CHAPTER 2: BROKEN HEARTS

Lila's POV

This wasn't happening. No, Seth wouldn't do this to me. This was a nightmare,one that I would soon wake up from but then the look on his face didn't show that it was a nightmare. It was reality.

My fingers shook as I finished signing the divorce papers. I didn't want to do it but the look of pure hatred on his face told me this was a lost battle.

 I was having trouble breathing. My legs gave out under me and I staggered back barely catching myself on the chair's edge.

 The room was spinning and despite how cold it was, I felt so hot and felt like fainting.

As Chloe clung to Seth, her cool, strange laugh echoed in my ears.

“Seth, why?” I croaked.

I tried to steady my breathing as my heart thumped in my chest but nothing felt right.

This was supposed to be our anniversary, this was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives, how am I supposed to tell him that we would finally become parents?

“Seth.” My voice was shaky as I whispered.” What's going on? What is this?”

He didn't even recoil. Rather his eyes met mine with a detached expression that I hadn't seen in years.

“ I think it's time we were honest with each other, Lila .”Seth said nonchalantly as though we were talking about a business transaction rather than a nearly five-year marriage.

As if they weren't shattering my world

“ I'm in love with Chloe.” He continued and I stopped. My face was numb from the blood draining from it.

My body would not move even though I wanted to. Tears rolled down my cheeks, hot and painful.

“My cousin..Chloe is my cousin, Seth.”

I said my voice was breaking.

I turned to Chloe again but it seems like she doesn't care and it then made sense, the text she had sent me days ago.

I'm getting married this week, Coz.

So it was my Seth, my husband!

The betrayal was sharp, coming from a woman who has been in my life for as long as I can remember.

Chloe moved closer and placed a possessive hand on Seth's chest. My face felt like it was slapped by her touch.

“You're the one who’s been blind to it, Lila.”

Seth continued his tone so coldly detached. “I've been making an effort to keep this marriage going but I'm at my breaking point. “ I don't love you and I feel caged in this sham called marriage.” He said. “It’s over!.”

 His tone was so unconcerned as though the words were merely that—words.

 They were harsh and broke me in two.

But every syllable was a blade that sliced deeper into my heart with each second that went by.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to hurl the bottle of wine at the wall.

 I wanted to hold his hand and beg him to consider, to remember the promises we made to each other but the pain held me back.

My vision became blur due to the tears that filled my eyes.

“Please Seth” I pleaded, my voice hardly audible above a whisper. “It's been five years, five years of  sweet memories and promises we made to each other.”

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Chloe scoff.

At first he didn't reply. I briefly thought I caught a glimpse of something when his gaze shifted to Chloe.

 Any remaining hope I had was dashed  when he turned back to face me.

He tossed the divorce papers onto the coffee table between us.

“I’m done Lila, we have both signed.”

He said as though they were merely a last-minute idea. “I want you to also leave my house.”

Did he really just say that? I asked, grabbing the papers with shaking hands. It was unbelievable what I was holding, divorce papers.

As I skimmed the words my fingers went numb but the truth struck me like a ton of bricks.

There was another document, stating that I had to leave the house within 24 hours.

Emotions tight in my throat and my voice hardly audible I whispered.

“ You’re really doing this?. After everything we’ve been through? You’re just going to throw it all away?”

Seth ignored me entirely. His hand was cupping Chloe's cheek as he whispered something to her, his face softening as he stared at her.

My heart broke into thousands of irreplaceable pieces over and over again, they kissed like I didn't exist, like I wasn't here.

“Baby.” Chloe purred as she rested her head on his shoulder. “ Can we lodge in a hotel tonight, I can't wait to be wet for you.”

Such rhyming scheme.

I almost threw up my intestines. Chloe saw how uncomfortable I was and smiled, her eyes filled with victory.

With that same icy smile, she remarked.

“ I knew it was only a matter of time Lila. . You've always been the backup plan. Its unfortunate that you were unable to see it earlier.”

I wanted to run. This place was a nightmare that had turned into my reality and I wanted to get away from both of them as soon as possible.

But my body resisted.

 I was paralyzed by the web of heartache and betrayal. Then as if something broke inside of me. I became angry about it. It was useless for me to stand there and beg for a love that had long faded.

 I picked up my purse, my head swarming with thought and the sharp pain of being betrayed by the two people I trusted the most.

I hastily wiped my face with the back of my hand and sniffed.

I had given them enough satisfaction to see me cry.

I had to be strong for myself and my unborn child.

My world had crumbled and if anyone had told me this was the way I would lose it all,  I wouldn't have believed.

Chloe was still staring at me and she rested her head on Seth' shoulder.

I made to leave when I heard her voice again, that same voice that has been my anchor since childhood now seems to mock me.

“Did Seth tell you we have been married for a year.”

I said nothing and wasn't too surprised, I met Seth through her in college and now the betrayal was making sense.

But that wasn't all.

Seth spoke when I thought that my heart ached enough.

“ You can manage $300 can't you? to take care of yourself.”

Was he insulting me?

Fresh tears poured out and that was when I heard it, the final words that broke me into pieces.

“Chloe is carrying my child.”