Chapter 7 - Respect! Dignity!

~VIOLET~

Stewart's lips parted as he glanced at me, stupefied. He didn't expect to hear that from me. He expected me to be scared at the mention of divorce and agree to his unreasonable request. However, that would never happen. I have had enough of him and his family. He would never change. His heart was never for me. It was of no use investing my energy and self-dignity in something that has been bound to fail.

"What did you just say?" He blurted out with his eyes fixed on mine unblinkingly.

"Let's divorce, Stewart. I'm done with this facade called marriage. You never wanted this from the beginning. I was the stupid one for thinking you could grow some feelings for me later in the marriage. You should go to your beloved. There's nothing to come in between you two now," I let out defiantly without blinking. Every word and statement I made shattered my heart. Multitudes of emotions sizzled within me and the tears in my lids increased. I loved Stewart. I was ready to condone his attitude and wait for him to change, but this has involved my child. I cannot let anything happen to him.

Willow had already taken my husband away from him, I could not let her take my child too, even if it meant leaving the only man I had learned to love all my life.

A deep frown crowned Stewart's features as he stared at me for a few seconds. Then, he chuckled, and his chuckles slowly turned into a burst of full-blown laughter, laced with mockery.

It took him seconds before he could finally control his laughter. I felt humiliated. The defensive spirit I had a while ago crumbled under his deep gaze and mocking laughter. I felt like a fool. What the hell was I thinking when I asked him for a divorce? I could barely stand on my own feet. Can I live without him when his voice, gape, and scent have a strong possessive effect on me?

"What did I just hear you say, Violet? You want a divorce?" He repeated and scoffed, swirling his tongue over his lips while throwing his head backward. "Are you crazy? How do you want to survive when your world revolves around me? How would you survive without me!" He barked, holding his waist and running his fingers through his hair. He sounded frustrated with his uneven breaths.

My eyes were fixed on him. What was the source of his frustration? Was it because I refused to give his beloved some of my blood or because I had decided to divorce him? Whichever way it was, I knew this was the best decision - refusing to ride on Stewart's and his family's shit.

"Cat got your tongue?" He fired.

His voice pulled me out of my train of thought. Raising my head, I pursed my lips and summoned courage within myself. "Violet, with or without Stewart, you will survive. It might get hard and rough in the beginning, but you will definitely reach the tiled road and be glad you made this decision"

"Who are you, Stewart? You aren't the air I breathe nor are you an oxygen. So, tell me why you think I wouldn't be able to live without you?" I uttered indifferently while peeking into his orbs. For a few seconds, I saw something that looked like shock and fear. I knew I might be mistaken about the "fear" but I couldn't help but want to believe that I saw right.

"What! You have no fear anymore, Violet. Do you think I am going to give you another chance just because you are admitted to the hospital? Do you think I will forgive you after everything you've said? He blurted out, angry.

I made sure I cleared my raspy voice before responding to him so that he wouldn't feel my fear and regret. That would make him elated. "I don't want your forgiveness, Stewart. Trying to get away from a man who never valued me or what we share isn't a sin. I never committed a crime. Even if it was a crime, my only offense would be knowing my worth and walking out of a loveless marriage. I will ask for your forgiveness without you asking for it if I truly offended you, but it doesn't seem like I did, so to hell with you and your forgiveness," My voice was getting higher and ruder. I was loving the reaction I was getting from it. His eyebrows creased in an irritable and questioning manner. His mouth opened slightly but he swiftly clapped his lips shut before anyone could notice.

"You will suffer for this, Violet. Even your fake tears will not save you from me. Do not eat your words, Violet. You asked for divorce and I will surely give it to you. I would like to see how an aimless and purposeless woman like you would survive without me," He hissed, glared at me angrily, and stormed out of the ward.

The moment his back disappeared into the air, I released a lungful of breath which I didn't even know I was holding. The tears I have been fighting back slide out unheeded and uncontrollably.

He was right. I was an aimless and purposeless idiot. I thought I needed nothing after marrying a rich man. I thought his wealth was mine. I thought everything he had was also mine. I thought I could lean on him, depend on him, and run to him for everything. I didn't even work on my growth. I paused my growth so I could focus on this loveless marriage.

I might not be able to survive without him. My situation might get worse when I leave him. Stewart was right, and it pained me even more to affirm that his words were on point. Where the hell is my dignity and respect as a woman?

"You can let it all out, Mrs....," The doctor paused for a few seconds. I guessed he was battling with what he could truly call me. "I mean...," he kneaded his left brow, "Miss Violet. You should let it out. Don't injure yourself by keeping it all in. Remember you are still recovering," Dr. Alex told me while cautiously patting my back.

"Yes, lady. I love your brazenness. That stupid man doesn't deserve you. You should let go of him and never cling onto him again," An older woman in the ward chipped in with a glint of admiration in her eyes. It melted my heart to see that somebody respected my actions a while ago. It felt so good to know that I could do something that at least one person could admire.

"You shouldn't dim your light because of a loser like him. You just dodged a bullet and I'm happy for you," An older man also butted in.

And that was all I needed. The comforting words I needed before I could release my emotions. Instantly, I burst into a loud cry.

"I am never going back to Stewart!"