CHELSEA

Raphael has already left for work, and here I am, sitting here in the study like some kind of sick lost puppy waiting for her owner to return.

Even though Rowena, who is like a mother to me promised me that he will be back in an hour, the scoundrel still hasn't been kind enough to bless me with his presence. “You should take a rest, Miss Chelsea. Stop overthinking. It will just stress you out.”

“Thank you, Rowena.” I smiled and nodded at her and then she left afterward.

I had chills down my spine whenever I thought about him being with that snarky assistant of his, but I immediately disregarded the possibility that he was cheating on me.

“Raphael will never do that to me.”

I didn’t know how long I had slept on the study, but the next thing I knew, I woke up when I heard the car’s engine. I immediately fixed myself and walk through the living room.

Raphael eventually walked through the door a few minutes later with an attitude that was first unconcerned but quickly transformed into a menacing stare as he gazed at me before gently closing the door.

I felt so exhausted of his games. I can no longer take it so I decided to confront him.

“Raphael, please!” I yelled out at him as he attempted to walk away from me.

"You know, if you were a real man, you would've addressed the issue that you apparently have with me instead of ignoring me like some stranger. I am so tired of this! What is this game you’re trying to play on me, huh?"

After that, he shifted his attention towards me, and I let out a brief, gloomy chuckle before responding. “Tell me, Raphael! Please talk to me! I don’t-”

"Chelsea! You better stop yelling at me!” I was stunned when he suddenly screamed.

“What? Are you surprise? And now you decide on playing innocent? Acting like you're so clueless? Like you haven't been going around fucking other men behind my back!" Raphael’s gaze at me feels like a fire burning. And it was scary.

"Fuck… fucking other men? What are you saying? Are you kidding me Raphael!” I snapped out. His words were more than painful as I thought.

“So, you assume me of cheating and chose to ignore me for nearly a month instead of confronting me about it? What the hell, Raph! I haven't and never cheated on you! You're my first everything and cheating on you was never on my mind!" I cried.

I watched as the anguish and malice in his eyes started to fade, but I could still make out traces of it.

Raphael did not answer but instead proceeded towards a door, entered it, and then emerged a short while later with a number of photographs of what I assume to be proof.

As he got closer, he turned them around to face me, and to say that I was taken aback by the sight of them would be an understatement.

There were images of Nicolas and I together... kissing, passionately.

I can't even fathom the thought of my lips coming in contact with him. Never, that was so vile even by just thinking about it.

I approached the question cautiously and stated, "So this is it, Raphael? You think that I cheated on you with my best friend?" The same thing happened with him not responding as it always does. "That has got to be the craziest thing anyone has ever accused me of doing!"

When he made the charge, it was very difficult for me to maintain a serious attitude and to refrain from laughing in his face.

I couldn't help but notice how frustrated he looked as he ran his hand through his hair and let out a deep sigh.

After moments of contemplation, he started to speak. "Let’s stop this. Chelsea, I do not have the patience for your craziness or so. I can no longer trust you, so whether you like it or not, we are getting a divorce." He said this because he can no longer believe her.

“D-Divorce?” That completely ruined my disposition.

“Raphael!” I cried out and held onto him as I said, "What are you saying? That girl doesn't even look like me, are you serious? Can’t you see it, huh? Our figures have a lot of difference. Look at it carefully! Do you really think that Nicolas and I will be together? That I will cheat on you for him? Come on, that's impossible!"

As I felt tears welling up in my awful eyes, I mentally swore at myself and began to mentally hate myself.

As I wipe my tears away, I tried to calm myself out and then talked to him again. "I'm your damn wife, Raphael. We’ve been together for so long. So, I believe you know me so well. How can you not see that it's not me in these photos? These have obviously been edited. It was so obvious, love. Please."

He yanked his arm out from my hold in a violent manner. "Enough, Chelsea. Stop being so dramatic and denial. I want you to have everything packed up and out of here by tonight, and I want you to be at the company bright and early in the morning to sign the divorce papers."

When I glanced at him, all he did was stare at me with a blank expression on his face. He did not answer to any of my questions. "No fucking way, Raphael! This is not real! How can you not believe me, your own wife over some photoshopped pictures!"

I quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand to stop any tears from falling. I am so pitiful right now and he would not let me weep in front of him.

As I walked away from the table and toward the stairwell, I stated calmly, "Alright, if that’s what you really want, then I'll go, Raphael. But you can throw away or burn everything that you bought for me because I won't be needing anything from you." I had already made my decision to leave.

As I thought he will no longer speak, he suddenly said, "Yes, Chelsea. That’s a good thing then. Don’t worry, as I won't be needing a wife that can't stick to her vows. I don't need someone who only wants the attention of other men. I don’t need a liar nor a cheating wife. I don’t need you, Chelsea!"

CHELSEA

I didn't bother to respond to what Raphael and said, and I didn't try to wipe away my tears either since I knew he couldn't see them. Instead, I proceeded to climb the steps on the stairs.

I had grabbed a bag that I had purchased with my own funds and put in as much as I could that I had obtained on my own before I phoned the only person I could to tell them to pick me up.

“Please, pick me up. I want to be out of here, right now.” I had gotten the bag after I had everything that I could get on my own.

I was startled when I heard the door open, and I hastily wiped the tears from my eyes before turning around to face Rowena's stare. When I turned around, she was standing there, “Miss Chelsea…”

I could tell by the way that she was looking at me that she was aware of everything that had taken on in the living room.

She rushed towards me and gave me a hug that almost broke my bones while pleading with me to remain and assuring me that he would eventually come to his senses, “Miss Chelsea, everything will pass. I know, he’ll calm down soon. Please understand…”

“No, Rowena. It’s all over now. Let’s accept what it is. Besides, I am already exhausted.”

I assured her that we would stay in touch, and that in the very unlikely event that Raphael ever looked for me, she was under no obligation to provide him with any information on me or my location.

In addition to Nicolas, Rowena was the only other person who was aware that I was pregnant.

I can feel that Rowena was really sad of the sudden events, but she can’t do anything about it so she just offered the following advice to me, "Why don't you tell him that you're pregnant? I know that he'd want to have a child. Maybe this will change his mind.”

"Do you think so? Because for me, I think it will be useless anyway. What good would that do? He'd just accuse the baby of being Nicolas'... and he's not even listening to a word I say. Let’s not dwell on this matter, Rowena. I can get through this, don’t worry.” I explained, with a calm expression.

She attempted to argue with me, but I simply shook my head and then she said, "Please Chelsea... just wait a few more minutes. I'm sure he'll cool off."

My voice broke as I stated the following words, "No, he won’t. He's accusing me of cheating Rowena. The same man who I gave everything to who's now turned his back on me faster than anyone else... I've done nothing but support him and he's treating me as if I'm nothing to him."

I begged with her, "Just promise me that you won't tell him about my pregnancy, please?"

Rowena gently nodded her head and then gave me another warm embrace.

She grudgingly gave up, knowing that she couldn't alter my decision, and she forced me to swear to call and text her every day before heading downstairs with me.

I could feel Raphael's focused attention on me as we neared the bottom step, but I ignored it as I proceeded towards the door.

Patrick, the butler, approached me and inquired, "Mrs. Ludington, would you like for me to assist you to your destination or help carry your bag?".

Before he took my things from my hand, with a scowl on his face, I said, "No, thank you Patrick. And it's just Chelsea now." After that, he hugged me.

Patrick helped me out by opening the door and trying to carry my suitcase while I was on the phone with Rowena, but I declined his assistance and closed the door behind him.

As soon as I came outside, my eyes started to flood up with tears as I saw him resting against the side of the vehicle. I couldn't help but feel terrible.

When I got closer to him, he put his arms out to indicate that he can give me an embrace, so I made a beeline for him and gave him a bear hug as if he were my only source of support, regardless of whether or not Raphael was looking now at us.

Who gives a damn about what Raphael thinks?

“Hush now, Ches. Everything will be fine, trust me.” In a small number of people, Nicolas was one of the few who would never abandon me.

Before we both got into his vehicle and departed, he took my luggage away and motioned for me to sit in the passenger seat while saying, "Come on, I have your favorite chocolate cake waiting for us to eat, and we can watch whatever you want."

“Thank you, Nicolas, thank you so much.”

CHELSEA

The next day, Nicolas and I made our way into the civil affairs building.

As we walked, I tried to distract myself by playing with my hands. Nicolas was pacing back and forth and saying things that shouldn't be shouted out loud as I was in the elevator attempting to calm down my emotions.

“Wait, just why do I feel nervous more than you are?” Nicolas stated. I looked at him with a clouded mind.

Yes, Nicolas, my best friend was also my lawyer. Raphael was aware of the fact that I had never had legal representation, but here, I have Nicolas with me.

Nicolas has always had an interest in law, back to when he was still in high school. He would go on and on about it, all the while tuning in to Law & Order whenever he had the chance.

I must confess that I was taken aback that he really pursues it, because Nicolas doesn't give off the vibe of someone who would want to have a career in law.

My attorney, Nicolas, was standing over there in the corner of the elevator considering whether or not he should be professional or give Raphael a piece of his mind, with the latter option potentially causing him to lose his job.

As soon as the doors to the elevator opened, we went straight into the conference room. As much as I wanted to keep my head down, I was aware that doing so would only make me seem guilty.

As a result, I kept my head up and looked ahead as Nicolas and I sat on the other side of the large table.

Raphael, his lawyer, and Sylvia, his slutty assistant, were standing in front of us at the time. The sneer that was plastered on her face as she sat so next to Raphael made me urgently want to leap over the table and smack her upside the head. I maintained my focus on my hands, which were clasped together and resting on the glass table.

“What is that bitch doing here?” Nicolas asked but I didn’t respond.

I am furious as much as he is. I'm willing to wager that Sylvia was involved in some way with those fake and photoshopped images that Raphael showed to me. ‘This leech got the nerves!’

"Ms. Sheldon, are you sure that you don't want any of the money that Mr. Ludington has offered to split on your behalf?" The attorney made the request for the third time.

And for the third time as well, I nodded with confidence.

"I have complete faith in my client's ability to take care of herself. She will not have any need for any financial assistance from Mr. Ludington.” It was Nicolas, who answered with words in my behalf. As I listened to his comments, the beginnings of a grin crept their way towards my face.

"All right, since Mr. Ludington has already signed before you arrived, the only thing left for you to do at this point is to simply sign this paper, and then you'll be finished." As the man continued to narrate, the breaking of my heart became even more intense.

[DIVORCE AGREEMENT]

‘So, this is it. We are really cutting the ties now. This simple paper will put ending in everything I and Raphael have.’

I rapidly wrote my name with nervous hands as the attorney slid the paper towards me, and then I pushed them both back towards him. I had just enough time to grab the closest pen before he moved the document.

"Are we done here?" During the time when we were getting ready to go, Nicolas inquired.

"Leave us for the time being." I was startled into looking up by Raphael's motion, which was directed at him and me.

While his lawyer and assistant were unwillingly departing, Nicolas glanced at me, concerned that he would be leaving me by myself. I indicated to him with a movement of my head that he should wait outside the room.

After everyone had left the room, the tension had reached an even higher point. After a few more seconds, Raphael finally opened his mouth to say something. "Why didn't you take any of the money that was offered to you? Isn't that the reason why you really consented to being married to me two years ago?"

His words, it was like daggers that kept on hitting me on the chest. He has no remorse, even at the very end.

Two years, we had been married for almost two years, yet he was fooled by the phony photographs he received by whoever lunatic it came from.

I jumped up from my seat quickly, and he did the same thing at the same time. As I could feel tears beginning to gather in my eyes, I kept my head bowed down. I can't let him see me sobbing.

"You decided to divorce me just at the time when I needed you and your support the most! Raphael, I am…" I started, but then he snapped cutting me off.

“I put my faith in you, Chelsea. I have loved you more than you could ever imagine, and now you're treating me like this! Why'd you, do it? Was I not up to your standards? Am I not enough, huh? I really must find out the reason for this damn betrayal!" He shouted, preventing me from continuing my words.

It wasn't until I felt one of his rough, large hands hold onto my chin that I realized he was standing in front of me. As a result, I was forced to look up at him.

"Raphael, for the nth time, I am telling you that I didn't do it. I never cheated on you," I lowered my voice and attempted to avoid making eye contact with him while I spoke. As he looked up at me, he was struggling to control his breathing.

"Enough with the bullshits! Don't make up lies to me!"

"I'm telling the truth, Raphael!" I sobbed as I pulled him away from me and frantically wiped the tears that were streaming down my cheeks as at the same time I yelled out.

“You said you have faith in me, right? Then you should already be aware of the fact that I wouldn't fucking lie about anything like this!”

“You are nothing but a piece of trash who is being kept in the dark by their own sense of superiority. What type of spouse can't tell the difference between photos that have been retouched and the woman who is really his wife?”

“Raphael, I have always been here for you, through the good times and the bad. I stayed up with you in every possible way I could. I assisted you in everything, may it be in my simplest ways. And because of what you recommended, I really quit working and became a full time house wife.”

“Yet, here we are. Ending the ties. Because after all, you still can't hear me out, after all that I've already done for you, can you?”

“You can't for the life of you open those darn eyes and see what's really taking place, can you? Do you still think that the main reason I stayed in this marriage was for the financial stability it provided? If that was the only thing you wanted to say, then this conversation is over. If you had enough, then I had enough too!”

“I really hope that you have a wonderful time adjusting to your new life and that you meet someone who appreciates your unique attitude and unconventional approaches to problems. I wish you wouldn’t want to find me in the future, but if you do, please, don't bother." I said before abruptly turning around and leaving as the last strains of my voice faded away.

I made my way to the parking lot where Nicolas is waiting. And as soon as he saw me, he run towards me and gave me one of the warmest embraces he could offer.

“I am here for you, Ches. Don’t worry. I will help you to get through this.”