Taking a deep breath, I decided to address it. "Saint, let's... let's get a divorce." His dark eyes clouded over, his voice cold. "You don't want to marry me that much?" I couldn't believe it. Did he want to marry me? His gaze was intense, and after a long pause, he finally said, "Fine. I'll draw up a divorce agreement, but we'll stay married for one year. After that, we can part ways."
**Peter's POV:**
I trotted slowly; it would be a miserable day. I was seething, but the weather was encouraging enough. It was a chilling morning; there had been a heavy downpour earlier, and the cold winter wind brought with it clouds so somber and rain so penetrating.
I knew all eyes were on me; everyone in the school already knew, I was quite popular.
The same question was on everybody's mind: Why was I in school today? I couldn't answer that either. I lost my mom yesterday. Every normal human being would have stayed at home today or at least been anywhere else but here. I wasn't normal then.
I walked slowly towards the class; I was a bit late, but I guess I could be pardoned for that.
My eyes were red, from a sleepless night, not tears. I hadn't been able to squeeze out a single tear. I was far too relieved to cry. She had been in the hospital for the past two weeks, feeling excruciating pain. I could see the pain in her eyes; she also wanted it to end. The pain was too much for her to bear.
She had become very lean and pale in the past few days. It was messing up my visual memories of her. I couldn't see past her pale face in my head, in contrast to her radiant and chubby healthy self. The cancer had eaten every bit of her and left her as an empty shell. It was such a depressing sight that would haunt me forever. I really loved her but didn't get the chance to bond with her. I was so busy living out school on a high. All I ever thought about was getting girls and winning the next football matches. I was a crucial member of the school football team, perhaps the best. My school's football team was one of the best in the district. Football matches meant a chance to win and get more love from girls from both our school and whichever school we were up against. I was mostly the star of the show, and I did savor those moments. It was always a thrill.
I tried to bond with her in the last few days. I skipped football practices and went directly to the hospital from school. I made little conversation and humored her. She found it difficult to talk, and it grew worse daily until she couldn't anymore. I watched her fade away on the hospital bed. It was such a horrible feeling to watch someone you love waste away while you could do nothing but stare.
A couple of my friends from the football team and my best friend, Ralph, visited often in the hospital. They always tried to cheer me up. Their gesture seemed sincere, but I would rather have them not visiting. There was an underlying feeling they came to see me at my most vulnerable state, to see if I had cracked under pressure. I always carried an air of supremacy around whenever I walked. They came to see if I still had that pride. Their visitation seemed sincere and was out of concern, but the feeling was still there.
The most depressing part was Dad not being with her in the hospital till she died. Dad always traveled for business; he was rarely around. I couldn't blame him for that; I was also busy maintaining a classic life. Him being a successful businessman was why I had so much access to money and maintained a classic Alpha male lifestyle.
He flew in from outside the country when he heard she had died. He cried bitterly while I watched in anger. I know he really loved her, and the feeling was obviously mutual. I thought it was enough reason to be at her bedside at her final moments.
She would have sought solace with both of us beside her to make up for the years of neglect which she never complained about. She was always quite content with seeing me happy from winning a match for the team or getting a girl I had been eyeing for so long, and my Dad from making a successful business trip. Neither of us noticed she was falling ill, which she kept to herself. I did notice she seemed weak and tired, but I assumed it was stress from taking care of the house. I didn't realize she was very sick until it was too late. She said the doctor told her her condition was very critical. She didn't want to bother or worry either of us and kept it to herself.
I know she didn't bother to tell us because neither of us ever showed any concern. I felt distraught at every thought of it. I knew why I didn't stay back at home; I was scared my guilt would eat me up in my silence. My monsters would use my idleness against me. I would hide among people where they couldn't haunt me.
I walked into the classroom; a teacher was already in class. It was the Biology Teacher, Mr. Whitehead; he seemed like a good man and a gentle soul, perhaps one of the class's favorite teachers. He seemed so loved for a number of reasons I was oblivious to, but I rarely paid attention in his class. I was a backbencher; I was either chatting with my friends or surfing through the media on my phone.
I felt many pairs of eyes set on me. I greeted Mr. White, who also stared as I walked to my usual seat.
He called me back.
"I heard what happened today, Mr. Ben. I'm so sorry about the death of your Mother. May her soul rest in peace," he said.
"Thank you, sir," I replied.
I saw his mouth opening again, but he shut it immediately. I knew he wanted to ask me the obvious question. Why was I in school today? He refrained from it. He knew it was none of his business, and I respected and appreciated him for that.
I walked back to my seat.
"Hey man, I'm so sorry about your loss."
"Thank you."
"I and the rest of the football team planned to pay you a visit at home today. We didn't know you would come to school."
"I appreciate your concern."
"I'm so sorry, man. May her soul rest in peace."
"Amen." I sighed. I knew I was going to hear a lot of those words today.
I was right. I was treated like an egg about to crack. I received condolences from literally everyone, both familiar and unfamiliar faces. Each was the same statement. I was starting to get frustrated and irritated with hearing the words over and over again.
I was not comfortable with being pitied by everyone. I knew I should have stayed home to fight my demons; it was better than the endless stream of condolences. I isolated myself on a chair at a secluded part of the school and sat down alone. I wanted to avoid snapping at anyone; it would be unfair. They all had a lot of empathy for me, which was appreciated but not needed.
What I needed was to be treated like everybody else, certainly not like someone about to break anytime. It would keep me reminded of what I was so desperate to forget and get over. I was lost in my thoughts. I heard the sound of footsteps and a twig break behind me. I snapped back to see who it was. I was livid; can't I have a moment to myself?
Michael Angelo, the man Aurora loved with all her heart, was also her worst bully and her short tempered boss. It wasn't her fault she was fat, but he sang how fat she was to her ear everyday at the slightest provocation. She withstood the insult just to be close to the man she loves. When her boss accidentally heard her confessing her love to him, he rejected and humiliated her in the most embarrassing way possible. She quitted her job to save her face from further embarrassment, with a broken heart. ¤¤¤¤¤¤ Months after making her fat ugly secretary quit job, Michael Angelo met someone who look just like her, but hotter and sexier enough to make him drool. One goal was fixated in his mind; he must have her, but Aurora was a woman on a mission.
After the death of his mother. Peter froze out everyone in his life except his best friend. Till he met the vibrant Priscilla. ***** Priscilla has always noticed Peter, he was the most popular guy on campus, until he lost his mother. Now he's all quiet and withdrawn. Mustering the courage to try and help a fellow derepressed half orphan, Priscilla first outreach to help was humiliatingly rejected. When a potentially dangerous schizophreniac starts stalking her for unknown reason. She gets help from an unlikely source.
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
The kiss grew more passionate as he felt her warm supple body pressing against his chest. He couldn't believe how soft she was. He was gentler this time, making love to her with a slow, languorous pace, pausing now and then to check the expression on her face. Kira was. transported. She no longer felt the fabric of the sheets underneath her. One moment, she was floating in the air, cuddled by cotton candy clouds. The next, she'd become one with a dinghy, bobbing up and down with the undulating waves. His scent enveloped her. He was on top of her, using his arms to support his weight and avoid crushing her. She snuggled up closer to him, safe and snug, cocooned in his warmth. Kira had always marvelled at Austyn's stamina, but he outdid himself tonight. In the midst of overwhelming rapture, Kira still had the presence of mind to broach the subject she'd been meaning to bring up. 'My dad's medical bills.' Austyn paused. He frowned as he looked into those beseeching eyes. 'It'll be taken care of by the end of business day tomorrow,' he said with a bit of an edge in his voice. Kira breathed out. ****** She is a 21-year-old college student who dreams of becoming a journalist. He is the heir of the McCarthy family and president of a business empire. She is bright-eyed and vivacious, a glass-half-full kind of gal. When life throws her a curveball, she knocks it out of the park. He is the archetypal alpha male, aggressive and domineering. Endowed with both brains and brawn, he steamrolls over his enemies and rules his company with an iron fist. The two would never have crossed paths if not for a cruel twist of fate. Kira's world was turned upside down when her father was hospitalised after a car accident. The medical bills were astronomical. Austyn McCarthy offered her a way out. The price: becoming his contract wife. At night, he consummated their marriage but called out another woman's name. Who was she? Why did Austyn marry Kira if he was in love with someone else? Kira was his lawful wife, but she had no right to ask these questions. Then one day, the woman showed up in front of her.
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
Eight years ago, Eleanor was a pampered and arrogant young heiress, while Andreas was just a nameless talent from a humble background. Although she had taken him in, she never treated him with any warmth. Their fates flipped, and now Andreas was a business titan feared by all, while Eleanor wallowed in shame and despair after her fall from grace. Upon their reunion, he pinned her with a venomous glare and declared, "It was my hatred for you that drove me into becoming what I am today."
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
The night before her engagement, Valerie was tricked by her boyfriend and stepsister into spending the night with a stranger. After the night together, the man vanished. Later, her boyfriend accused her of cheating, revealing his affair with her stepsister. Pressured by her father, Valerie married an unconscious man in place of her stepsister. Valerie exposed the scheme, sabotaged her father’s ambitions, and transformed herself. When her husband woke and chased her to the airport, she calmly refused him, saying, "It's over between us." He held her firmly. "You married me, so you must commit."