Chapter 1

AVERY WINTERS

Five years!

Five years of waiting— Of hoping— Battling with irregular periods. And every single time, the results had been the same— NEGATIVE!

It was no longer disappointment for me, it was deterioration.

My marriage— My husband— My dignity.

Everything was falling.

My husband, Caden had been distant lately and increasingly indifferent, as if each failed pregnancy pulled him one step further away from me.

"I'm so sorry, Dr. Thomas" I said over the phone. "We will have to reschedule my appointment again. I-I have something very important to take care of."

My regular medical checkup appointment was scheduled for today, and I knew I shouldn't missed it. But my husband's birthday can't be rescheduled either, I can't afford to miss it.

"Of course, Avery. If it's that important then, we can always reschedule your appointment. How about we reschedule it for tomorrow?" He suggested, his tone laced with understanding.

I nodded, forgetting that he can't see me. "Yes, that would be great. Thank you."

I hung up the call and a heavy sigh escaped my lip. My medical checkup was important, and I shouldn't have missed it but so was celebrating Caden’s special day.

As I put down the phone, my mind drifted back to the past….

I was in my teenage when my Dad passed away. I was left all alone. He would always protect me and made me feel safe but death took him from me, leaving a gaping hole in my life.

After his passing, my stepmother's cruelty towards me and her daughter, Ember constant bullying became unbearable. Ember especially, made life tiring and made me feel like an outcast.

She wasn't even my Dad’s biological child, as her Mom brought her in with her when she married my Dad, but they ended up controlling the company my Dad left behind after his passing. I ended up leaving the house, searching for a new place to begin my life with as I couldn't endure the pain.

Then, I met with Paisley, Caden’s Mom. She took me in with an open arms, and treated me like a daughter she never had.

One fateful day, we went for a beach vacation and I saw Caden slipped and fell into the rushing river. Without hesitation, I instantly dive in to save him, the icy water enveloping me too but I pulled stronger. The wave pulled him further away but I swam with all my might, wanting nothing but just to save him.

Today, Caden and I are now a couple and we've been married for five years. His Mom paired us together, and I was grateful to her for bringing us together as couples. I’ve always loved Caden, because it was love at first sight for me.

•

I hummed to myself whilst dancing around the kitchen as I prepared Caden’s favorite dishes. Today was more than just a birthday celebration to me- it is a chance for me to reaffirm our love and strengthen our bond more. I wanted to make tonight unforgettable!

Maybe…. Just maybe, things might turn around between us tonight and I might be able to conceive.

I’ve got his pasta and tomato sauce infused with garlic and oregano ready. Then, I slid the lasagna into the oven, and the aroma instantly waft through the kitchen. The image of Caden’s smiling face when he have his first bite immediately flashed through my mind.

"Will he also like the cake?" I wondered, my eyes narrowing towards the chocolate masterpiece on the counter.

I returned back to the living room, sitting anxiously as I wait for his return. He should have been back by now though, I wonder what's holding him up?- I thought worriedly, but quickly pushed aside the nagging thought away.

I snuggled deeper into the couch, and my eyelids begin to grow heavy, making me feeling sleepy. I didn't realize I had drifted off, until I felt my body jolted all of a sudden, as if an invisible string had just yanked me back to reality. My eyes snapped open, and I rubbed them profusely, trying to shake off the remnants of drowsiness in them.

"What's wrong with you, Avery? Your husband isn't back yet, you can't sleep off" I muttered, shaking my head.

Remembering that my lasagna is still in the oven, I tossed aside the blanket on me and rushed to the kitchen, moving as fast as I could. I nearly fall, loosing my balance but tried keeping my legs steady.

The thought of him walking in any moment from now on kept bothering me as I wanted everything to be ready before he return.

I grab the hot dish plate from the oven, my fingers closing around it and a jolt of heat instantly shot through my fingertips, feeling the plate's scorching temperature sear my skin. But I really don't care at this point because my mind was only consumed with the thought of Caden’s return.

Normally, I would have flinched, dropped the plate or even yelped in pain. But right now isn't the time for that. My hands moves fastly as I transfered the lasagna to the plate with precaution. Only when I set the plate down did I realize the sting buzzing in my fingertips. I glanced at my hands, half expecting to see blisters forming, but aside from the faint pinkness, my skin looked unscathed.

With shaking hands, I adjusted the plates positioning, ensuring the lasagna remained hot.  "He likes eating it hot, so make sure it doesn't get cold" I whispered under my breath, before my eyes drifted to the wall clock.

At the same time, I heard the door open. I turned my head and saw Caden walked in, his face etched with exhaustion. But at the same time, it doesn't look like it was just only fatigue- his eyes seemed distant and cold.

“Hey, you’re back!” I exclaimed, excitedly.

"Mmm" he hummed, his expression flat without warmth as he entered the kitchen.

My heart sank at his action, but I quickly pushed aside my doubts.

Maybe he was just tired- I thought, finding an excuse for him.

"Look, I made your favorite lasagna" I said, presenting the dish to him with a flourish smile on my face, hoping the aroma would lift his mood. But Caden barely glanced at it.

"Caden, today is your-"

"I'm not hungry" he cut me off, his hand waving me off dismissively.

"What do you mean, you’re not hungry? It's your favorite meal, my love. You know, I prepared this specially made for you. Just look at it" I insisted.

But my smile faltered away the moment he pushed it away roughly, the lasagna spilling onto the counter and the sound of the shattering ceramic splattering on the floor.

"I SAID I'M NOT HUNGRY! WHAT PART OF I'M NOT HUNGRY DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?!" He bursted angrily, his eyes blazing with anger.

I stared at him, shocked. Tears slowly welling up in my eyes as his expression didn't waver— it still look cold. As if he had mean me already.

He just pulled out a folder from his briefcase and handed it to me.

"What's this?" I asked, my heart racing.

"Divorce papers" he said, his voice cold and detached.

"W-What?! Why? What do you mean, divorce papers? What is this for and why are you giving it to me?" I bombarded him with questions as my eyes scanned through the documents confusedly.

It felt like my whole world has crumbled.

I thought we were happy? I thought our bond was unbreakable despite the challenges we were facing?

So, what went wrong? Why is he doing this now? Why presenting me a divorce papers out of the blue?- I thought worriedly, my mind swirling with so many thoughts.

The kitchen that was once filled with warmth and love, now felt cold and empty.

"I can't continue with this thing between us anymore. Five years of marriage yet you couldn’t give me a child. I need an heir to carry on the family legacy," his tone cold as he speak, and it felt like I've been punched in the face.

"B-but I’m trying my best, Caden. PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) isn’t an easy condition and you know it," I whispered bitterly.

His gaze swiftly met mine and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something- Regret?

But it swiftly vanished again.

"That doesn't change the fact that you’ve become a barren woman and can’t give me my own heir. Yes, my mother loved you, sure. She also insisted I married you, so I did. But love? That was never part of the deal.”

My heart sank at each word that keeps coming out of his mouth. They're like a heavy weight, crushing me down ruthlessly.

My mind reeled back to the past, refreshing the memories of our time together- The happy moment, our wedding, the laughter's, the outing and everything.

Are they all lies?

It can't be, right? They're all real. The way he looks at me, the way he caress my hair and treat me good... They can't possibly be a lie.

"I only went along with it because I had to, not because I wanted to."

Tears finally streamed down my cheeks. And even though it hurts badly right now, I still don't want to give up. I truly wanted us to be happy together- to work things out together. I don't know what went wrong but I'm willing to do all it takes to make it right between us.

"Caden, I beg of you, please reconsider your decision. Don't do this to me, to us! Remembered we've come a long way" I begged, my voice shaking with tears on my face.

I was expecting his face to soften but his cold gaze still didn't waver.

"I have found the right one for me. Someone who's held my heart for so many years now," he said, his tone softening with a hint of longing in his eyes as he speaks about her. "She's now back in my life, and now that I have found her, I won't be bound by a loveless marriage again,"

What?

"Sign the papers, Avery" he ordered, his voice unyielding.

With that being said, he turned around and walked out of the house again, leaving me shattered. The divorce papers now trembling in my hands as I collapsed on the floor, crying profusely.

How could he do this to me?

What have I done wrong for him to be this suddenly cold towards me?

How can someone change that easily?

From his eyes and voice that used to be warm- are now cold. He now seem like a different person.

Why? Just why, Caden?

Tears continued to stream down my cheeks as my heart grief with pains.