Chapter 2

LUNA MILLER POV

...“You are still my friend and someone important to my family, but marriage is completely different, Luna. Marriage requires true love, deep understanding, and mutual connection — things that unfortunately we never really had or shared from the very beginning. We were just pushed together by fate and everyone’s expectations, but now I want to finally take full control of my own life and my own happiness. I really hope you will be understanding and cooperative regarding this matter. Don't make everything harder, messier, or more complicated than necessary.”

"Make things harder?" I repeated his words slowly, laughing bitterly as tears continuously rolled down my face. "Cedric, listen to yourself! You are the one who broke everything, you are the one who betrayed our vows, and you are the one who wants to throw our marriage away like it means absolutely nothing, yet you are acting like I am the problem here? You are telling me not to make things hard? How can you be so cruel and selfish at the same time?"

"I am just being honest with you, Luna! Isn't honesty what you always wanted from me?" Cedric raised his voice back at me, looking clearly annoyed and impatient with my reaction. "I didn't force you to marry me, and you didn't force me to marry you either! Everyone thought we were perfect, everyone thought we loved each other, and so we agreed to be together. But can you really blame me for realizing now that I was wrong? That we were never meant to be husband and wife at all?"

"Yes! I DO blame you!" I shouted loudly, finally letting all my suppressed anger and pain explode freely. My whole body was trembling violently, my heart aching so painfully I felt like I was going to pass out anytime soon. "I blame you because you knew how much I loved you! You knew I gave you everything I had, you knew I trusted you with my whole life and soul, yet you just played along and accepted everything as if you deserved it, only to throw it back in my face exactly like this! You told me you loved me! You promised you would protect me, you promised you would never hurt me... were all those words nothing but lies coming out of your mouth?"

"I never lied to you!" Cedric retorted sharply, his eyes turning darker and colder than ever before. "Back then, I honestly thought I felt that way! But feelings change, Luna! People change and grow apart, that is just the reality of life and relationships! Why are you acting like I committed a huge crime just because I realized the truth now? Why can't you just be mature and accept it gracefully instead of crying and making a scene like this every time we speak?"

"Because I LOVE YOU!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, the words tearing through my throat painfully and loudly echoing inside the huge quiet living room. "I have loved you since we were just children running around the garden together! I have loved you through all these years, through everything we experienced, every happiness and sadness we shared together! I have never stopped loving you even for one single second, even when you started treating me coldly, ignoring me, or speaking harshly to me! I always told myself you were just busy, you were just tired or stressed, you would eventually come back to me just like before... but you... you never even loved me from the start, didn't you? Everything was just a joke and game to you, wasn't it?"

Hearing my heartbreaking confession, Cedric didn't soften his expression or show even the slightest bit of guilt or remorse. He just looked at me quietly for a moment, his dark eyes completely void of any warmth or affection, before answering me calmly and ruthlessly, piercing my heart deeper and deeper with every single word he spoke.

"Loving me is your choice and your feeling, Luna," He said coldly and slowly, every word cutting through my heart like sharp glass. "But I never asked you to love me this much, nor did I promise you I would love you forever and always exactly the same way. You put me on a pedestal, you treated me like your whole world, and you gave everything to me freely... but I never forced you or demanded anything from you. You chose to do all those things yourself, and now you are blaming me just because you are not getting the same amount of affection and attention in return? That is completely unfair and selfish of you, don't you think?"

"Unfair?" I gasped in disbelief, staring at him as if he had suddenly turned into a complete stranger standing right in front of me. "You think I am being unfair and selfish? Cedric Hale, how dare you say such things to me? I am your wife! I vowed to stay by your side through sickness and health, through rich and poor, through everything life throws at us... I kept every promise I made, I was faithful, loyal, and devoted to you completely, and this is how you repay me? You treat me like I am the villain and the bad person here just because I refuse to smile and clap my hands happily while you break my heart and destroy everything we built together?"

"I am not saying you are a villain, Luna, stop twisting my words!" Cedric sighed loudly, running his hand roughly through his messy hair looking like he was the one feeling tired and annoyed by this whole situation, completely ignoring how much pain and suffering I was going through right at this moment. "I am just saying things clearly and honestly. Why do you always have to turn everything into a big dramatic tragedy? I am telling you we aren't suitable together, we don't match, and we make each other unhappy! Don't you feel suffocated too living like this? Don't you feel lonely and sad when I am never around or ignore you intentionally? I am doing this for both of our own good, Luna! If we separate now, we both get the chance to find true happiness and people who actually suit our personality and character perfectly! Why are you fighting against it so hard?"

"Because I am your wife!" I cried loudly, tears flowing freely and endlessly down my cheeks soaking my skin and clothes completely. "I am your wife legally, morally, and by promises we exchanged in front of God and everyone else! I never wanted anyone else! I never looked at any other man or thought about living my life without you in it! You were everything to me, Cedric... everything... and now you are telling me you are doing this for my own good? How can leaving me, betraying me, and throwing me away ever be considered good for me?"

"Because you deserve someone who loves you completely, someone who looks at you and thinks you are everything perfect in this world!" Cedric raised his voice again, his expression hard and unyielding. "And I am telling you honestly Luna... I CANNOT BE THAT PERSON! I tried my best! I tried so hard to feel what you feel and think the way you think, but I can't! You are kind, gentle, perfect, and good... but you just don't spark any fire or passion inside me anymore! Being with you feels like an obligation, like a heavy duty I have to carry every single day! Do you know how terrible it feels waking up every morning seeing your face beside me and feeling absolutely nothing inside my heart? Do you know how guilty and empty I feel knowing I am living a lie and pretending to be happy and loving husband when I actually feel nothing but boredom and exhaustion?"

"So you would rather hurt me deeply and destroy everything than keep pretending?" I asked softly, my voice trembling and weak as I slowly felt all my strength and energy leaving my body completely. "You would rather break my heart and ruin our marriage completely just so you can feel relieved and happy?"

"Yes," Cedric answered without even hesitating or blinking once. "Exactly! I want to be happy and free, Luna! I want to live my life according to my own wish and choice! And you are standing exactly right in my way! Every time I look at you, every time I see your sad eyes or hear your voice... I feel trapped, I feel guilty, and I feel like I am suffocating slowly day by day! I have been patient and trying hard for three years already, Luna! I have given us enough time and chances, but nothing changed and nothing got better! It is time to finally stop hurting each other and end everything properly and peacefully."

"Stop hurting each other?" I let out a painful mocking laugh, wiping roughly at my wet face angrily. "Only YOU are hurting me, Cedric! Only YOU are the one destroying everything here! I have never done or said anything to hurt you, never once in all these years, yet you are treating me like I am the source of all your pain and problems? How did I become such a huge mistake and burden in your eyes? Tell me! Tell me exactly what did I do wrong so I can finally understand!"

"You did nothing wrong Luna! That is exactly the point I have been trying to explain to you over and over again!" Cedric shouted loudly, his face flushed red and eyes burning with obvious frustration and irritation toward me. "You are perfect! Everyone says you are perfect wife, perfect daughter-in-law, perfect woman... but to me... you are just PERFECTLY BORING! You never make mistakes, you never speak loudly, you never disagree, you never show anger or temper... you are like a programmed robot doing everything exactly how people expected you to do! There is absolutely nothing exciting, special, or surprising about you anymore! Everything is always predictable and safe! How do you expect me to be attracted or interested in you forever when you are like this?"

"So being perfect and good to you is actually my mistake?" I whispered in shock and disbelief, feeling like every word he said was tearing my soul apart piece by piece slowly and painfully. "If I treated you badly, argued with you, or acted rudely... would you love me then? Is that exactly what you want?"

"I don't know and honestly... I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!" Cedric yelled angrily, completely losing his patience and temper entirely. "All I know is that I don't want you anymore! I don't want this marriage, I don't want this life, and I definitely don't want to pretend to be happy and loving husband any longer! I have decided everything already, Luna! Whether you agree or not, whether you like it or not... I am going to divorce you! I am going to marry Iris and spend my whole life happily with her! You cannot stop me and you definitely cannot change my mind anymore! So save your tears and drama because nothing you say or do will change my decision!"

After saying those absolute cruel and heartless words, Cedric didn't wait for me to reply or react anymore. He simply turned his back coldly toward me, walked straight into his private study room, and slammed the heavy wooden door loudly and violently behind him, leaving me standing completely alone, broken, and devastated in the middle of the freezing cold living room.

Bang!

The loud sound of the door slamming echoed sharply inside my ears and my heart, sounding exactly like the final conclusion and end of everything I ever had, wanted, and dreamed of for my entire life.

For a very long time, I stood motionless like a lifeless statue in the exact same spot, tears continuously flowing down my face freely and endlessly, soaking my clothes and dropping heavily onto the expensive cold marble floor beneath my bare feet. My whole body felt freezing cold, numb, and completely drained of all energy, emotions, and strength I had left inside me. The loud heavy rain outside and roaring thunder seemed to be mourning and crying together with my completely shattered heart, matching exactly the violent storm raging wildly deep inside my soul and mind.

I loved him with everything I had and everything I was. I devoted my entire youth, my heart, my soul, and my whole existence just to be the best wife and companion he could possibly wish for. I trusted him blindly, believed every promise he made, and honestly thought I would grow old and spend my entire life happily together with him forever.

But all of that... everything I treasured, cherished, and built slowly through years and years of patience, loyalty, and love... was ruthlessly thrown away, crushed, and destroyed completely within just a few minutes of cruel words spoken coldly by the man who swore before God and everyone else to protect and love me until the very end of our lives.

He said I was boring.

He said I was nothing but obligation and duty.

He said he didn't love me and never truly loved me at all.

He said he planned to divorce me immediately so he could freely marry the woman he truly loved and desired.

"Am I really that bad?" I whispered softly into the empty air, my voice hoarse, trembling, and completely broken. "Am I really so unlovable, boring, and worthless like you said, Cedric? How could you throw away everything just like that?"

Slowly, weakly, and with heavy painful steps, I walked toward the tall glass window and looked blankly outside into the dark rainy night. Everything looked pitch black and gloomy, just exactly like my current life and future right now.

People always told me I was the luckiest woman alive. They always told me how lucky I was to marry Cedric Hale, handsome, wealthy, powerful, and from such a prestigious family background. Everyone admired me, envied my life, and thought I was living the happiest, most comfortable life anyone could possibly wish for.

But right at this moment, standing inside this beautiful huge house full of luxury and wealth yet completely empty of love, warmth, and happiness... I realized clearly and painfully that I was actually the most miserable, pitiful, and unfortunate woman in this whole world. I had everything money could buy, yet I had absolutely everything that money could never buy.

I had status but no respect.

I had wealth but no freedom.

I had a husband but absolutely NO LOVE.

Just when I felt like I couldn't breathe anymore, and the pain inside my chest hurt so much I honestly wished I could just die and stop feeling everything completely, my phone suddenly rang loudly inside my handbag placed nearby.

Wiping my tears roughly and messily with the back of my trembling hands, I slowly reached out and took my phone out, looking at the bright screen lighting up in the dark silence of the room. My heart instantly skipped a beat and my breath caught painfully inside my throat seeing exactly who was calling me at this late hour in the middle of such a heavy stormy night.

Arthur Hale

Arthur was Cedric’s own paternal uncle and also the youngest brother of Cedric’s father. Even though he was technically Cedric's uncle, he was actually only five years older than Cedric himself. Despite his relatively young age compared to all elders and family members, Arthur was definitely the most powerful, respected, authoritative, and influential person inside the entire Hale family and business empire. He was incredibly smart, talented, decisive, and capable beyond imagination. Everyone clearly knew and admitted silently that Arthur was actually the person who built, expanded, and turned Hale Group into the massive powerful corporation and empire it was today. Even Cedric's own father and all older family members always listened carefully to Arthur’s opinions and decisions, treating him with extreme respect, fear, and admiration all at the same time.

I knew Arthur very well of course, having married into the family three years ago. He was always polite, gentle, and kind toward me every time we met or interacted, yet at the same time always remained mysterious, quiet, and kept a very safe respectful distance between us. He spent most of his time traveling overseas or busy handling huge international business projects, so I rarely had the chance to speak or interact personally with him for a long time.

However, every single time we met or talked, I always felt something strange and unexplainable whenever Arthur looked directly at me. His gaze was always deep, intense, and burning with emotions he always hid perfectly behind his calm composed expression. Somehow, looking into his eyes always made me feel like he understood exactly everything happening inside my heart and soul, knowing clearly every bit of pain, sadness, and loneliness I suffered silently every single day inside this house. But he always kept quiet, never interfered or said anything, strictly respecting family hierarchy and boundaries perfectly.

Why exactly was he calling me at this time? It was past one o'clock midnight after all.

Hesitantly, wiping my tears once again and taking a deep shaky breath to calm myself down, I slowly answered the call and brought the phone close to my ear.

"Hello?" I spoke softly, my voice obviously hoarse, weak, and trembling from crying heavily just moments ago.

Almost instantly, his deep calm magnetic voice came clearly through the phone speaker. His voice was low, steady, composed, and always carried a special calming effect that instantly made me feel slightly better and safer just hearing him speak.

"Luna?" Arthur called my name softly, and immediately I clearly noticed the sudden change of tone and worry clearly heard from his voice as soon as he heard mine. "Are you crying? What happened? Who hurt you?"

Hearing his gentle voice and obvious genuine concern and worry toward me, my tears instantly started flowing down uncontrollably once again. Somehow, just hearing him speak made me feel like I finally found a safe place where I could freely pour everything I felt inside me. I tried my absolute hardest to answer him calmly and properly, biting my lips hard trying my best to stop myself from crying or breaking down completely again.

"I... I am fine Uncle Arthur," I lied softly, my voice shaking and trembling completely betraying my own words. "I just... I just watched something sad on TV, that is all... please don't worry about me..."

"Don't lie to me, Luna." Arthur interrupted me gently but firmly, his voice serious and deep sounding as though he clearly knew everything already. "Do you really think I cannot tell immediately just hearing your voice? You have been crying heavily, you are trembling, and you are obviously hurting right now. Tell me exactly what happened. Did Cedric say something or do something stupid again?"

Hearing him mentioning Cedric’s name so casually yet with obvious dislike and disapproval clearly hiding underneath his tone, my heart ached even more, and fresh tears rolled uncontrollably from my eyes again. I bit my lip harder trying desperately to hold everything inside me.

"It is nothing... really Arthur... just a small misunderstanding and argument... nothing serious..."

"Nothing serious?" Arthur repeated my words slowly, his voice turning colder, sharper, and clearly angry now. "If it is nothing serious, why are you crying like this Luna? You are not the type of woman who cries easily or makes big fuss over small things, I know you very well. So tell me honestly... exactly what did he say or do to you this time?"

TO BE CONTINUED