Trapped with My Ruthless Ex-husband

“Aiden!” I breathed heavily as I snapped up in bed, reaching for my chest with one hand while the other squeezed the white silky sheets. I glanced at the cold empty side of the bed — where my husband, Aiden Wood should be. As pathetic as it sounded, a small part of me still hoped to wake up to him. But the rational part of me knew better. Aiden Wood didn’t love me, much less want me. To him, the past three years of marriage could only be described as a “suffocating torture”. No matter how much I tried or sacrificed, Aiden only pushed me farther and farther away. I thought the news of my pregnancy would bring us closer, but instead, it increased the distance between and now, he didn’t even want to see my face. My chest tightened at the thought and I grunted when pain shots up my abdomen. I suffered several sprouts of pain lately. The doctor informed me that I had a high-risk pregnancy and should avoid stress. But knowing that Aiden might be rolling in sheets with his lover could never let me rest. I threw my legs over the bed and took slow painful strides outside the room. “Yes, I know. I want to be with you too, Elena,” Aiden’s voice rang through my ears and I grinned ear to ear. He was still in the house. Did he stay tonight? Why? For me? Had the doctor’s two-hour lecture finally drilled something into his brain? Whatever this was, it gave me renewed hope. I took quick strides down the stairs, tracing his voice to the pool. When his dark curly hair came into my line of sight, I was already panting, as the pain in my abdomen increased. “Aiden,” I gasped, trying to convey how I was feeling. The dark-haired man turned to me, narrowing his eyes at me before shifting his gaze as if I repulsed him. “Why aren’t you in bed?” “I wanted to see you,” I breathed, “I woke up and I was in pain.” “So? You could have stayed in bed.” He eyed me down, walking toward me. “Or what?” His eyes searched mine as I winced. “Is this another game of yours, Emmaline?” “Game? Ah!” I yelped when he grabbed my arm. I could feel something dripping from me at this point “Aiden, I… I’m really in pain, I think… I think we should go the hos—“ “Enough of this drama!” Aiden boomed, releasing me with enough intensity to make me lose my balance and fall. A shriek escaped my lips as I collided with the ground and Aiden didn’t even spare me a glance before walking away. As dark spots appeared in my vision, Aiden’s words rang in my ears. “Yes, Elena, I’m coming. Don’t worry, she won’t keep us apart for too long…” He was leaving me. He was leaving me when I was in so much pain, just to be with her. For the past three years, I stayed by his side. I loved him. I gave up my identity and dignity for him. Yet today, he left me to die. He left me… When the black spots took over, all I could think about was how Aiden Wood — the man whom I was willing to lose everything for — had abandoned me when I was losing everything. As my eyes fluttered open, I registered two things; one, I was no longer on the cold hard floor, two, I was inside. “You are finally awake, Mrs. Woods.” Our family doctor, Anna whispered. “Yes, what am I doing here? Where is Aiden and…” My face fell as I remembered last night’s events. “The baby,” a lump grew in my throat. “How is the baby?” Anna stared at me for a few seconds before she swallowed thickly. “I think Aiden needs to be here before I—“ “He’s not coming.” I bit out painfully. “So, tell me, how is my baby? I promise, after now, I won’t do any stress, I will really pay attention—“ “You won’t have to do that, Emma.” Anna’s eyes filled with tears and I frowned. That was a good thing, right? Why was she crying? “You won’t have to do anything, because you lost the baby. You had a miscarriage last night, Emmaline.” Everything froze at that moment. People say your life flashes before your eyes when you die. Mine did when I realized I had lost my child, that too; because my lying cheating husband chose to spend another night with his lover rather than take me to the hospital. I was a fool. I stayed at his side so long, each day, coming up with a new strategy to gain his attention —To make him look at me for more than a few seconds and maybe with a little less contempt. Yet, over the years, one thing had been proven — Aiden Wood only had eyes for Elena. Now that they had taken my child, I was done. I threw my legs over the bed and brushed past Anna as she tried to stop me. I went over to the dresser and pulled out the fourth drawer. For three years I had hidden it. I had kept it in the deepest darkest places, but now, it was time to accept it. It was time to make a decision and as I pulled it out, I was sure. This was the right one. “Ma’am,” I raised my head to see a maid. “Mr. Wood is here, he’s furious and demands you come to the study.” I almost laughed. Perhaps I should have. I should have laughed maniacally. Despite showing me nothing but contempt, Aiden Wood still had expectations from me. I had to be a good wife, a good cook, and a trophy for him to show off to his business partners. I tightened my grip around the document and marched out of the room and straight for the study. “You didn’t cook.” Aiden greeted me. “Why?” He glared at me through his glasses. “I don’t owe you any explanation for anything, Mr. Wood.” Aiden, who had been glancing through papers froze, he took off his glasses and frowned at me. “Excuse me? Is it another one of your games? Playing the victim again? Because I saw Anna rushing in this morning, so what? Have you cooked up another lie to make me favor you and this child of yours?” I shook my head and smiled. “No, Aiden. Today, I have no lies. In fact, I cannot keep lying to myself.” My words were like a dagger being dug into my chest. “So, from now on, you no longer need to worry about me or the baby.” I placed the document on his table and signed it. “Why? Have you finally decided to stop playing the victim? That too, so easily?” “Actually, Mr. Wood,” I raised my head to meet his eyes. “I took it a step further,” I continued, pushing the document toward him and speaking as he read it. “I have decided to stop being your wife.” A tear rolled down my cheek as I bit back a sob. “Happy divorce day, Aiden.”