Hazel's pov
I ran my hands over my face repeatedly while trying to stabilize my breathing. My nose stung from the forceful impact of the water on my face.
My heart raced as my mother-in-law's cold face came into view. She stood over me, an empty bucket in hand. "You useless, barren woman", Mrs. Monica spat, her voice venomous.
"Do you truly believe you can spend one more day envisioning yourself as my son's wife?" Monica's voice dripped with disdain as she surveyed the table, her expression transforming into a sharp scowl the moment she laid eyes on the modest feast I had lovingly prepared.
My eyes began to sting, tears prickling at the corners as the cruel sting of her words cut deeper than any knife could. A wave of humiliation crashed over me, yet I clung to the thought that every effort was worthwhile if it had anything to do with Ryan.
"Oops, it seems she's gotten her hopes up for your anniversary, Son," Monica further taunted, her gaze piercing through me with a familiar disgust that I had once learned to endure but had not completely shaken off.
At that moment, something inside me snapped, igniting a quiet fury. I whispered a silent prayer, hoping against hope that I was misinterpreting her intentions—that perhaps Monica was merely trying to provoke me.
There was no conceivable way that Ryan would allow anyone, least of all his mother, to hurt me.
I strained to turn my neck, searching for any sign that Ryan hadn't yet returned. But reality played a cruel trick, for there he stood in the doorway, accompanied by Ruby—the girl he had convinced me was nothing more than a childhood sweetheart.
My heart sank as the truth loomed over me, heavy and foreboding.
But I refused to believe it. Maybe he just walked in and was too shocked to speak, I sent a smile his way, trying to assure him I was alright, that I had safely kept his secret, no, our secret with me.
But his expression was cold, unmoved by the agony his mother was putting me through. I froze for a second, maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me.
Where was the love and compassion his eyes held whenever he looked at me? Refusing to believe it, I stood up to walk towards him but his mother harshly dragged me by the hair and threw me back on the sofa.
I looked up at him expectantly, given the fact that all of this was his fault, he was the impotent one, yet I had to take the blame so he would be able to take over his family business.
I waited to hear him yell at his mum to stop, to tell her I was innocent, to tell her how much he loved me, and then rush over to my side, hold my hands, and take me out after enveloping me in a hug.
But reality could be really cruel, it was all mere fantasy because the Ryan before my eyes was only looking at me with hatred and disgust.
I couldn't hold it in anymore as anger coursed through my veins. "Ryan!! Please tell your mum to stop, she's hurting me " I pleaded as tears threatened to fall.
"I'm your legally wedded wife, I refuse to be treated with such disrespect ", I probed on as I expected him to do something, my hopes were too high or something.
As he began to walk toward me, a wave of relief washed over me, and I let out a deep sigh, muttering, "Thank goodness." But just as quickly as my sense of calm arrived, his next words sent a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins.
Anger flared within me, and suddenly, all I could see was red, drowning out the relief I had just felt. My heart raced, and my mind was consumed by the intensity of the moment, leaving no room for anything but the rising tide of frustration and fury.
"Sign them sweetie, we are done". My heart warmed at the intimate name he called me but was I actually supposed to be thinking about this?
"We are done" didn't make sense to me so I just asked, "What's the signing about Ryan".
Ryan looked away, guilt flickering in his expression before he hid it. He didn't respond. His dark brows furrowed, his jaw clenched. Without a word, he extended a file toward me.
Fear gripped my insides, it can't be what I think right. My hands were shaky as I looked at him in confusion but his expression remained indifferent.
The truth hit me like a blow. My chest tightened and I struggled to catch my breath. I opened the file a little too fast, hoping to prove myself wrong.
Ryan would never divorce me.
As I pulled out the neatly typed documents, the words
DIVORCE AGREEMENT
Were boldly written at the title bar. My legs slowly gave in as I crumpled to the floor. "Divorce?" I managed to say, my voice cracking.
"Yes Hazel. I'm done with you," he said those words so casually. And it wasn't making sense to me.
"But… we… we were fine t..this morning," I struggled to find my voice. He looked away, guilt flickered in his expression, making me hopeful once more. So I continued.
"You promised you'd never leave me". The tears I fought so hard to keep in, flowed freely now. "Remember, we vowed to face this together, Ryan. Till the end ".
I searched his face for answers but there was none. "You said you loved me, Ryan".
"Stop it!" he bellowed, causing me to jump in fright. "Just stop it" this time, a little lower than the first. He turned to look me straight in the eye.
"Do you think I would spend the rest of my life with someone unable to give me a child?" He looked at me like I was never enough for him and it was shattering my heart.
I staggered back, clutching the papers to my chest, shaking my head in disbelief.
Was he really saying that to me now? We both knew the truth. Was he pinning the blame on me now?.
"You are useless, Hazel. A huge burden. Sign the damn papers!".
Ryan never used a curse word on me. Was this really the man I had spent two years with, the one who had held my hand tightly and declared his love for me.
But in place of him stood a monster. My Ryan was gone.
I had sacrificed so much for him. I laid down my dignity to take the blame for his impotence. He assured me it was going to be alright. He told me he was in control and wouldn't let anyone harm me.
But he was the person doing those exact things to me right now.
Tears blurred my vision as the weight of his betrayal came crashing down on me.
The ache in my heart was far greater than any I have experienced, even with my days in high school.