"I don't really care if it's a charity or not, just do something about that clause and close the case. While you're busy fixing the divorce agreement, your purpose is slipping away, Stefan," Venessa didn't desire to give into the agreement no matter what. But they had a few more important things to be concerned about right now.
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Stefan's inquiring gaze fell on her, trying to find the meaning of her words.
Venessa moved towards the drawer adjacent to her bed and came back with an envelope in her hand.
"If you keep beating around the bush, you will never be able to do anything. She is in Costa Rica right now, attending a movie shoot with her team. Go catch her," Venessa stuffed the envelope into his chest pocket and gave his shoulder a little pat.
Did she just tell him to cross the invisible line he never crossed even in this fake marriage? Stefan looked at her eyes to find any predictable reaction but honestly there wasn't any.
He grabbed the envelope from his pocket and opened it to find the flight tickets and the film shooting location written on a paper.
His gaze subconsciously hardened looking at the contents inside the letter for an unspeakable reason.
"I'm not going anywhere until you sign those papers, Venessa," he spoke out finally, while returning the envelope back to her.
Venessa looked at her hand holding the envelope once before returning her gaze towards Stefan again. "So eager to get rid of me, aren't you?"
Stefan was a bit taken aback by the reply. He didn't expect her to say something like that at all.
Does getting rid of include the part where he has to divide his wealth and give the half to her? What kind of abandonment process is this? She asked for freedom from this marriage and he made a better solution out of it and yet she is not satisfied with it one bit.
If Venessa was someone who used his money during their marriage then it would have made sense. But no, she never ever used the card she gave her to use. If she wanted anything, she would purchase it with her own money.
A sudden surge of anger surfaced inside of him, as he didn't know why understanding this woman was becoming harder day by day.
"Let's say I am. Now, sign the paper and be over with it. Once and for all."
The words spelled were much harsher than he wanted it to sound, but saying anything else wouldn't make this any easier.
"Okay… I will sign it but I will hire my lawyer to fix the clause as soon as possible. If there isn't a law, I'll make one, Stefan."
She returned the envelope to his hand.
"Don't waste your time here. I know you always had your people around her followed, unless she moves on. And I know why you're so restless this time because I think it's happening. She is moving on," Venessa continued, returning his scrutiny.
She knew he was that kind of hypocrite who didn't have the guts to claim Alexis back but subconsciously hoping she never moves on. Venessa wanted to tell Stefan no matter how great love they had, Alexis had the right to leave it behind because all these years she was carrying the burden of this past all alone. Just like her.
"What do you mean?" Stefan inquired.
"You know what I mean. For the first time, we have the same goal in mind. Let's play our respective role perfectly."
It wasn't a discussed plan but she knew he got what she meant. Venessa looked at him for the last time tonight and opened the door behind him. She needed to rest well to execute her plan tomorrow.
Stefan put down a small medicine bottle from his pocket on the table before excusing himself for the night. Confused, Venessa bent down to see what it was. It was a cough syrup and she didn't know when she caught a cold.
Did he bring it for her?
Of course he did or else he wouldn't have left it on the table. But she didn't even realise she needed to get one for her cough problem late at night which ended up ruining her sleep. Did she cough so loud at night that it even reached his room?
Venessa crouched beside the table while holding the bottle with one hand and the divorce paper in another.
A sarcastic laugh came out from her mouth. She found the whole situation so funny yet a strange pang in her heart was bothering her.
"You don't serve cough syrup with divorce papers, do you?"
12 hours later
"You didn't sign it," Arthur said after going through the papers once.
"I don't want to."
Arthur glanced at her for once before nodding his head a bit. But Venessa spoke out before he could reply.
"I mean I want to divorce him. But I don't want all of these whatever he added in the agreement."
Arthur looked back at the papers again, trying to recall what exactly Venessa was talking about.
"It can be solved. I can send you some lawyer contact if necessary. Don't worry," he reassured.
Venessa was biting on her nails in tension. She returned her eyes to Arthur again, "It's not about that, Arthur. I'm just so stressed about everything."
She paused and continued again as Arthur didn't reply, "I never wanted this marriage and yes, I want it to end. I feel suffocated in it as I never felt like I was married but a woman who has to watch her every step so that she is not in the news. We never had the mindset to build anything together. It was a disaster."
Arthur saw her pause again and decided to grab a glass of water from the kitchen. He returned with it and handed it to her.
Venessa spelled a silent thank you in gratitude while sipping a little bit from the glass.
"What do you want to do now?" Arthur urged, not exactly in a hurry but in genuine concern.
"I don't really know. My dad was my only family and now he is gone. Stefan was the only one who I can call family, just in papers I guess. But the idea of having no one beside me after this divorce makes me feel so lonely and helpless and I do not know how to adjust with that thought. I wish I could just lean on someone and not be scared to take this decision. I'm so selfish and pathetic, ain't I?"
Venessa looked at Arthur's eyes filled with tears that were so close to fall down on her cheeks. Although she wished for Arthur to buy her words and at least lend her his shoulder to cry but the helplessness she felt for being so lonely wasn't an act.
Deep down she has always been a lonely kid. Her mother and only sibling she had died in a car accident almost 20 years ago and she and her dad were the only people existing in the world.
When she and Stefan met in a random event, they clicked. It was because they both maintained a healthy distance, kept themselves in a shell and yet managed to keep their relationship fine. They were more like perfect partners than two people in love. Arthur never pushed her and she felt it would be alright if they don't work out. Because she thought she was on guard to never feel lonely without him.
But that was her own delusion as she had already fallen in love with him so deep that leaving him made her feel like the only person existing in this world. The loneliness she felt back then compared to nothing and that was her fault anyway.
Arthur never wanted to leave her but respected her decision. Arthur never pushed her around for anything yet genuinely cherished her.
She finally realized after leaving him that he never kept his distance from her. Or he never treated the relationship as two partners. He always cared for her comfort and let her do whatever she felt okay to try in their relationship. She mistook his love for her for companionship. And she regrets leaving that love out so much that it's beyond her words.
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A/N: hello everyone! Hope my dear readers are doing well! I wanted to share that my book 'Aisle Fantasy' has been contracted by Webnovel! It would have been impossible without all of your comments, reviews and supports. I hope I can keep making the story entertaining so that you guys will have a lot more fun in this journey. I also hope everyone of you will keep supporting me even if a little. Please add it to the library and keep voting me if you genuinely like my writing and want to keep encouraging me. See you again in the next chapter!
-nimbu420