Chapter 6

“Divorce me, Devan!” Vania shouted, her eyes burning with fury.

“I won’t let you say that again, Vania!” Devan snapped back, gripping her hand tightly. His eyes were sharp, but there was an unmistakable unease in them.

Vania lowered her gaze, trying to free herself from his grasp, but Devan wouldn’t let go. “You are my only wife. And you’re not infertile. I’ll talk to my mother and make sure she stops treating you this way.”

“Enough, Devan,” Vania said softly but firmly. “I don’t want to continue this marriage. I want us to get divorced.”

Silence fell. Her words hit Devan like a sledgehammer. His once-firm grip on her hand began to loosen. He stood still, stunned by the painful truth that Vania was resolute in letting him go.

Slowly, Devan touched Vania’s lips, as if trying to reassure her of the feelings he had never properly expressed. He leaned in closer, lowering his head to kiss her.

“I won’t let you say that again, Vania,” he whispered again, more tenderly this time. “I won’t divorce you.”

Vania quickly shook her head. “It’s useless, Devan. There’s no point in saving this marriage. We’re not meant to be.”

“Vania… please…” Devan tried to plead, his eyes beginning to glisten. “Please don’t ask for a divorce…”

Vania took a deep breath. “If you ask me to stay, it’ll only hurt me more. Because I’ll never be able to give you a child, Devan.”

Devan’s face hardened instantly. Not out of anger at her—but at himself, for making her feel worthless and broken.

He moved closer. Suddenly, he gently pushed her against the wall. His breath was ragged. His emotions ran wild. He leaned in and kissed her, rough and desperate, a mix of frustration, pain, and longing.

But just as his hands reached for the buttons of her blouse, he froze. His entire body stiffened. Something inside him held him back.

Vania opened her eyes and saw the hesitation in his.

“See?” she said softly. “You can’t even touch me with sincerity.”

Devan slowly pulled away. He turned his face to the side, then took a step back, staring at her with wounded eyes.

“I…” Devan couldn’t finish. Without another word, he turned and walked out of the bedroom, leaving Vania standing alone in silence.

That night felt unbearably long for Vania. She sat at the edge of the bed, hugging her knees. She still loved Devan—of that she was certain—but how could she stay in a relationship that only brought pain?

Meanwhile, Devan sat in the living room. His fingers wrapped around an empty glass as he stared blankly at the gently swaying chandelier. A storm of emotions filled his head: anger, confusion, fear, and regret.

Morning came. The sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm light that felt ironically cold between them.

Devan stood at the bedroom door, hesitant to knock.

Finally, he stepped inside quietly. Vania was still asleep on her side of the bed, her face peaceful despite the tear stains on her cheeks.

Devan sat on the edge of the bed, gently brushing her hair away from her face. “I know I haven’t been a good husband, Vania. But I love you. Foolishly, I realized it far too late.”

Vania slowly opened her eyes. She didn’t respond—just stared at Devan’s exhausted face.

“I want us to start over…” he whispered, almost like a prayer.

Vania shook her head gently. “We can’t start over if you can’t accept the fact that I may never be able to give you a child.”

Devan fell silent.

“It’s not that I don’t love you anymore, Devan. But I need to love myself too. Staying in this marriage only makes me hate who I am.”

Devan took her hand in his—this time with a softness he had never shown before.

“If this is really how it has to be…” he said in a low voice.

But as he was about to stand, Vania spoke again, her voice quiet yet piercing, “You could never truly touch me, Devan… because you never fully loved me.”