When love strives

CHAPTER THREE SECREY BEGINS

The next day, Micheal awoke to an empty bed, a feeling that had become foreign to him. He trudged down the stairs with a frown, recalling the occurrence of the previous day.

“I am going to clear everything up today.” He muttered under his breath before raising his phone to his ear.

“Clear out my schedule for today, I'm not coming in.” He instructed his assistant.

After he received an affirmative reply, he hung up, making his way to the kitchen. He had expected to meet his wife in the cooking haven like she always did in the mornings but was surprised to step into the empty room.

He walked over to the covered dishes to see his breakfast already prepared and plated, with no note or anything.

“Rachel?” He called out repeatedly, searching through the house.

Micheal did another sweep of the house before confirming that he was, indeed, alone. Even the staff had yet to come in, presumably in the outhouse.

With a resigned sigh, he returned to the table where he planned to eat his breakfast. But at the sight of the divorce papers that had been strategically placed next to his food, he lost his appetite.

“Why does she insist on getting a divorce? Did I do something wrong? Did she?” He thought to himself as his mind buzzed.

Micheal pushed the plate of food aside, standing on his two feet as he glared at the mahogany table with veiled anger

He let out a huff of annoyance, turning on his heel and grabbing his keys before he exited the house.

As he drove through the light suburban traffic, Micheal's mind was swarmed with thoughts regarding Rachel's sudden demand for a divorce. He did not understand why his wife and the love of his life were suddenly requesting a divorce after so many blissful years spent together and merely two months into married life.

“I am not getting a divorce, no! I refuse to.” He thought with a scowl, unable to accept the concept.

Micheal tried to recall any arguments or disagreements they had recently, which could have fueled Rachel's actions, but he came up short. He could not swallow the motion of the divorce and was left even more frustrated than he was before.

Shortly after, he arrived at the gated estate, using the security pin to open the gates before he drove in, stopping in front of the huge mansion.

Micheal alighted from the car, storming into his parent's Victorian-styled mansion, the house he had grown up in, the place he had first introduced Rachel to his mother and father.

“Mr Micheal!” The maid greeted as soon as she caught sight of him, beaming in joy.

“Where are my parents?” He asked impatiently.

The woman gave him a concerned frown, as a result of his curt tone. He usually greeted Maria with the same level of excitement whenever he returned home.

Maria had been his nanny since childhood. She would look after him when his parents dealt with the company and taught him all the things he needed to know, taking him to school and everything.

“They are in the lounge room, upstairs.” She said, with a small frown.

Micheal, on the other hand, was too much in his feelings to notice her change in demeanor; he only gave her a small nod alongside a “thank you” before he made his way up the stairs in the direction of his parents.

“Mom!” He exclaimed as soon as he saw her.

“My baby!” She answered with a broad smile, opening her arms wide for a hug.

Micheal would never admit it, but he had always been a sort of mamá’s boy as he always ran to his mother whenever he was going through something daunting. Mrs Collins, somehow, always knew how to help him and gave him the best advice.

As Micheal was pulled into his mother’s embrace, he instantly thought of his wife, longing for the feeling of his arms wrapped around her. He sniffled.

“What's wrong, my child?” She asked with squinted eyes as soon as he pulled away from the hug that he had desperately needed.

“Mom, Rachel wants a divorce.” He answered with a deep frown.

“What? Why? Did you fight?” She exclaimed with wide eyes and a raised voice.

“No, I don't even know what went wrong! I just arrived from work yesterday to be met with the papers, she had already signed them and asked me to do the same!”

He narrated with a saddened expression, recalling the look on Rachel's face when she had given him the papers.

“Why then? What happened?” She asked again, mirroring his frown.

“I don't know! I asked her so many times, but she refused to give me any answers and, even worse, has been avoiding me since then, even going as far as to sleep in a separate room last night. This morning I woke up to an empty house.” He explained.

His mother stared back at him with furrowed eyebrows,

“Where did she go? She asked, her frown deepening.

“I don't even know, she did not leave behind a note or anything, just my breakfast placed beside the divorce papers.”

“She did not even leave a note or anything!” He repeated with an aggravated tone.

Mrs Collins stared at her son in silence for a few seconds, contemplating the matter.

“I will speak to her about this, but are you sure that you did not do anything to upset her? Rachel is usually very kind and level-headed; she would not do this without a reason.” She inquired with confusion swirling in her eyes.

“I swear I didn't do anything, Mom; we have not even had any arguments recently. I was just as shocked to get the papers yesterday, I don't know what to do!” He replied, dragging his hands through his hair with an exasperated groan.

“Don't worry son, we're going to resolve this. As long as you don't sign the papers, there is still hope. But first, we have to find out why she wants a divorce.” Mrs Michael's gaze softened at her son's disheveled appearance and reassured him.

Micheal's ears pricked at his mother's words, creating a warmth of hope in his chest. Until a thought came to his mind and he regarded her with a head tilt;

“How do we do that?”