Chapter 004: I want a divorce

004

•| AARON

Delores was acting differently.

Something about the way she looked at me—like I was a stranger—made my chest feel tight. She had always been soft-spoken, gentle, and always excited to see me. But the woman who woke up today felt… sharper. There was a kind of aura she emanated that practically screamed stay-away-from-me.

What could be the issue that made her shut me out completely?

I’d been worried sick since the hospital called, saying she fainted at work and had been rushed there. The moment I saw her lying pale and still on that bed, something inside me cracked. I didn’t realize how much her silence could hurt until then.

I stayed up all night beside her, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest. I wanted to be the first person she saw when she opened her eyes. I wanted to tell her how sorry I was for calling her lousy. Because I’d rather she was lousy than so pale and quiet.

But when she finally woke up and the nurse called me in, I was so happy I wanted to hug her, but she looked at me like she wished I hadn’t come.

And now, she didn’t even want me to hear what the doctor had to say.

I stood outside the door, my hands buried deep in my pockets, pacing slowly. Every second felt longer than the last. I wanted to barge in and tell her I had a right to know what was happening. But something in her eyes earlier—the cold distance—stopped me.

It wasn’t anger. It was pain. A deep, quiet kind that words couldn’t explain, and I wanted to know why she felt that way.

When the door finally opened, the doctor stepped out. He looked surprised to see me waiting. “She’s stable,” he said carefully. “But I’d suggest you give her some space. She’s processing a lot right now.”

Processing what?

I wanted to ask, but the doctor’s look told me I wouldn’t get an answer even if I tried.

I ran a hand down my face, frustration mixing with confusion. “Did she… did she say anything?”

The doctor shook his head. “She seems calm. But physically, she’ll be fine for now.”

Calm? That wasn’t good.

Delores always tried to hide her emotions, but I could read her easily. I knew her smiles, her silences, and her hurt. Because somewhere along the line, I watched her despite acting like I didn't enjoy her presence. This calmness wasn’t Delores being at peace. It was her silently panicking.

I observed her too well to notice that.

I waited a few more minutes before I walked back in.

She was sitting upright now, her phone in her hand and her expression unreadable. The sunlight caught the curve of her face, making her olive skin glow faintly. But her eyes—those soft blue eyes that once looked at me with warmth—felt cold.

“Delores,” I said quietly.

She looked up, meeting my gaze for a brief moment before looking away. “You’re still here.”

Her tone wasn’t angry, but it wasn’t welcoming either.

“Of course, I’m still here,” I said softly, stepping closer. “Are you feeling better? What did the doctor say?”

“I’m fine, Aaron,” she interrupted, her voice calm but final. “You don’t have to stay.”

“I am your husband,” I reached out to touch her, but she jerked my hand away. My chest tightened. What the heck was going on? “Del—“

My phone rang, cutting me short. I brought it out of my pocket and saw Shawn’s name flashing on the screen. A sigh escaped my lips before I declined and returned my attention to her. She looked shocked, like she was expecting me to answer the phone.

“Delores! Oh my God!”

I knew the sound of that voice anywhere. And from the smile that spread across Delores’ face—the smile she didn’t give me—I knew it was indeed Sylvie, her best friend, coming in.

Sylvie rushed in and embraced her, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’m so happy you’re awake! I’m sorry I couldn’t stay with you through the night. I had an evening shoot, and it was non-negotiable.”

“It’s fine,” Delores played with a strand of Sylvie’s brown hair. “I’m so happy to see you. I thought I’d never see you again.”

Sylvie chuckled. “Girl, what are you saying? You fainted. You didn’t die.”

Delores just smiled.

Her smile disappeared when our gazes met.

She turned away, her fingers brushing at the blanket as if dusting away invisible specks. Sylvie didn’t notice the shift. She was still chattering, still fussing over her like a sister, but Delores wasn’t really there. Her mind was far away. I could feel it.

The nurse came in not long after, holding a clipboard. “Mrs. Aaron, the doctor says you’re good to go home. We’ll get your discharge papers ready.”

I straightened a little. “That’s great,” I said, glancing at Delores. “I’ll get the car. You’ll be more comfortable going home together.”

Her gaze lifted slowly, calm but firm. “No,” she said.

The word hit me like a slap.

I blinked. “No?”

“You should go to the company,” she said, her tone polite, almost too polite. “I’m sure there are a lot of things waiting for you there. Sylvie will drive me home.”

“Delores, that’s not—”

She didn’t wait for me to finish. She slid off the bed, moving carefully but steadily, like she didn’t want my help. The nurse came over with her things, and Sylvie quickly offered an arm to support her.

“Delores,” I tried again, “you just got discharged. I should at least—”

She adjusted the strap of her bag, avoiding my eyes. “You shouldn’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

Her voice was gentle, but her words built a wall I couldn’t cross.

Sylvie gave me a warm smile. “She just needs time, Aaron.”

Before I could say anything else, she was already walking toward the door with Sylvie’s hand around her arm. She didn’t look back once. Not even when I called her name.

The door closed, leaving me standing there like a fool.

••••••

At the company, I couldn’t focus.

The reports on my desk were just blurred lines. Every time I tried to sign a document, my pen would stop halfway. My thoughts drifted back to the hospital room, to her cold tone, to the way she didn’t even glance at me before leaving.

Shawn dropped another file in front of me. “Sir, you’ve signed the same page three times.”

I looked down. He was right. My signature sat crookedly in the same spot, ink bleeding through. I sighed and leaned back, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

“Everything okay, sir?”

I didn’t answer. What was I supposed to say? That my wife—the woman who used to cling to me even after every argument—had looked at me today like I was a parasite she didn’t want around her? That she didn’t want to go home with me?

Nothing made sense anymore.

When the clock struck six, I shut down my laptop and grabbed my keys. I couldn’t take another second of pretending to work. I needed to see her. Talk to her and understand what the hell was going on.

****

The house was quiet when I got there. The evening sun spilled through the windows, painting everything gold. Her favorite flowers—daffodils—sat on a stool in the foyer, still fresh. The scent of her perfume lingered faintly in the air. For a second, it almost felt normal.

But then I looked up and there she was, seated on the couch with her legs crossed, and her expression neutral as she watched me. I’d never been one to feel nervous or anxious over anything.

Power was something I wielded—it made me untouchable in the business world, but now, standing under the scrutiny of my wife’s gaze, my insides burned with nerves and anxiety.

Because she was acting differently. And I was scared of how that might turn out for me.

Still, I rolled my shoulders, sucked in a breath, and approached her, ignoring the sweat coating my hands. I was almost about to go to touch her when I recalled how she’d pushed me away at the hospital.

“How’re you feeling now?” I asked, voice low as I took her in to see if she was actually okay.

Delores gave me a small smile. “Never been better,” she answered. “Can you sit? We need to talk.”

Oh. Good. I had tons of questions to ask her.

I sat down with a quick nod and leaned my back on the couch. My gaze didn’t stray from hers. Delores shifted in her seat, like she was about to deliver something I wouldn’t be able to stomach.

“I know it’s only been a year into our marriage, Aaron,” she began, her voice taking on a more serious tone.

I watched her with my brows furrowed. What was happening?

“And you might see this as a shock, but I realized that I’ve made a terrible mistake. I want to go back to acting. I don’t want to work in your company anymore.”

A small smile played on my lips. “Sure, whatever you want. I didn’t want you to quit your job to begin with. I thought you just needed a break.”

The tiniest bit of surprise flickered through her eyes, but it disappeared immediately. “Okay, I’ll go back, but there’s one more thing,” she said, and I gestured for her to go on.

I would give her anything she wanted so long as it made her happy.

“I want a divorce.”