A Second Chance? No way!

Chapter 2 I Want a Divorce

Orelia didn't remember how she made it back to her room; Kyle's icy gaze had consumed her thoughts completely.

She didn't sleep. Instead, she lay on the edge of the bed's sofa, waiting for him to come home so she could explain.

Time ticked by, each minute dragging on. Late into the night, Orelia's eyelids grew heavy, but Kyle never returned.

Finally, just before dawn, she heard movement downstairs.

"Kyle!" Orelia sprang from the sofa and rushed to the door. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks at the top of the stairs.

"Grandmother, I want a divorce!" Kyle's voice, laced with icy finality, cut through the silence.

"Come back here!" Zoe grabbed her grandson, her tone stern. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

She continued angrily, "I promised Orelia's grandmother you'd take care of her. You just married, and now you want a divorce? She just turned twenty—you're trying to destroy her!"

"Destroy her?" Kyle scoffed, his narrow eyes flashing coldly.

"Grandmother, Sally's child is gone! That was my older brother's bloodline! He's still in a coma, and that child was his last link to life. But Orelia's alive and well! So, tell me, who exactly is destroying whom?"

"I..." Zoe finally fell silent, words failing her.

"Back then, you took Orelia in after the Cruz family's troubles, especially since her grandmother was close to you. You raised her here. Later, if you hadn't organized our marriage, I never would have agreed to marry her."

Kyle's words held a bleak resignation, releasing every ounce of disappointment he felt about their marriage.

"If keeping her around made you happy, I would've accepted it. But now? I can't tolerate this woman as my wife any longer!"

Orelia slid down onto the floor, clutching her hand over her mouth to stifle the sobs that threatened to escape.

"Please... please, no divorce," Zoe finally spoke, biting her lip as she remembered the great-grandchild they had lost.

"Alright, here's what I'll do. I'll make sure you don't have to see her. I'll send her abroad, far away from you. Will that work?"

After a brief silence, Kyle relented. "Do what you want. I'm going to rest now."

Orelia scrambled to her feet, rushing back into her room and closing the door softly behind her.

The moment it shut, her strength evaporated, and she slid down the door, collapsing onto the floor.

"Kyle." She whispered his name, dazed. "Do you really hate me that much? In your mind, am I just a vile woman who bullies others?"

She leaned her head against the door, hearing Kyle's door close.

With that sound, her tears flowed uncontrollably, her cries muffled by her hand.

"Are you awake, Orelia?" She hastily wiped her eyes as Zoe knocked on her door again. "Are you up?"

"I am." Orelia quickly stood, drying her tears and tidying her hair.

Opening the door, she forced a smile. "Good morning, Grandmother."

Zoe examined her, noting the red, swollen eyes—a clear sign of a night spent crying.

Zoe's heart softened, but she hesitated as she remembered the previous night's events.

Zoe finally spoke, "Didn't you once say you wanted to study abroad? I'll arrange it as soon as possible."

Orelia lowered her gaze, her eyes welling up again.

"Orelia." Zoe sighed, struggling with guilt.

"You need to learn to control your temper. Sometimes, you're just too impulsive. Why did you even feel jealous of Sally? She was engaged to Benson, after all!"

Orelia opened her mouth, her throat tightening. "Grandmother, I..."

"Just pack your things." Zoe stood and glanced at Orelia.

"Do well abroad. Once you're done with your studies, I'll send someone to bring you back."

With that, Zoe turned and left, and as Orelia watched her leave, tears streaming down her face.

All it would take was checking the security footage to prove she had nothing to do with Sally's fall; the entire incident was a fabrication orchestrated by Sally.

But no one was willing to investigate. They didn't even want to hear her explanation; they judged her guilty outright.

Yet she was innocent...

Orelia pulled herself from her memories, looking down at her stomach, her lips pulling into a sorrowful smile. "Baby, what am I supposed to do now?"

They hadn't been married for even two months, and they'd shared a bed only a handful of times.

Even then, it had been rushed and impersonal.

At first, she thought Kyle was just indifferent to physical intimacy. She didn't particularly enjoy it either; it always hurt.

But now she understood that it wasn't the act itself he disliked—it was her.

Those few times were likely only because his grandmother pressured him for a grandchild.

As she thought of Zoe, her eyes brightened momentarily. She bit her lip, debating, and finally resolved to talk to Kyle.

After all, he was the child's father, and the differences in cuisine and lifestyle abroad wouldn't be ideal for her pregnancy.

At this time, Kyle was at the hospital. Sally, still recovering from her miscarriage, was under medical care.

As his elder brother's fiancée, her baby had been the only child his brother had; as Sally's main support—and as Orelia's husband—Kyle felt duty-bound to be there for her.

In order to take care of her, he even brought his work to her ward.

Orelia inquired about Sally's room on the first floor, but before she could knock, Kyle's bodyguards, Bobby and Claud, barred her from entering.

They gave her no respect. "Ma'am, please stop. You can't go in."

"Why?"

"Mr. Ludwig's orders."

Orelia looked up at them. "I won't go in. Just tell him I need to speak with him."

Claud went inside.

"No way." Kyle responded indifferently, "I don't want to see her. Tell her to pack her things and leave. I have nothing to say to her."

He felt a headache coming on. If Sally woke up and saw Orelia, she'd likely have another outburst. Better not to see her at all.

Claud turned to relay the message, but Kyle's voice carried clearly through the thin door.

By the time Claud exited, Orelia was already descending the stairs.

Whenever it involved Sally, Kyle seemed to lose all reason.

Orelia decided to wait downstairs, determined to get a chance to speak to him for her sake and for her child's.