"Jotham, is it true? Is Mirabel really back? Did you really go to the airport to welcome her?" Julie fired off all her prepared questions on her husband, Jotham. Her heart is pounding in her chest as she awaits his response.
They've been married for four years yet they live like strangers. Their marriage has been a secret that not even their closest friends know they were married.
She had heard on the news that Jotham had gone to welcome his girlfriend at the airport, but she didn't want to believe it. She was hoping it wasn't true. She was hoping it wasn't Jotham, her husband.
Jotham hummed casually, as if her questions held no weight to him, "Yes, Mirabel is back."
Julie's heart sank into her belly, and tears lingered in her eyes. Mirabel was to marry Jotham four years back but she had suddenly vanished on the wedding day. Her, being the sister was forced to stand in for Mirabel.
The truth was, as unfortunate as the incident was then, she was not unhappy, and that was because she had always had a huge crush on Jotham despite the fact that he was her sister's finaceé then.
If she had not stood in for her sister, the alliance between her family and that of Jotham would not have happened. Her family, in particular, would have been at the greatest loss.
"Mirabel left you abruptly four years ago; how could you do her the honor of welcoming her back?" Julie asked with a cracked voice and a sour heart. Her throat constricted making it hard to swallow.
"She had a good reason for leaving," he said defensively, shattering her world even more. Then he went to the side table and brought out some papers. He handed it over to her and said ruthlessly, "Sign it. It's long overdue."
Her heart raced. Seeing the word 'divorce Agreement,' boldly written on it, she felt like dying. He's divorcing her already?
"Really? Just like that? Our four years of being together mean nothing to you?" She tried to sound calm, but deep down, she was hurting so badly. She wanted to scream out her pain and cry out her sorrows, but she held still, hoping that all this would be a dream and she would wake up.
"No one even knows we are married. Except our immediate family of course. Also, we've not had sex since we got married, nor have we had any meaningful conversations. You can't call this a marriage, can you?" He asked, his handsome face boring deep into hers. "Let's act like adults here. I'm giving you three million dollars as alimony, I guess that's a plus for you."
Really? Have they never had sex? He didn't remember they had sex? Julie thought heartbreakingly. He watched the icy man before her, and it suddenly dawned on her that this man had no iota of love for her whatsoever. She literally meant nothing to him. Her heart wrenched even more on realizing that.
She had thought that maybe someday, he would change towards her and they would live as husband and wife but it seems that will never happen.
She lowered her head and looked at the divorce papers in her shivering hand, the tears dropping from her face had already soaked half of the paper.
She raised her head up and said, "I don't want the alimony."
"Your choice." He replied bluntly.
She went to the table and wanted to scribble her signature, but the strength in her hand failed her. She raised her sorrowful face up again and directed it towards Jotham, hoping to see some sort of emotion there, but the man remained absolutely cold.
She knew there was no point holding onto this marriage so she forced her hands to scribble the signature.
"The butler will help you with your luggage."
"No need. I'll do it myself." She said, now standing upright.
He nodded curtly and turned from her; as he took steps away, she wanted to call him back; she wanted to plead with him not to let her go, but she remained static, weak, and in agony.
He suddenly paused and turned to her, "We'll meet often in the future, Julie. After all, you are Mirabel's sister. I wouldn't like to see you in a poor state. If you need anything, particularly money-wise, reach out to my assistant, okay?"
"Why do you care?" She asked with a frown face. "I'll be fine."
He shrugged casually and eventually walked away.
As soon as he was out of sight, she fell to her knees and sobbed, crying hard like a little baby. Indeed, they've not truly lived as husband and wife since they got married but that's his fault. He barely spends time at home. He just comes home at night to sleep and then leaves before she even wakes most of the time.
She works as his deputy secretary, and whenever they are at work, he communicates with her like they are complete strangers. As if their relationship starts and ends as a boss to an employee. She never had the chance to speak with him on a personal level for even a minute.
Since he's a billionaire who runs many big companies, his time had all been scheduled and sadly, she was never in his schedule.
After crying her eyes out for hours, she stood and went inside her room and packed her luggage then began to drag it out. She kept telling herself she would be fine, but she knew deep down she wouldn't. She was scared she might harm herself, but she had to keep her head high and get out of this house.
"Big sister." A familiar voice suddenly called out and when she turned, she saw Mirabel coming from the veranda. "Why are you sad? He's never yours. You only had him for the time being. Did you really think I would not come back for my man?"
"You've never truly loved him, Mirabel. Did you not agree to marry him then so that Dad could favor your mom? I'm sure even now that you are back, you have an agenda."
Mirabel smirked, "Can I wish you a nice life, big sister? Well, as long as you stay far away from Jotham, you'll be fine." She quickly added, 'That includes resigning from his company and leaving this city. You can either do that willingly or I can force you to." Her voice became hostile.
How dare she threaten her? Julie was about to respond angrily to her when Jotham suddenly appeared. She watched as Mirabel's face turned pathetic immediately. Mirabel ran to Jotham and hugged him. Jotham kissed her on her forehead while holding her waist romantically, after all, he was way taller than her.
Julie, for the first time, saw emotions in Jotham's face, but that emotion on his face was for Mirabel. She watched him whisper some inaudible words to Mirabel softly while gently caressing her waist. It was as though she wasn't even present. Her presence was totally ignored.
More tears rushed down her eyes as she watched the two adults romance like lover birds. "Have a good life, Jotham." She whispered u
nder her ragged breath and walked sorrowfully away from the scene.
