Chapter 2

“I can’t take this anymore, Devan! I want a divorce!”

The words shot out of Vania’s mouth the moment Devandra stepped into their apartment and placed his work folder on the table. He hadn’t even taken off his shoes when her voice struck like a bullet straight to his chest.

Devandra frowned, staring at his wife in disbelief.

“What did you just say?”

“I said… let’s get a divorce. I’m done holding onto this marriage alone.”

Silence. Only the ticking of the wall clock echoed between them, loud and haunting.

Devandra’s jaw clenched. He stepped closer, slowly, trying to read the expression of the woman who had always been quiet, submissive, and patient. But tonight… she was different. Her eyes met his—firm, fearless, and dry. No tears, no hesitation.

“Why are you suddenly talking about divorce? You used to beg to stay by my side, always hoping I’d love you.”

His voice was calm, but the tension underneath was unmistakable.

Vania lifted her chin, her chest rising with the weight of all the pain she had bottled up.

“Because I finally realized… I’m nothing but a shadow wife to you, Devan. We’ve been married for three years, but you’ve never touched me. Not once have you treated me like your real wife.”

Devandra scoffed and looked away, as if he couldn’t stand hearing the same complaint again.

“You knew from the beginning this marriage wasn’t about love, Vania.”

“But I loved you, Dev!” Vania cried, her voice soft yet steady.

“And I hoped that one day, you might learn to love me too… But all I ever received was pain and humiliation!”

His face darkened. He turned sharply to face her, eyes sharp and unreadable.

“So… you want a divorce because you want a baby?”

Vania’s breath caught. That question felt more like a sneer than genuine curiosity.

“I just want to be happy, Dev,” she said, her voice trembling.

“And you’re the one who said… if I wanted a child, I should sleep with another man, remember?”

Devandra froze. His heart sank like a stone.

He hadn’t expected her to throw his cruel words back at him—not like this.

Vania’s gaze was no longer soft. The kindness, the tears—they were gone. In their place was a new strength carved from pain.

“So you’re really going to find another man just to get pregnant?” he asked, his voice low—barely more than a broken whisper.

“If that’s the only way I can become a mother and live a normal life, then why not?” Vania said coldly.

“I’ve waited long enough for you to love me, but the truth is… you can’t even bring yourself to touch me.”

Devandra’s chest burned. He didn’t know what he was feeling—but he hated hearing those words from her lips.

The thought of her leaving… of her giving her body and heart to another man—it stirred something unfamiliar, something frightening.

“So you're ready to belong to another man, huh?” he hissed, eyes burning into hers.

“I’m ready to belong to someone who truly values me,” Vania replied, standing tall.

“Someone who doesn’t shame me in silence… who doesn’t make me feel invisible in my own marriage.”

Devandra stared at her, his breath quick and uneven.

But no words came. For the first time… he felt the fear of losing her.

“In that case,” Vania said, turning toward the door and glancing back one last time,

“Get the divorce papers ready, Dev. I’ll sign them without a second thought.”