CHAPTER 9 – Zara’s POV
2198 Words
Zara’s POV
I wanted to confront them or even slap the woman, but my conscience stopped me. Besides, I wasn't a scandalous person. So, I lied to Enrique that Lucas received an emergency call from the office, and he couldn't join us. Enrique pouted but understood there was nothing we could do.
I took him to a fast-food restaurant popular with kids and ordered a kiddie meal for him. He seemed content, but as I watched him eat, I was guilty. I wanted to drag Lucas away from that woman but Giselle had no idea he was married.
We still went inside the toy store. Bright lights. Cheerful music. Shelves bursting with color. Enrique used to run straight to the display cars the moment we stepped in.
Today, he just walked beside me. He was quiet. His hands in his pockets. He picked up a toy robot, examined it, then placed it back carefully, like he didn’t trust himself to want anything.
“Do you like that one?” I asked gently.
He shrugged.
After ten minutes, Enrique tugged at my sleeve.
“Mom… can we just go home?”
My heart dropped. “You don’t want anything?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I’m tired.”
He wasn’t. I knew the difference between sleepy and disappointed. In that moment, something inside me hardened. Enrique didn’t lose interest in toys. He lost interest in trying to be noticed by his father.
Since Lucas was with his girlfriend, we just took a taxi back home. Enrique leaned his head against the window and he refused to say anything. When we arrived, Enrique unbuckled himself first.
“I’m going to my room,” he said softly. “I’m tired.”
He didn’t wait for a response. I watched him climb the stairs, shoulders slightly slumped, steps slower than usual. He acted like he wasn’t a child but an adult who gave up on something. I hated Lucas even more for breaking our son’s heart again!
I took a deep breath before heading to the kitchen. I planned to prepare his favorite, hoping it would cheer him up a little bit. However, while cooking, I couldn’t focus because I kept thinking about Lucas and Giselle.
Later on, I brought Enrique’s favorite snacks into his room. I stayed there until he was no longer sad.
In fact, I even spent the night with my son.
As usual, Lucas didn’t come home. Actually, he didn’t come home for several days. Normally, a wife would be calling her husband to know his whereabouts, or worrying about him, but I wasn’t a normal housewife.
One week later, Lucas finally came home. I heard the front door open while I was in the living room with Enrique. My heart reacted before my mind did.
“Dad?” Enrique whispered, already half rising from the couch.
Lucas stepped inside, looking exactly the same as the day he left. Perfect suit. Perfect composure. No sign that a week had passed without a single call meant for his son.
“Good evening,” he said, as if he had only been gone for a few hours.
Enrique stood up fully this time. “Hi, Dad.”
Lucas gave him a brief nod. A nod. Not a hug. Not even a ruffle of his hair. I waited for him to kneel in front of Enrique, to ask how school was, and to say he was sorry for that day we were in the mall. He did none of it.
“How have you been?” he asked instead, already loosening his tie, his attention drifting toward the staircase.
“Fine,” Enrique answered quietly.
The word felt too small for a child who had spent the past week pretending not to check the door every evening. Then, he walked past us.
I told myself maybe he was tired but ten minutes later, I found him in his room, pulling a file from his drawer and placing it into his briefcase.
“You’re leaving again?” I asked.
“I have work.”
“You just arrived!”
He didn’t even look at me. “I came to get something important.”
That was it.
He hadn’t come home because he missed Enrique. Then, as if I wasn’t talking to him, he went to his wardrobe and quickly changed his outfit. He wore a casual shirt and a different watch. I didn’t understand though. He said he had work but his outfit told me it wasn’t about work. Then he grabbed his car keys.
“You’re going out again?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
“I won’t be long,” he said.
He didn’t specify where. He didn’t need to. Giselle’s condominium wasn’t far from our home. I knew the route by heart, even if I had never stepped foot inside it. I knew which nights he chose her. I knew the careful way he avoided saying her name.
My lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. But sometimes I wondered if Lucas ever got tired of looking at Giselle’s perfectly sculpted face. Her lipstick never smudged. Her eyeliner never ran. Even her tears, I imagined, would fall in symmetrical lines.
She always looked ready to be photographed!
And then there was me. The contractual wife. The hidden one. The woman who stayed home and explained to a child why his father was always busy.
Lucas loved her ever since. So I just watch him walk toward the door. But for a brief second, I thought about stopping him but I restrained myself. The door shut and the house felt empty as usual.
I went to check on Enrique again. Earlier, when Lucas came home, I immediately brought Enrique to his room, lying to him that I had to speak with his father.
“Where’s Dad?” he asked.
I just smiled but didn’t respond to his question. “Come on, son. Let's go to sleep,” I told Enrique.
Fortunately, he didn’t complain. I washed him and prepared him for bed. Just like his father, Enrique loved to sleep without anything on.
As soon as his back hit the bed, he was immediately asleep. Since I couldn't sleep, I got up and went to the kitchen to get a glass of milk.
While in the kitchen, my mind wandered to Lucas and Giselle. Were they cozy on the balcony, drinking wine, and embracing each other while stargazing?
I finished my milk and then returned to my room. I thought that reading a book would help me fall asleep. My footsteps echoed in the hallway because the house was so quiet.
Then, I changed my mind. Instead of reading a book, I would just cuddle with my little boy. He was supposed to be sleeping but he suddenly talked to me.
“Mom, I'm sorry,” he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.
I turned to him and gently combed his hair with my fingers. “Sorry for what, baby?” I asked in a low voice.
“Sorry for having me. I feel like it's my fault why you have to endure Daddy's indifference to you,” he said, his tiny voice quivering.
Listening to him, I felt my breath catch in my throat. The words coming from his mouth pierced my heart. Looking into his eyes, I wondered what was going on in his little head.
“Ken, what are you talking about? It's not your fault, okay? Go to sleep now, do you want me to sing a song?” I asked gently, but then he suddenly cried.
All I could do was hug him.
I cried too, unable to stop my tears from falling. It's one thing for me to suffer, to be hurting, but not my son! Not my child!
I couldn't believe that he was hurting more than me! What had I done? Because of my unrequited love for Lucas, I had let my son suffer in silence! I had allowed him to believe that he was a worthless son!
I wiped my son's tears and spoke softly, “Enrique, listen, baby, okay? Don't ever say or think that you caused this pain. You didn't, son. In fact, maybe if you weren't here with me right now, I would be even more miserable. Baby, Mommy draws strength from you, alright? You are my only treasure. Always remember that.”
My son nodded slightly and said, “I love you, Mom.”
“Mommy loves you too. Never forget that.”
The next day, I woke up early to cook breakfast. It was just enough for the two of us as usual.
Enrique ate his pancakes with gusto. Thankfully, his appetite wasn’t affected by our conversation last night. When I looked at him, he just smiled.
“Do you want more chocolate syrup?” I asked him.
“Yes, and more strawberries, Mom.”
While he was eating, I couldn’t eat my food. I had no appetite. So, I just had a cup of my favorite coffee. Then, I called my husband’s secretary to ask something about the man I married.
Actually, it wasn’t my style to call his assistant, but it was urgent. If only I could call him personally, then it would be better. But when it comes to us, Lucas treated us like staff who had to go through his secretary.
“Hello, Mary, good day to you.”
“Oh, hi Miss Delafontaine! How can I help you?”
“Can I speak with your boss?”
“I’m sorry, but he is not yet here, Miss Delafontaine. It’s still seven in the morning, and he usually comes at eight,” Mary said on the other line.
While listening to Mary, I felt embarrassed. She was right. It was seven and yet, I called her to ask about Lucas Blackwood. She was probably laughing behind my back. But then, I have known Mary for more than six years. She was one of the few who knew the truth between me and Lucas.
“Hmmm, Mary, do you know if Lucas has any plans for his birthday?” I asked because his birthday would be next month. He never celebrated it with me or Enrique.
“Let me just check his schedule. Mmmm, he would be going to Japan with Giselle,” she informed me.
It wasn't surprising, considering they've always celebrated special occasions together. However, deep down, I had hoped he would change his plans this year and spend the day with us.
A sigh escaped my lips as I absorbed the news. I expressed my gratitude to Mary for informing me, all the while aware that Enrique, my son, was listening intently.
Antoinette's words echoed in my mind, suggesting that I should consider divorcing Lucas and pursuing a relationship with Nick.
It prompted me to send Antoinette a message, arranging to meet for coffee later.
After dropping Enrique off at school, Antoinette and I headed to the nearest coffee shop. As expected, Nick had already informed her about Lucas' actions, and she was furious. I cautioned her to keep her voice down.
“Giselle has no idea he's married to me,” I reminded Antoinette, and she snorted in agreement.
“Exactly! So why not do something about it? Slowly inform the public that he's married! You're his wife, Zara. You know what to do in this situation!” she exclaimed.
I considered her suggestion, admitting that I had several ideas. However, I hesitated, not wanting to complicate things further and cause more harm to my son, Enrique.
Antoinette offered her help, proposing to ruin Lucas' reputation with a few online posts. I declined, realizing that it would only drag my name through the mud as well.
“You're right. The only solution seems to be divorce. As for the contract, I'll tell him I'll cover the damages. I'll let you know the amount,” I replied, contemplating the thought of spending my hard-earned money for freedom.
Lucas remained unaware of the partnership I had formed with Antoinette before. I had invested my savings into our successful dessert business, which had grown exponentially over the years, with branches everywhere.
“If money can give you the freedom you deserve, then do it. Do it for yourself, Zara. Do it for Enrique. Your son doesn't deserve to suffer in that household,” Antoinette urged, reminding me of Enrique's tearful state the previous night.
“I’m going to talk to Lucas tonight,” I said, staring at the foam on my untouched latte. “About the divorce.”
Antoinette blinked once, then leaned back in her chair. “Are you serious?”
“I’ve never been more serious,” I replied but then Antoinette suddenly laughed.
“You’re done begging?” she asked.
I shook my head. “I must say that I’m done explaining to my son why his father is always not at home.”
A slow smile spread across her face, proud and approving. She raised her thumb in the air. “Finally. You have come to your senses!”
- Writer
