Jerry dialed Ella's number and waited for her to answer the phone. He was nervous and anxious, knowing that what he was about to say wouldnot be easy."Hello?" Ella's voice came through the other line."Ella, it's Jerry. I need to speak with you.""Sure, what's up?" Ella asked, curiosity tinged in her voice."I have somenews. Vivian, my wife, just got a job offer from another company. She said she's going to divorce me as soon as she's back on her feet and able to rent a place of her own."There was a pause on the other line as Ella took in the news. A rush of emotions ran through her, a mix of excitement and guilt."Jerry, I'm sorry to hear that. That must be really tough for you."Jerry let out a heavy sigh. "Yeah, it is. But honestly, a part of me is relieved. I've been unhappy in this marriage for a long time. And now, I can finally be with you, Ella. Just like we've always talked about."Ella's heart skipped a beat at Jerry's words. She had been waiting for this moment for years,
Leo sat across from Vivian, the two of them chatting over a cup of coffee. The morning sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a warmglow that made Vivian's smile look brighter. Leo leaned forward, his eyes fixed on her with genuine curiosity."So, Vivian, why was your marriage arranged?" he asked.Vivian's smile faded slightly as she looked down ather lap. "My father worked for Mr. Will for a very long time. When he passed away, Mr. Will promised to take care of me."Leo nodded, understanding the weight of such a promise."Then he got you married to his son, Jerry?" Leo prodded gently.Vivian nodded, her eyes still cast down. "Yes. It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but I had no one else to take care of me."Leo's heart ached for Vivian. He knew how important it was to have agency over one's own life, especially when it came to such an intimate decision as marriage."And your mother?" Leo asked, trying to piece together Vivian's family history.Vivian's expression turned pensi
Vivian walked out of the house, feeling unsettled by Ella's unexpected arrival. She wondered why Jerry would bring his girlfriend into their shared homewithout any prior notice. Nevertheless, she reminded herself that Jerry was still her husband, and as long as they were married, she had every right to stay in their home.As she got into her car and drove to work, Vivian couldn'tstop thinking about the situation. She wondered if Jerry was really committed to their marriage or if he was just playing games with her. The fact that he had let Ella into their home without her knowledge made Vivian feel like he was trying to push her away.Meanwhile, downstairs in the house, Jerry and Ella were cozied up on the couch watching TV. Ella couldn't help but feel jealous and insecure about Vivian's presence in the house. She knew that Jerry was still married, but seeing his wife around made her feel like she was just a temporary distraction."Ella, don't worry about Vivian," Jerry said, sensing h
Vivian entered the house and was greeted by her husband, Jerry. Jerry noticed the worried look on her face and immediately began to question her."Hey, what's wrong? Why do you look so worried?" Jerry asked.Vivian took a deep breath before answering, "It's just work. My boss, Leo, seems to be getting more and more distant with me every day. I'm not sure what's going on."Jerry's expression tightened. "Leo, huh? Why do you think that is?"Vivian shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe it's just stress from work or something."Jerry nodded, but there was a hint of suspicion in his gaze. "Well, I think it's my business too. After all, you still live in my house. You're still my responsibility."Vivian bristled at his tone. "I'm not a child, Jerry. I don't need you to be responsible for me. And besides, you didn't even accept me as your wife."Jerry sighed. "I know, I know. I'm sorry. I just worry about you, that's all."Vivian softened a little. "I appreciate that. But really, I can take care of
Vivian was walking towards her office when she saw her husband Jerry standing beside her boss Leo. She was surprised to see him there, and herheart began to race."What are you doing here, Jerry?" she asked, feeling a mix of confusion and apprehension.Jerry looked at her, his eyes filled with regret. "I came to talk to Leo," he said. "I wantedto warn him to stay away from you."Vivian's eyes widened in disbelief, and she turned to Leo. "Is this true?" she asked him.Leo smiled, his eyes holding a hint of amusement. "Yes, it's true," he said. "Your husband came to see me and told me to stay away from you."Vivian felt anger bubbling up inside her. "How dare you? This is my job, and you have no right to interfere in it," she said, glancing at Jerry.Jerry looked down, his expression contrite. "I'm sorry, Vivian. I just don't like the way he's been acting towards you," he said.Vivian shook her head, disbelief written all over her face. "You have no right to do this. You have never care
Vivian sat at her desk, lost in thought. Leo's words had stirred something within her - a glimmer of hope that maybe Jerry didhave feelings for her after all. But she couldn't help but wonder if it was too good to be true. She had tried to push her romantic feelings for Jerry aside, knowing that he had made it clear he could never accept her as his wife. But hearing Leo's words had given her a glimmer of hope, and the thought of being in a relationship with Jerry made her heart race.Meanwhile, Jerry sat in his office, unable to concentrate on anything. His mind was consumed with thoughts of Vivian, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was losing her. He had always been honest with Vivian about his intentions - he didn't want to ruin their friendship by getting involved romantically. But lately, he had found himself thinking about her more and more, imagining what it would be like to be with her.Just then, Ella burst into his office, interrupting his thoughts. Jerry snapped at h
Jerry sat at his desk, his mind swirling with thoughts of Vivian. He had finally admitted his feelings for her, and it was scary but exhilarating at the same time. But his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening, and he looked up to see Ella standing in the doorway."Jerry, what's going on? Why did you yell at me earlier?" Ella asked,her voice laced with concern.Jerry felt his blood boil, and he stood up abruptly."Ella, I asked you to leave my office and give me some space. I need to think," he said, his tone sharp.Ella looked hurt, but she nodded and left the room. Jerry leaned back in his chair, letting out a deep breath. He knew he had been harsh with Ella, but he couldn't help it. His emotions were all over the place, and he was struggling to keep them in check.After a few hours of quiet contemplation, Jerry finally decided to call it a day and closed up his office early. As he walked out into the warm, evening air, his thoughts turned to Vivian. He knew he
Vivian stared at Jerry in disbelief. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. After everything that had happened between them, Jerry still wanted toprotect her?"What do you mean you want to protect me?" Vivian asked, her voice laced with confusion."I mean exactly what I said," Jerry replied, his voice firm. "I may never accept you as my wife again, butthat doesn't change the fact that I want to make sure you're safe."Vivian felt a range of emotions washing over her. Part of her felt grateful that Jerry still cared about her safety, but another part of her felt angry and frustrated. How could he act like everything was okay when they both knew their marriage was over?"I don't understand, Jerry," Vivian said, her voice shaking. "If you want to protect me, then why did you cheat on me? Why did you lie to me?"Jerry looked down at his shoes, seemingly at a loss for words. "I know I messed up, Vivian. I can't make it right, but I can try to make things easier for you now. I don't wan