The Second Marriage Chance

Sarah

Philip's arms folded tightly across his chest, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. The enigmatic gleam in his eyes hinted at depths of emotion I couldn't fathom. Yet, it was clear that my words had struck a nerve, and his reaction spelled trouble.

"What's all this about?" he queried, a touch of amusement lacing his tone. Though not yet consumed by anger, his incredulity suggested he found my words utterly ridiculous.

A wave of realization washed over me, accompanied by the relentless ache of the past two days. It spurred me to assert my desires.

"I understand you want to end things, Philip. So, I'm granting you the freedom to pursue whomever you please." Be it Megan, his audacious secretary, or any other temptress lurking in the shadows, I refused to be the pitiful pawn left waiting at home!

His reaction was immediate, fury igniting in his eyes as he seized my arms, drawing us together with an intensity that bordered on violence.

"Why? So that you can be with the man you brought here last night?" His accusation cut through the tension like a knife.

"Don't twist things around! I don't even know who that person is!" My protest was sharp but futile as I struggled against his unyielding grasp, unable to break free.

"Ugh!"

With a brutal shove, he sent me crashing onto the couch, the impact twisting my neck and hips with savage force. And then, a surge of fear enveloped me as he settled himself at the center table, his presence looming over me like a predatory monarch, poised to strike at any moment. It felt like I was caught in the stare of a fierce tiger, just waiting to attack its prey.

"Sarah, you willingly signed up for this chaotic hell with me! Convince me why I should entertain your ridiculous proposal!" His demand echoed in the room.

Summoning courage, I recalled the secretary's distressing moans from earlier.

"Do you want an answer? Do you want a reason? We don't love each other!" I retorted, my voice trembling with defiance.

"We never loved each other from the beginning!" His retort reverberated with suppressed rage. "Ever since we signed the contract and prenuptial agreement three years ago, we've been aware that love wasn't growing between us! So, give me a f[u]cking reason! Why do you want a divorce?!"

Tears blurred my vision, a blend of anguish and apprehension. "I married you when Megan left, and now that she's returned, she's reclaiming her role as your wife! Isn't that reason enough?"

He gripped my chin forcefully, forcing me to meet his intense gaze. His words were sharp, digging into me like his fingers into my skin. "Do you think I'm a fool? You're using Megan's return as a pretext to leave me for your lover! You saw an opportunity and seized it!"

'This pig!'

"Do you need another reason? I despise this damned life!" I spat at him, feeling an agonizing stab in my chest. I was drained from two days of relentless tears. "I won't waste another moment resenting you if you're too selfish to grant me freedom!"

The harsh reality is-I refuse to continue tormenting myself by foolishly holding onto a man who refuses to give me the love I rightfully deserve.

"I demand respect, Philip!" I gave him a frigid stare.

He released my chin, sneering, "Seriously? Coming from you? I was the one you cheated on our anniversary! And now you're gaslighting me, Sarah?"

His eyes gleamed with memories of the previous night, stabbing into me with a cruel reminder.

It's bitterly ironic; it's soul-crushing; my situation wrenches tears from my eyes.

"The person in those photos is just a friend! He's just some classmate from the university where Jane and I studied! I don't know the person you found in the room, and that's the last explanation I'll offer! What more do you want?" "What I want is for you to stay here and play the role of the submissive wife, that is!" each word sliced into me like a razor from his mouth.

Philip rose from his seat, striding purposefully toward the main door, leaving me in a state of frantic uncertainty. Where was he off to? Panic surged through me as I snatched the papers from the side table.

"No! I want a divorce, Philip! I'm not asking for money or anything! I want to be free from this marriage!" My plea spilled out; desperation tinged every word.

He spun on his heels to confront me again, his hand balling into a tight fist.

"Tell me, Philip... Did you ever, even once in three years, imagine yourself loving me?"

I dared to hope, foolishly clinging to the possibility that his response could somehow alter my course. Yet, he only met my anticipation with a sneer, his chuckle echoing with venomous mockery. "Don't make me laugh, Sarah. Spare me your delusions! Everything between us has been purely about pleasure and business."

My tears cascaded down my cheeks like a torrential storm, driven by the cutting winds of his indifference. The pain was unbearable, suffocating me with its tight grip.

If he couldn't love me, fine, but to trample upon me with such disrespect? It was a dagger to my already wounded heart. I had to cling to what little remained of my sanity to claw my way out of this abyss of suffering. He must agree to the divorce for my survival.

Agonizingly, I sank to my knees upon the frigid marble, anguish ripping through my heart. "Please..."

His fury intensified at the pitiful sight before him. With venomous spite, he closed in on me, snatching the papers from my grasp with a cruel force. Without remorse, he scrawled his signature across the documents and callously hurled them into my face.

With a thunderous slam, he stormed out of the room. The metallic clang of the garage door opening resonated through the air, followed by the unmistakable roar of his sports car engine as he peeled away from Serenity Pines Estate, leaving behind a trail of bitterness and resentment.

For what seemed like an eternity, I remained on my knees, aching with the weight of his departure. Alone, I wrapped my arms around myself, staring numbly at the scattered remnants of our failed marriage strewn across the floor. Should I be happy that this tumultuous exchange marked the most extended interaction Philip and I have shared in my memory, even if each word was a dagger to my soul? I suppose I should find some twisted joy in the fact that I'm finally breaking free from this wretched union now that the damned papers are signed.

Soon enough, I'll revert to being Ms. Sarah Mitchell-the discarded relic of Philip's past, his ex-wife.

***

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Philip didn't return home last night, leaving me in a state of uncertainty about his whereabouts. His message was crystal clear: he no longer wanted to be in my presence. Dealing with the emotional fallout left me with a splitting headache, which lingered until well into the afternoon as I struggled to tend to my well-being.

My vision blurred as I sifted through the divorce papers, a weighty task compounded by the added revelation of the pregnancy test result.

"I must remain resilient and prioritize my health for the baby's sake," I murmured.

Wandering through the kitchen like a ghost without purpose, I clumsily tossed whatever fruits I could scavenge from the fridge into the blender, hoping to quell the gnawing ache in my stomach.

Returning to the living room, I was met with the unwelcome sight of my mother-in-law sitting on the couch, her expression a blend of disapproval and disdain. The roaring of the blender likely drowned out the sound of her arrival.

"Philip said you're divorcing! I'm here to ensure you're kicked out of Serenity Pines Estate immediately!" she spat venomously. I wasn't taken aback; her eagerness to see me ousted was as predictable as the sunrise. It would be a miracle if she showed an ounce of decency.

Amir's words echoed in my mind like a beacon of hope. He offered me shelter in the neighboring villa if I needed it. And right now, I desperately need his help more than ever.

"Please don't worry. You won't see me around starting tomorrow," I said casually.

Presently, she maintains a rope to me as Philip's mother; thus, I shall uphold my reverence towards her for the time being.

However, she suddenly felt dizzy, her hand instinctively reaching for her head and chest.

"Oh my God... I understand that you and Philip are going through a breakup, but could you please take me to the hospital? I think I'm having a migraine attack. Ow! Sarah, it hurts so much! Please, accompany me to the hospital," she pleaded. My concern for Philip's mother deepened. Despite the painful realization that she doesn't harbor any warmth towards me and the bleak prospect of fostering a harmonious relationship, I couldn't bear to leave her unattended.

After assisting her, as I prepared to leave through the main door, I realized that the papers I had reviewed earlier were nowhere to be found on the center table.

Did I misplace them?