Prologue

Prologue

Writer’s POV

“Aaron, I need a divorce”

Ophelia sudden voice cut through the quiet living room like broken fragments of glass. The exhausted Aaron who had just gotten back from work after having a long day, froze just inside the doorway. His jacket still slung over his arm. All he had imagined when he returns from the office was to eat, rest and be in his lovely wife and son’s company, not this.

This was far from what he expected to hear.

“What?” he asked, his voice rough with exhaustion.

Ophilia stood a few feet away from the door, her arms folded tightly across her chest. Her posture, eyes and everything about her at this moment was dry and eerily calm, like they’ve lost their meaning.

“I said I want a divorce,” she repeated, this time with more seriousness.

This wasn’t the first time she had brought this up. She had been like this for more than a week. Always angry, irritated easily or distant but he always made sure to be there for her the best he could. He had always thought it was just her post-partum stage of pregnancy and thought it would fade soon. But tonight, something felt off about the way Ophelia said it.

He stepped towards her, cupping her face gently reassuring her like he always did,” I love you and nothing can separate us, so please, I’ve just had a long day. Let’s not do this tonight.” he said, landing soft kisses on her lips then on her forehead.

She didn’t respond, neither did she pull away either. She just stood there unfazed.

“Can you make me a cup of tea?” he added lightly, dissing the earlier topic like it was normal.

He walked past her before she could say anything else and walking to the cradling where his son, Ethan was laying peacefully. His tiny feet curled beneath his chin, his chest rising and falling in a steady and calm rhyme.

He sure took after his father.

He shot him a proud smile and proceed to their room to remove his tie and cufflinks.

A few seconds later Ophelia walks in. He turns back thinking she brought him his tea only to find her standing behind him with a sore expression and a piece of paper.

Confused, he moves closer. “Is something wrong, honey?” he asked thoughtfully but she just handed him the documents without any expression on her face. He took it and one glance made him go pale.

“Divorce papers.” She said calmly. “I have already signed them. it just remains your signature.” and proceeds to exist when Aaron voice stopped her.

“A... divorce?” Aaron whispered “You can’t serious” he said, his eyes still glued on the paper in disbelieve.

“l am” she said in a hoarse voice and then proceeds to leave but Aaron grabbed her by the arm and moved to block her.

“Ophelia called.

“Aaron, move.”

“no”

Her eyes flashed. “Aaron, I said move” her voice increase. Stress was clearly written all over her face. She was also tired, also exhausted.

“No, I will not move” he countered. “Not until you tell me what this is all about, Ophelia.” He said raising the divorce paper up.

Her expression stayed neutral as she tries to free herself from his grip but he held her gently and steady.

"Let go of me" she snapped at him.

"Honey,” he pleaded, cupping her face so she was to look at him. “What is it?”

“what’s wrong? Tell me. you know you can tell me anything. Talk to me.” He urged her.

Silence followed.

“Is it the baby? Is it Ethan? Is he stressing you?” he continued quickly. “If so, I could get a nanny, or I could call my mom, your mom, anyone. Just say the word. But not this. Please, Ophelia, don’t do this.”

His voice broke on his last on the last words.

Who knew the famous Aaron Hayes would beg anyone. He was a man known for control and speed. Even as his company is at the edge of bankruptcy, he still had that dominance aura surrounding him. But when it comes to the woman he loves, he would even kneel to kiss her feet.

That was how much he loved her.

But Ophelia mind was already made up. She wanted a divorce and that was it.

She finally let out a dry laugh “listen to you,” she said, shaking her head slowly. “You always think throwing solutions around will solve everything.”

“I’m not throwing any solutions,” he said desperately. “I know I’ve messed up and I’m trying…”

She scoffed, “trying?” her eyes hardened “Aaron you’re never here.”

“that’s not true,” he said instantly. “Everything I do, I do it for us. For our child and our future.”

She sighed “Look Aaron I don’t have time for this. when you’re ready sign those documents. Our marriage is over…”

 “Over? I love you….”

“Oh, spare me that crap.” she said, eyeing him from top to bottom. “From the beginning in that little heart of yours it has always being either the company or nothing more since we got married”

“But all I do I do for us”

She scoffs, “for us you say?” she asked but wasn’t expecting a reply before continuing. “Before I married you, I had a life, I had a job. But take a look at me now” she gestures to herself bitterly. “I can’t even recognize me.”

Aaron swallowed hard. “You chose to stop working. We agreed….”

“I agreed because you made it sound temporary,” she snapped. “Because you said things would slow down. That after our marriage, after the baby you’d be present.”

“I am present”

She laughed sharply. “You leave early, come home very late and when you don’t, you’re always tired, always distracted. You’re here but not really here”

He opened his mouth to argue, then stopped. Because deep down she was right. If it wasn’t for his father sudden departure and leaving tons of debt, all this wouldn’t have happened.

“I’m tired, Aaron.” Ophilia said quietly, her voice finally cracking. “I’m tired of pretending, of this marriage, or motherhood. I can’t do it anymore.”

Unshed tears filled her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She turned her face to the opposite side trying to calm herself.

“You can have custody of the child.” Anyone could hear the disgust tone in her words and then she turned and worked out of the room living a shocked Aaron standing there.

For a moment Aaron just stood there watching her back till she wasn’t in sight. Disbelief etched across his face.

“that’s our son,” he whispered.

He ran his hands through his perfect dak hair while pacing about in the room wondering, searching where everything had started falling apart.

“fuck” cursed aloud, throwing the table vase on the floor.

That night, Ophelia slept in the guest room.

She avoided him for three days. She even avoided his questions, his pleas and even his mother and friend who had come to resolve the issue.

 Her mind was made up.

On the fourth day, she had vanished from his life, living him with their two-month-old child to care for.

No goodbyes, no conversation. Just an empty closet and house.

Aaron who looked like a mess, picked up his son to his chest, rocking him as he whispered sweet nonsense to him.

He sighed looking at his son’s peaceful face. “No matter what, I’ll make you proud.”