All Chapters of The Unwanted Wife: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Who was she even fighting for? For a husband who loved another woman? For a marriage that was never hers to begin with? For a love that was never meant for her? A bitter, humorless laugh escaped her lips. What was the point of all her struggles, all her sacrifices, if in the end, she was the only one holding on? She had spent years trying to fix something that was doomed from the start. Why had she been so foolish? Why had she agreed to this marriage, knowing Lucas didn’t love her? Not only had she destroyed Lucas' happiness, but she had also ruined her own. Her hands curled into the sheets, gripping them tightly. Should she just give up? Should she finally end this marriage and give Lucas the freedom he had always wanted? Maybe then, he would finally forgive her. Maybe then, she wouldn’t have to keep living like this—chasing after someone who would never look back at her. Wouldn't that be the right thing to do? If she truly loved Lucas, shouldn’t she set him free? The

Saturday arrived quicker than Lara anticipated. The past few days had flown by in a blur, with her mind preoccupied by the school’s English Month event. The busy schedule served as a temporary distraction, allowing her to momentarily push aside the haunting memory of Lucas calling out another woman's name in his drunken state. But just because she was distracted didn't mean she had forgotten. The wound was still fresh, buried beneath layers of denial and forced smiles.She hadn't seen much of Lucas since that morning. He would come home late—long after she had fallen asleep—and leave early in the morning before she could even catch a glimpse of him. The small voice in the back of her mind whispered cruel suspicions—was he meeting Riah? Was that where he spent those long hours away? She knew she was overthinking, maybe even being paranoid, but the thought gnawed at her relentlessly. She didn't want to doubt him. But how could she not when he had already broken her heart without even r

As they stepped inside, the scent of home-cooked meals filled the air. The house hadn’t changed—same warm, inviting ambiance, the faint floral scent her mother always loved, and the sound of a television playing in the background.“Lara, sweetheart!”Her mother’s excited voice pulled her from her thoughts. In a heartbeat, her mother, Emilia, rushed toward her, enveloping her in a warm embrace.“I missed you, darling. You don’t visit enough,” her mother said, pulling away to cup her face.“I know, Mom. I’m sorry.”As soon as her mother released her, she turned to Lucas, her expression filled with warmth.“And my handsome son-in-law,” Emilia beamed before pulling Lucas into an embrace as well.Lucas visibly stiffened, clearly unprepared for the gesture. Lara almost laughed at the rare sight. But, he quickly composed himself, managing a small, polite smile.“Thank you for having me,” Lucas said.“Oh, come now, you don’t have to be so formal,” Emilia scolded playfully, waving her hand. “Y

For the rest of the meal, Lara focused on eating, forcing herself to ignore the warmth that had briefly settled in her chest. It was dangerous—this fleeting, foolish hope. She reminded herself over and over: It wasn’t real. It was never real.Her mother continued chatting happily, occasionally directing questions at Lucas, while Lara’s father remained quiet, eating in his usual composed manner. Lucas barely responded beyond polite nods, but that didn’t seem to dampen her mother’s enthusiasm. Lara, on the other hand, felt like she was just going through the motions, her body present but her heart elsewhere.She barely tasted the food. She wasn’t even sure if she was full, but she forced herself to swallow bite after bite, anything to keep her emotions at bay.When the meal ended, they moved back to the living room. Her father, uninterested in conversation, pulled out his iPod and leaned back in his chair, paying them little attention. Her mother, on the other hand, looked content, chat

The hot water felt soothing against her skin, washing away the exhaustion of the day. As she let the steam envelop her, she found herself thinking about Lucas again—about the way he had coldly reminded her not to get the wrong idea, how he left without a second glance. She knew she shouldn’t care. She knew she had no right to expect anything from him. And yet, the familiar sting in her chest reminded her that some wounds weren’t so easy to ignore.Pushing those thoughts aside, she finished her shower, changed into her fresh clothes, and towel-dried her hair. Then, she climbed onto her bed, leaning back against the headboard with a sigh.Reaching for her phone, she unlocked the screen and absentmindedly opened Instagram.Her fingers hesitated for a second before typing a familiar name into the search bar. Eievan Duke Sandejas.It had been a while since she last checked his account. She used to visit it from time to time, just to see how he was doing, but life had gotten too busy lately