REINA"Are you leaving for work already?" I questioned walking after Ethan and he nodded. He was just acting like he wasn't the same person that has kissed me passionately last night and I felt sloghtly offended."Is there anything I'm to do before leaving?" He asked politely, his eyes darting all over the room except on me."No, are you healed enough to work properly?" I was trying to keep the conversation going but it seemed to me that he was doing his possible best to kill the conversation."Yeah sure, I'm in perfect health. Even well enough to stay alone." What was he implying? Was he trying to say that he was well enough to go back to him home?"Umm—""I'll see you at the office, Reina. I have a lot to attend to today so I better be on my way. Say hello to Andrew" And with that, he walked out of the house while I nodded subconsciously.I prepared myself for work and dropped Andrew off at school while I went to work. Still a little remorseful about my outburst at Ethan the day be
REINAJust as I was about saying something, Bruce barged into the house again."I'm sorry, I forget my wallet." Bruce said and I nodded having nothing to else because whatever exactly can I say."Of course, you did." Ethan sighed and I opened my mouth to say something but decided against it and shut the hell up.I stood in my living room, watching in dismay as Bruce and Ethan's argument escalated again.It looked more like were two women were bickering but not the funny kind of bickering.It had been two weeks since Ethan had been staying with me, and I had hoped that things would settle down by now. But Bruce's visit had brought up old tensions, and now the two men were shouting at each other and I don't know if they can recognize that there words are opening up old wounds and they just had to stop already."Bruce, stop!" I pleaded, trying to intervene as I held my hands up. My voice was loud and at least it brought the both of them to shut the hell up. "This isn't solving anything
REINA.I sat at my desk, staring blankly at my computer screen as I tried to focus on the Triple A project. But my mind kept wandering back to Ethan and the painful memories we had uncovered.Can my brain hurt cooperate with me till I'm done with this design? I can't afford to break down right now.I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to get out of here, to leave Ethan and all his memories behind. And the only way to do that was to finish this project and get back to my normal life.But how am I supposed to finish the project when I had been staring at the layout for more than 30 minutes and I still don't know what to do?"Mum, are you okay?" I looked down at my leg to see my sonz Andrew tucking my shirt properly and I smiled sweetly.I had to do this to give my son the best life he deserves and I guess that's where I suddenly found my drive to work. "No.baby. My eyes just hurt a little, go play with your toys. Mama needs to get a job done." He nodded and I ruffled his hair a bit b
REINA'S POVI walked through the front door of my home, my heart racing with excitement and a hint of nervousness. I knew I had to make this call, but I was scared of how Bruce would react.I had to tell someone at least that I was leaving the states and that person was Bruce. I took a deep breath and picked up the phone, dialing Bruce's number. He answered on the first ring."Hey, Reina. What's up?" he asked, his voice cheerful and I placed a hand on my chest feeling my heart beat as I wondered how he would react"Bruce, I need to tell you something," I said, my voice trembling."Reina, if this is about how I reacted at your house the other day; i really want to apologize. I'm so sorry." I smiled warmly as I stared at the phone like a teenager in lover."It's okay. I understand. That's no why I called though." "What is it?" he asked, his tone changing to concern and i bit the corner of my kips then bit my tongue next."I'm leaving the country with Andrew," I blurted out and There
ETHAN'S POV I had been knocking endlessly on Reina's door and wondered if she was deliberately refusing to open the door up for me.Maybe I deserved that much but at least, she could at least think that perhaps I'm here to apologize which I'm there to do nonetheless.I tried calling her phone but she wasn't picking up and I've already sent series of text messages to her but she hadn't replied any of them.I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. But there was no answer.I tried again, this time louder. Still, no answer.Another tenant in the opposite condominium was walking up the stairs and then stopped."Excuse me? Are you looking for someone?" The lady asked and I rubbed my forehead in frustration before sighing."Yeah, the lady and her son that lives here." I answered plainly.I didn't want her to get the idea that I had already been there for hours on end and was at the verge of giving up."Miss Gray?" "Yeah, Miss Gray.' i rubbed my worry lines to make the go again as I sh
ETHAN"Ravenna, I need you to leave," She grimaced as she looked at me with a daring yet challenging gaze but I wasn't going to give her that satisfaction of doing whatever the fuck she wants, she would do as I say today. "I don't mean later, Ravenna. I mean now." Ravenna looked up from the photo, a hint of defiance in her eyes shwoing that she wasn't willing to back down but what i knew was that, either by hook or by crook, she just had to go.Her presence was irritating enough for me."Why? I'm not doing anything wrong." She smiled maniacally and I sent my hands into my pockets were I can freely clench and unclench them."You will leave because I said so, Ravenna." I snapped, my patience wearing thin."And because I don't want you here ." Ravenna shrugged and shook her head in negativity, placing her hands on her waist.It was more like she was challenging me to do my worse and she already knew that I wouldn't even think of raising my hands on her. That would be too much and to dis
"I don't know if you're well aware that you're seating in the CEOs office and I don't have the time neither am I about to play three guesses with you. So please, leave before I cal the security."Hey Lulu, your name has such a ring to loo loo." She squeaked in a baby like voice and I stared at her in shock.I never expected that I would ever see her again.If this isn't a blast from the past, a shadow from my past then I don't know what is. The world seriously knows how to surprise me even when I'm not searching for any surprises. Lucy, my childhood friend, was sitting in the chair in front of my desk, a bright smile on her face.I hadn't even been able to recognize her because well, quite a lot had changed about her. She looked more beautiful and more mature and a lot of her features had worn off.To top it off, she has black hair but she had dyed it brown now and even it cut it and curl it."Lucy!" I exclaimed, feeling a rush of excitement."Oh my god, it's been ages." I moved to hu
"Alright, Ravenna, that's enough. You've had your fun moment so you should leave now." Ravenna smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement and that look that she had whenever she had something in store for someone. Something bad."Oh, sure thing, hubby," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm and I sent my hand to my pocket again trying to remind myself that I shouldn't hit a woman."I wouldn't want to interrupt your little reunion." Ravenna completed and Lucy sighed out."Gosh, some women would act like the others made a mistake coming out as the same gender with them." I glanced at her, gesturing at her to stop as I had have enough for Ravenna already. I didn't need more."Alright, I'll shut up. But your wife is really loosing it, it's more like her head is not intact." Ravenna stared at her trying to o decipher what she had said because Ravenna had spoken with gritted teeth. I had already mastered it so whatever she said, she picked me.She turned to leave, but not before casting
Reina POV I could feel Ethan’s eyes on me as I poured myself a second glass of wine. The intensity of his gaze on me was suffocating, but I refused to let my eyes meet his. Let him watch. Let him wonder. I have spent too many nights begging for his attention; now it was his turn to sit with it and beg me for my attention. The silence stretched between us like a long string and I swirled the wine in my glass, feeling that I didn't care about his feelings, though my heart raced. I could still hear his words from the other night, the way he practically begged me for answers, for me to talk to him. It was crazy but funny at the same time. “I want us to fix this.” But fix what, exactly? The broken shards of a marriage that neither of us seemed willing to sweep up? The years of neglect, the lies and the half-hearted apologies? Oh, let's not forget. The cheating. No. I was done being the one to bend. That night, I stayed up late in the guest bedroom I had claimed as my own.
Ethan POVReina’s words echoed in my mind so loudly like a drum that one could not silence. “Do your worst, Ethan.” She had said it with so much conviction, like she doesn't care about any action that I took. What the hell has come over her? This was not the wife that I got married to . She was so indifferent and that alone cut deeper than I thought words ever could.I stared at the ceiling that night, trying to piece together the shattered pieces of our life. Our lives were nothing to write home about and I have lost all hope in making sure that things went back to normal. Divorce was what was staring at us from another end and it now seemed like a threat that we both threw around like a knife, but neither of us had the courage to file for a divorce. Truth was, I didn’t want to divorce Reina.Not because I was scared of the fallout between us or the bad press, or the whispers and gossips from our so-called friends. No, that is not it. I could not bring myself to do it because
EthanI couldn’t focus on anything anymore. Not work, not Andrew, not even the endless distractions I used to drown myself in. My mind was consumed by Reina. Her sudden indifference towards me, her mysterious outings, and the unsettling confidence she carried these days. It was as though she had transformed into someone I didn’t recognize, someone who didn’t need me anymore.The change that I saw in her made me mad and angry. She used to plead, cry, and beg for my attention. Now, she barely looked at me. She left the house dressed to kill, and returned late at night without a single explanation. When I asked where she had been, her replies were casual and almost dismissive.“It is none of your business, Ethan,” she said one night, brushing past me as though I were invisible.And that smile, she smiled more these days, but never at me. Always at her phone. One evening, I heard the door close softly behind her as she left. I sat in the living room, staring at the television, but I
ReinaTaking your friend's advice? That was a good thing to do. I sat at the dining table, absently twirling the spoon in my cup of tea. Ethan was seated across from me, but I didn’t dare look at him. I could feel his eyes on me, as though he was waiting for me to break the silence. A month ago, I would have. I would have pleaded, begged him to talk to me. But not anymore. I had decided to follow Celia’s advice. If Ethan wanted space, he would get it, more than he bargained for.“You are not going to say anything?” he asked finally, breaking the silence between the both of us. I looked up briefly, then shrugged, giving him a neutral look. “What is there to say?”His brows furrowed. “You have been quiet lately. It’s…unlike you.”I shrugged again and stood, carrying my cup to the sink. “If you have something to say, Ethan, say it. Otherwise, I have work to do.”I walked out of the kitchen without waiting for a response. My hands trembled slightly as I made my way to the livin
ReinaA divorce? A fucking divorce!!!Did I hear right or was I dreaming? Has it come to this now that he was suddenly asking for a divorce? No, no. He has to be joking. He has to be seriously joking about this. He will come around soon. I hit my head with my hand countless times as the days passed in a rush. The once vibrant and intoxicating energy that filled our home had been replaced with a heavy, suffocating silence. Ethan barely spoke to me unless it was about Andrew or something essential that he felt I should know about.Even then, his words were short and straight to the point and his tone was cold. It was like talking to a stranger.I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the framed photo on the nightstand. It was from our honeymoon. Ethan and I were on a beach, laughing at something I could not even remember. We looked so happy, so carefree. That version of us felt like a distant dream, a life that didn’t belong to me anymore.How did all these disappear in the blink
ReinaI had expected that when Ethan dragged me out, we were going to have a conversation like two normal humans. But, no. That was not the case. Ethan dragged me out and left me standing after raining insults on me. The stupid me swallowed whatever I received from him and stormed back to the house. I was deeply hurt by everything Ethan was doing and I was quite sure he was doing this deliberately to hurt me. I was seated in the house and the only thing that engulfed the house was silence. It was deafening and the only thing one could hear was the ticking of the clock on the wall.I sat in the living room with my arms wrapped tightly around my knees, staring blankly at the empty coffee table in front of me. The argument from the club was still fresh in my mind. Every word, every glare, every moment of humiliation played repeatedly inside my mind. Finally, Ethan came back home. I had been expecting him all this whole time since he refused to come home. When he finally stepped in
ReinaThe house was silent, save for the occasional ticking of the clock on the living room wall. Ethan had once again left without a word, and it was already past midnight. My heart ached, and the silence felt suffocating. I could not sit still anymore. My mind was racing with every worst-case scenario. Where was he? Who was he with?Celia’s words echoed in my head. “If he can stay out all night, why can’t you? You need to breathe too, Reina. Come with me. Let’s go out, let loose. Maybe seeing you have fun will remind him what he is losing.”“I can't believe he is doing this to me. Celia. He is acting all tough and hard towards me. I hate that he is making me feel this way,” I complained.“Look, Reina. If I were you, I wouldn't bother myself about him anymore. He is not a serious man. How can a man who has a child behave that way? Are you sure he is not sleeping around with different women?” She asked and my heart kept pounding against my chest. “He has cheated on me before, Celi
ReinaI don't understand love.At the beginning, it makes you feel all good as if that was the only thing that mattered at some point. It makes you feel like you don't want it to end but then, when everything goes wrong. Your world comes crashing down.Was this how mine was going to be for the rest of my life? I know that I was still as attractive as hell but would I be able to find a man who would get married to me at this age?I might find a good number that would satisfy me in bed and make me a baby mama but I doubt if any of them would want to get married to me. I sighed loudly as the clock ticked endlessly. Each passing second felt like a hammer to my chest. Ethan had been gone for three days. Three days of unanswered calls, ignored texts, and sleepless nights. I could not focus on anything else. Not work, not Andrew, not anything. The house felt empty without him. It was cold and lifeless.Tonight, though, something felt different. There was tension in the air. It was a diff
ReinaThat was a big flop. Ethan just told me all of that to make me feel better, I guess. It looked like forgiveness was far from him at this point. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, searching for the woman Ethan once loved.I looked the same, but everything felt different. The cracks in my marriage were now wide, and no matter how hard I tried to patch them, they just kept spreading.I had no idea what to do. My marriage since day one has not been all rosey. Now, it was worse. Were there not women having it good in their marriages? Why was mine different?I pressed my palms against the table, taking a shaky breath. This could not be the end. I would not let it be. I was not going to lose my family because of a silly mistake. I heard Ethan’s footsteps downstairs. The sound of his footsteps on the floor was heavy and loud and it felt like he did it deliberately. Every time he moved around the house, I felt the tension in the air. It was thick and suffocating. He had been di