PMS1: President's Forgotten Wife

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1: PROPOSAL

AT THE age of 25, Eisen can already say that he’s already one of the successful men alive at just a young age. With a company that aims to be always at the top of its game, a life of opulence where he can own Everything he wanted in just short notice, and three years as a married man enjoying his married life filled with happiness and memories to cherish, can never ask for a better experience other than what he has now.

However, with the world in his hand, he can’t seem to be as complete as the others. He was the perfect definition of a jigsaw puzzle— with an entire piece to begin. But as soon as its elements come together, a single one started missing leaving it incomplete— and that missing piece will only be found and make him complete if he has a “mini-me” of his own.

He wanted an heir who will continue the St. Clair bloodline. He wanted his kid running around the house, messing around the kitchen, drawing silly things on the wall, and at least kissing his pains away as those little arms wrap around his neck. Thinking about it for a while, he’s started considering the gender of his kid in the future.  If it’s a boy, he would play baseball with him, teach him to drive, or even push him to study hard to become a lawyer or engineer someday. But if it’s a girl, he would send her off to ballet class, bake cakes with her, or push her to become a military doctor or nurse or become a lawyer or engineer someday.

And that will only be possible if his wife would agree to bear a child for him. So, there he was, tapping his shoes nervously against the floor as his hands started to sweat off all of the tension he felt inside. And when the waiter looked at him across the room, he slightly raised his hand to gesture for him to begin the plan.

As Alicia darted her gaze to him and noticed Eisen’s gesture, soft romantic music entitled La Vie En Rose by Edith Piaf started to play with the accompaniment of a muted trumpet, clarinet, guitar, piano, and violin. Families and many couples began to smile at the stage as the music perfectly fits the cold pocket evening.

A low chuckle rose on Alicia’s throat as her gaze landed on the musicians on stage. Her elbows rested on the table as she rested her chin on her closed fist, still starring at the podium. A woman was standing in the middle of the stage; her hair was ice as snow. Then, she started singing the first notes of the music on the serene she could be.

“Avez-vous prévu cela? (Did you plan this?)” But instead of answering, Eisen smiled and grabbed Alicia’s hand as he drew her hand on his lips, kissing her knuckles lightly. And after that, Eisen stood up as he slowly went to one knee without letting go of Alicia’s hand

“Alicia Collins, la seule femme de ma vie, mon meilleur ami, mon compagnon, mon partenaire dans le crime et ma femme toujours aimante, veux-tu m'épouser à nouveau? (Alicia Collins, the only woman in my life, my best friend, my mate, my partner in crime, and my ever-loving wife, will you marry me again?)” Eisen is kneeling in front of Alicia, the woman he loves, as he proposed to her in one of the most exquisite and high-end luxurious restaurants in France, the Le Train Bleu, just around the City of Love, a bundle of red roses on the one hand.

They’ve been married for three long years now, and they’re celebrating their third anniversary as husband and wife. And for those three long years of being a married couple, Eisen realized that he’s ready to have a child. The music kept on playing as they both stared into each other’s eyes, reading every expression painted on their faces.

People around them started to whisper to each other as they gaze to where Eisen was kneeling. Everyone seems so excited, and they looked like they know what was happening. The reason he proposed for the second time is that he wanted to bring back the spark on Alicia’s face- the same spark when he proposed to her three years ago.

He knows that some things have changed after their marriage. And every day, that spark on his wife’s face slowly faded like the sun setting from afar.

He loves her so much that words can’t even find the perfect one to describe it. He loves her, even though the love in their marriage started to wear off. He promised never to let go, for no wave can wash his promises away.

“Eisen, please, can’t you just sit, and let’s talk this through?” she commanded with irritation in her angelic voice. But Eisen didn’t budge. He remained still on the floor with one knee as he held a bouquet on hand.

“You’re not going to stand there?” his wife asked. He noticed how tense his wife carried below her shoulders. She seems uneasy about the situation, and she doesn’t look so happy, too. But Eisen decided to shrug the negative vibe off as he didn’t stop smiling.

“I won’t unless you tell me for the second time. Is it a yes or a yes?” Eisen replied, still smiling. His heart races a million miles as he felt uneasy about the situation. Eisen can handle it. The nervousness he feels is different from what he felt the first time he proposed to her. There’s something off. It feels like something terrible was about to happen. Alicia leaned towards him, and she whispered. 

“I'm not here for your romantic proposal Eisen." Alicia scanned the beautiful restaurant filled with couples who are deeply in love with each other before she pinned her attention fully to Eisen's deep blue eyes. "I'm here to talk about business, and what I mean business, it is to take care of you. So, I'll be straight forward to you. Let's end this relationship now, Eisen."

Alicia placed her bag on top of the table and unzipped it before taking out a brown envelope and pushed it through Eisen's side of the table. She stood up, straighten up her dashing gold dress before she gets into her feet and let the heaviness of the heels of her sandal echo on his ears.

His shoulder fell as the world crumbles just before his eyes. His breathing became weak along with his trembling body; he felt nauseous.

Alicia's bitter-sweet voice keeps on reverberating in his ears as his knees started to weaken. He slowly swings his hand downward as his shoulders fell. People around them began to murmur as others shook their heads in disapproval. And some just shrugged what was happening and continued with their lives.

Let's end this relationship now, Eisen.

Let's end this relationship now, Eisen.

Let's end this relationship now, Eisen. 

"Sir-" Eisen immediately gets back on his feet and consciously started running outside the restaurant and finds his way towards the front door as his eyes darted to where Alicia is standing, approaching a limousine just in front of her. But before Alicia could get inside the car, Eisen took three long steps and grabbed Alicia's arm, forcing her to stop and face him. 

"Eisen, let me go!" the woman shouted in anger as she tried to take back her arm from Eisen's grip, but he was too persistent not to let go. 

"Let me go! Didn't I make myself clear earlier? I broke up with you so let me go already!"

"Ali... Wh. What did I do wrong this time? Can't you tell me what was going on between us instead of telling the whole world that you send me a divorce paper without making me understand the whole situation?!" he asked, trying to calm his nerves.

He's hurt. His heart won't stop beating fast, and he can't breathe anymore. He can't take another sack of air to calm him because the more he takes a deep breath, the more confused and hurt he was. For the first time, he felt hopeless. It felt like he has been stabbed right through his heart, and he wasn't able to stop it from piercing and ripping off of his chest.

"Finally! You already asked! Do you know what you did wrong? It bothers me that you didn't try to understand me, Eisen! We were both young when you decided to propose to me. I thought. I thought my life would be as sweet as candy if I marry you. And because I love you, God knows how much I love you, and I decided to say YES even I was just 22.

I granted your wish to settle down. But f**k YOU! f**k THIS LIFE! You wanted to have a child, and I didn't know how to tell you that I'm not ready to get pregnant! I don't want to take care of a little creature and stop me from being me! You keep on mentioning these things, but YOU NEVER DARED TO ASK ME IF AM I READY!?"

What Alicia said made him stiffen. He was guilty as charged because he has no alibi on deny what Alicia told him just now. Yes, since the day they got married, he's been talking about having a son or a daughter because Eisen wanted to have his own family. Eisen's already 25 and already the perfect age to build a family. But he never knew that he and Alicia don't have the same goal.

"Were only 25 Eisen."

"We're just 25, and wee been married for three long years, Alicia. Three f*****g years and you're just telling me no?! After all the things I have done to you, this is all I get?" Eisen was somewhat confused about what is happening as his hand started to loosen its grip on Alicia's arm. His vision began to blur as his strength started to weaken. Now he knows her reason for divorcing him. Her reasons for leaving him are what he wanted to know, but now, he's starting to regret learning the cause.

"We both have jobs to do and reputations to hold. We're too young when we got married, and I can't breathe properly in this relationship. For three years, yes, I tried myself to be happy and perfect just for you. But now, I am tired of being the woman I am not supposed to be. I want my freedom back." A low chuckle rose upon his throat as he let go of Alicia's arm. He rested both of his hands on his sides as he held Alicia's gaze.

"I can't believe you are doing this to me now, Ali. I don't know what to say."  He's hurt. No, he's badly wounded. But instead of pleading for mercy for her not to leave him, he started to act like Everything is casual. Like he was not at fault at all.

"See? When we got married, Everything revolved around what you desire. It was all about you, Eisen! About your money, you goals, your success. Everything! Don't you get it? I have plans! I want to achieve more. And getting married to you is the greatest mistake I have ever made in my life!" Eisen is dumbfounded. The pain he felt earlier was then doubled by the words that Alicia uttered. He felt like the whole world, including the universe, was against him and all of his decisions.

"SO, IT WAS MY FAULT NOW THAT YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO ACHIEVE MORE?! ALL THIS TIME, YOU NEVER REALLY LOVED ME?" didn't she love him? Not even a bit? Did she use him all this time to gain popularity? Is this her way to play around?

"I love you--" Eisen cut her off by asking her a question he wanted to know.

"Then why hurt me?" he felt vulnerable. He doesn't want to ask, but he wanted to know at least.  Alicia loves him, but why hurt him? Why here and why now? Alicia took a deep breath before she sadly and regretfully looked at him in the eyes.

Eisen studied her eyes, wanting to know what she felt deep inside. If she's regretting telling him about the divorce and Everything was just part of a prank. But no. What he saw is enough to shatter his heart, his mind, his soul. She showed no emotion, not hurt, nor regretful of what happened. It was just empty as f**k.

"Because I want to be my old self back. I am so tired of living up to the life of being the most perfect and lucky wife because I married a billionaire. That I only became popular because I decided to seduce you that I am a gold-digging b***h who can't let go of a perfect opportunity to get rich. The past three years of being your wife are nothing but a pain for me.  I fulfilled your desires. I let you use me. And now, I'm tired of being that woman. And you're blocking my way."

Then without second thoughts, Alicia entered the limousine-like nothing happened. But before the car could leave, the door opened again for the second time and met Eisen's eyes.

"So please do me a favor. Sign the divorce paper I left and send me the signed copy. And, here is the wedding ring since I won't be needing it anymore. You might as well take that marriage ring off and party hard and wild. Goodbye, mon mari."

He was left behind in the cold, partly empty road of France. He remained standing in there as if he was waiting for her to come back, hug him, and tell him that Everything she just said to him is all just a prank. But he waited for almost 2 hours now, but not even Alicia's shadow came running back to him. Or not even a whisper from the wind that Alicia is just joking around.

A part of him wished that Everything is nothing but a dream. A nightmare, instead, that just decided to play with his plans, testing his love for her. But no. What happened is not a trick of the mind or something delusional, but instead, it was the nightmare, no, a reality that can never be manipulated nor changed. Everything has already happened, and Eisen didn't prepare for it.

He's left shattered because of the woman whom he vowed to love forever. She left him, and she's not coming back. Now, the plans they made and the promises they both keep lies shattered along with his delicate heart and whole being.