PART- 3

[ Olivia ]

I stared at my mother’s fresh grave covered with flowers. My eyes had dried up in the last two days. I kept myself busy with planning a memorable funeral for her. Everyone whom we knew, our neighbors, her friends and even my colleagues came to attend her funeral.

In the last two days, I neither saw Stephan nor responded to his calls and texts. He even showed up at my old apartment, but he had to leave as I had relatives there. Stephan also came to the funeral but when I saw Vivienne with him, I felt insulted.

He brought his mistress to my mother’s funeral to mock my vulnerable condition, or he wanted to gain publicity by attending his employee’s mother’s funeral.

No one knew that I was his wife.

“I miss you, Mom but you are in a better place now.” I whispered touching her gravestone.

“Olive, let’s go home. It’s getting dark.” Tiffany touched my shoulder and I rose on my feet.

“Yeah, let’s go. I have one last work before I will start a new chapter of my life.” I said wiping my tears.

The pain and grief was already there but I had to be strong because I allowed Stephan to play with my heart enough.

I had to put a full stop on my miseries.

“Stephan called me multiple times to ensure that you are fine. He couldn’t stay here for long. You know, people might whisper behind our backs.” Tiffany said and I chuckled dryly.

“I don’t want him anywhere near me, Tiff. If he cared about me then he would have known that my mother was sick and admitted in the hospital for two weeks. I left a note for him that I was rushing to hospital but he came to hospital for Vivienne.” I said.

My heart was sore as I spoke about his coldness.

“Vivienne has trapped him and he isn’t able to see through her wickedness. I tried to tell him that he should be keeping his distance from her but that bitch always finds a way to be around him.” She said with venom.

I didn’t feel anything because he had been clear about our relationship since the beginning.

We reached at the Hamilton’s residence and I again recalled all those moments I spent there alone. Even when he was home, we’re never really spend a day like married couples.

Stephan was standing in the living room. Once our eyes met, I felt a stir in my emotions. His expressions were soft. Perhaps, he pretended to be a gentleman after my mother’s death.

“Olivia, I am really sorry, I know it’s hard for you to go through this. I swear I had no idea that your mother was seriously ill.” He tried to speak to me.

The mention of my mother fueled me. I glared at him coldly.

“I don’t need your apology, Stephan because you never meant it. My mom is gone. You didn’t know about her illness because you have nothing to do with what I have been going through. After all, we’re only married on papers.” I sneered at him.

He wanted to say something but he remained silent.

“I can’t do this anymore, Stephan. I am done.” I said in a defeated tone and his head snapped at me.

“Olivia?” He narrowed his eyes with confusion.

“I want a divorce, Stephan.”

I said keeping a stone on my heart but it was my final decision.

“Olivia, I think we should talk later. Please, take some rest. You haven’t slept in last few days.” He said gently trying to dodge the conversation.

“No, Stephan. You can’t walk from this now. I thought I could do this for the sake of old Mr. Hamilton but I guess it was very stupid of me. I thought love would find it’s way into our marriage but I was wrong and I regret it in every second of my life.” I vented out my frustration.

“I am not at fault in this, Olivia. I made it clear since the start that this marriage will only exist on papers and you agreed. I never promised anything to you but I gave you everything you needed as my wife.” He said very calmly.

I stared at his face with disbelief. He hurt me beyond repair by his indifference and coldness yet he had no regrets. I was a fool to fall for a man like him.

“Alright, I accept it was entirely my fault to marry but now I am setting you free without any conditions, Mr. Hamilton. I have decided to divorce you. Let’s correct the mistake that we made two years ago, our marriage.” I said coldly.

“Olivia, I think we should talk with cool mind and this is not the best time for us to talk.” He said.

I scoffed and threw my hands in the air.

“Why can’t you just understand that I want to walk out of this marriage, Stephan? I am tired and I want to go far from here. I am sorry that I didn’t listen to you before agreeing to marry you. I want to correct the biggest mistake of my life.” I yelled.

“I won’t divorce you, Olivia.” He said and I was stunned.

This man was unpredictable. After all this time, avoiding me, using me as he pleased, he wasn’t ready to free me from this shackles for a marriage.

“But why? There’s nothing between us. I thought you were able to sympathize or to show some respect you have proven me wrong. I dealt with my mother’s illness and then her death alone. You never showed up even for humanity.” I said frustratingly.

“I didn’t know that she was sick and you never told me, Olivia. That morning, you didn’t mention in the note that you were going to see your mother. How can you blame me entirely?” He frowned.

“Oh, so it’s my fault as well.” I laughed dryly. I hated this man right from the bottom of my heart.

“I am not divorcing you, Olivia so let’s not bring this subject again because it’d be useless. Please, rest now. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He said and turned on his heels to leave.

“Why are you punishing me, Stephan? I am giving you what you want from me, your freedom. You can be with someone you love and that’s not me.” I yelled.

He craned his neck to glance at me.

“When you agreed to marry me, remember what I said to you?” He asked me and I became quiet.

“I said once we tied the knot, there will be no way to break our vows, Olivia and I am not letting you go, ever.” He said with finality in his words and went to his room.

I stood there processing his words. He was the same heartless man. He never changed.

He was punishing me for marrying him.

I wiped my tears and rushed to my room. If he decided that he’d never let me leave him then he had the power to trap me in this marriage. I hurriedly packed a few clothes, my important documents and stocked some cash.

If he’d not divorce me then I will disappear from his life.

I dialed my only friend’s number and she picked it up in no time.

“Hello, June I am coming over to your place.” I said and hung up.

I waited for another couple of hours to ensure that he was asleep before leaving his house forever.