Three

Annabelle’s POV

As the realization dawned on me, a sudden wave of happiness filled me, saying to myself “I am going to be a mother,’’

“I am going to be a mother” repeating loud in quick succession as delight burst inside me, I couldn't suppress the happiness, maybe this is what Adrien and I needed, a child to bring us together.

But the smile vanished as quickly as it appeared, my thoughts hit me once again. What will be Adrien’s reaction when I tell him?Would this change anything?,Would he embrace this, or would he resent me even more? Would it make him finally notice me? The questions spun in my head, eating me up.

What happens if he doesn't want the child? I can't kill my child, it won’t even be an option. What would happen if this simply infuriated him? I tried to brush off the negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones as my eyes stayed glued to the results. Before I knew it it was 10:00 pm and Adrien still wasn't home, couldn't he spare one night for our anniversary?

I was already nodding off when I heard his car driving into the driveway,I got up from the couch as fast as I could and headed to the door. Smiling at him, I watched him get down from his car with his suitcase in hand, hoping today would be different.

I greeted, hoping to capture his attention, "Welcome."

He walked passed me, hardly giving me any credit, like I wasn't even there.

Following him inside, I bit my lip when I saw the severe frown carved across his face, my chest dropped as I thought of several things that could have kept him in this mood already,

"What's wrong, Love?," I asked, keeping a gentle voice.

He halted suddenly, his eyebrows tightly wrinkled and his eyes blazed with rage. His face flushed scarlet, and I could see the vein pulsing across his forehead. His mouth closed so firmly that his face started to twitch.

"You are my problem!" he yelled, his tone sharp and strong,

I stammered at the power of his voice. "What do you mean, what happened?" Though internally I was shaking, I did my best to keep my voice steady.

"You are still pretending not to know?” He snarled, his voice filled with hatred,

"All this time, I thought you were good, that maybe I wasn't being fair to you, but now, I know you're only a slut. A whore!” His comments really hit like a punch. I fisted my hands firmly by my sides to suppress how badly they were shaking.He opened his briefcase before I could even ask and threw a paper on the table in front of me,

I fixed my gaze on it confused, "What's this, Adrien?”

Avoiding my gaze, he yelled, "Sign it."

I slowly picked up the document, opening it, as I read the words, my heart fell, divorce papers?

"Adrien what is this? I don't understand, What is happening?”

His chilly voice sent a shiver down my back. "What does it look like?"

As I threw the papers back on the table, my body shook in shock and the ground under me became blurry as I struggled to stand firm,

"Why?" I asked, as tears threatened to fall from my eyes,

“Why can’t you simply love me back? Is it such a crime to love you. Is this what I get in return after all these years of waiting, after everything I have done for you?” With unshed tears blazing in my eyes, I fixed my gaze back on the divorce papers. I wouldn't let myself cry anymore, especially not right in front of him,

Adrien still said nothing, without looking at me, he reached out and got out an envelope and handed it to me. I tore the seal and drew out the contents with quivering palms. I had stopped feeling.

No, this cannot be real, this is obviously photoshopped, “Adrien…”My voice broke as I looked at the photo in shock, where did he even get this?

"You don't have to say anything," he said, cutting me off with a wave of his hand, his voice devoid of any emotions he was feeling,

"The picture says it all." he concluded,

"No... this isn't accurate." I begged him to understand, my voice cracked as I spoke,

"I would never cheat on you.” I tried but he didn't even look interested in hearing whatever I had to say, he never did.

"Stop fooling around.Sign the divorce paperwork and get yourself out of my house” His voice boomed across the room, his wrath almost radiating off him.

"Please, Adrien. You really must believe me. I’d never cheat on you” I begged desperately for him to see the truth, at least just this once. I stepped forward, gripping the photo tighter. His phone rang, relieving some of the tension before he could reply.

I looked down at it, the name that flashed on the screen sank my heart more.Cynthia, his ex, they were still talking after all, she was the one who did this.

"She was the one who sent you this picture right?" I asked,

my voice just above a whisper.

"What are you talking about?" Adrien just stared at his ringing phone, without bothering to pick it up,

“Adrien, this image is not real, it is photoshopped.You have to believe me!”

“Stop talking rubbish!!" He snapped, his voice as frigid as it always is.

“You are obviously the one in the picture or do you have a twin I don't know about.,simply sign the paperwork”. I felt my blood heating up.

How can he be so blind? “When you are the one who is constantly cheating on me, you are accusing me of cheating on you! You have never trusted me throughout all these years, you have never even given me an opportunity! You would rather believe an outsider over your own wife!” I yelled as anger slowly took over,

He snorted, his voice growing colder, "That's correct, I would rather rely on an outsider than a gold-digging whore like you!!!” he shouted. His comments pierced right through me, the pain almost intolerable,

Tears I refused to shed distorted my view. "I guess this marriage isn't worth fighting for anymore, then," I said, my heart splitting.

Although I knew it wasn't what I really wanted, I still said the words. Even with the pain he has caused me, my love for him persisted. Still, in that instant I knew he would never change. He would never love me no matter what I do. Refusing to let him see me cry, I swallowed the hurt and blinked back the tears. Not this time, not anymore.