EX-HUSBAND'S REGRET (Chasing Billionaire Wife)

Chapter 001 Elara’s POV “Happy birthday, darling” I smiled as I set the cake I had personally baked for my husband, Eiran. No response. I continued smiling as I laid down the meals I also personally prepared on the table for our dinner. I had asked the cook to sit this one out as I wanted to prepare the meals for my husband today. Today was his day, his birthday, and I wanted to be personally responsible for his enjoyment and happiness. But he obviously didn’t give a damn about mine. “Happy birthday, darling” I greeted him again. But he didn’t even look at me. He simply dug into his food, ate what he wanted and stood up in less than five minutes, leaving the rest of my efforts on the table wasted. I fought to hold back my tears as he left the house to God-knows-where. He doesn’t even tell me his whereabouts anymore. I sniffled and wiped my eyes. Surely, he at least could tell me thank you for the watch and accessories I bought for him. “Don’t tell me he didn’t…” I muttered to myself as I ran to his room. I opened the door and it greeted me like a blow to my face. There on the side table, sitting comfortably, completely unopened and untouched was the gift box wrapped in blue. It was in the exact same position as I had kept it last night. He saw it in the morning and didn't touch it. My heart stung. I felt my legs give away as I fell to the ground, shuddering, my eyes giving way to the flood of tears I had forced them to hold back. “Why? Why is all this happening to me?” I sobbed, clasping my hands over my face. This has been my life for the past two years. Every day for the past two years, I’ve been living with a shadow of the man who once used to be my husband. In the past, before he left the house, he would let me know where he was going and even share his location with me. Now he left without even looking at me or saying a word to me. He refuses to acknowledge my presence or even engage in a conversation with me. When I initiate the conversation, he ignores me and never listens to my pleas. The only time he speaks to me is when he wants to impose a law or force me to do something. "No more late nights for you!" "No more inviting your friends over!" "No more going out without my permission!" It was all no more this, no more that. And never anything about my thoughts or feelings. My life is literally a broken mirror of what it used to be. Every minute and second that passes, I’m constantly reminded of how blissful our lives and love were two years ago before this all began. I was not even into him back then. Our marriage was not one of love and bliss either when we got married. It was a contract marriage signed between him and my father. My opinion was not even considered at all. My father was involved in a business partnership with Eiran and when he couldn’t fulfill his end of the deal, Eiran proposed a marriage deal. I was offered to him for a year but before the year was over, we fell in love. So I stayed with him. The next year was full of bliss, and many romantic adventures and memories. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me, Elara. You're my shining star. You're my beacon of hope" My chest tightened as I remembered the words he said to me on a beach during one of our vacations. It stung me right now to remember all his affirmations of love. I was in every aspect of his life, including his businesses. We were in tune with each other, sharing business ideas, attending meetings together. It was after one of such meetings that our problems first reared its ugly head. He had come back that day looking dejected and down. And that was the first time he didn’t answer my greetings. I saw the signs. I saw the damn signs and chose to ignore. I saw it all, the silent withdrawals, the reluctance to tell me how his day went and what happened in his life and businesses. He never explained or apologized for ignoring me. And I chose not to ask. Because he slept with me that night. As he made love to me, he told me how lucky he was to have me and how I was the world to him. But the next morning, he was back to being a stranger. Then he repeated the previous night’s love making session. It happened again the next day. And the next. And the following days and nights. And I enjoyed the nights so I overlooked everything else. I felt that as long as he came home and made love to me, it would always be fine. How wrong I was! Before long, the lovemaking and romantic nights stopped. It all happened so fast and before I knew what happened, we were speeding downhill. He stopped sleeping in the same room as me. It was like he completely avoided me like a plague. Golf was he new wife as that was the only thing he paid full attention and dedication to. There was never any time for me but always more than enough time for golf. Sometimes he would even come late in his gear. And even though I didn't want to admit it, I believed I knew the reason. I believed I knew why he suddenly changed and had less interest in me. We had always talked about children and we wanted kids of our own. Yet for some reason, I wasn't able to take in and give birth. We tried several tests and different hospitals, all the best and most expensive in the country and the results were all the same. Nothing was wrong with either of us. Yet, for some reason, I wasn't able to give birth three years into our marriage. And it was around that time that the change in attitude began. "You look like a mess" I heard a cold voice and looked up, my eyes widening to see him. Eiran was already back. I struggled to stand up, immediately hating myself for looking so miserable in front of him. "Welcome back, honey. Sorry, I just felt tired and decided to rest here" I said the first stupid line that came to my head. He ignored my greeting and my wack attempt at a defence and simply walked into his room, shutting the door behind him. "Get dressed and clean yourself up. We're going for a gala" he said from behind the door.