A Trouble Called Marriage

A Trouble Called Marriage Book 1 | The CEO's Forced Wife Episode 14

NINENERBIYOS na napatingin si Yanna ““Welcome to the The Dome Hotel”” sign na nasa bungad ng hotel property nang iliko ni Miles ang kotse papasok sa parking area. Pasimple siyang kumapit sa seatbelt na nakatali sa katawan niya, hoping it would malfunction or something para hindi na siya makaalis sa kotse at hindi na sila muli pang magkaharap ni Ethan Rivaldi.

Nang mai-park ang sasakyan ay kaagad na umibis ng sasakyan si Miles para pagbuksan siya ng pinto. Yanna took her time taking her seatbelt off. Kaya naman yumuko na si Miles para tulungan siya.

She gasped when Miles did it, and blushed at how close they were. Tila naliliyo din siya nang maamoy ang mabangong shampoo, aftershave at pabango ng asawa. ““Thank you,”” kiming pasasalamat niya.

Nginitian lamang siya ni Miles at nagpunta na sa lobby kung saan may naghihintay mga security staff at ang assistant ni Ethan. Isang beses pa lamang niya itong nakita ngunit natandaan na niya kaagad ang mukha nito.

““Mr. & Mrs. Samonte, welcome to the Dome Hotel. I’m Byron Ledesma, Mr. Rivaldi’s executive assistant.””

They both shook his hand at nagpanggap na lamang siyang iyon ang unang beses na nakita niya ito.

““Is Ethan waiting for us?”” Tanong ni Miles.

Napatingin si Yanna sa asawa. Parang gusto niyang sa huling pagkakataon ay yayain itong umuwi.

““You’re just right on time, sir,”” sagot ni Byron. Pagkatapos ay nagpatiuna na ito papunta sa sa VIP lounge kung saan sila sumakay sa private elevator papunta sa penthouse ni Ethan.

I’ll soon memorize the layout of his penthouse sa dalas ng pagpunta ko rito! Yamot na ungot ng isip ni Yanna. But she had no choice but to follow Miles.

Ano kaya ang pag-uusapan ng dalawa?

ETHAN was sitting in the spacious elegant living room of his penthouse with his legal counsel, Miles’ legal counsel na nauna nang dumating sa mag-asawa kanina, and a representative of the family court and a couple other people to stand by as witnesses.

Nang pumasok si Byron kasunod sina Miles at Yanna ay napatayo siya kasunod ang ibang mga nasa silid para kumustahin ang bagong dating.

““Sorry, we got stuck in traffic,”” abiso ni Miles nang makipagkamay kay Ethan.

““We haven’t been waiting that long.””

Ipinakilala ni Ethan ang mga taong nasa silid bukod kay Byron at sa legal counsel nito. Nang sulyapan niya si Yanna ay halata ang pagtataka sa mukha nito nang makita at mamukhaan ang abogado ni Miles.

““Please have a seat.”” Si Byron ang nag-alok sa dalawa na maupo.

““What’s going on, Miles?”” May pag-aalalang tanong ni Yanna. Nakakapit ito sa braso ng asawa na dahan-dahan namang tinanggal ng huli. She stared confused at Miles.

““They will explain,”” sagot nito na ang tinutukoy ay ang kaharap na attorneys at court officials.

Nagsimula nang basahin nang representative ng family court ang isang dokumentong kinuha nito mula sa dalang briefcase. All the legal terms made Yanna nervous but one word seemed to pull her back to her wakefulness.

““Annulment?”” Halos bulong na lumabas ang mga salitang iyon sa bibig ni Yanna. Nang bumaling ito kay Miles ay hindi ito makatingin sa asawa.

Pinigil ni Yanna ang napipintong pag-iyak. Ethan just watched silently as the scene unfold before his eyes.

Mabilis na napatayo si Yanna ““I think someone made a mistake. Hindi kami maghihiwalay ng asawa ko. I don’t even know why we are here.”” Pagkasabi niyon ay sinubukan nitong umalis ngunit maagap itong napigilan ni Miles.

Mahigpit na hinawakan ni Miles ang pupulsuhan ni Yanna. ““Yanna, please. We need to do this.””

Doon na tuluyang dumaloy ang masaganang luha sa mga mata ni Yanna. Ethan could only watch and clench his fists as it happens.

Ethan turned to Byron and gestured towards their guests. Naintindihan naman kaagad nito ang ibig niyang sabihin saka magalang na sinabihan ang mga naroon sa silid na sumunod dito papunta sa ibang bahagi ng penthouse para iwan muna silang tatlo sa silid.

““Do what, Miles? Have an annulment? Why? Akala ko ba nagkasundo na tayong ayusin ang pagsasama natin?”” Sunud-sunod na tanong ni Yanna sa asawa.

““I’m doing this for you. Please Yanna,”” pagsusumamo ni Miles.

““Bakit kailangang nandito siya? What’s he got to do with this?”” Itinuro ni Yanna ang direksiyon ni Ethan.

Ethan nailed his eyes on the two, but most especially Yanna.

Bago pa sumagot si Miles ay nagdire-diretso ng lakad palapit sa kaniya si Yanna. Tumayo siya para salubungin ito. Nang makalapit ito sa kaniya ay pinaghahampas siya nito sa dibdib.

““You told him, didn't you? It was a stupid, pointless thing and you told him!”” Galit na sumbat nito.

““Told me what, Ethan?”” Tanong naman ni Miles.

““It was nothing, gaya ng sabi ni Yanna,”” pakli niya.

Lumingon si Yanna sa kabiyak. ““I kissed him that night and I didn't come home. But it was nothing Miles, akala ko ikaw ang kasama ko nang gabing iyon.”” Muli itong lumapit sa asawa para subukan itong yakapin. ““Miles, please, huwag mo’ng gawin ‘to. It was nothing but a stupid mistake, I swear!””

““Hindi ‘yon ang dahilan kaya natin kailangang gawin ‘to, Yanna.””

““Then what? What could possibly be the reason kaya kailangang maghiwalay tayo?”” Yanna demanded.

““I can’t be the kind of husband that you need, Yanna. I can never touch you. I can’t see myself starting a family with you. I never truly love you like a husband to wife, Yanna. I never did.””

YANNA froze when Miles said the same words he told her the night they had their first fight as a married couple when they were celebrating their second month anniversary.

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin niya maintindihan kung ano ang ibig sabihin ni Miles. Nasabi na nito dati na hindi naman ito namumuhi sa kaniya. Pero ano pa bang ibang rason para masabi nito ang mga bagay na iyon?

She was trying her best and it felt like all her efforts were not enough. She felt like a useless rug.

““Miles,”” nanghihinang bulong niya. ““I’m willing to do anything. Take things slow, understand that you are not ready to start a family yet, give you all the time and space you need until you come around. Bakit mo pa rin ginagawa ito?”” Nasasaktang tanong niya.

““Yanna,”” Miles looked at her with poignant eyes. ““I’m gay.””

Yanna never realized how those two words could change all the things in her life. Her face was filled with shock and hurt and sadness the moment her brain processed what Miles had just said.

Gay. He was gay. Ulit ng isip niya.

Mapakla siyang tumawa. ““Nagsisinungaling ka lang.””

Umiling si Miles. ““I’ve been with Zach longer than we’re together. Siya ang dahilan kung bakit kailangan kong gawin ‘to.””

Yanna slowly fell down on the couch and cried on her palms. Pakiramdam niya ay dinudurog ang puso niya. She never saw it coming. Kahit pa madalas niyang mahuling magkasama sina Miles at Zach ay hindi niya kailan man inisip na dahil may relasyon ang dalawa.

He was his best man in their wedding!

Muling nagsalita si Miles. ““Dad will never accept what I am. Alam ko na kung ano ang sasabihin niya; that I am a disgrace to our family. Ang totoo, wala akong plano na gawin ito kung hindi ako pinilit ni Ethan na gawin ang tama, na maging totoo sayo. I just don’t want to be married to you for life, Yanna, and never give you the life you deserve.

““Mahal ko si Zach. Ever since we met in college, I’ve always loved him. Pero wala naman akong choice kundi itago ang relasyon namin. Then you came, and our parents forced this marriage on us. I just want to be free from all this. To be with the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. Kapag nalaman ng press ang tungkol dito, dad will disown me. I will never have a share from the family fortune at pati si Zach madadamay sa galit ng pamilya ko. But Ethan can help me start a new life. I’m willing to run away from all this, change my identity and live a normal life with the person I love.””

Hindi pa rin tumigil sa pag-iyak si Yanna. Hearing Miles declare that there is someone else he loves is tearing her apart. Bakit ba niya hinayaan ang sariling mahalin ito ng husto?

Sa kabila niyon ay nagawa niyang ibaling ang galit kay Ethan. Matalim niyang tiningnan ito. ““This was all your fault!”” Nangangatal ang baba niya nang sabihin iyon.

““Ginawa ko ‘to para sa’yo, Yanna. You don’t deserve to be in this kind of marriage.””

She bit her lower lip. She was tired of people telling her what is good or not for her.

““Call the lawyers back in. I’m ready to sign the papers,”” matigas na sabi niya.

““You can have some more time to compose yourself,”” mahinahong sabi ni Ethan.

““No,”” tanggi niya. ““I don’t want to prolong this.””

When the lawyers and court officials were back in the room, they all silently listened habang binabasa ng family court representative sa kanila ang annulment papers. Namumugto pa ang mga mata ni Yanna nang pirmahan na nila ang dokumento. There was one that Ethan signed too. But she didn’t ask for any more explanation for that. Maybe he just signed as a witness.

The day is too much already. Gusto lang niyang puntahan si Abby at umiyak dito.

““Have a great life together,”” salat sa emosyong sabi pa niya kay Miles bago umalis ng penthouse ni Ethan.