When there is only love left

Night fell and the world outside was shrouded by a blanket of darkness. Although it was warm inside the Vega residence, I felt chilled to the bone as if I was plunged into an icy chasm. The first thing my husband, Lucian Vega, said to me after coming home from work was, “Let’s divorce.” These simple words were like a bolt from the blue and I was flabbergasted. “Why, Lucian?” Tears filled my eyes as I looked in disbelief at the man sitting on the sofa. I could not believe that the man whom I had loved for so many years suggested that we divorce on our third wedding anniversary. “I can’t do this anymore,” Lucian said and left for his bedroom, leaving me stunned and in utter disbelief. I could not understand why Lucian wanted to divorce me. I married him immediately after graduating from college and gave up my dreams of pursuing a career to become a housewife in support of his career. This was what I get in return for my sacrifice? I could not take this lying down. I remembered that I had prepared his favorite chicken soup and hurried to the kitchen. I dished out a bowl, placed it on a serving tray, and took it to the bedroom. Lucian stepped out of the bathroom just as I placed the bowl on the table. He just had a shower and was wrapped in a bath towel. Water drops ran from his hair, down his strong chest to his well defined abs, and finally onto the bath towel around his waist. He subconsciously frowned when he noticed me looking at his body. I immediately picked up the bowl of soup, walked toward him, and said softly, “Lucian, you had a long day at work. Here’s your favorite chicken soup.” Lucian was not appreciative of my efforts. He took a step back, appeared frustrated as he waved dismissively, and said, “Since when did I say that I like chicken soup? Get it out of my face!” He swung his arm in frustration and slapped the bowl from my hands. The bowl was smashed into pieces and its contents spilled all over the floor. My heart was shattered just as the bowl was. I was crushed and my eyes instantly turned red. “Lucian, have you forgotten what day it is today?” I asked as my voice quivered. He wiped his hair with the towel and asked faintly after a long delay, “What day is it?” I was barely able to hold back my emotions and tears began to flow down my cheeks. I forced myself to remain calm as I said, “Today is our third wedding anniversary.” After saying that, I hoped to see a hint of remorse in his expression and begin to coax me in regret. But it was my wishful thinking. Lucian seemed to be in a particularly bad mood today. After hearing what I said, he just nodded coldly and replied, “I see.” That’s it? That’s his reaction? I was so angry and worked up that I ignored the shards on the floor, stormed toward him, and pushed him hard onto the bed. “How can you not remember?” I yelled. I crawled onto bed and pinned his shoulders down with my hands and tried to get answers out of him. I wanted to know why he wanted a divorce. What did I do wrong? I wanted to know what I had to do to make him feel happy and satisfied. What I had to do to talk him out of a divorce? “Get off me!” Lucian grabbed my wrist with one hand to pull me off but just as he sat up, I pushed him back down again. “Lucian! It’s time for you to fulfill your spousal obligations!” I said angrily as I sat on top of him and leaned down to kiss him. However, he was always the one who initiated any s****l contact. My clumsy attempts at initiating s*x irked him even more. He pinched my chin with his free hand and said through gritted teeth, “Elena, are you crazy?” I did not care and began to touch his most sensitive part. After three years of marriage, I already knew how to arouse him. As expected, he had an immediate reaction and before I knew it, Lucian could not hold back and I found myself being spun around and our positions were instantly switched. Lucian deep dark eyes stared at me as he said sultrily, “Hmm, I didn’t expect you to be so horny today.” He was both mocking me as he was eager to ravage me. I did not want to look him in the eye again. I reached up, grabbed him by the neck, pulled him down, and kissed him passionately. The cool night breeze blew in from outside as the room raged intensely with raw erotism. The session was undoubtedly sexually satisfying for both but something was missing. Love. Once satisfied, Lucian got up without a second thought and went to take another shower, as if he was trying to get rid of whatever traces of me that was left on his body. At this time, Lucian’s cell phone, which was on the bedside table, rang. I took a look at the phone and the screen displayed that the caller was Viki Chance. My heart shuddered. Could they be... When I heard Lucian’s footsteps, I quickly put the phone back on the bedside table and pretended that I was asleep. He walked out and heard the phone ringing persistently. He walked briskly over, picked it up, and answered it as he walked out of the bedroom. “Hey, what’s up? Okay, take it easy, I’ll be right over.” Lucian said solemnly. He immediately wore his clothes, and prepared to leave. Even though I knew who the caller was and why he was going out, I could not help but ask, “Lucian, where are you going?” Lucian scoffed and said, “What? Hasn’t Mrs. Vega been satisfied?” Without waiting for my answer, he grabbed the door knob, opened it, and walked out. I fell backward and lay on the bed. Tears slid down from the corners of my eyes. To my knowledge, there was only one person who could make Lucian so anxious, and that was his ex-girlfriend, Viki. Lucian’s father felt that Viki’s family background was unworthy of him and forced them to break up. Back then, I thought that Lucian would not agree to our marriage, but I did not know how his father convinced him and he finally agreed. After the marriage, although life with him was uneventful, it had always been respectful and cordial. Lucian had always treated me well after the marriage. However, in the past year, his attitude toward me had become increasingly colder for reasons unknown to me. I had a sleepless night as I thought about our marriage the entire night. I decided to take the initiative to improve my relationship with Lucian. So, I prepared his favorite breakfast and delivered it to his office at the Vega Group. I walked toward his office and his secretary was startled when she saw me. She tried to stop me and frantically said, “Ma’am, the president is busy right now, it’s not convenient for you to go in.” I looked at the secretary sternly and opened Lucian’s office door despite her attempts to stop me. The two people inside the room heard the commotion and looked toward the door at the same time. Lucian frowned deeply and then said angrily to his secretary, “Didn’t I say that no one can come in, no matter who it is?” I knew that this statement was directed toward me as well. “Is Mr. Vega afraid that others find out about your marital affairs?” I said sarcastically and looked at the terrified Viki. “Elena, it’s not what you think. I just accidentally fell and hurt myself yesterday. I didn’t want to go to the hospital and Lucian just brought me to the company to rest because he has a sofa in his office...” The more she tried to explain, the softer her voice was, as if she realized how ridiculous her excuses were. “Ms. Chance, don’t you know that Lucian is married? Don’t you know how to keep your distance from married men?” I could not control my anger the moment I saw Viki behaving so intimately with my husband. However, Lucian was very protective of Viki and would not allow the slightest aggression against Viki. As soon as I asserted myself, he stood up and walked in front of me, placing himself between Viki and me. “Elena, don’t be ridiculous and make a scene here! Now go back immediately.” He demanded. “I’m being ridiculous? You’re my husband and you’re having a private session here with your ex-girlfriend!” I glared at him. Lucian took a deep breath and asked, “What do you want?” “What do I want? Isn’t it time for you to explain yourself?” I took a few steps toward them and pointed my hand at Viki. “How dare you bring her here to your office? Have you considered what would happen to the company if you were caught by the tabloids? What if the stock price is affected? How will you explain to your father?” Lucian’s expression instantly changed when he heard what I said. It was as if I had touched a raw nerve. He stormed toward me, reached out and grabbed me by the neck as Viki gasped. “How dare you threaten me?!” he growled. I slapped my hands haphazardly against Lucian’s chest as he choked me to the point that I almost blacked out. Lucian threw me to the ground like a piece of trash and said to me in disgust, “Divorce and you don’t have to see these again.” I looked at Lucian incredulously as he threatened me with divorce again. Each time he used that word, it felt like a dagger had been plunged into my heart. Lucian calmly ordered his assistant to take me away. He must be insisting on the divorce because of Viki. I struggled to stand up, and I was dragged out by the assistant before I could say another word. I stared at the two people in the office and saw Viki smiling smugly as if she was victorious in the confrontation. After I left the company, I walked down the road in a daze, not knowing where I was walking to. Did Lucian want a divorce because of Viki or was it because he no longer had any feelings for me? My heart felt as if it was being crushed by a giant’s hand. I did not know how long I walked but I suddenly blacked out and collapsed to the ground. When I opened my eyes and regained consciousness, I was greeted with the pungent smell of medical-grade disinfectant. A nurse said to me, “You’re lucky that good Samaritans sent you here. Don’t you know how dangerous it is for you to walk alone in the hot sun when you’re pregnant?” I was pregnant? I frantically grabbed the nurse’s hand and before I could say anything, the nurse patted my hand and said assuringly, “Yes, Miss, you are pregnant. It’s been almost three months.” After a series of tests, I was confirmed to be fine and I left the hospital on my own. I had mixed feelings about the pregnancy. I was so happy that I finally would have a baby but then I was gripped with uncertainty due to Lucian’s insistence to divorce me. When I got home, I decided to call Lucian to come home so that I could tell him about the pregnancy in person. Lucian did not answer the phone so I sent him a text message. I waited from 7 p.m. to midnight but Lucian still had not come home. I could not resist anymore and called him. The call was answered after several rings. “Hello,” said a sweet soft voice of a lady.