Molly’s POV…
Ding-Dong…
The doorbell sounds loud in this quiet house and successfully brings me back to reality. I stop unpacking my bag and leave the room to greet the person I have been expecting for the past half an hour.
My legs freeze right in front of the stairs as I look at the tall man entering the hall and handing his suit jacket to the butler.
His eyes were on me.
I am quite familiar with his cold stare, which he always gives me even after we meet each other three years later.
Yes, I, Molly Sanders, returned home three years later. The person standing like an arrogant mountain in the hall is my husband, Lance Stevens, the CEO of the Stevens Group.
He is good-looking with his sharp nose and angular jaw as if a craftsman had carved his face carefully. His grey eyes are sparkling, still creating effects in my tummy.
I keep my gaze fixed on him and subconsciously place my hand on my stomach. My heartbeat is audible in my ears. How can he still have such an impact on me? I don't love him anymore, do I?
‘Control… I am here to end this marriage,’ I remind myself.
He is still staring at me intently as if attempting to read my mind. It’s… uncomfortable.
I sigh inwardly and walk down the stairs. I wanted to greet him, but he just turned around and began to unbutton his sleeves and roll them up to his elbows.
I look at his broad back, not knowing what to say. This man is too apathetic towards me. He doesn’t even consider asking how I am doing. Has he forgotten that I am still his wife?
‘Well, why would he care for me?’ I mutter in my head.
I make myself stern and say, "Lance, let’s get a divorce."
He turns around frantically and scowls at me. The wrinkles on his brow tell me that he is angry.
‘Why?’ I ask myself, puzzled. I am not aware that my eyebrows crease too.
I cannot figure out why he is upset. This is what he wants. That was why he asked me to come back. Shouldn’t he be happy that I asked for a divorce up front?
I shuffle back a step unconsciously when he takes a step toward me. His eyes are colder than ever.
Ring-Ting-Ting…
He was about to say something, but the phone call interrupted him.
I notice the name "Ruby" blinking on the screen when he pulls out the phone from his pocket and checks it. I glance at him. Trust me, there is no coldness in his eyes. This is not surprising to me, though.
Ruby is the woman in his heart… always.
I turn aside, trying to keep my tears at bay.
"Hello…"
Wow! His voice is so gentle. I don’t remember him talking to me in such a gentle and loving tone. I am now more determined than ever to end this loveless marriage.
"Don’t think too much," he continues with the same soft tone. "Okay… I will be there. Yes, I will try."
Lance has not changed at all. I have known him since I was a child. I had a huge crush on him and wanted to marry him. My dreams came true when the Stevens family elders proposed marriage to me. I readily agreed, expecting him to fall in love with me. How wrong I was.
He broke me completely. It was too late to regret it. To avoid further humiliation, I went to Boston for my further studies.
I thought he would start missing me once I distanced myself from him. I proved wrong again.
He is still cold and distant towards me.
I still remember the phone call a few days ago.
He informed me that Ruby had been diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer and would not live long. She wanted to marry Lance as her last wish.
‘Humph…’
I taste a bitter tang in my mouth.
Well, I am here to end this marriage. It still hurts my heart and I want to cry. But I managed to hold my tears back. It is useless to cry over someone who doesn’t care about me. Crying won’t change his mind. It is better if I bless them and move on.
I feel the tears putting pressure behind my eyeballs.
"Are you sure about the divorce?" His cold, deep voice breaks my trance.
I blink the tears away and turn to him. "Yes." I try to sound confident, hiding the agony in my heart.
"Fine," he squeaks through his gritted teeth, and I frown with him.
I don’t know why he seems so upset. Honestly, I don’t care. I walk back to my room.
"I am meeting Rose tomorrow, and you are accompanying me."
As soon as those words fall into my ears, I pause and stiffen. He is not asking me, but commanding me to go with him. This pisses me off.
"I am not going anywhere," I retort and turn to him.
I can tell he is getting angrier when I catch a glimpse of his trembling fingers that he soon rolls into balls. I want to swallow, but I continue to look at him sternly.
"Her condition is not good," he grumbled, gnashing his teeth. "I can't afford to make her unhappy. I told you about her last wish, but she doesn’t want to destroy our marriage. I don’t want her to feel guilty. Just let her know that you are ready to move on."
He actually wants me to ensure his girlfriend that I don’t want to stay in this marriage.
It is ridiculous.
I sneer inwardly but say nothing. Only my eyes have become sharper.
"Don’t you want a divorce?" he grunted out. "Accompany me if you want to set yourself free from this marriage."
I have no intention of meeting with Ruby. But I change my mind when I see him smirking.
Wow! He is doing this deliberately. Why will I give him pleasure?
"Alright. I will go with you."
I walk straight into my room. The moment I came in and closed the door, I couldn’t hold my tears back. It really hurts. The pain is the same even after three years.
Tring-Tring…
I have to stop crying when my phone starts to ring. I take my phone from my purse and check it.
It’s Julia, my bestie. I desperately need someone to divert my attention, and she calls at just the right time.
I wipe my tears and answer the call, "Hey, I am back."
"Uh… huh… Why do you sound so stuffy? Did you cry?"
Julia knows me so well.
I bit my bottom lip to stifle a sob.
"That scumbag, Lance. How cruel he is! Can’t he see how much you adore him? You have done so much for him all those years, but he sees only Ruby. You stayed beside him whenever he was sick and prayed for him when he was cracking his exams. Yet, he has only Ruby in his heart."
I sigh and murmur, "Enough Julia. It’s over now. I am getting a divorce."
"Why?" Julia whines. "You love him so much. Tell him."
"It’s pointless," I sigh helplessly. "Honestly, I am tired. I just want to stay away from him and Ruby. I have no expectations or hope from this relationship."
"Oh, sweetheart. I am always there for you. Forget about him. He doesn’t deserve you with a golden heart. A pretentious Rubi is a good match for a scumbag like him. Let’s meet and have fun."
"Of course."
I end the call and drag myself into the bathroom.
I take a quick shower and come out of the bathroom. I pull out my pajamas from my suitcase. Just as I am about to change my clothes, I hear a knock on the door.
‘Who has come now?’ I wonder and look at the door.
