Chapter Twenty-Two: The Annulment
1101 Words
“Come on, Mama… aren’t you going to do anything to stop Marcus? Your son is planning to file for an annulment! I thought… I thought we already understood each other and agreed that we would try to fix our marriage for Gabby’s sake, but here he is again, wanting to leave me!”
Vanessa’s voice almost echoed throughout the room.
They were inside the study room with Loisa so the other people in the mansion—especially the maids—wouldn’t overhear them.
The servants would surely feast on another scandal involving their employers if they weren’t careful with sensitive matters like this.
But there was Vanessa once again, unable to control herself.
Just like before, Vanessa would never allow herself and Marcus to separate.
She had already gambled too much just to become part of his life.
Truthfully, it had never been easy for Vanessa to take Marcus away from his former girlfriend. But because of their child, Gabby, Marcus willingly left his ex-girlfriend to take responsibility for her.
Vanessa knew from the start that Marcus was deeply in love with his former girlfriend, so she came up with a way to win him for herself.
And she had been right all along…
Marcus couldn’t bear the thought of losing his child.
He married Vanessa even against his own feelings because he didn’t want his child growing up in a broken family.
Vanessa took out a cigarette and lit it, not caring that they were inside an air-conditioned room where the smoke had nowhere to escape.
Vanessa sat across from her mother-in-law, Loisa, who remained behind the study table, while Marcus sat on the large sofa nearby.
His face had been dark with suppressed emotions for quite some time now.
“Marcus, what are you thinking? Why do you suddenly want to leave Vanessa again? Son, this isn’t a small matter. Why don’t you try fixing your marriage? Wasn’t that what we agreed on before?” Loisa calmly explained to her son.
“Mom, the agreement you’re talking about happened last year. God knows I really tried so hard to make our marriage work, but… I can’t anymore. I can’t continue living under one roof with Vanessa,” Marcus explained quietly.
“Marcus, tell me… what exactly did I do wrong? What else am I lacking for you? I almost gave up everything for you… my career… everything, just so I could focus on our relationship,” Vanessa said while holding her head as though it had been aching for a long time.
She had been nagging her husband endlessly, but despite feeling irritated, she still chose to hold herself back.
She knew Marcus very well.
If she fought him aggressively now, he would only become more stubborn, and the annulment might push through even faster.
“Will you please stop, Vanessa? Stop saying you gave up your career for me and Gabby! You know the truth—you just didn’t want to focus on your family businesses because all you wanted was to follow me around all the time!” Marcus accused.
“You’re jealous all the time… I can’t breathe anymore, Vanessa! You’re suffocating me! You’re childish, immature, and spoiled! All you ever do is fight with every secretary I hire. Even my business partners aren’t safe from your jealousy!”
Marcus’s voice was rising now.
He was only moments away from completely losing his patience.
“God! What is wrong with the two of you? I can’t believe this! Since the beginning of your relationship, you’ve already brought this family into chaos. You wouldn’t be in this situation if it weren’t for the wrong decisions you made before! Marcus, maybe you’ve forgotten everything already! We almost lost your brother because of your relationship with Vanessa! You are the reason Tristan grew up resenting this family so deeply! And now… after all that, this is what I see from your marriage? For almost seven years, your father and I have done nothing but guide the two of you. I’m not getting any younger, son… please, I don’t want to see Gabby get hurt. My grandson doesn’t deserve that. Don’t even think about leaving Vanessa. Please…” Loisa said firmly.
With that, the older woman stood up.
Deep concern was visible on her beautiful face.
She also couldn’t hide her disappointment toward Marcus and Vanessa.
Why did the two of them still act like children whenever they fought?
Nothing but arguments and misunderstandings every single time.
Then again, Marcus couldn’t entirely be blamed either because Vanessa truly was immature.
From the very beginning, she had always been insecure.
She had never fully trusted Marcus.
Vanessa was extremely jealous, and Marcus was slowly suffocating because of it.
Vanessa had never felt secure in Marcus’s love because she herself was haunted by her own guilt.
She feared Marcus would cheat on her the same way she had once betrayed another man.
The moment Loisa finally left the room, Vanessa completely lost control.
She immediately grabbed the flower vase beside her and hurled it against the wall.
“What the—!” Marcus exclaimed.
He nearly cursed at what his wife had done.
Throwing and breaking things whenever she got angry had always been Vanessa’s habit.
“I’m serious, Marcus. You cannot leave me. I won’t allow us to separate! There will never be another woman in your life! I’m your wife, and I’m the only one who has the right to you! I swear, you won’t like what I’ll do if you leave me!” Vanessa threatened.
She could no longer hold back her emotions after the two of them were left alone in the study room.
Marcus responded only with a deep sigh.
That suffocating feeling returned once again—as though he were trapped inside a prison.
That was right.
He had imprisoned himself in a marriage with a woman he didn’t love…
And now he was paying the price for it.
Vanessa immediately stood up and hugged Marcus tightly from behind, trying to stop him from leaving.
“Marcus… I know you loved me before. Why can’t you just love me again now? Please…” Vanessa begged desperately.
“I’m sorry, Vanessa.”
Marcus gently removed her arms from around him before finally walking out of the study room.
Vanessa was left there crying.
“Why, Marcus? Why can’t you love me again? Is she still the one you love? What else do I have to do? What does your ex-girlfriend have that I never could? Why can’t you ever let me into your heart?”
- Writer
