Chapter Two

Is it possible to fall in love with another person after passionately loving someone? It's really stupid logic. If we love someone genuinely from the bottom of our hearts, it's really hard to forget about them and give the same love to someone else. 

After Natasha passes away, Leo wants nothing but to live a life with the happy memories they shared. But marriage with Alina made his heart more wounded and unbearable to live normally.

 Why didn't his parents understand his side of emotion? They didn't even give him the space to overcome her loss fully. Every day living with Alina made him feel so guilty and Angry about everything. 

Even a formal talk with her made him feel like he was cheating on his wife. After struggling for a long time, he decided to ask divorce from her. It's better to live alone than suffocate himself into marriage with her. At least she will get freed from this unwanted marriage and can mind her own life. He felt he needed his mind to be relieved rather than satisfying others. 

He returned to the mansion after going for a long drive to relax his mind. The guests have already left. The maids are cleaning the place. He opened the door of their bedroom with a tired face. He hopes Alina won't start another argument now. He expected a movement after entering, but he was a little surprised to be welcomed by the cold and empty bedroom. He scanned the whole room and confirmed her absence. Somewhere he relaxed about it. Maybe she is in the study room. But his convinced mind was alarmed seeing the papers on the table.

He was dumbstruck seeing the signed divorce papers with their wedding ring. So it's finally happened. She signed the papers. She freed him from their wedding. This is something he has been wanting from the beginning. But why can't he feel the happiness he was supposed to feel? Why does it feel so empty? Feeling overwhelmed, He rushed outside the room and saw their loyal maid Matilda working with a sad face. Soon seeing him approaching she kept her face firm and respectably bowed to him.

"Matilda, have you seen your madam?" 

"Young master, Madam Alina left the house soon after everyone left. She didn't inform me where she was going. But she carried her luggage when leaving". She replied respectively looking down, but she sensed how frustrated her young master was right now. Then she felt telling her tiny moment with her madam might calm him down.

"But young master, when she leaves. She hugged me so tightly. And wished me goodbye. And she asked me to look after you well". 

That's it. Angry veins pop out from his forehead hearing her words. Now what drama does she have on her mind? Did she go to his parents to complain about him? Or is she going to hers to become a victim? Dare if she creates another drama to drag this marriage anymore. With bursting anger, he left for his room to get some peace of mind. He is not ready to handle one more drama in a single night. Anyways, tomorrow both families are going to be here, and gonna preach about how perfect life partner she was to him.

….

" How dare he? That crazy punk". Jonathan Brooke burst out soon after hearing the divorce news. His hands are itching to clutch the throat of his so-called son-in-law. 

 "He needs to know his place. Wait here I need to talk to him personally". Alina quickly holds her father from marching out of the house with the rushing anger he holds against Leo. She asked her mother to help her control her father, who was sitting on the sofa crying terribly. 

"Daddy. Please calm down. Just hear me out. Please don't make this issue a big one. See we are adults. We took this decision mutually. It will get uncomfortable if any of you are involved in this matter".

She tried to explain in the calmest way possible. Jonathan gives her a 'Are you serious?' look.

 "mutual decision, my foot. I know that bastard. I won't let this slide away easily. He along with his parents have to give me a good explanation for this madness". 

He pushed her away, making her fall on the couch. He took the car key and decided to blast the Hart family tonight. Their generation of friendship won't stop him from lashing them after seeing tears in his little princess eyes. Alina quickly got up and hugged him from behind, he stopped moving when she told him something unexpected.

"I want to go from here Daddy. I want to live my life now. Let me get free from this marriage. It's been nothing but a daydream which is never going to be true. Let me go. Please, At least this time hear me out. Please Daddy". 

His eyes got moist hearing her pleading with a broken voice. He felt so guilty and angry for pushing his dear daughter into such a situation. Somewhere their decision made her go through all this. He turned and took her for a big warm hug. He caressed her hair and looked at his wife who also had the same look on her face. He knows what needs to be done.

..

It's been three days since that night. Alina made her decision clear to both of their parents and made them agree with her. It's not that they can convince her after whatever happens. 

Leo's parents Rose and Liam can't face the brooks after whatever happened. It was too humiliating and painful. Jonathan gives them a cold shoulder but Alina made the scenes easy and made them see how much she was looking forward to the new life she was planning in New York. She got an offer in New York as a professor at City Hospital. She is going to be the first doctor to be promoted to professor at such a young age. 

She is a cardiologist. Already quite famous for her work. She is looking forward to starting a fresh life, forgetting the wounds her husbands gave her. Sure it's going to take a while. But she has confidence in herself. After all, getting heartbreaks is not something she is unfamiliar with.

"Madam Alina, young master Leo asking to meet you. Shall I let him in? ". Her housekeeping voice buzzed from the intercom. She was a bit tense to meet him. But she pulled herself and permitted him to enter.

He entered her room silently and didn't utter a word. She completely avoids having eye contact with him. After holding a moment of silence he started the talk first.

" I'm quite surprised by your reaction to my decision. I thought you might cause a big drama or pull an emotional blackmail to keep the marriage on hold. The way you handle it. I'm quite surprised". 

She sighs hearing his rough voice after a full three days. She won't deny how much his voice affects her nervous system. But that way she did notice the sarcastic tone of his words. It's like he is quite irritated somewhere. But why? Then she slowly looked into his face. He glanced at her with his infamous arrogant look. He looks all fine and fit. Unlike her, who got her weight reduced in three days. She sighs in a relaxed way before replying to him.

"That's what you wished for. I thought it was unfair to keep pushing you more into this unwanted marriage. You were always clear on your decision. It's just that I got it very late. I don't want to be a burden anymore". She ended the sentence with a little sad smile. 

She saw him staring at her with cold eyes. For a second she got lost in his emerald eyes. His eyes never fail to get her weak on her knees. 

The way it gazes at her brings out the memory they shared a few days ago. That rainy day event built a huge hope in her heart about their happily ever after. She quickly broke the eye, catching how he was trying to read why she was just thinking. After whatever happened she can't let him witness her weak state thereafter.

“This is exactly what I have been wanting for the past three years. There is no clarification on it. But I just want to clarify something”. She winched hearing his full arrogance-filled tone. There are no feelings or emotions in it. She somewhere knows what he wants to clarify. 

“that rainy night. That night we kissed for the very first time. Or said for the last time. We kinda almost crossed the limit. I think I made myself clear that night. It happened because of the alcohol effect”. 

Her body got a little chilled, recalling the cloudy memory with him. They two almost went to become one that night. Their passionate-filled moment got spoiled because of his phone that night. Her body is getting goosebumps recalling it. She controlled herself from turning red. She wonders why suddenly he brings up that topic now.

“Yes, Leo, I know. Not just you, even me also under the alcohol effect. I will never blame you for it”. She tried to assure him thinking he might want to justify himself, because after that night they two never talked about it again. They behave like nothing happened. But his reply made her wounded heart get a fresh wound.

“That's not what I want to clarify. I just want to say. That night means nothing to me. That was just a moment I had with alcohol. If it is not you, it's maybe someone else. Just a spark I might have felt with anyone. I don't want you to feel I betrayed you after showing hope. I think you get what I'm saying”.

Can this be more painful than this? It can't be. The tears she had been holding back, flowing without a hold hearing every single word he just said. She feels like her fragile heart got tied with a huge stone. She closed her eyes for a second after wiping the tears and gazed at his arrogant face with a little smile.

“I know it means nothing to you. For you, your moments with your late wife are precious. But that night was the most beautiful moment I had with you. That sweet memory will be forever close to my heart. And this memory of mine won't cause you any inconvenience. So don't worry about it".

She never let her pain be reflected in her behavior. He stared at her with some unknown emotions and soon left the room without saying goodbye.

Soon after he left, she let out the tears while sobbing. Why is he being so cruel to her? Is it that important to be so harsh with her? Hasn't she done everything without hurting him anyway?

Then why does he take every single chance to hurt her like this? Her face turned completely after continually crying. Then she wiped her eyes gathering more motivation. This is going to be the last time she's going to cry thinking about him. Tomorrow onwards she is going to change for something better. To become someone, this world has never seen till now. 

..

Two weeks later.

Leo was staring at the empty whisky glass in his hand. He pushed it toward the bartender and signaled him to refill it. He gazed at the happening in the pub with bored eyes. Nothing was making him excited. It looks so lame and boring. When he was about to sip his whisky, somebody grabbed that from his hand rudely making him snap out. He is ready to blast the person, but he calms down seeing it is his best friend Ryan Mattews. 

" Dude, did you get divorced so desperately just to waste time drinking whisky ? Look around you man. Fruits are begging to be bitten by you". Ryan told him with a tight voice seeing a bunch of girls dancing on the floor seductively looking in their direction. Leo glares at him with annoyance. He grabbed the glass from him and told without looking at his face.

"You know why I got it in the first place. Those things are meaningless to me. I'm happy the way I am now. Her memories are enough to keep me happy". Ryan sighs hearing his reply. He knows it's hard to convince his stubborn friend. They two have known each other since high school. The only friend Leo had was him. 

Surprisingly after that tragic event, he kept holding that friendship hard when he was pushing everybody away. They get into fights sometimes. but their friendship is something special and meaningful to both of them. Now seeing his best friend sitting here drinking alone leaving all the happiness in life makes him worried about his future. 

" Leo, be honest with me. Last three years with Alina, haven't you felt anything for her? At least one time? There's no way you didn't feel anything at all".  He got silent upon hearing his question. It's not as easy to answer as he thought. Simple no was not the answer to it. 

Ryan observed his facial reaction. Leo is an expert at hiding his feelings from others. But he can't hide his feelings from him. As a psychologist specialist, he noticed how much he was trying to not react to that question. He smirks seeing his ever-confident friend finding it tough to answer his question. 

He had two more shots and glared at Ryan with a cold face. He replied with arrogance. " It's maybe surprising, but during those years I never felt anything different for her. She is just a character who entered my life without my approval. After mutual understanding, she left the place she never belonged". 

Ryan Smiles with amusement hearing his stubborn reply. It's more like he is telling it to himself than a reply to his question. He admires his love for his dead wife. But he cares about his friend more than that.

" Dude, I really admire your sincerity, the love you have for your late wife is precious. But someone's life can't be stopped if their loved one passes away. One day they have to begin a new life with a new chapter. It's the honest judgment of destiny". 

Seeing him hearing with silent mode he continues, " Alina loves you a lot. There nobody can love you the way she loves you, her love is so pure and deep Leo. It will be a big loss if you let her go from your life. She even".

" Enough of your lecture Ryan. Don't try your therapy on me". He cut him off abruptly. It's disturbing him somewhere hearing all about her again and again. He slammed the glass on the table and told him with a warning tone.  "I know what I want in my life. She is gone, and it's for the best. I lost the woman I loved and she is never going to come and nobody is gonna replace her. Dare if you again brag about this". 

Ryan raised his hands like he surrendered and tried to calm him down. He felt it was not a good idea to dig deeper. Leo had shot after shot in the process of erasing whatever Ryan just said. But his mind couldn't take her thoughts away. 

When he talks about her, it gives him new feelings, which he has never felt before. Suddenly all the memories he had with her ran through his brain like reels of a movie. Her charming smile, her gorgeous hazel eyes, her natural pink lips. Her breathtaking gorgeous body. Inch by inch every memory of her played in his brain. 

If he said these memories are hunting him after their divorce. It's a big fat no. He has these rushing feelings from the moment they two kissed that day. After whatever happened that rainy day. His eyes started to see her differently. Her every move made him react in a new way. And he didn't like it. There is no way he will let someone else take his wife's place. He wants to be a one-woman man. Even if she is no more. And nobody can change the decision of Leo Hart.

…