Married, Divorced, Desired Again

"Lena, your husband still hasn't answered your calls, has he?" Maia Gordon asked with concern.

Lena Dixon detected her colleague's unspoken pity.

Each unanswered ring seemed to hollow her out further, dragging Lena deeper into the bleak realization.

Just two days ago, Lena had visited an art gallery to oversee preparations for her husband's upcoming exhibit. Without warning, the ceiling had collapsed, leaving her trapped beneath debris for agonizing hours, desperately calling her husband Theo Haynes without response.

When rescuers finally freed her, she was drenched in her own blood, her shoulder shattered so gravely it required metal screws to hold it together. Even now, every beat of her heart echoed painfully in her wounded shoulder.

Lena stared at the dark screen of her phone. Her face looked ghostly pale, fingers trembling uncontrollably from lingering trauma.

But the deepest pain wasn't from her physical injuries. It came from the icy realization stabbing through her heart.

Whenever Lena desperately needed Theo, he always vanished.

Witnessing Lena's quiet suffering, Maia couldn't hold back her frustration. "What's wrong with your husband, anyway? You could've died, yet he can't even call you back after two days? You're getting discharged, and he is yet to show up. You might as well be single at this rate."

With quiet sarcasm, Lena murmured, "He's probably too tied up."

Theo always used work as a shield-too occupied, always unavailable.

Three years spent married to him, and all Lena had gained was an empty title, one she clung to foolishly.

Maia's tone sharpened. "Too tied up to even answer his phone? That's not busy-that's cold-hearted."

Her words sliced Lena deeply, cutting through the last remnants of her illusions.

Lena swallowed her bitterness, forcing a smile far more painful than tears.

Suddenly, Maia gasped, her eyes widening at something on her phone. "Oh, wow. Lena, look-seems like the ever-elusive Mr. Haynes took an international flight just to attend his girl's art exhibition. Dropped everything just for her."

A chill clawed up Lena's spine.

Maia handed over the phone, openly scoffing, "Take a good look at Mr. Haynes. Compare him with your husband. You nearly died, and your husband didn't even care to answer a single call. Lena, why are you still holding onto someone like him?"

Lena stared wordlessly, frozen by the screen's glow.

Maia had no idea-the Mr. Haynes she spoke of was Lena's cold-hearted husband.

At that instant, Lena's carefully crafted delusions shattered. Theo's supposed business trip was a total lie. He had traveled halfway around the world for his first love, Violet Ford.

Back then, Theo and Violet had seemed destined to marry.

Then a car crash robbed Theo of his sight, and Violet fled abroad, leaving him at his most vulnerable.

During his darkest days, Lena remained faithfully beside him. Everyone mocked her loyalty, but she ignored their ridicule, believing her devotion would someday earn her Theo's genuine affection.

After regaining his eyesight, Theo had offered her nothing but a marriage of convenience.

As she looked now at the warm affection in Theo's eyes as he greeted Violet at the airport, Lena's stomach twisted painfully.

"Romance Confirmed? Haynes Group CEO Welcomes Artist Vee at Airport."

Reading the headline destroyed Lena's last fragment of hope.

Artist Vee, whose exhibition Lena had painstakingly organized, was none other than Violet herself.

All along, Lena had organized an event for Theo's true love, and it nearly cost her her own life.

While she had been trapped and scared under the rubble, Theo had met Violet, reigniting their lost flame. Lena felt as if the knife in her heart had twisted deeper.

Oblivious to Lena's reaction, Maia commented on the photo. "Look at his expression-so gentle and warm. I heard they were college sweethearts. Maybe they've finally found their way back together. They really look perfect together."

Quietly and bitterly, Lena laughed. "You're right-they're perfect."

She handed back Maia's phone without another word, then quietly left, heading home.

...

Theo didn't return home until long past midnight.

As soon as he stepped inside, an unfamiliar irritation rose within him.

Usually, Lena left a welcoming glow, no matter how late he returned. But darkness now blanketed the house, creating a sense of emptiness.

Bothered by the unusual atmosphere, Theo climbed the stairs and entered the master bedroom.

In the dim moonlight, Lena's small frame lay curled beneath the sheets.

The instant the door creaked, Lena opened her eyes, wide awake.

An unfamiliar scent filled the air, sweetly pungent perfume she didn't recognize. She guessed it was Violet's.

A burning pain surged through Lena's chest. Thankfully, darkness masked her distress.

Theo lay down beside her. Quietly, Lena reached for him, slipping her hand beneath his shirt.

She traced his warm abdomen, moving downward, lower still.

Theo's breath hitched sharply. Abruptly, he grabbed her wrist, voice tight with tension. "What are you trying to do, Lena?"

Leaning in, Lena whispered by Theo's ear, her voice a gentle murmur, "Theo... your grandpa thinks it's time for us to start a family."

Theo froze, his breath caught in his throat. Moments later, he responded with a derisive chuckle, "Lena, we've been over this before our wedding. Don't overstep."

His stance had been set in stone from the start.

With a firm and distant demeanor, he had cautioned her not to expect anything more than her role as his wife. Love, affection-these were off the table.

Their three-year marriage had been nothing more than shared living spaces, devoid of even a simple kiss.

Lena found herself questioning-was he reserving himself for Violet?

For years, Theo had maintained a strict boundary between them. Yet, now with Violet's return, he began to change-nights spent away, his clothes faintly carrying her scent.

Was it possible they were already intimate?

This thought tormented Lena, igniting a fiery jealousy within her. How was Violet any better than her?

Overwhelmed by her emotions, Lena abruptly pulled him closer by his belt and kissed his throat, catching Theo off guard.

Her laughter was bitter as she taunted, "Isn't this what spouses do? Or are you impotent?"

Such provocations were dangerous, particularly with a man like Theo.

She noticed the immediate shift in his demeanor, a fleeting triumph on her lips, but he quickly pushed her back. His hand brushed against her shoulder where the surgical pins lay hidden, sending a sharp pain through her.

Theo tried to keep his desire in check, his voice indifferent. "You're still healing from that accident at the gallery. Maybe focus on that instead of stirring up trouble."

Though his tone was softer, Lena felt the sting even more acutely, the words slicing through her deeper than before.

Indeed, he was aware.

He was fully aware of the pain she had endured, and despite the numerous calls she made seeking his support, he remained distant, unresponsive.

The pain was so overwhelming that she could no longer distinguish if the agony was from her physical injury or the heartbreak.

Tears threatened to spill as she clamped down on her lip to restrain them.

Perhaps, she would never win Theo's heart.

Gathering her courage, she attempted to change the topic. "I heard about the new chief designer position... Could I perhaps-"

Theo interjected sharply, his gaze hardening, "Is that what this is all about?"

She was stunned into silence. He didn't let her justify herself. With a look of scorn, he regarded her. "Lena, my firm is not a place for your experiments. Being my wife doesn't entitle you to whims. Without genuine talent, you'd only embarrass yourself."

Talent?

So, he truly had no clue about her. He was oblivious to the fact that she had studied design in college.

That was when she remembered the job offer from a famous foreign brand-Fable & Verse that she had ignored a year ago. They had wanted her as their chief designer.

But at that time, she was too consumed by her feelings for Theo and had rejected it outright.

She had sacrificed her dreams repeatedly, chasing after a heart that was never attainable.

Now, as she stood amidst the wreckage of her delusions, Lena realized the truth.

She gazed up at Theo, her voice dripping with biting sarcasm. "Is that it then? I almost died setting up an art show for Violet Ford, and you can't even consider me for a design role?"

Theo pulled away sharply, his voice harsh and unforgiving. "Don't act like you're the martyr here. It was a minor injury. And before you start demanding things, perhaps reflect on whether you're worthy of them."

He didn't stop there. "Violet is a creative genius-a globally acclaimed artist. She's made her mark. And you?" he scoffed coldly. "Your biggest achievement is leveraging yourself to me. What else can you even do?"

Each word felt like a jagged piece of glass piercing her heart.

Lena looked at him, the man she once believed was everything, now nothing but a cruel distortion.

So this was the disdain he harbored for her.

"Alright," she replied sharply, her voice thick with sarcasm. "I'll never be Violet. I'll never be enough for you. In that case, Theo, let's end this. Go find your perfect happiness with her."

She was through trying to warm a heart that was evidently frozen.

Theo's face twisted into a contemptuous sneer. He clearly thought she was just bluffing. "Fine. But don't come begging to me when you start regretting this decision."

He then stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Left alone, Lena sat up on the bed, tears streaming down her face as she stared at the closed door.

So cruel.

This marriage had become unbearably cruel.

Lena was alone, her face hidden in her hands. Theo never returned that night.

Around three in the morning, Violet's latest Instagram post popped up on Lena's phone.

It featured a cozy scene: a warm cup of milk and a man's hand, distinguishable by a wedding ring. Lena had designed that ring herself.

The caption under the photo read, "Call and he comes, no matter the hour."

That explained why Theo had so readily agreed to their divorce. He was already with Violet.

A bitter laugh escaped Lena; it all made sense now.

Despite the sting of the photo, she continued to scroll.

Then she saw it: the day she lay injured and desperate under rubble, Theo had gifted Violet a private jet, to ensure she didn't have to waste too much time waiting at the airport.

All doubts evaporated in that instant. The years Lena had invested in their relationship had been for nothing.

On their anniversaries, Theo hadn't bothered with even a small gift.

But with Violet's return, he didn't hesitate to lavish her with such an expensive gift.

The realization was excruciating.

Her heart, steeped in bitterness, felt utterly broken.

The persistent pain in her shoulder served as a harsh reminder-her marriage was designed to tear her apart, piece by piece.

Theo arrived back only at noon the following day.

Silence greeted him in the house.

There was no warm meal prepared, not even a simple glass of water.

Instead, a stack of papers awaited on the table.

With a slight frown, he discarded his jacket on the couch and approached the table.

The words "Divorce Agreement" at the top of the document made him halt.

His expression darkened.

What was Lena's intention now?

He didn't even take the time to read through the documents.

In his experience, Lena had pulled the same stunt numerous times over the years, only to return each time. He expected no different now.

Feeling a hint of hunger, he made his way to the kitchen where the housekeeper was preparing lunch. He glanced briefly at her efforts before settling down in the dining room to wait.

When he finally sampled the clam chowder half an hour later, he scowled. "This doesn't taste right."

The housekeeper smiled awkwardly. "Mr. Haynes, Mrs. Haynes used to cook your meals herself. I'm afraid I can't quite match her flavors..."

Theo's face darkened.

Despite his hunger, the array of dishes before him suddenly seemed unappetizing.

He put down his spoon abruptly. "Forget this, I'm not hungry. Fetch my black suit and the striped tie for later today."

The housekeeper's face flushed with embarrassment. "I'm really sorry, sir, but I don't know where those items are. Mrs. Haynes took care of all that. Maybe you should try calling her?"

Theo's jaw tightened. Was this some sort of tactic to show how indispensable she was?

With a scoff, he snatched his coat and the divorce papers, then left the house in haste.

Left behind, the housekeeper could only watch in confusion as she began to clean up the untouched meal.

Arriving at his office, Theo discovered that Lena had not come in for work.

He frowned, pondering over her latest dramatic gesture.

Sitting at his desk, he found himself distracted, unable to focus on any work.

He eventually opened the divorce papers, his annoyance clear as he skimmed through them.

The document was straightforward. Lena was requesting eighty million-nothing more.

It seemed she had written them in a fit of anger.

His frown softened briefly, then turned into a sneer as he read the reason for the divorce.

"Reason for divorce-Non-fulfillment of marital responsibilities. Three years without intimacy. The petitioner seeks a divorce based on these grounds."

His expression darkened before he picked up the phone to call her.

Lena answered, her voice sounding groggy and detached. "Yes?"

A mocking chuckle escaped Theo as he read that clause. "Explain this to me, Lena-what's the meaning of this?"