Ch1: Divorce papers

FIVE YEARS AGO...

Just like any other day, I prepared many delicious meals and set the table. I knew that Xin was going to come home today.

I wanted to surprise him. Maybe his attitude toward me would change.

My heart began beating so fast when I heard him drive into the parking lot. Despite his cold nature and his indifference towards me, I still wanted to make him happy.

I still hoped that one day he would change and treat me as the wife I was supposed to be.

I rushed over to him when he walked into the house, a sweet smile on my face. I wanted to use all of my charm to win him over today.

“Xin, I prepared your favorite dishes. Would you like to try?“ I asked. Of course, I would prepare the food every two days.

Xin only returned home once in two days. And he only ate my food whenever he chose to. However, I had never given up trying to please him.

He was the man I loved—the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I was willing to go to any lengths for him.

And just like I had expected, he did not say a word. Instead, he extended his arm and handed me a document that he was holding.

Confused, I took the document. That was the first time he had ever given me anything.

Curiously, I ran my eyes over the words, and my heart went numb. I raised my eyes to look at him, and I was only met with his indifferent gaze.

“Um… this?“ I asked in confusion. It was a divorce document, and his name was already signed on it.

Wait! 

Xin was divorcing me after being married for one year. He wanted to end things with me!

I looked at the document again before shaking my head. “Xin, I didn't do anything wrong. Please don't do this to me,” I begged.

I did not know why he was asking for a divorce all of a sudden. He had never mentioned it in the past!

“Sign it,” Xin said coldly, and he walked upstairs. Of course, he had never said more than two words at a time to me after we got married.

“Noo!“ I said that and tried to run after him, but I stopped when I thought about it. He never liked anyone close to him.

Even though we had been married for one year, he had never touched me. I was never sure if I was the one he detested or if it was just his decision.

I sighed and threw away the document. “Keep dreaming! I am not going to sign this,” I said, walking to my room. Of course, we had separate rooms.

…

“Chris,” I said when the person I was calling answered. “Are you with Xin?“

“Isabel! It is late in the night. Why are you still awake?“ Chris asked. Xin and he were best friends. And most of the time, when Xin wasn't home, he was with him.

I sighed. “He has not been home for some days. And the last time he was here, he handed me divorce papers,” I said, wiping away my tears.

I just could not understand why someone would be as cold as him. He was never like that in the past.

“Isabel, I am really sorry for you. But he is not here,” Chris said softly. At times, I wondered why Xin could never be as good as him.

“Do you know where he is?“ I asked again. I only wanted to know if he was fine.

But Chris sighed deeply. “Bella, I think you need to know about this,” he said tensely. “Xin's ex-girlfriend came back. He is with her now."

“What?“ I sat up with a start. “Ex girlfriend?“ I asked in confusion. I didn't know that he had a girlfriend.

“Bella, after Xin left your home, he was taken abroad. He met Skye, who helped him a lot. I heard that she even took a bullet once for him. They were dating before your uncle showed up with marriage documents his dad signed. They had to break up,” Chris explained.

I was stunned. “Because of me? I didn't know about it. Where is he now?” I asked. Did he not like me because I had made him break up with his girlfriend? But why did he agree to marry me?

“You have to be strong, Bella. Don't go to him and cause any trouble. I will try talking to him and see what to do,” Chris said. He was always a good friend.

“Thanks,” I said and hung up. I was struggling to fight back my tears. I seemed to have finally understood why Xin did not care about me.

Xin had been raised by my parents until he was fifteen. I heard that something had happened to his family, and he was only safe with us.

He had been a very good brother to me. I loved spending time with him.

When he turned fifteen, something happened in our family. Our house was burned down by some unknown people, and I lost my dad and mom in the event.

My uncle took me in, but he could not afford to raise another extra person. So Xin had to leave.

I was only ten years old at that time. He had promised to keep in touch and visit me often. However, he never did it.

When I turned twenty, my uncle told me that before my dad and Xin's dad died, they had signed an agreement that Xin should marry me.

He said that I was supposed to meet Xin and date him for a while. If we loved each other, he would marry me.

But Xin had agreed to marry me the moment I met him. I was so happy at that time. I did not expect that my life in marriage was going to be so difficult. I never thought that he would one day want to divorce me.