Ethan
My knees were almost scared because of how long I had been kneeling in front of Reina. I knew what I wanted and it was her. Yes, I was not going to allow this opportunity to get past me this time. “Listen to me, Reina. Can you please allow me to explain myself?” I asked her and she just sighed out loud. The sigh was so loud that I knew that she was not feigning it when she said she hated me. Her look, her attitude, everything about her portrayed so. “Can you please stop calling me?” she demanded, blasting her angry words against my ears. “Just listen to…” I could not even get to complete my sentence when her angry rage overpowered me, cutting me short from whatever I was saying. “What are you going to tell me now that is different from all the garbage that you have told me?” she thundered. I raised one of my knees from the ground and stared at her in the eyes. Those eyes were still as pretty as ever and it has not changed ever since. I was half-kneeling now and the only thing I wanted was for her to see how serious I was. Reina was a golden egg now. If I fucked up any chance I get, I would lose her and it will be detrimental to everything I own. “I understand your anger and your fear. How can I prove to you that I mean no harm?” I asked her and she quickly turned her back against me. I knew what that meant. She was tired of listening to me and wanted me out of my sight. How hard was it for her to just accept to be my fucking designer? The pay was attractive but, still she doesn't want to. “Putting emotions into business isn't really a wise thing to do, Reina. And , I am talking based on experience,” I quickly switched, coming from a different angle entirely. I wanted to manipulate her to see things from my own end so that finally I would be at an advantage. “First, you said that I should come back to you and that you can't stand seeing me with other men, now you are bringing business into this. Do you think you sound more logical than me?” she asked, turning slowly to face me. My lips parted ways for my words to come out freely, but they couldn't. The only thing I could do was to stammer words without meaning and that only embarrassed me more in front of her. I bit my lower lips so hard that I could feel my teeth sunk inside the flesh. The pain from that single act struck me but I didn't flinch. I pretended as if nothing happened and continued with the pleading. Reina clapped her hands and laughed mischievously, flipping her hair backwards. “I never knew that you had suddenly become a stammerer,” she teased me, but I still had energy in me to defend myself. “I never referred to you as illogical. I was just trying to explain that in business, it is advisable not to mix business with emotions,” I stressed after finding my words. Reina ran her eyes through me, regarding me as nothing. I began to have doubts if whatever I was saying was making any sense to her. She made me half-kneel like a fool and she was still bent on not accepting my proposal. “And, what if I decide not to take your advice? Who do you think you are that you want to advise me in the first place?” she asked, folding her hands around her breasts. I was getting frustrated already. I wanted to give up but deep down I could not. Giving up means that I would lose in both areas. I would stay here until I have gotten her validation. “I am sorry. Do not take whatever I have done to heart. We can just reconcile and pretend that nothing happened.” “In your dreams, Ethan,” she sharply answered. “In your fucking dreams, you dimwit. Let this be clear to you in case you have forgotten, I am a designer. A multi-dollar designer who takes everything personal. I won't pretend that we are good. Not now,” she ranted. “What do you want?” I asked her. Reina smiled at me, with those deadly beautiful eyes. My heart melted like a candle wax when it met with hers. “You are making me repeat myself. Just sign the divorce papers and then, we can do business.” There was brief silence between us after that. I was contemplating on the best trick to pull off so that I will win at both ends. “Sure, I will. I will sign the papers,” I finally agreed. That seemed to put a bright smile on her face. I could feel the tension between the both of us die down and she looked at me better than before. At least, I was no longer seen like a piece of dirty rag in her presence. I suppose. “Good. Now, you want business,” she said and handed over the divorce papers to me. I brought out a pen from my pocket and scribbled something like a signature on the divorce paper and nodded. “Done. I will get my lawyers and we will finalize everything that concerns the divorce,” I said to her and she smiled. She didn't bother to check the papers as I was now in possession of the divorce papers. She wanted this divorce badly but, even after doing what I did. My evil mind was still looking for a way to craft out a deadly plan that would make her stuck with me. “I guess it's business time now.” “Yes. And, I will only entertain business related questions. I will pretend that I never knew you even for a day.” I nodded and opened my briefcase. “This document contains everything about being a designer for Triple A. You can go through it and ask questions,” I informed her. I handed over the documents to her and she accepted it and began to scan it immediately. My gaze was still fixed on her when I noticed that she stopped reading. “I forgot something…”Reina “Do you want a new car? Or a new apartment?” Ethan teased. “Anyone, my love. A Lamborghini won't be bad, you know.” I turned to face him, and there it was, the smile I had come to know and love over the years. It was the smile that had carried me through the darkest days, the one that had reassured me when I didn’t know how to move forward. The evening was calm and beautiful qne Andrew was at a friend’s house for a sleepover, and Ethan and I were alone for the first time in a while. Alone, but not lonely. We were never lonely when we had ourselves. “I’m looking,” I said softly, walking toward him. “And I see a family that’s been through hell and back, and yet we still survived it.” Ethan reached out to pull me into his arms and held me tight as if he was scared to let me go. “We have always been strong. It was just a matter of time before we realized it.” I rested my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. This was home. This was everything
Reina It was a morning like any other, except it wasn’t. I had just received the news I had been waiting for, hoping for, but still uncertain if it would ever come true. I had gotten another job. It was a job that would challenge me, push me out of my comfort zone, and finally allow me to make a real name for myself in the world I had always longed to be part of. As I stood in the kitchen, staring at the email, I could not stop the tears that filled my eyes. I had worked so hard for this moment, and now that it was here, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and disbelief. “Reina? What’s wrong?” Ethan asked, stepping into the room. His voice was soft, and his concern was evident in his eyes. I couldn’t speak at first, so I just handed him my phone, pointing to the email. He took it from me, his eyes scanning the screen. His face lit up as he read the words. “Wait… you got it? You really got it?” I nodded, my throat tight. “Yes. It’s real, Ethan. They offered me the position. I t
Reina The day had finally come. The day I had been both dreading and hoping for. The day Ethan and I would renew our vows. I had spent so much time imagining what it would feel like, but now that the moment was here, I was filled with excitement and a little nervousness. After everything we had been through, I was not sure how I would feel standing up in front of our friends and family, saying the same vows we made years ago. But this time, I was going to say them with more meaning, more depth, and more love than I ever had before. Ethan had gone above and beyond to make this day perfect, and I had already walked into the garden where it would all happen. It looked like a dream. “Mommy, you look beautiful!” Andrew said, his eyes wide with admiration as he helped me adjust my dress. I laughed softly. “Thank you, baby. You look very handsome too.” He beamed in his little tuxedo, looking just like his father. When Ethan walked in to check on me, I could not help but smil
: A New Beginning (Ethan POV) --- I never thought I’d feel this nervous again. The last time I felt anything close to this was the first time I asked Reina out. But now, standing in our living room with the small box in my pocket, I felt like a teenager unsure if the girl would say yes. Andrew was asleep in his room, and Reina was curled up on the couch, reading a book. Her hair was loosely tied back, and she was wearing one of my old sweatshirts. She looked so comfortable, so at peace, and for a moment, I just stood there, watching her. “Why are you staring at me like that?” she asked, not even looking up from her book. I chuckled nervously. “Do I need a reason to stare at my wife?” She finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. “No, but it’s weird when you’re just standing there silently. What’s going on?” I took a deep breath and walked over, sitting beside her. “Reina, can we talk?” She frowned, closing her book. “Is something wrong?” “No, nothing’s wrong,” I assured her. “In
Ethan “ A therapist? We are going to see a therapist, Ethan?” Reina blurted out and I had to calm her down that it's for the better. “Yes. I made that decision and I have already paid for a session. It is a good thing and I think our marriage will get better.” “Oh dear. I'm just scared.” *** Sitting across from Reina in the therapist’s office felt a little weird and I was trying to keep up. This was the first time we had actually met with a therapist about us. The therapist, a calm woman in her mid-50s named Dr. Laura smiled gently at us. “Thank you for coming today. The first step to healing is often the hardest, so I commend you both for being here.” I glanced at Reina, who gave me a small, nervous smile. “We are ready,” I said, squeezing her hand. “Good. Why don’t we start with why you’re here? What made you decide to seek therapy now?” Dr. Laura asked. I looked at Reina, silently asking if she wanted to go first. She nodded and took a deep breath. “I think we h
Reina Evans was at my house again. This time, I was very convinced that he had something off his sleeves. How can someone who I haven't seen in years suddenly show up in the new country where I relocated to? Has he been stalking me all these years? Evans stood at the door, his hands shoved in his pockets, and today he looked so confident in himself. But, I was here to destroy whatever confidence he had. I had hoped I would see the last of him after his first visit, but here he was again, uninvited and unwelcome. “What are you doing here again, Evans? Haven't I told you that I don't want you around me?” I thundered and my pulse was racing. “I needed to talk to you,” he responded calmly, despite my raging anger. “I don’t think we got to finish our conversation the last time.” “There’s nothing left to talk about,” I said, stepping out onto the porch and closing the door behind me. I didn’t want Ethan or Andrew overhearing any of this. “Reina, please,” he said, his eyes pleadin