Chapter Thirty Three
Axel's POV
"What do you mean?" I asked, flabbergasted. I kept a collected demeanor, hoping to keep the stir in my stomach under control. "You don't need to think this through. Just sign the paper."
"Axel, I don't want a divorce. I want our marriage to work out." Her lips quivered as tears formed in the corners of her eyes. This wasn't what I expected her to say. I walked into this restaurant with absolute confidence that what I expected to happen would happen. She would sign the papers without hesitation and I'd leave a legally single man. What the fuck was going on?
"You're being absurd." That was all I had managed to say.
"I think I'm actually making sense for the first time in years." She forced a smile but her eyes said differently.
"Guiles, we have our own lives now. Hindi na mangyayari ang gusto mong mangyari." My eyes flared with impatience. I tried to keep my voice steady but it became increasingly difficult, I couldn't help the edgy roughness that rose from my throat. "I don't want anything to do with you anymore."
"I made a mistake of leaving you. I was young. We were both young. I was scared because I didn't know how to be a wife. I felt caged and confined, I wasn't responsible enough to keep up with the role I was playing. I know you never controlled me but I felt like I had to live up to being a good wife to you." Her eyes flooded with tears, her voice broken and shaking as she spoke. "I felt myself changing and that scared me. I wanted to feel free again- uninhibited. I had an affair just to confirm my freedom. When you found out about us, umalis ako, sumama ako sa kanya kasi akala ko iyon ang gusto ko. Nagkamali ako. It only made me realize how much I love you. How much I would be willing to give up my freedom to be with you."
Everything she said didn't matter anymore. Nothing could be done now. It was over. Kahit ano pa ang sabi niya hindi na mababalik ang nararamdaman ko para sa kanya. I didn't feel hate or resentment. I only felt indifference- indifference mixed with the desire to simply get over it.
"I'm with a wonderful woman now. I love her more than anything in this world and I can't live without her. You're right. We were both young and stupid and we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. We treated marriage as a game. I only married you because I wanted to prove to my parents that they were wrong about us. What we had wasn't love. I only realized it when I fell in love with Valerie. The feelings I have for her, that's what love's supposed to be, that's how it's supposed to feel like." I didn't feel a bit guilty about admitting it. It was the truth. The relationship I had with Guiles was shallow, based on little more than physical attraction and sex. No depth. The things I feel for Valerie, I never felt for anyone else.
Her hands reached to one of mine that was resting over the table. She held it tightly, her eyes bore into me with desperate plea, swelling with tears. "Mahal kita, Axel. I tried to reach out to you, you know that! Sinubukan kong bumalik sa'yo noon. Sinubukan kong ayusin ang relasyon natin. Ayaw mong makipag-usap sa akin. You changed your number, you left our home, I emailed you, I sent you letters but I never heard back from you. I wanted to fix our marriage but I just didn't know what to do."
I gently slid my hand from her grip. "I think it's past time for us to move on and start a new life."
"I can't." She shook her head.
I closed my eyes and leaned back against my seat. This was harder than I thought it would be. I didn't know what the right words to say, I wasn't prepared for this. We had been estranged for years. I hadn't seen her or talk to her for three years. I didn't expect any explanation from her. I didn't expect that this would happen. I just wanted her to sign the goddamn papers. What she was doing now was completely out of character. The Guiliana I knew wouldn't do what she was doing now. She wouldn't be crying and begging. I remembered when I walked into her having sex with another man in our own bedroom. She was surprised but still collected. I sat on the living room, shocked as I waited for them to get dressed. They walked out of the bedroom like nothing had happened. The guy left and we calmly talked the situation over. She said she was sorry like someone would apologize for being late. Yes, she apologized to me that casually. I told her to leave, she stood up, went to our bedroom and came out with luggages in her hand. She said she loves and that she was sorry but she didn't beg me to forgive her. She didn't cry.
I let out a deep breath and I lifted my eyes up to her. "Tapusin na natin ito. This marriage is a huge mistake."
"No... We can make this work. Handa na ako ngayon. I know better now." She desperately said. I knew I couldn't convince her to sign the papers. I knew nothing I say right now would. And I couldn't for her to sign it. I was just wasting my time and breath.
I got to my feet. She followed me with her eyes, looking up at me. "Axel..."
"My lawyer will talk to you regarding this matter. Wait for his call." I calmly said.
I turned and headed toward's the restaurant's door to leave. She called my name but I ignored her. I hated myself right now. Why did I have to wait until Valerie to end this god forsaken marriage? Three years. I had three fucking years but I did nothing about it. Now I run the risk of hurting her. May balak naman akong sabihin kay Valerie pero gusto ko kapag tapos na ang lahat, kapag maayos na. Akala ko 'pagbalik ko sa kanya masasabi ko na. Maipagtatapat ko na din kay Tristan ang tungkol sa amin ni Val. But I guess that would have to wait a little longer.
"Axeeeeeeel!" Valerie jumped on to me and wrapped her legs around my waist the moment she saw me. She clung to my body like a koala clinging to a tree. I firmly held on to her bottom with both my hands to keep her from falling. Her arms wrapped around me as she looked down at me with the most beautiful pair of eyes I had ever seen. "Hindi mo naman sinabi sa akin na uuwi ka na pala ngayon. I missed you." She cutely pouted.
"I missed you too." I smiled.
Her hands went up to my face, cupping it. She leaned towards me, deeping her head close to mine. She was so close. I could feel her fresh and warm breath on my face. I could smell her citrus facial scrub mixed with her toothpaste's minty scent. She smelled deliciously clean. I tilted my jaw, wanting her to kiss me, aching for her lips on mine.
"Mwa, mwa, mwa!" She left peck kisses on my lips with exaggerated sounds. I chuckled and impatiently threw her on the couch and positioned myself on top of her, straddled between her legs. Her white camisole nighties hitched up to her stomach, revealing her pink panties. I hated that her panties and my jeans were gettinng in the way between us. Before she could even have time to react, I locked my lips with hers. I gave her a long and passionate kiss, trying to make up for those two days I wasn't with her. I nibbled her lips, unable to conating myself, my longing and my desire.
She gently pushed me away and turned her head to her side, away from me. "Hep! Mamaya na yan! Ang aga-aga. Kagigising ko lang. Let's save it for later."
I buried my head in her neck and grumbled against her skin. Hell, she had no idea how much I wanted her right now. I had been starving for her. But I guess this was enough for now. Her warmth was soothing and everything my body wanted at this moment. She giggled, running her fingers through my hair. "Kwentuhan mo muna ako. How was your trip to Italy?"
"Just fine." I simply said. And Everything I was trying to forget came back to me. Guiliana and the divorce. She was too fucking stubborn. She didn't want to sign the papers. She didn't want to cooperate. I wished I could tell Val about it but I wasn't able to gather enough courage. I was afraid of losing her. I took in a deep breath and exhaled.
"Fine? What do you mean fine? Didn't you have fun?" Her brows raised as she looked down at me.
"I went there for business, not to have fun." I took her hand and brought it to my lips. "Besides, I couldn't have fun without you. The only fun I got was when we video-"
"Axel!" She covered my mouth with her hand. I saw how her cheeks turned a warm shade of red.
I pushed her hand away from my mouth and started laughing. She gave me a frown, turning redder than she had ever been. She looked so embarrassed that I kind of felt bad. I lifted my body up with my elbow to level with her face. "You don't ever have to be embarrassed with me. That was hot as hell. You are, without exception, the best lover I have ever been with."
She rolled her eyes at me but smiled anyway. "You taught me well."
"I did." I agreed, nuzzling my nose on her jawline. "I'm honored to be your mentor. There's still a lot of things I want to teach you."
"I love you." She whispered to my ear and I froze. Damn! I felt so fucking guilty. I wanted to get divorced as soon as possible so we could finally be free. Gusto kong sabihin, hindi lang sa kanya kung hindi sa buong mundo kung gaano ko siya kamahal. I wanted to show her off to everyone and let them know I'm a very lucky man for having her.
Valerie's POV
It was Sunday today. The weather was good so Axel and I had our breakfast at the terrace. It had a nice view of the city and fresh, fresh air. We usually spend the whole Sunday together. We go out on dates or we stay at home and watch tv. It doesn't really matter what we do, basta magkasama kami. We were having a really nice breakfast when his phone suddenly rang. He said he had to answer it and went inside. When he came back he told me that he needed to go. Mayroon daw siyang emergency meeting na kailangan puntuhan. So I was left here alone to finish my breakfast.
Axel had been acting... different lately. Madalas inaabot na siya ng madaling araw sa library. Sometimes I hear him talking to someone over the phone in the bathroom. Kapag naman nahuhuli ko siyang may kausap sa phone, he would suddenly stop mid-sentence. Madalas na din siyang umalis ngayon ng hindi ko alam kung saan siya pumupunta. Ang palagi niyang dahilan, meeting. I felt like he was hiding something from me.
I shrugged the thought away. Maybe he was just really busy with work. I shouldn't put too much thought about it. After finishing my breakfast, I headed to the bathroom to take a shower. I thought of what I should do today while I was in the shower. Maybe I should call my friends and invite them out for lunch or maybe I could Nichole and we could watch a movie together at the cinema. I got out of the shower but I still hadn't figured out what I wanted to do. As I was getting dressed the doorbell rung.
Who could that be? Wala naman sinabi sa akin si Axel na may dadating na bisita. I quickly put on my clothes and went to answer the door. I looked through the peephole and saw a woman standing there. She pressed the doorbell again. I hesitated to open the door but finally did anyway.
I stared at her, eyeing her from head to toe. She had an auburn and wavy hair, her skin was olive and tan. She wore a blue casual dress. Her eyes were dark brown, her nose thin and so was her lips. She was pretty.
"Hi." She gave me a smile. Her red lips curling around her white teeth. "Is this where Atticus lives?"
"Yes, it is but he's not here." I coldly answered.
"It's okay. I'll just wait for him." She said and held her hand out to me. "By the way, I'm Guiliana Di Fiordo."
She immediately got under my skin. I just glanced at her hand,grimacing and making it obvious that I didn't want a handshake before I looked back up to her face. She dropped her hand down to her side, still retaining her smile. It annoyed me even more.
"I'm his girlfriend." I possesively said, giving her the fakest smile.
"I'm his wife." She said.
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