Second Change: Unveiling Secrets

Full of Deception

"No. I never loved her, not even once."

"Yeah, I figured as much, but it still hurts to accept this reality," Ivana thought as she replayed the recording of Arsen's confession over and over again. His sharp words crashed against her heart like relentless waves, refusing to recede.

Behind the locked door, Ivana felt as though the world was spinning around her while she remained trapped in an endless abyss of pain. She just wanted to be alone—to process everything that had happened. The love she had believed in shattered in an instant, all because of one disappointing truth.

Her empty gaze pierced through the glass window, looking at the blurred streets outside, where the liveliness and happiness of others formed a heartbreaking contrast to her solitude. Tears started to fall slowly. She had no idea how to overcome this pain and wondered if all of it was truly worth fighting for or if it would be better to forget everything and move on, leaving behind the illusion of love.

Every second felt like an eternity as her mind raced to find meaning in all of this, but it always led her back to the same bitter conclusion—love was not always as beautiful as she had imagined.

Ivana still remembered vividly the sweet memories she had shared with Arsen throughout their two years of marriage. Arsen, the caring and understanding husband, had always seemed like the perfect life partner.

Whenever Ivana cooked anything, whether it was a simple dish or a new experiment in the kitchen, Arsen would eat it eagerly, as if every bite was the most delicious meal in the world. He never complained, even when the food was bland or too salty. He always responded with a warm, genuine smile, showing his appreciation for her efforts.

Almost every night, Arsen would embrace her, gently patting her arm as if lulling her to sleep.

One of the most unforgettable moments was when she had a meeting outside the office. Suddenly, a heavy downpour began, and Ivana had parked her car quite far from the building.

She felt a bit worried, but as she stepped out of the restaurant, she saw Arsen standing in the rain with a black umbrella. Her heart swelled with emotion at the sight of him. He looked so dashing, and with a broad smile, he said, "I don’t want my wife to get sick. I will always be here to protect you, even from this heavy rain."

His sincere words had filled her with happiness, even if they sounded a little dramatic. But at that moment, it didn’t matter. She had felt lucky to have a husband like Arsen—someone who was always ready to protect and love her.

But now, Ivana realized it had all been a deception. Arsen had merely been playing tricks to win her heart.

The shock and devastation overwhelmed her, and her body collapsed onto the floor. All the hopes and dreams she had once held—perhaps even still carried in her heart—were crushed in an instant.

In her broken state, she could do nothing but sit there, her head lowered, clenching her fingers tightly as if seeking strength from within herself that was slowly fading away.

Tears streamed down her face, her sobs muffled, soaking the cold surface where she leaned. It was as if the tears were washing away every trace of the happiness that once existed. A deep and unbearable pain spread through every corner of her soul, leaving only one haunting question in her mind: How could someone she had trusted for two years be nothing more than a web of lies and deceit?

Ivana couldn’t fathom the depth of this betrayal. Behind Arsen’s sweet smiles had lurked hidden motives and schemes that had nothing to do with true love. With a shattered heart and a storm of thoughts, Ivana realized how naive she had been—loving someone who had never truly loved her in return.

Now, in the midst of indescribable sorrow, she had no choice but to fight her way out of the despair left behind by a man who was nothing more than an illusion in her life.

"Hikzz…" Ivana covered her mouth, crying soundlessly, her body trembling violently. The pain felt as if she were being stabbed repeatedly in the heart without mercy.

Outside the room, Ana tried to peek inside, but she couldn’t see anything. She noticed the door was locked from within.

"Something’s wrong," Ana murmured thoughtfully. Just then, her phone rang, and Arsen’s name appeared on the screen.

Quickly, Ana stood up and searched for a private spot.

"Hello, Ana. Has Ivana returned to the office?" Arsen asked from the other end.

"Yes, Sir. But something seems off," Ana reported as she walked toward the pantry, avoiding anyone who might overhear their conversation.

"What do you mean by ‘off’?" Arsen asked.

"When Mrs. Ivana arrived earlier, her face was pale, like she was unwell. She walked as if she were floating, and her eyes were empty. She didn’t give me any instructions or ask anything. She just went straight into her office and locked the door."

"Locked?" Arsen’s voice sounded surprised.

"Yes, Sir. By the way, where are you right now?" Ana asked carefully.

"I’m at the headquarters. Dolly came to the office earlier. That woman is unbelievably persistent," Arsen muttered.

"Dolly came? What did she want?" Ana wondered aloud.

"I have no idea. Ana, let me know if Ivana leaves the office," Arsen instructed.

"Understood, Sir."

Arsenio entered the bedroom, removing his suit jacket. He saw Ivana standing by the window, her arms crossed over her chest, staring out into the night.

Arsen walked closer and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "What have you been doing all day, my love? I heard you went out again," he whispered.

Ivana, feeling disgusted and repulsed, pulled away, breaking his embrace. Arsen frowned in confusion.

"What’s wrong?" he asked.

"You once asked me for a reasonable explanation as to why I wanted a divorce, right?" Ivana said, her eyes red and filled with sorrow. Arsen stood still, his gaze filled with uncertainty.

"Listen to this." Ivana played the recording of his conversation with that woman. She watched as Arsen’s expression changed to one of shock.

"This reason should be enough, shouldn’t it?" Ivana asked, locking eyes with him as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I don’t know what your true intentions are. I don’t even know how much you planned to destroy me. I have no idea what I did wrong because, as far as I remember, I never did anything you didn’t like," Ivana said as tears continued to fall.

"Arsen, your plan to break me has succeeded. I am completely shattered now. Please, put an end to this. Stop deceiving me," she sobbed, lowering her head.

"I don’t know if I can hate you for this. But what I do know is that, even now, despite everything, I still love you, Arsen. I still love you so much." Her voice was barely above a whisper, her tears cascading down her face, carrying the weight of a heartbreak beyond words.