Sorry, I've Moved On

Paula's thin fingers worked their magic as she set the table in the grand dining room. Seeing her work, a broad smile appeared on her lips.

She ran back into the kitchen to get something and when she came back later, she felt satisfied with everything.

Since it was their second anniversary today, Paula had sent all of her employees home to make dinner for her husband.

Paula changed into a new dress she just bought, her appearance changing from a simple lady to an exquisite lady.

For two years now, Paula had been married to Len. To celebrate this, she decided to cook dinner, talk with him, and maybe fix the holes in their relationship.

Len was going to be back in ten minutes and this thought alone excited Paula. She desired to make amends with him and mend the issues that had arisen between them.

However, time passed by quickly and Len was not yet back.

Paula was starting to feel uneasy. Was Len going to miss their second anniversary after missing the first one?

Despite the bitterness in her heart, Paula didn't change her dress and decided to wait for her husband to come.

Eventually, she fell asleep.

Ever since they got married, Paula hadn't experienced peace of mind or what it means to have a caring husband.

But she didn't care, she loved him. That is the only thing that matters.

As long as she gets to be by his side forever, it does not matter if the love was one-sided.

Despite Len's harshness, Paula still decided to prepare for their anniversary tonight, reconcile with him, and maybe ask him to act as her husband.

Paula was awakened by the creaking of doors. She flickered her eyes open and leaped out from the chair.

She checked her phone and found out that it was past midnight. 'He missed it again.'

Paula felt her heart clenching and tears filling her eyes but she still stood up to go and meet Len.

His face was a little red as he took off his shoes, which she noticed as she approached the door.

'Had he been drinking?'

"Hey, Len," Paula greeted him as she moved to offer assistance. "You... came late. Did something happen?"

"Get the f*ck out of my face. I don't want to see you."

Len looked up, meeting Paula's quivering gaze with his own icy stare. "Why are you always acting like a kid? You called my grandfather just because you didn't see me?"

Paula's lips trembled and the tears she was holding fell from her face. Her heart seemed to be on the verge of breaking because of how wildly it was beating.

"I simply asked him if you ever went home because I was worried," Paula said, her eyes welling with tears. "Why did you miss our anniversary again? You didn't even call and I called you several times but you didn't answer my call."

"Is that why you called him? To make me reprimand me?" Len smirked, unfazed by her tears. "This is something you try to do constantly. Your plan won't work. Just get out of my face."

Paula could not stand to see him acting in such a way toward her, and she knew at that very moment that she would give in at any moment. She clenched her dress, watching him walk towards the living room.

Paula pursued him and pulled at his shirt to get him to stop. With her eyes full of tears, Paula called his name. "Len, what went wrong with me? What did I do wrong to earn this entire situation? Today is our anniversary for God's sake, why are you fighting with me?"

"Don't make me do something I will regret, Paula. Get out of my face" Len yelled, trying to remove her grip from his shirt.

Paula's hold, though, became more firm. "Tell me what I need to do to deserve you, tell me what I need to do? Come on, Len, let us mend this relationship. I'm tired of all this. I'm really tired."

"If you are tired, then leave, Paula. No one is stopping you" Len snapped. "You think I don't know what you are trying to do? Just as you did when I married you, you are attempting to deceive me again. It's not going to work."

He forcefully yanked her hand away from her shirt but Paula ran after him again. She needed to fix the holes in their relationship, she really needed to make Len trust her.

"Len, please don't..."

Len jerked his hand in rage, trying to get her to stop not pulling him. But his hand struck Paula's cheeks, causing her to stagger to the ground.

With shock flashing in his icy eyes, Len stopped dead in his tracks. But it lasted for a split second. Watching her weep, he remained motionless.

Somehow, he felt sorry and wanted to apologize but this man was Len Bertram! He would never apologize to a cunning woman like Paula.

"I asked you to get out of my face" He uttered coldly. "Sleep in the other room tonight."

He turned around and left.

With tears streaming down her fragile cheeks, Paula lay on the chilly floor.

Tears poured down her cheeks like a downpour, leaving rivers of desperation in their wake.

Every cry was a sharp reminder of the suffering that tore at her heart, agony reverberating through every lonely space inside her.

The depth of her grief caused her body to tremble as though some unseen force was ruthlessly tearing her to pieces.

Paula felt like a piece of her spirit was being torn away with every gasp.

Perhaps Paula's inability to control her tears was a result of everything she had gone through.

At that moment, she heard a phone ringing. With no strength, she stood up from the cold floor, walking towards the direction of the phone.

It wasn't her phone but Len's phone.

He must have left it there when he was changing his shoes.

Paula had not really considered checking his phone, but when she saw the caller's name, she felt compelled to take the phone from its place by an unseen force.

'Melissa' flashed on the screen, making Paula's anguish intensify.

Paula did not answer the phone; instead, she let her eyes well up with tears as she gazed at the screen until the call ended.

A few seconds later, there was a message displayed on the screen. It was from Melissa again.

Melissa: Is she with you again? Or are you asleep? (1:26 AM)

Melissa: Is she complaining because you had a drink with me? She really needs to know her place, Len. You told me you are going to divorce her after your anniversary, be quick to do so. I can't wait to be your bride. (1.27 AM)

With dizziness clouding her eyes, Paula dropped the phone from her hand after reading the message. She tried to keep her eyes open as they were closing against her will.

However, it was too late.

She fell to the floor and drifted into unconsciousness.

Paula briefly opened her eyes, but all that was visible was darkness. Even though her eyes were opened, all she could see was a dark light shining from above.

Like a match connecting fire to fire, memories from yesterday flooded her mind. She clutched the cloth that was covering her body, forcing herself to stand up.

There was a slight antiseptic odor in the air that she could sense. It wasn't long before she realized she was in the hospital. She must have lost consciousness after viewing the message on Len's phone.

The door was pushed open at that very moment, revealing a man.

It was Len's secretary, Isak.

Paula's expression was one of disappointment, and all she could do was look away from the door.

"Mrs. Bertram , Mr. Len had a meeting to attend. He brought you to the hospital himself" Isak said.

Isak was always that way, attempting to defend Len's behavior and give Paula the impression that Len was not as cruel as she believed.

"Why didn't he stay when he brought me to the hospital? Why did he ...?"

Her eyes began to well up with tears, cutting short the rest of her sentence.

Paula was a sensitive person who would always cry at the slightest discomfort, so even though she hated these tears, there was nothing she could do.

Maybe that was the reason, Len always thought she was cunning whenever she was crying.

Pressing his lips together, Isak showed off the package he had brought. "I brought you breakfast. Mr. Bertram asked me ..."

"Len would never ask you to buy me breakfast. Don't try to justify his every action" Paula yelled, her eyes blazing with savage fire.

She felt a sharp pain in her mouth as she shouted. It was from the same spot where Len had struck her the day before.

Paula touched her cheeks only to realize it was swollen. She got down from the bed, put on her shoes, and cleaned the tears.

"I'm going back, tell Len I went back," Paula said, putting on her shoes.

"Mrs. Bertram ... err... I will drive you home. I just got back from the Doctor" Isak said, stretching his hand to help Paula. "He advised you to cease engaging in stressful activities, and you are... You are..."

"Pregnant?" Paula cut it, her eyes revealing a strange emotion. "I'm pregnant, right?"

Naturally, Paula had been noticing the change in her for a while, but she did not have time to check herself because she was so busy.

"Mrs. Bertram , please take care..."

"Don't tell Len about it. He wouldn't be happy" Paula cut in.

Isak pursed his lips, unsure whether to follow his boss's lead and listen to his boss's wife.

Isak had been Len's secretary for years now and he was also there when Len got married to Paula. He had also seen Paula receive the same treatment from Len every time.

However, he was just a secretary. He couldn't interfere too much in their affairs.

Paula didn't wait for his response, she sauntered out of the hospital room.

Isak went after her and later drove her home.

Paula had a nice breakfast, took a bath, and put on the dress she had not worn in a long time when she got home.

It was the gown her mother purchased for her just before she passed away.

After her mother passed away, Paula refused to wear the fabric; she kept it for years, but today, she felt a deep sense of bitterness in her heart, and she believed that wearing the dress would help her let it out.

Just when she was about to go out, her phone rang.

Looking at the Caller ID, a cold look flashed on Paula's face.

Paula said, "Hello," raising the phone to her ear.

"Sis," a soft, flowery voice called out over the phone. "I heard from Len that you fainted, are you okay?"

Paula clenched the hem of her dress. "Are you mocking me, Melissa?"

That is right... the Melissa Paula is speaking to is the same Melissa who texted Len yesterday.

Melissa and Paula are stepsisters. They do not get along too well, but the fact that Melissa was Len's childhood sweetheart strained their bond even further.

And from what Paula has been told, they had a deep love for one another.

"Sis, what do you mean?" Melissa spoke, sounding as though she was going to cry. "Len, my Sister thought I was mocking her. Why is she always so cold to me?"

Before Paula could understand what was going on, she heard Len's cold voice on the phone.

"I suppose you are all right now. Fainting for no reason and now insulting someone who cares about you. Tell me, Paula, when will you stop pretending?"

"Pretending?" Paula questioned, her lips trembling.

"You didn't know I was with Melissa, isn't that the reason you showed your true colors?"

Len's voice was filled with mockery.

"Len, how could you visit Melissa when I was on the hospital bed? How could you?" With sadness and rage in her voice, Paula spoke. "You know what, you can do whatever you want and I will do whatever I want."

Before Len could respond, Paula ended the call.

This is what she had been facing for the past few years. Paula endured everything just to be by his side forever, never took his cruel words seriously, never tried to think about the time he was with Melissa when he was supposed to be with her... Paula truly went to great lengths to retain the man she cherished.

But what did she get in return... Len's cruelty.

What more could she do to please him and to make him trust her?

Paula gave it a long thought but it appeared she had run out of ideas.

Len would never change. He would always choose Melissa before her, he would always visit Melissa on their anniversary and he would always mistreat her.

Paula picked up her bag and walked out of the house.

She has already made up her mind. She won't allow her feelings for Len to tie her down.

~Independent Hospital~

"Are you sure you want to get an abortion?" With sympathy in his eyes, Doctor Duane enquired. He had seen a lot of young women like the woman in front of him several times without a number asking for abortion for one reason or the other.

"Yes," Paula replied. "I want to get it as soon as possible. Don't ask of the Father, he doesn't want it either."

If Len knew she was pregnant, he would eventually force her to abort it. Why not abort it now rather than suffer the humiliation from him?

After Paula left the hospital, she went shopping and bought a lot of things for herself. She went to different restaurants and tried out different kinds of delicacies.

Paula had been keeping this money for herself to buy something tangible for Len on his birthday. He wouldn't appreciate it anyway. Why not spend the money on herself?

After making sure she was done, Paula returned to their Villa. It was a little past nine when she got home.

Arriving at the door, she was surprised to find the door open.

Was Len back?

Paula punched in the door code and pushed the door open. Len was seated on one of the couches in the living room when she arrived.

Paula halted in her tracks as their gazes met. She shifted her gaze from him, ready to scurry away with her shopping bags.

"Where have you been?"

Len's voice made her stop. She turned around, trying not to show a hint of fear. "As you can see, I went shopping."

"Is that why you came late? It seemed you weren't lying when you said you would do whatever you wanted. Are you showing your true colors now?" Len spoke harshly, his voice laced with harshness.

"Why? I can't show my true colors?" Paula answered, standing on her ground. "You asked me to stop pretending and that is what I'm doing. Are you satisfied now?"

Len was taken aback by Paula's response. He did not anticipate a response from her. No... Paula had never responded to him in that manner before.

"If you have nothing to say, I will leave," Paula said, turning to leave.

But Len Bertram wasn't the type to let go like that. He would never let her win. He would never.

"I received a call from the doctor. He told me you are pregnant" Paula stopped dead in her tracks at Len's words. "I don't want a baby from a cunning woman, Paula. I don't want..."

"Don't worry, Len. I also think it's bad to have your baby. I already aborted it. You can be rest assured" Paula said, her voice laced with indifference.

She walked into her room, not waiting for him to reply. As she locked her door, she fell to the floor and broke down in tears.

Paula's phone rang, startling her awake. She stirred in her sleep, groggily reaching out to her phone.

Squinting her gaze, she realized who the caller was.

"Hey, Yolanda," Paula said half-drowsily. "It is still very early. What is with the early call?"

Yolanda is a close friend of Paula. They've been friends for quite some time now.

"Why are you still sleeping when your husband is about to be taken from you?" Something angry seemed to permeate Yolanda's voice as she spoke over the phone. "Explain to me why you must... I seriously don't want to say anything this morning because you won't listen but I think Len is really cheating on you."

"Go easy on me, Yolanda!" Paula uttered, pouting her lips. "I just woke up, don't be mean!"

"This picture of Len with Melissa is going viral. It was taken two days ago! Isn't that your anniversary? Did he come to celebrate with you?" Yolanda asked, her voice carrying a heaviness.

For some time, Paula was unable to respond.

Yolanda was her only friend who stood by her even during the difficulties. Yolanda isn't a fan of Len. She doesn't like Len at all and would always warn Paula.

However, Paula was blinded by love and wouldn't listen to Yolanda.

"You won't say anything again, right? I'm hanging up, I have nothing more to say to you."

"Wait!" Paula screamed and jumped off the bed. "Yolanda, I truly appreciate everything you have done for me. I apologize if I have ever behaved immaturely, but do not worry about me. I will not remain silent any longer."

Not expecting Paula to answer so quickly, or in such a sensible manner, Yolanda remained silent for a while.

She had not seen Paula speak rationally in a long time, especially when it came to something involving Len.

Had it been earlier, Paula would have gotten into a fight, sworn at her, or warned her not to say anything negative about her husband.

"I think I was really stupid in the past," Paula said, a sad smile appearing on her lips. "Isn't that the reason why Len never believed me?"

From her tone, Yolanda knew Len was a part of Paula's life. A part she would never forget.

"What happened? Did something happen?" Yolanda asked.

"He went out for a drink with Melissa on our anniversary night," Paula began. She talked about what had happened to her that day, but she did not mention that she was pregnant and had even visited a doctor to have the baby aborted.

"I'm sorry you have to go through this," Yolanda said, expressing concern. "Everything will be alright if you make the right choice."

Right choice? Paula thought to herself and smiled.

What right choice could she make when she's still in love with him?

Love is a hilarious thing. Didn't they say Love heals? Why is it hurting her instead?

"In fact, Melissa posted a white wedding dress online, and I called to let you know about it. She tagged Len and now many fans think they are getting married or maybe they are because Len replied with a love emoji under the post" Yolanda announced.

Paula sensed that her mood had returned to its former unpleasantness. Her eyes were still puffy from yesterday's tears and her mood was already ruined again.

Len had already left the house when Paula left the room.

"What did I expect?" Paula said sourly as she headed to the kitchen to make her own breakfast.

Len would never apologize to her... It's a fact that's becoming clear now.

Even if he was wrong, he would make sure Paula takes the blame.

Later that morning, Paula received a message from Len's grandfather who asked her to join them for Dinner.

Paula couldn't say no because Grandfather Bertram is also one of the most important people in her life.

Grandfather Bertram was the one who believed her when she was being painted as a slut who purposefully gave Len drugs so they could have sex and who also saw to it that Len and her were married.

It was two years ago when Len met Paula who had always been in love with him.

Their meeting wasn't quite a good one as they were both drugged that night and ended up spending the night with each other.

To Len, Paula was a cunning woman who found her way into his life by using tricks and pretending to be something she was not.

Paula arrived at the Bertram Mansion in the evening, wearing a simple gown.

Even though she was the real Mrs. Bertram, no one in the world knows about it as their marriage was a secret.

Paula wondered if it would have been better if they weren't both drugged. Perhaps everyone would just call her Mrs. Bertram. Perhaps, just perhaps, she will not have to go through all of this and keep her identity as Len's lawful wife a secret.

"Miss Paula, Master Bertram is waiting for you in his Study" A young woman came to inform Paula. Paula smiled and worked straight into the Old Man's study.

As she pushed the door open, her gaze landed on the tall man standing in front of Grandfather Bertram.

It was Len.

Paula felt her body tremble and she couldn't lift her feet.

"Aren't you coming in?"

She was startled out of whatever was impeding her legs' movement by Grandfather Bertram's voice.

"Grandpa," Paula smiled awkwardly, approaching Len whose piercing gaze seemed to be on her. "I have not seen you in a long time. I've missed you."

"Why did you not come see me if you were missing me? And my Grandson too, he has always refused to come fine with me but when he heard that you were coming, he stopped all he was doing to visit me" Grandfather Bertram uttered, his voice tinged with happiness. He stood up from his seat, hugging Paula who was already in front of him.

"I've missed you being around," The Old Man said.

After exchanging words of pleasantries, the Old Man still had something to do, so he had no choice but to tell them to go outside and wait till dinner was served.

Paula felt her leg weakening, "Grandpa, you should come outside and eat dinner too," but she still turned around to follow Len out.

"I will be out in a minute!" The old man uttered.

Finally, outside the study, Paula prepared to walk away but was suddenly pulled by Len.

"Come with me." He spoke with an air of authority and aloofness.

Until they arrived at one of the mansion's quietest spots, Paula let herself be pulled by him.

"Did you really abort your pregnancy?"

"Yes, I did. You don't want it anyway" Paula answered, not allowing herself to be scared of his gaze.

Len let out a scoff, gripping Paula's hand with force. "I know you aborted it because I wasn't the Father! What more am I to expect from a slutty person who would lie to get into my bed?"

Paula's eyes reddened with tears as she listened to his accusations. "I told you I was drugged! I was also a victim. Why do you like making things difficult for me? Why..."

"Will you start crying again? So that my Grandfather will insult me for making you cry. Just your old tactics!"

"If those are the shitty words you want to say to me, I will leave here," Paula said, preparing to leave.

"If you leave, I'm divorcing you!"

Paula stopped in her tracks, her colorful brown eyes now dimmed with nothing but sadness. "You can do your worst. I no longer give a damn."