Against all obstacles

CHAPTER 1

Hayden stood behind the bed, his face emotionless, trying to take off his suit.

"Babe, I think we need to talk". Karen said gently but firmly.

"Talk about what?" Hayden blurted out. Avoiding eye contact with Karen's pitiful face.

"You think this disconnect we're having between us isn't something we should be concerned about?". Karen said, trying to find Hayden's face as he kept avoiding her eyes.

"Babe, it's been how long. Six years? I know when things aren't right. What's it about? Money? You know I can't do that right now at this point." Karen pushed forward, pushing his face to meet hers.

"Angel, I hope you know I love you, right?" Hayden says, looking straight into her eyes.

" Of course babe. And I love you too, And I'm sure you know that." Karen forces a smile, trying to ease the tension.

"I can't feel it anymore," Hayden blurts out. Turning his face from hers.

"What do you mean that you don't feel it anymore?" Karen tensed up.

"I mean this!. How long do we have to wait? Look around babe! We ain't getting younger. And you just expect me to sit here and pretend like nothing's wrong? Seriously?". Hayden said, as he was getting a little bit frustrated.

"Are you saying this to me right now? Hayden. Seriously?. Do you think I'm happy that I've not been able to give you kids? Karen said as her eyes slowly turned pink.

"You ain't happy you're right, and I ain't either." Hayden pushes away. Turning to face the window."

"You heard what the doctor said, we have to fight through this as a family. That it's common amongst women in their late 30's" Karen Leans forward. Grabbing his hands.

"Endure? Did you just say endure? For how long? A century? What the hell are you saying?" Hayden turned to her. This time, his eyes filled with rage. Turning back to face her. Grabbed her a bit tight

"Hey babe you're hurting me," Karen says as she tenses up her legs shaking.

Hayden immediately lets go, as she freezes from the shock.

" I can't believe you're saying all this to me right now" Karen finally lets her tears flow.

"You know all we have been through with all this, Hayden. You mean you are just gonna stand there and act like I'm not equally concerned about all this?"

Karen's face turns red as she can't help but let tears flow uncontrollably from her eyes.

"I've given up everything for this Hayden. You mean you're just going to treat me like this after all we've been through?"

"Here we go again. You've sacrificed everything for this. Haven't I done the same?" Hayden shoots back.

"Done what exactly, Hayden?"Karen shoots back with a rage.

"Ooh?" Hayden scoffs as he lets out a scornful smile."Listen up, woman. I don't think this is gonna work. Because I can't continue with this marriage", Karen cuts in.

Karen immediately turns cold. Hayden could hear her heat race.

"What do you mean babe?" Karen's blood ran cold as she couldn't believe what she had just heard.

"Hey! Why aren't you saying anything?." Hayden keeps trying to grab Karen's hand as she stands Frozen at a spot.

"Babe!." Karen stutters as she manages to speak

"Hey Karen, I think this is what is best for us." Hayden breaks the silence with no emotions in his voice.

"And what's that?" Karen leans forward. She tried not to look helpless but couldn't help herself.

Hayden continues. "I think we need time to figure this out?" Hayden wasn't giving her the sweet and comforting look that she was used to.

"But we can always figure it out. Can't we? We always do that right", Karen trying to ease up the coldness in his voice.

"This is different, Karen. I think we should end this. It isn't working." Hayden throws himself on the armrest rocking chair in the bedroom

"Is that why you've been that rude to me in front of Sonia? I noticed but just couldn't read in between the lines" hardens up. Her brokenness could be seen in her face as she forced herself to speak.

Hayden sits up on the chair, looking carefree and serious at the same time.

"Karen, I think you're a smart woman and you can handle this without making it more difficult than it is. It's over" he says as he leans back, and glances back at his new Patek Philippe watch.

"This is it then, isn't it? You needed the shares in the company, right? It's all you wanted, right? Is this what all this was all about? The money?"

Karen couldn't help it anymore as sorrowful tears streamed down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably in anger as she grabbed dollar bills from her purse and threw them on his body.

"Hey, don't do that", he stands up and grabs her hands gently but firmly, trying to keep her from throwing more things.

"Hayden" she sobs, her voice shaky as she manages to speak

"I built my life, my career, everything in my life around this, and you just want to throw it all away?"

"Karen, I'm positive about this. I want out", Hayden says with his face emotionless, with no hint of regret.

"Is it another woman? Are you seeing somebody else?" Karen wipes her tears with the sleeve of her Ralph Lawrence jacket.

"What do you mean? You know that I've been faithful throughout this marriage", Hayden quickly cuts in.

Karen collapsed on the bed with her face on her palms. Trying to find the right words. Trying not to sound helpless at a moment like this

Hayden's beeps.

She turned to look at it, and a w******p message popped on the screen with the message "How did she handle the news? Lol"

Karen tensed up. Looking furiously at the phone. Hayden leaped to the bed to grab his phone.

"I know that number. Who the hell is that?"

Karen yelled in shock and her voice was shaky. She couldn't believe what she saw