Chapter3
1069 Words
Divorce Papers
Ariana's POV
I woke up to a new day. The sky outside was the color of Lilian's regal dress and I suddenly felt an uncomfortable feeling at the back of my throat.
Ethan hadn't come home last night so I thought he slept in one of those innumerable suites he had all over New York city. Why waste that money? Just because you had enough? Maybe I should just get myself a vibrator.
I washed my face and brushed my teeth. Then I went downstairs. The first place I headed was the garden. Had to smell the flowers just to feel fine. It had become an habit.
Suddenly, I heard laughter from inside the house. It definitely wasn't Lilian and I had never heard one of the helps laugh that loud when she was around. So who was it?
I went back in and headed for the living room. No one. Then I faced the dining. There was someone there. I had never met her before. But the fact that she was wearing something identical to what I owned, and sitting in the chair I always used, made me feel... uneasy.
She was staring into her phone.
"Who are you?" I asked.
She held up a finger, typed a message, then looked up at me. "Yes, you said?"
"Who are you?" I repeated.
She smiled. It wasn't a friendly one. "Ethan didn't tell you about me?"
"No."
"Seems like he always keeps you in the dark, doesn't he?"
"Why the hell are you in my house?" I raised my voice.
"Because this is my house now!"
"What?"
"You heard me." She looked vicious. "Ethan and I, well we used to be lovers, fiery ones. And the things we did to each other in bed, would make you salivate. Because from the look of things, you haven't been getting any of his c**k of late."
The insult burned through me like a sparkler. I turned my back on her. Maybe I was dreaming. This wasn't happening. Ethan wouldn't do a thing like this. We had only been married for a month. What the hell was this?
I walked back to our room, hearing her mocking cackle follow me. I dialed Ethan's number and he picked up.
"Why are you calling me? I'm playing tennis now."
I walked to the window and pulled the curtains. There was a tennis court in the estate and I could see his trainer in whites but no sign of Ethan Allen.
"Why I should be calling you doesn't demand a reason since I'm married to you, Ethan."
"What is it?"
"Who the hell is the woman in the house?"
"That's Vanessa Williams."
"Why is she here, Ethan?"
"Business," he said curtly.
"Business? Ethan it didn't sound like business when she talked to me."
"Ignore her."
"Ignore her? Ethan I can't do that. She talked as if it didn't matter that I am married to you. Is it true you dated her?"
"It is."
"And you thought bringing your ex into your home without talking to your wife was a splendid idea?"
"Like I said. It is business. Spur of the moment."
"What kind of business?"
"We'll talk about that later. I have to go.."
"Ethan wait.." But he hung up anyway. I exhaled in frustration. Lilian first, now I had to handle some prideful ex?
I told myself that there's no way I was going to cook for that b***h. Where the hell was father when you needed him?
**
It was surprising how Lilian and Vanessa got along that day. Felt like they were long lost friends. The laughter and the smiles, those I never got from my mother in law. I wondered if she knew anything about their old relationship.
Charles came around in the afternoon and I dumped my baggage on him.
"But Ethan said it's business, right?"
"So?"
"So he won't cheat on you with her under the same roof, my dear."
"I'm surprised you're saying this, dad. You should be on my side here, regardless of the fact that Ethan is your employer."
"A lot of people are curious about your husband, my dear. And if they had any proof that he was a Casanova, it would have made headlines already. I think you should keep a calm head and take his word."
"You are asking me to keep calm? Dad, my marriage is on the line here. Why would a man bring his ex under the same roof he is staying with his wife for business? Couldn't he have put her in one of his suites?"
Charles rubbed his right brow. I could tell he had no answer to that. So I said, "Just forget it."
The remaining days were snake like. Vanessa kept shedding her skin and revealing more of her personality to me. In fact, it didn't seem as if she was there on business. It felt like she had forced her way back into his life.
As his wife, I felt obligated to fight. To keep my marriage intact. But it was only a marriage of convenience and I had nothing, no social standing. Who the hell would listen to me anyway?
A substantial amount of money had been given to my father just after I signed the documents. Our wedding had been a silent affair. I didn't see much of the sou and I really didn't care. I did it for family and I was content with being Ethan's wife.
But I didn't feel that way anymore.
Something snapped in my face. I came back from my daydream to see Vanessa standing over me with a glare.
"What are you still doing in this house? You don't belong here. You should leave. His mother thinks you're beneath this family. But guess what she thinks of me."
I got to my feet. "Is this the business Ethan claims you're here for?"
"Ethan can tell you whatever he likes. Business is business."
I seemed to have a clear understanding of what that business meant. Saying nothing, I went to our room, picked up my phone and browsed through a list of names.
The next day, while they were at breakfast, I dumped the papers in front of him.
"What is this?" he demanded, face squeezed up.
"Why don't you see for yourself?" I said.
He picked it up and read through. "You want a divorce?"
- Writer
