NOT ANOTHER CHRISTMAS LOVE STORY

CHAPTERONE

I never thought the day would come when I would call myself a divorcee. My mum is probably turning in her grave at this point, but I could care less. I hated how he treated me these past four years, and most importantly, I hated myself for letting him.

Aaron and I have been together for seventeen years but married for ten years. He was the sweetest person I had ever met, and everyone was so jealous about what we had. We were high school sweethearts, so young and in love. I wish I knew better.

The lights and flashes from the cameras outside my tinted windows drew closer, and I knew it was time. I opened the compartment and pulled out a pair of sunglasses I kept for emergencies and pulled another out for my sleeping boy in the back seat. We have had a long day, and all I needed was a warm bath.

It was a struggle to get past the reporters, but thankfully the security guards were on ground to help me clear the path to the house, which would soon no longer be mine.

It was a duplex building, with a light cream color, and a black automated gate. Toby stirred in his sleep, as I rang the doorbell. The help rushed to take him off me, and I slumped onto the sofa, kicking my shoes off one after the other.

I hate him so much!

I hate what he has made my life become, and how he's out and about gallivanting like he's a Saint, and I am the bad guy. When did we get to this? I walked up to the mini bar and poured myself a glass of whiskey. The burn in my throat brought me back to reality, and I poured more into the cup.

Aaron and I were in the final stages of our divorce, and it felt like we were not progressing at all. When I thought we were one step forward, Aaron took us back to square one. I ran my hands in my hair and pulled it out in frustration. This man was killing me. He had a hold over me and wasn't afraid to use it at all.

The doorbell rang, and his familiar voice filled the room. I sighed in anger and moved to pick up my shoes when he stopped me. He lifted them, examined the soles and said. “You need some new shoes, stop by the store, and pick up something with your access card”. I grunted in response and snatched the shoes from him.

“Stop acting like I am irritating Jules, we can still be civil with each other. Divorce is not the end of us, and besides we have a son with each other”. I gave him a fake smile and walked up the stairs. Tonight already looked draining, and the more time I spent with the man, the more my energy seemed to drain.

He was like a parasite, feasting on my strength, and replacing positive energy with a negative one. I ignored him and continued on my way but he was persistent. Aaron was the man that always got what he wanted, he didn't care how it happened, all that mattered was that he got it. That was how we became lovers, his persistence.

My parents were never fond of him and his motorcycle in high school. They were of the notion that motorbike kids were the worst of all. They were right, but I never acknowledged it. I was so sure he was the one, and I wanted to prove them wrong, but they died. I married him two years later, then his business kicked off, and the man I married became a different person.

I walked past Toby's room, he was already seated in the small workspace I created for him to do his homework. He looked peaceful and paid apt attention to his nanny. I wish I could take her with me as well. I heaved a sigh at the thought. When the divorce was over, I was going to receive half of what Aaron owned, and it was the last thing I wanted, but Toby needed it.

“Mama” he called out and waved to me. I blew him a kiss, hugged him and left him to concentrate. He was about a year old when Aaron's behavior started to show, but he was still too young to understand what was happening.

I slipped into the warm bath I had run for myself when I got to my room. I moved out of our room the moment I realized I was never the problem some weeks ago, and filed for a divorce. In my own home, I was treated like filth, with no remorse whatsoever.

The water burned through a certain spot around my shoulders as I got in, and I relaxed into the pain. There was a scar in that area that I dreaded to look at. It was all over my body, bite marks on my thigh, shoulder, and stomach and some bruises on my hands and legs.

I shut my eyes tightly to prevent the tears threatening to fall. Aaron did not deserve them or any sympathy from me. He should be apologizing, on his knees asking for my forgiveness, but his cockiness, and ego would never let him.

I must have fallen asleep because, by the time I opened my eyes, my body already looked wrinkled. I took a quick shower and slipped into something comfortable. The television was on, and suddenly, a picture of myself and Aaron appeared. It was one of those talk shows LA had; the Today's Show by Adrienne.

“Aaron, we are so sorry about what you are going through right now. It is so unbelievable to hear you and Jules are no longer together” She gave him a flirtatious smile, but he didn't dismiss it. The door to my room opened, and we shared a look. His was sympathetic, and pleading but mine was fiery, like hot burning coal, ready to burn whoever crossed my path.