Chapter 3

"Good morning, Devan," Vania greeted calmly as she saw her husband step out of the bedroom.

She stood in the kitchen, a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. A faint smile rested on her lips—one so unfamiliar that Devandra stopped in his tracks. Gone was the tear-streaked, exhausted woman he was used to. This morning, Vania looked... relieved.

Devan frowned, sensing something was off.

"Why are you smiling like that? Something wrong with your days lately, Vania?"

Vania sat down at the dining table, gently setting her cup down before looking at him with eyes no longer filled with hope.

"Today is an important day, Dev. We’re handling the divorce paperwork, right? I hope you won’t go back on your word from last night."

Her words hit like a slap, jolting Devandra from the very nightmare he had created himself.

His heart pounded. He hadn’t thought Vania would actually go through with it—certainly not this seriously.

He stood still, staring at the woman who had spent three years fighting to save their marriage. The same woman who had swallowed her pain in silence, over and over. And now she stood tall, fearless, and ready to let go.

"Why the sudden change?" he asked quietly, almost in disbelief.

"Six months into our marriage, I was the one who asked for a divorce… and you refused, desperately. But now? Why are you pushing me to end it?"

Vania gave a bitter smile.

"Because back then, I still loved you, Dev. But that love has been eroded over the years. What’s left now is only the desire to be free."

Devandra held his breath. His emotions tangled inside him.

He should feel relieved—wasn’t this what he wanted from the start?

So why did his chest suddenly feel... empty?

Was this what fear of loss felt like?

"Or maybe you’re in such a rush to divorce because you can’t wait to be touched by another man?" Devandra sneered, masking his panic behind cruel words.

Vania let out a small laugh, then stood up.

"That’s no longer your concern, Devan. All I know is, I want this to end. I want to live my life in peace—without holding on to a man who never once saw my worth."

Devandra stared at her blankly. The stronger Vania looked, the more he was eaten alive by a fear he never expected—the fear of losing the only woman who ever truly loved him without condition.

"Why are you so quiet?" Vania’s eyes narrowed.

"You’re not going to lie again, are you?"

Devan inhaled sharply, then finally spoke.

"Fine. I’ll handle the divorce paperwork. But… what about the Montgomerys? And the Luis family? Do you really think they’ll accept this?"

Vania tilted her head calmly.

"Just tell them I’m barren. That I can’t give the Montgomerys a child. Like it or not, they’ll have to accept it."

Devandra closed his eyes, a wave of guilt crashing over him.

All this time, he had blamed Vania. But the truth was—he had never given her the chance to become a mother. He never even touched her.

"Vania…" he murmured, then looked her in the eyes.

"If what you want is a baby… then this morning, I’ll give you one."

Before she could respond, Devandra grabbed her wrist and started dragging her toward the bedroom.

"Devan, let me go! What are you doing?!"

"I’m going to give you a baby, Vania! Isn’t that what you wanted?"

"Not like this!" Vania struggled, trying to break free from his grip.

"I don’t want a child born out of force, Devan! Please, stop acting insane!"

Devandra halted, frustration flooding his eyes.

"Why are you like this now, Vania?! Wasn’t getting pregnant the one thing you cried about over and over?!"

Smack!

Vania’s slap echoed through the room, cutting through the tension like a knife.

She stared at him, eyes brimming—not with longing, but with the weight of disappointment long left unspoken.

"Yes, I want to be a mother, Devan. But not like this. I’m not some doll to satisfy your ego."

She stepped back, her voice shaking with hurt.

"Wasn’t it you who said it yesterday?" Vania’s gaze was sharp and unflinching.

"That I should just find another man… instead of waiting around for a husband who doesn’t even know his own worth."