn't known what to expect, but a calm Claire wasn't what he had expected.

"My lawyer will contact you soon," Claire said, and Ethan knew that was his cue to leave her room.

As he drove to Samantha's apartment, he couldn't shake the weird feeling he was having about the whole thing. Ethan knew Claire was obsessed with him. That was why she had agreed to marry him once he had asked. The Claire he had just spoken to was a different person. When he set his eyes on Samantha, all his concerns about Claire melted away. Samantha had a way of melting all his problems away whenever he was in her arms.

"Cheerie, am sorry about the whole drama that ensued in my office", Ethan pleaded with Samantha.

"Have you sorted out your problems with your wife?", Samantha asked.

"I have asked her for a divorce ", Ethan said and that made Samantha smile.

"So finally we can be together," Samantha said as they held each other tight.

That evening, when he got back home, Claire was gone. All her things were gone, and all their pictures together that were displayed in the living room were gone. it was as though the last three years had never happened. As Ethan entered her room, a part of him shifted. Claire had left him without a fight.

As Claire ascended the stairs of the hotel where she was lodging, she felt suddenly lightheaded.

She held onto the railings to steady herself, but it didn't help. Everywhere kept spinning, and then it went black.

Lucas Steele had just finished a meeting with some investors and was on his way to his suite when he saw a woman lying face down on the stairs.

He ran up to her and bent down to check on her. She was cold. Lucas panicked. He hoped she was alright. He didn't want to think of the worst. He quickly pulled out his phone and dialled 911. Immediately, the line connected, Lucas blurted out, " Hello I have an emergency ".