Chapter 2
1287 Words
A feeling of helplessness settled on Micheal's like a heavy damp cloak as he looked at his obstinate wife. What should he tell her? The truth. He didn't think it was time.
Micheal let out a groan and frowned. “I can't tell you Soléne.”
Soléne's lips parted open in surprise. Even the threat of divorce couldn't get him to talk. Was whatever he was doing that precious he wanted to protect it from her? Was she that precious? Jealousy took over the blood in Soléne's veins, running hot and pumping wild.
“You love her that much? Then why are you married to me?”
Micheal's frown got even more twisted in confusion as he mulled over Soléne's words for a second. “Huh?”
“Why don't you leave and never come back?” Soléne took a step forward. “I'd rather not be shared. She can have you for all I care but not a dime more of my money will be spent on some faceless woman my husband will rather spend days with!”
Soléne made to walk past him, angry and hurting, but Micheal caught her wrist and with the strength still active in his upper body stopped her from moving forward.
“What are you talking about Soléne? Whomat woman?”
“Don't lie to me!” Soléne flinched and screamed, her voice breaking. She was on the brink of tears, her lips were quivering and she hated it. She hated appearing weak, not in front of her family who didn't respect her and certainly not in front of a cheating husband. She sniffed in and turned away, walking to the bed because she wasn't sure her shaky legs could carry her out of her bedroom before crumbling.
Micheal saw the unmistakable sheen of tears in her eyes before she turned away and as soon as she lowered herself onto the bed, he heard sob sounds. He wheeled himself around, aided by a distraught Jonathan, to see Soléne bury her face in her palms and started to cry.
“Soléne. I don't understand what you're talking about.” He tried to console her.
Soléne looked up, her eyes blazing with wrath. “Don't you dare play dumb Micheal. I've heard the rumours and I didn't want to believe it was true but come to think of it. Your reluctance to tell me and the sudden disappearance of money? What else could be the narrative?”
“You think I'm cheating on you?”
“I think you have a woman and kids out there that you cherish.” Soléne threw her head back and laughed bitterly. “Why else would you stay away the me if not for the money? We never loved each other in the first place, am I not right?”
“Soléne–”
“This marital setup was all out of convenience right from the start. You used to be a man of influence and somehow my grandmother made me believe that would help the company. I was a sucker trying to earn love from her and so I agreed to marry you. You were grateful to our company's hospital and saw me as a means to an end.”
“That's not true Soléne. I never saw you as—”
“You were trying to secure a bright future for yourself and your other family knowing that you can't do much in your disabled state. And I have been a generous fool all along!”
“Soléne, would you just listen to me!”
“Don't yell at me!” Soléne drew in a shaky breath, jerking up to her feet. She started to pace the length of the bed, shaking her head as she went back and forth. “Everything I've built with my head has been stolen away from me. Hastings Global AI tech was solely my idea, it's growth watered by my tears and fed with my effort. All for it to be gifted to my brother and while I'm till dealing with that, I discover that the one person that's supposed to be my advantage is cheating on me.”
Soléne laughed again and sobbed. “Unbelievable.”
“I wish you wouldn't think that of me dear.”
“Why did I think you wouldn't be someone else after you got out of the hospital?” Soléne was talking more to herself now. “For all I know, your family could be in Europe. Aren't you miltiary people good at keeping things hidden? God I've been a fool. I'm the greatest fool.” She continued to rant and Micheal could only wirthe in his chair in pain and anger.
He had only her. There's was other woman or family somewhere. He'd never do that to her. But how could he convince her when he couldn't give her the one thing she was asking for. The truth.
“Soléne, I'm your husband and no one else's. I swear that on everything I hold dear to. I don't have a hidden family. Don't believe what you hear.”
“What of what you're making me believe?”
“I'm not trying to make you believe anything. I know you want an explanation to you but I'd rather not give it than lie to you.” Micheal moved closer when Soléne stopped pacing. She seemed to have calmed down a bit but the glare in her eyes was still scary.
He looked up at her, his eyes filled with emotion as he took her hands in his. “You must trust me Soléne. It's all I ask of you.”
Soléne scoffed and moved away, leaving Micheal's hands cold. “If you were in my shoes, would you trust a man you can't depend on for anything?” She asked and with the chill in her voice, Micheal wished she had yelled at him instead. He didn't like how dead she sounded. Like she's given up on him and his heart clenched and unclenched in painful fits as he tried to bit back the tears welling up in him.
Soléne moved to her vanity and pulled out a drawer, dipping her hand into it. She brought out a silver necklace with a single rectangular bar. There was some letters carved into it but she didn't know what they mean. She ran a hand over the smooth surface, breaking into a sob.
“Did I think you could be like him? A hero?”
Micheal frowned from where he was. Jonathan was standing in a corner watching the both of them from a safe distance. He didn't want to be in the middle of heir quarrel. Soléne's back was turned to Micheal so he couldn't tell what she was doing but she told around, holding a silver necklace in her hand.
“Did I think you could be like the hero who ran through bullets to save one girl lost in a camp?” She scoffed. “Like the hero who had saved me?”
Micheal stared at the necklace, eyes widening with every second.
“Despite it was only for a few minutes, I had felt loved and utterly cared for without competing for it. I was stupid to think you could be anything close simply because you were in the military too.”
Soléne spoke but Micheal couldn't hear her words. All he saw was that day, the raised dusts, bullets piercing objects, scurrying soldiers and a lady screaming for help.
She was her.
Those three words couldn't stop ringing in Micheal's ears the longer he stared at the necklace in her hand.
Soléne was the woman he had rescued.
- Writer
