I want a divorce

“I think I'd stop here," she suddenly said.

Relief flash across his face.

“Why, did I say something bad?," he asked, feigning regret.

“Oh, no. I forgot I needed to get groceries." 

“Oh," he smiled. “That's totally necessary." 

Valeria nodded and faked a smile, her heart racing in her chest.

The driver pulled over and Valeria hurried down, and headed in a different direction. Not looking back until she was out of sight.

She stopped in front of a mini bar and heaved a heavy sigh of relief, before walking inside.

Meanwhile, Ivan’s driver pulled over again in front of a house that looked like an hostel.

He straightened himself, fixed his face and tied in front of the mirror before stepping down.

He strode in with a loud confidence and eagerness that was unmistakable.

As soon as he stepped into the hallway, he heard sounds, strange sounds that didn't sound right.

“Ah, yeah baby. Fuck!" 

He froze, then reduced his pace as he approached the door where the sound was coming from.

“You're so fucking big," a female voice said. “Fuck me harder." 

Ivan's soul almost left his body. He lifted his eyes to the house number and it was the exact number his mystery wife had sent to him.

“Come on, baby. Spread those legs for me," a male voice rang out.

Then he heard sounds of skins slapping against each other, moans, groans that sounded like someone was being choked.

His hands folded into a fist as he turned around and left angrily.

“Where should I take you?" The driver asked.

“Home," he replied, flatly.

He reached for his phone and dialed a number but it rang and went straight to voicemail.

“Noona, call me as soon as you get this. She's not what you preached her to be." 

He ended the message and stared out the window, anger and confusion playing on his features.

His phone buzzed with a message from his mystery wife, but he ignored it.

He scoffed. “How can she be under another man and still texting another? How loose is she?" 

Valeria arrived home to see Callista in bed with a man, stark naked, the man plunged inside her.

“Oh, my God, Callista," she screamed, covering her eyes.

They both detached from each other, scrambling to cover up.

“I'm so sorry, V. I didn't know you'd be back so early," Callista apologized.

The man hurriedly dressed up and ran out.

“You should have at least informed me you were having a guest." 

“I'm sorry," Callista breathed. “Aren't you going to see your mystery man?”

Valeria sighed. " He keeps ignoring my text.”

"Maybe he's still busy," Callista reasoned.

Valeria shook her head. “He texted to inform me he was close, and suddenly he's not responding? That's strange." 

“Don't think too much about it, I'm sure he has his reason," Callista assured.

Valeria did not sleep a wink that night, as she kept sending messages without getting a reply. Finally, she drifted into a shallow sleep.

***

The next day at work, Ivan wore a gloomy look. His smiles and grin from yesterday were gone, he hardly checked his phone, and he sounded a bit different from yesterday.

“Sir, the files from yesterday are sorted," Valeria informed.

“Cancel my schedule for today," he replied instead.

There was a brief silence.

"Everything?" 

He shot her a deadly look, those green eyes darkened like a storm. “Did I stutter?" 

Valeria shook her head.

“Absolutely not, I'll do that right away.”

Valeria turned to leave.

"What's your husband's name?” He suddenly asked, making her stop in her tracks.

She turned slowly and stared at him, confused.

Then it hit her. The only thing she knows about her mystery husband is that his grandmother calls him Treasure, but there is no way she's telling him that.

She chuckled nervously, thinking of a name to give, any name other than grandma's pet name, and definitely not her own father's name.

"Dominic," she blurted. “Dominic Ravelle." 

What? Did she just say her ex boyfriend's name?

Well, that was the only name she could think of.

He nodded slowly.

“What is it like being with him?" 

Valeria laughed inwardly. If only he knew? 

“He's…wonderful,” she lied.

He nodded again, before swirling his chair around. Valeria sensed something was wrong.

“I'm really good at listening…if you want to talk,” she dared to say.

He froze, then swirled his chair around slowly.

His dark eyes locked on her's. " Is it really obvious I have something on my mind?”

Valeria bowed. "I'm sorry if I over stepped, I just thought —”

"It's fine,” he cuts in. " You don't need to be sorry.”

He paused and assessed her again, this time with amusement. 

"I don't think I'm ready to share.”

Valeria nodded and left his office.

She reached for her phone again, and opened an unread message from her mystery husband.

Valeria froze, her heart sank, her fingers trembled around her phone.

Quickly, she typed back. >Why? Is there a problem?

>Why don't we meet and talk?

There was no response for almost an hour, then suddenly, he replied.

Valeria anticipated the close of work like she was going on a vacation.

As soon as the clock hit 6pm, Valeria was the first to leave. She didn't return to her boss's office, she didn't drop a message, she just moved.

She arrived at Huston Restaurant and walked inside, her eyes darting around like she would know him if she saw him.

“Mrs Ravelle, what are you doing here?" A voice asked.

She turned around and lungs almost forgot their work. “Mr Crest." 

He squinted. “I didn't know you came to places like this." 

“Actually….I…," she stammered. “I'm here to—" 

“Hey my love, how are you doing?" A male voice asked behind her.

She spun around and saw her worst nightmare. Her ex. Dominic Ravelle.

“I missed you so much," he said, pulling her into a hug.

Valeria laughed nervously, reluctantly reciprocating the hug.

Dominic’s eyes shifted to Ivan.

“Hi, I'm Dominic Ravelle. I'm her—"