My Blind Wife Wants Divorced

His hands clenched tightly, and his gaze fixed on the view outside his window. His flight was scheduled for two hours. For some reason, this business trip left a lingering unease in his heart, especially regarding his wife, who casually left him alone. Her unexpected response took him aback.

Chloe had truly changed. The apologies he offered, the plea for a chance to change, and the delay in their divorce proceedings were all in vain. In the end, Leonel couldn’t persuade Chloe to reconsider. She was deeply hurt, and forgiveness seemed out of reach, causing a growing pain within him.

Leonel let out a long breath, massaging the bridge of his nose in frustration.

“Sir.”

The call made Leonel lift his eyes from his lowered position. “Yes?”

“When are you estimated to return to New York City? Because Mr. Robby asked me to stay on standby at the office.”

Leonel nodded slowly, his mind preoccupied as he felt he left everything behind in his room. “Don’t worry too much, Paulo.” Paulo was his regular driver, who would take him anywhere he needed to go. “I can call a taxi later.”

“Mrs. Chloe will scold me, sir,” he grumbled, his remark spontaneous, furrowing Leonel’s brow.

“What do you mean?”

“Mrs. Chloe always reminds me to drive carefully, especially when you’re in the car. She doesn’t want anything to disturb you while I’m driving alone. Also, she doesn’t want me to be late in picking you up because of your high mobility.”

A warm feeling crept into Leonel’s mind without him realizing it.

“So, for this out-of-town trip, I have to make sure, sir, because it’s the first time you’re going out of town.”

Leonel nodded again. “Once I fly back from Cattle Village, I’ll let you know, Paulo.”

There was no further conversation between them. Paulo focused on the steering wheel while Leonel was preoccupied with his newfound thoughts. He wondered how many surprises Chloe had given him all this time. But what could Leonel do for her? Only cause pain, it seemed.

He disregarded Chloe, considering her a wife without any warmth. But Chloe always positioned herself as a married woman with her dignity. How did she behave during special occasions where Leonel reluctantly involved her? Smiling widely as if Chloe was the luckiest woman by Leonel’s side.

He had been having an affair before, secretly, because Leonel couldn’t possibly ignore Ester. His love was only for Ester. Then Chloe found out whether it could be considered foolish, stupid, or maybe Chloe’s feelings had died. Or worse, did Chloe only care about living a luxurious life, regardless of what Leonel did? Sometimes, Leonel had thoughts like that about his wife.

However, in the days he had been living, where memories of his past and his negligence towards Chloe kept intertwining, he realized that his wife wasn’t playing around with her feelings. And now, everything had turned upside down so easily with Chloe. No warmer smiles welcoming him home. No more dinners deliberately prepared by Chloe. No more messages disturbing him, asking, “What do you want to eat, dear?”

“Oh my God,” Leonel murmured. He rested his head against the plush seat of his luxury sedan, tightly closing his eyes. He remembered his interaction with Chloe a while ago before he left.

“I’m baffled, Chloe.” Leonel no longer cared if he seemed like a beggar. He needed Chloe’s help. Jana Group was not an ordinary group that he could quickly meet. There was a multi-billion project in Malaysia called Mountain Pte, where he was supposed to make a prominent appearance in front of the project’s mega mall.

Because of this significant project, Robby Grisham would never have asked him to be directly involved, especially since Mika wasn’t in New York City.

Leonel followed Chloe’s steps as she slowly climbed the stairs. Should he offer his assistance? Leo already did, but it was rejected. He even wished he could carry his wife to the top of the stairs quickly, not because of anything else but because Leonel was afraid that Chloe might misstep and get hurt. But it didn’t happen. Chloe’s independence helped her memorize every part and corner of the house, even without assistance. There was a pang of pain seeing Chloe trying so hard for him while he didn’t offer much help to his wife.

“Chloe,” he called out again. “Still unwilling to help me?”

The answer Chloe gave was a shake of her head. “I’m tired.”

“I apologize for canceling our visit to your parents’ graves. Instead, after I return from Cattle Village, I’ll accompany you. It’s been a long time since I’ve been there.”

There was disdain at the corner of Chloe’s lips, and even her steps halted. “You? Are you going there? Is there a reason?”

“No. It’s that I haven’t visited there in a long time.

“You’re always busy, Leonel. Always busy. Using busyness as an excuse for neglecting me. No matter what it is. You’re too busy even for trivial things like picking me up after shopping for household necessities. And now?” Chloe scoffed. This time, she focused on the figure standing near her, one step away. In her vision, the figure towered over her. There was a dark shadow that she believed was her husband’s expensive blazer he still wore.

“I apologize,” the man whispered.

“And now you apologize for things you can’t repeat? For all the disappointments you’ve caused?”

Leonel fell silent, cursing how much of a bastard he indeed was. “What can I do to earn your forgiveness, Chloe?”

“Accelerate our divorce. That’s all.” Then Chloe continued climbing the stairs. She tried to control her emotions because talking to Leonel sometimes made her feel like her heart was engulfed in flames. All his mistreatment kept repeating in her mind. Leonel had never insulted her, but what he did was enough to make her feel small at the same time.

“Is there no chance for you to show me that you have the desire to change?”

Chloe, who had already distanced herself by a few steps, turned to Leonel, who was left behind. Leonel could see the many wrinkles on her forehead. That’s what made the man decide to move closer, standing right in front of his wife. He could feel the tension in her body because of his actions. But Leonel didn’t care. This wasn’t the time for intimacy. There was something more meaningful in their crumbling relationship.

“I know that promises are like debts you take to the grave. I’m afraid I won’t be able to fulfill them, which will only disappoint you again, Chloe. I have caused you so much disappointment, but here,” Leonel, with the last of his courage, began reaching for Chloe’s clenched hand. He tried to touch her, but his wife didn’t want any of it.

She roughly pushed Leonel’s hand away. Her eyes were filled with anger.

“I want to save our marriage,” Leonel added, trying to suppress the overwhelming emotions. He had never been rejected before. He had never experienced being ignored. His requests were always explicit and had to be fulfilled, not because he was authoritative but because he asked for a few things to be done in their home. And Chloe had never objected to fulfilling his requests.

But now?

The woman fought back with all her strength. Without hesitation or reserve, especially when the sparkle returned to her eyes and Chloe could see it. Indeed, she had accumulated a lot of anger and frustration toward Leonel.

“Why now?”

“I don’t know; I feel we should still be together. I know I was wrong, but is it wrong to give me a chance?”

Chloe scoffed. “You’ve been blind all this time, haven’t you? It’s me who’s blind now, Leonel!” Her chest heaved heavily. It rose and fell erratically because speaking with Leonel drained her emotions. “For how many years have I blinded my eyes, heart, and mind because of your actions? You’re the one who’s cold to me. You’re the one who treats me as if I’m just a pretty decoration in this luxurious house. You’re the one who betrayed our marriage. I know you love Ester, but here, in this house,” Chloe pointed directly at Leonel’s chest, making him slightly recoil due to her sudden movement.

“In this house, I’m still your wife, right? You’re casually intimate wherever you please. In hotels, villas, even at the office!” Chloe felt like crying, but she held it in. She hadn’t finished speaking, and while she had the courage, she wanted to express all the lingering feelings in her heart.

“How does it feel to watch the body of the man we love to embrace and indulge in intimacy with another woman? And on certain nights, you let that man touch you? How, Leonel?” Chloe asked. This time, her tone was very soft. It was filled with bitterness and sorrow, causing Leonel to struggle to catch his breath. He never expected Chloe to be affected to this extent. He had gone too far.

“And now you want to fix it?” Chloe asked with a sad tone. “How are you going to do that? While here,” Chloe pointed to the side of her head. “And here,” she gestured to her heaving chest. “I can’t get rid of how disgusting you both are.”

“But, Chloe, I promise I’ll change.”

“HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT?!”

Leonel blinked slowly. He had never heard Chloe use such a high-pitched tone during their conversation.

“I’m asking again, how will you do that when your betrayal is unforgivable in my heart, Mas Leonel? Even now, the way you touched Ester is still vivid in my mind. Should I have amnesia to forget your behavior and pretend with this damn marriage again?”

***

The bespectacled man seemed busy with several documents in his hands, including the ones with the hospital logo just a short distance from the stack of reports on his desk.

“Emir,” the man called his assistant, who was busy in front of his laptop screen. The recent call made the owner of the name lookup and quickly approach his boss.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“Yes, sir?”

“Is this doctor the one who has been taking care of Chloe from the beginning?” he asked, pointing to a portrait tucked among the logoed documents.

“Yes, sir. His name is Darren.”

Josh, the man, seemed to be deep in thought. His eyes focused on the picture of the man in a white coat.

“Doctor Darren has been very helpful to Mrs. Chloe, sir. And from my investigation at the hospital, their relationship is only between doctor and patient.”

Josh looked at his assistant with a furrowed brow and nodded slightly as if understanding. “Keep an eye on him, Emir. I don’t want any other man in Chloe’s life now. She should be by my side.”

“Understood, sir.”

Josh closed the documents with the logo and roughly put them in the desk drawer. He still had much to care for and didn’t want Darren to interrupt him. Josh knew Darren had contributed significantly to Chloe’s recovery, but there should still be boundaries between them. Should he come and warn him? But if he did that, Chloe would surely realize his presence.

“How is our plan going?” Josh asked, trying to shift his thoughts.

“It’s going well, sir. Miss Ester’s assistant has already informed us they have arrived at our arranged hotel.”

Josh nodded again. Emir’s work was commendable. The way he coordinated everything Josh wanted always ended perfectly.

“And… Leonel?”

Emir smiled. “He’s on his way to Cattle Village.”

“Good. I can rest peacefully then.”