Chapter 3 I Was The Only Thing in His Eyes
683 Words
Owen gently touched the red handprint on Arna's face, eyes full of concern.
But when he looked at me and my mom, his brows pulled together.
"Mom, at your age, you should know how to tell right from wrong. Don't just believe everything Stella says. Women who just gave birth can be overly sensitive and paranoid. Maybe the reason you got divorced back then was because you didn't trust her father."
My mom started shaking with anger.
I just stared at him, disappointment washing over me.
Back when I told him my dad had another kid out there who was even older than me, Owen had held me tight and sworn he would never cheat.
And technically, he hadn't. I was still the only woman he'd slept with.
But what about emotional cheating? Did that not count?
Arna hid behind him, quietly sobbing.
"Professor, let's go. People without education are honestly scary. I felt like I was back home with my parents."
Owen didn't respond to her words. He just threw me a cold, "Suit yourself," before turning to leave.
I ignored Arna's little performance and waved over a nurse.
My mom's head needed treatment. There was no point wasting time on people who didn't matter.
Back in my hospital bed, I opened the divorce agreement I had never finished.
My phone buzzed.
Owen: I've prepaid some money at the hospital. Don't hold back on spending.
Fifteen minutes later, a delivery guy showed up with a bouquet of roses.
The nurse adjusting my IV looked at me with envy.
"Your husband is so romantic."
I gave a faint, bitter smile. "Is he?"
I'm allergic to roses.
On our first date, Owen gave me roses.
I didn't want to make things awkward, so I forced myself to say I liked them.
Ever since then, every time he bought flowers, it was always roses.
Even when my nose turned red from the scent, even when my arms broke out in rashes…
He never noticed.
The latest post on my social feed was from Arna.
A photo of her meal. No face, but you could see a man's hand cutting into a steak.
The ring finger that should've had a wedding band on it… only had a faint pale mark.
I closed the app and slipped off the wedding ring I had worn for three years.
Then I sent Owen the finalized divorce papers.
The next second, my phone rang.
"Stella, what the hell are you doing? You really think I can't live without you, is that it?"
I let out a self-mocking laugh. "Having dinner with Arna at the most famous couples' restaurant in the city… you must be having a great time."
There was a brief silence on the other end.
Then his voice came back, a little uneasy. "How do you know? Are you having someone follow me?"
"I'm not that bored."
I heard footsteps, like he had walked somewhere quieter.
"It's not what you think between me and Arna. She's been dealing with her parents all day and hadn't eaten. I just took her somewhere to get food. I picked the place randomly. I mean, I can't just let her starve to avoid suspicion, right?"
I tightened my grip on the phone, my tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Owen, you know what? You talk a lot more when you feel guilty."
I didn't wait for his response. I hung up.
After I was discharged, I left the baby with my mom and went back to the house alone.
I hadn't been back for a month. It barely looked like my home anymore.
There was a pair of pink slippers by the entrance. My favorite tea set was gone from the dining table, replaced by a brand new coffee machine.
And the plants I used to take care of on the balcony were all gone.
In their place, under the sun, hung delicate lingerie that definitely wasn't mine.
I still remembered the day Owen handed me the property deed.
Back then, when he looked at me, I was the only thing in his eyes.
- Writer
