TOO EARLY FOR A DIVORCE

"I've made up my mind, Liana. Let's get a divorce." Eric's cold voice sounded as he slammed the door after him, marching towards the large sofa.

Liana stretched her hands lazily, gently pulling down the duvet as she sat up.

Before she said anything, Eric got hold of an envelope from the side wall of his briefcase and put it down with a pen on the pillow beside her.

"You'll go with the sum of $90 million and the penthouse in Rochester as compensation for your emotional damage. Is that enough?"

After hearing those words, Liana smiled bitterly. An oppressive chill came up her spine as she read through the divorce papers thrown at her, sobbing silently.

"Com'on. Don't play the victim here, Liana. You and I know that this union isn't supposed to last more than three years. Have you forgotten the clause behind my marriage to you? Well, in case you're still lost, you can take a quick glance at your calendar, you know..."

"It's fine, Eric." Liana cuts in before he'll continue.

That last statement even hurt more than the sudden divorce announcement because she has always known that this day is inevitable.

Eric only married her in honour of his grandmother's death wish.

The old lady, Miranda Clapton has always loved Liana since the day the young girl risked her life to save her from a speeding truck on the highway.

Since then, Liana has always tried her best to be the loyal wife to the Clapton's family, trusting that her dedication could change Eric's mind towards the contract.

But for three years now, there's not a single day that Eric has failed to remind her of how much he despises her.

Even when his grandmother persuaded him to get her pregnant and give the family an heir, Eric was reluctant to oblige.

"We have only three years to live as husband and wife. Before then, I'm certain that my grandmother would be dead. Your greatest mistake would be to allow yourself to carry my seed, Liana. Till this life ends, you can never be fit to carry my child." These were the exact words that Eric spoke to Liana on their wedding night.

But she still chose to show Eric how she truly loves and desires to spend the rest of her life with him.

She thought with time, he'll also fall for her, then they can bring forward children out of love. But her assumptions were wrong.

She glanced at the papers for a second time.

'Well, $90 million dollars is not bad compensation for a marriage of three years, after all. This will really go a long way to buy me some little happiness.' she thought.

"Eric. Are you sure you want us to do this? I..I still Love you, and..." She stuttered.

"I know you still love me, Liana." Eric cut in.

"That's why I'm giving you such huge compensation." He added, his voice devoid of any emotions.

Liana's heart slammed against her ribs. She shifted her gaze to the man standing before her, his delicate eyes filled with contempt.

From his expression, it was obvious that his mind can't be changed, so she dared not drag words with him.

Without a hint of hesitation, she picked up the paper and pen, ready to scribble her signature before she suddenly paused, rolling her eyes between Eric and the words on the letter headed paper as if she discovered something new.

"Wait, we've been married for three years, right, Eric?" She raised her brows, her eyes almost at the verge of tears.

"So, why give me only a few million dollars and one penthouse as compensation? Are you giving alms to beggars?" She asked.

'What?' Eric knitted his brows in confusion, trying to guess the angle that her question was heading to.

"We still have a month left until our divorce due date, right?" Liana continued.

"So, it's either you compensate me for that one month, or you wait for the right time. Besides, I expect you know by now that I'm not that type that you can bully with ease. I don't like it when someone bridges the terms of a contract."

Eric's sharp eyes turned red, his thin lips slightly parted open, but he was still stuck in words.

This is unlike the woman he has known as his wife for three years.

" I basically turned into a shadow of myself for three years because I wanted to please you, Eric. But since you still chose to break free from my priceless efforts, then you have to settle me as a noble woman that still has some worth." Liana argued reasonably.

'You're just being unbelievable, Liana.' Eric sneered, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Fine. How much do you want?" He asked, a faint bitterness spreading across his lips.

"$150 million, the penthouse in Rochester and the Banana plantation in Albany. That'll do for my time spent." She declared.

"Com'on, Liana. This is ridiculous! Are you trying to reap me off my wealth?" Eric roared.

Seeing his anger, Liana's face flushed with a smile.

Deep down, she knows that her request was excessively extravagant.

After all, even before she met Eric, neither she nor any of her family members have been able to own up to a quarter of what she's demanding.

But that shouldn't stop her from shooting her shot, right? It is always said, opportunity comes but once, so she has to utilise this one before her.

Moreover, taking this from her husband won't even pull any weight on Clapton's wealth. That family is fucken rich!'

"Deal or no deal, Eric? I need to get back to sleep." She reiterated.

"Fine. It's a deal. $150 million dollars, the penthouse and the plantation. See you tomorrow morning at the divorce court house by 9:00 am. Nevertheless, keep in mind that you're vacating the residence before 12:00 noon tomorrow. Maya is coming in and she can't stand your ug.."

"Enough, Eric. I understand you already." She cut in.

Eric strode away as soon as he watched her endorse her signature on the paper.

Liana returned to her position and lay peacefully on the large sofa. Her heart throbbed painfully at the realisation that her marriage has come to an end.

That night, sleep became distant from her eyes. The thought of everything made her cringe. She tried to put her belongings in place before morning, but she only ended up sucking them with tears.

At this point, she believed her mother was right.

Love is not meant for someone like her. It's high time she quit wasting her effort and time in trying to make it happen.

In the morning by 8:30 am, Liana walked into the courtroom. Her pale and colourless face concealed behind her enchanting make up.

Soon, Eric walked in. Beside him was another woman, dressed in a shiny burgundy short gown, her hair beautifully packed and covered with a hat.

Without delay, Eric and Liana stood before the divorce magistrate and peacefully received their divorce certificate with an open mind.

'Hmmmmm. This is absolutely unbelievable.' the judge thought to himself.

In his entire experience as a divorce lawyer for over a decade, he has never seen any couple that walk into the court happily to obtain their certificate without any form of drama from either party.

"Mr and Mrs Clapton, you still have a 30 day Grace period. In case you two are willing to sort things out and nullify the divorce, you're free to do so within this one month." The judge explained.

"No need for that, judge." None of us is coming back.” Liana answered wittingly.

"Isn't that so, Eric?" She turned to her ex-husband with a dry smile that didn't reach her teeth.

"I must say, your mistress is really endowed with beauty, no wonder you didn't hesitate to accept my conditions. Even if I happen to be a man and get myself in your shoes, trust me, I wouldn't waste time to end things either." She whispered in his ears with a wicked smirk.

Eric was speechless. For some reason, he casted his mind back to how she would have reacted some years ago. He has always known her to be fragile and indecisive, but with this her current display of resoluteness–It still looks so strange to him.

As soon as they stepped out of the courtroom, Liana walked majestically to one corner of the building. There, she held her phone camera up and began snapping some selfies, smiling and stylishly smoothening her long coily hair as if nothing happened.

Just like that, she began to hear heavy footsteps approaching, and before she knew it, a strong hand grabbed her hand and attempted seizing the phone, but she quickly got it out of his grip.

It was Eric.

"I know that you never loved me,

Liana. You're such a gold digging bitch! Look how it was so easy for you to accept the divorce?" Eric cursed when his gaze fell on her and he didn't find any trace of tears or sadness in her eyes.

Liana let out a little gasp and curved her lips up into a dry smile.

She didn't say a word, but rather chose to ignore his rant and walk away from the surroundings.

"I'm still talking to you, Liana! Have you been seeing another man while still married to me? Is this how you want to go ahead advertising your ugly self to all the men in the world to know that you're divorced, huh?"

Liana's brows knitted in a frown. She bit her lips in disdain as she clenched her fist in her palms.

"Don't be too dramatic, Eric!" She exploded.

"You gave me the papers yesterday night, this morning, you still chose to show up with another woman by your side. To break the last piece of my heart into pieces, right? Tell me exactly what you want, Eric. Were you expecting me to turn down the divorce and live harmoniously with the two of you?"