Wifey, I Don't Want To Divorce You

Soft moans escaped Brylee Pearson's lips as she lay on the bed in the dimly lit room.

Chinks of moonlight peeped through the curtains and fell on her hair. Two intertwined shadows danced on the wall.

Davies Harrison suddenly shook and let out a loud groan. He reached out to lift Brylee's jaw. Then he leaned in to kiss her.

His hot breath sprayed on her face. She suddenly felt sick to her stomach. With a frown, she turned her head away and pushed his hand.

"That's enough. I'm already tired."

Before Davies could say anything, Brylee pushed him off, wrapped her naked body in a blanket, and walked into the bathroom in a hurry.

After the door was shut with a bang, Davies ran his fingers through his hair. His desire faded away. A serious expression appeared on his face.

He leaned on the headboard and continued to stare at the bathroom door. There was something different about his wife.

In the bathroom, the shower glass was murky due to the steam.

Brylee stood under the shower and repeatedly scrubbed her skin hard as if she had just fallen into a pit of mud.

Her marriage to Davies was a secret contractual one. They were together for benefits. In the past year, Brylee enjoyed sex because she loved him.

Things were different now. She felt nothing but disgust after he touched her.

Her mind kept going back to what she had seen in the afternoon. Fury swept through her. She placed her hands on the wall as her body shook uncontrollably.

Brylee returned from a work trip earlier in the day. The second she got off the plane, a call came through from the editor-in-chief of the news agency she worked for.

He gave her an earful for exposing the scandalous story about one of the news agency's advertisers. To punish her, he transferred her from the social news department to the entertainment one, and her first assignment was to investigate the suspected romance between Davies and Nicole Riley.

Brylee dragged her luggage out of the airport, only to receive a great shocker. She froze on the spot.

Davies' car was parked by the road with the backseat door open.

A young woman squealed and got into the car. She jumped into Davies' embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck.

It was the first time Brylee saw that woman. However, she didn't need to be told who she was.

She was none other than Nicole, the woman Brylee's boss just spoke about.

Nicole was the adopted daughter of Davies' uncle. They grew up together and were as thick as thieves.

The Harrison family had long looked forward to seeing them married.

However, Nicole chose to leave the country a year ago.

One thing led to another and Davies ended up marrying Brylee instead. It had been a year but the Harrison family still didn't like her.

They looked down on her. In their opinion, she was just a rustic hick who didn't deserve to be a part of the family.

A journalist like her was the least qualified to be Davies' wife in their books. They hated her guts.

The Harrisons saw her as a pain in the ass. They treated her with indifference and disdain.

A sharp pain pulled Brylee back to reality. She shut off the shower before the hot water could peel her skin.

When she stepped out of the bathroom in her bathrobe, the damp and warm haze of moisture followed her into the bedroom.

In the room, Davies was sitting up on the bed, bare-chested. His chiseled and muscular upper body was in view. The light from his phone screen reflected on his handsome face.

"Davies," Brylee called out in a hoarse voice.

He looked up with his eyebrows furrowed. His cold expression made him look more attractive. "You have been acting strange since you got back. What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Let's get a divorce," Brylee looked at Davies and said firmly.

She had been in love with Davies long before they got married. Although she knew he didn't feel the same way, she thought that would change after they got married.

She put in her all to make him fall for her, but all her efforts came to naught. She got a reality check earlier today. This was a real marriage to her. However, it appeared Davies saw it as just what it was-a collaboration.

The pain in her heart was unbearable. Her love for him started fading away recently.

The scene of him intimately hugging Nicole today was the last straw.

"Why?"

Davies frowned and looked into her misty eyes. The moment of passion they just shared was still fresh, but tension filled the room now.

"Nicole is back." Brylee clenched her fists and replied, "It's time for me to leave. You were supposed to marry Nicole, so I'll leave you to do that."

"Is this the reason?" Davies asked, putting his phone down. His voice still sounded calm. However, Brylee sensed that he was upset.

She walked toward him slowly. Just then, something pulled her back. The waistband of her bathrobe had gotten hooked on the wheelchair close by.

"That's enough grounds for divorce, isn't it?"

Brylee stopped beside him. She stared at his calves underneath the quilt and smiled bitterly before saying, "It was stupid of me to have forgotten that you had someone else in your heart. She's even the reason why you are in this state."

Davies frowned and tapped his fingers on his phone screen.

He was silent, but his fiery eyes spoke more than enough.

Brylee thought he was only keeping silent because words failed him. A lump went up her throat. She said as calmly as she could, "You should be happy that I'm asking for a divorce."

"Oh, stop being a drama queen." Davies sighed deeply. He then said, "Have you forgotten why you married me in the first place? You can't divorce me, Brylee. I'll pretend that this conversation never happened."

Brylee clenched her fists even more. She said loudly, "I haven't forgotten that. You can't force me to stay married to you. I'll get my lawyer to draw up the divorce papers and send them to you. Let's get this over and done with!"

Shocked, Davies looked up at her.

Brylee had already turned around. She stormed out before he could find the right words to say.

First thing the next morning, Brylee met her lawyer to get on with the divorce proceedings. Then she went to work.

She walked into the newsroom to meet members of the entertainment news department typing furiously on their individual computers. There was an approaching deadline.

Brylee had a lot on her plate. She worked overtime and only went back home at past nine.

When she arrived at the Harrisons' villa, she heard happy laughs and voices coming from inside. She walked in to see people talking and drinking in the dining room.

No one noticed her arrival. They were all engrossed in raising a toast to Nicole in celebration of her return.

Brylee smiled self-mockingly and made her way to the stairs.

The celebration had nothing to do with her. They all treated her like she didn't exist, so she was going to do the same.

"Brylee! Why are you just coming back home? Look at the time!" Davies' grandfather, Adam Harrison suddenly yelled. He put down his wine glass.

Everyone fell silent. All heads turned in the direction Brylee stood. The situation became awkward.

Brylee spun on her heels and replied calmly, "I had a lot on my plate today."

"Spare me that silly excuse! Knowing that we would throw a party for Nicole tonight, you should have cleared your schedule since afternoon!"

Adam hit the table as he spoke. He spat condescendingly, "Don't forget that you are just a reporter. Everyone else works harder than you. Look at your Uncle Victor. He came very early. Are you busier than him? Just because you spend all day writing shitty news reports, doesn't make you important!"

Adam was staring daggers at her.

His stare sent shivers down Brylee's spine. Her palms became sweaty. Suddenly, she spotted Nicole sitting at the table.

Nicole looked angelic. She had on a green slip dress. There was a pearl hair clip on her long curly hair. She took a sip of wine elegantly.

The only thing odd about her was the gloating grin on her face.

Brylee understood what was happening right away. No one told her that there would be a welcome party here. She knew exactly why she was kept in the dark.

It dawned on Brylee that Davies hadn't broken the "happy news" of their impending divorce to his childhood sweetheart.

Suddenly, Davies' uncle, Victor Harrison, coughed, giving Nicole a hint. She got up and placed some vegetables on Adam's plate. She said smiling, "Please calm down, Grandpa. Don't be upset with her. She got married to Davies while I was abroad, so she doesn't know me well. For most people, work comes first before a stranger. It's no big deal."

"Do you really think so?" Adam asked, staring at Brylee disdainfully. His fury was increasing by the second.

The room was so quiet that those sitting close could hear each other's heartbeats.

The maids who stood in a corner held their breaths as they watched the scene.

"I didn't intend-" Brylee began, but she was interrupted by the sudden ring of the doorbell.

"Welcome home, sir," the maid who answered the door greeted and took a step back.

Davies came into the living room in his wheelchair. His coat wasn't buttoned up, so his sharp bespoke suit was visible.

The expression on his face was cold as he glanced at Brylee. It made the hair on her skin stand.

Seeing that Nicole ran to him with glee, Brylee looked away.

"Davies!" Nicole's dress flowed on the floor as she squatted in front of Davies. She pouted like a child and said, "What took you so long? I have been waiting for you. I was beginning to think that I'm not welcome here."

Her choice of words suggested something else. Davies understood what she was driving at, so he glanced at Brylee again.

Brylee had been clutching her down jacket since she walked into the house. Her hair was ruffled by the wind outside. As she looked down, wisps of her hair fell on her face. She looked beaten up and pitiful at this moment.

Davies looked away. He patted Nicole's hand and said softly, "How can you think that? The fact that I met you at the airport should have told you that you are welcome here."

A smile lit up Nicole's face the next second. She glanced at Brylee proudly.

Her adoptive mother, Leslie Harrison, approached them and said, "Stop acting like a spoiled child, Nikki. You are a grown woman, remember?"

"But I want to." Nicole pouted and leaned her head against Davies' hand.

Brylee bit her lower lip. Her grip on the down jacket tightened.

Although she had given up on this marriage, she was yet to get over Davies. This scene hurt more than their embrace at the airport. These two had no regard for her at all.

Just as Brylee was wallowing in pain, she heard Davies say, "You are free to do whatever you want."

Davies withdrew his hand and waved to his assistant, Vincent Fuller, who was behind him.

Vincent stepped forward with a gift box in hand. He bowed to Nicole and said respectfully, "Here you go, Miss Riley. Mr. Harrison was running late because he took time out to prepare this for you."

He opened the gift box gingerly. A pair of luxurious earrings came into view. It glistened under the bright light.

"Oh, my God!" Nicole exclaimed, her hand flying to her chest as her eyes widened in surprise.

She rose to her feet and embraced Davies. She kissed him on the cheek, leaving the imprint of her lipstick on it. "You are such a darling, Davies! I have always wanted these earrings. How did you know about them?"

"I'm glad you like it."

Davies smiled at Nicole, an unfathomable look in his eyes. When he caught a glimpse of Brylee again, a gloom fell on his face.

The way Nicole and Davies acted toward each other was extremely intimate in the eyes of everyone.

"Those two are still close as if they weren't away from each other for over a year. Don't you think so, Norah?" Victor commented, pouring a glass of wine for the woman sitting beside Adam.

Norah Harrison, Davies' mother, fixed her eyes on her son. It was as if she didn't hear a word Victor said.

Victor was a little uncomfortable. He didn't want to be friendly to Norah, but he had to since Adam was present.

"Nikki, stop squishing Davies. Don't cross the line just because he spoils you. That's enough," Leslie uttered, snapping her fingers. She sounded like she was reprimanding her daughter, but there was a smile on her face. She glanced at Brylee as her eyes glistened with sarcasm.

It pleased her greatly that Brylee was standing on the sidelines. She felt Nicole's return would overturn everything that happened in the past one year, especially Davies' marriage.

Nicole was beaming with smiles. She handed the box of earrings to her mother.

"Davies isn't complaining." Nicole smiled as she walked to Davies' back. Her dress was so revealing that when she leaned in close, her cleavage was partly exposed. "Let me help you to the table."

"Thanks."

Davies didn't turn around. His eyes were narrowed as if he was lost in thought at this moment.

Nicole bit her lower lip with regret. She had wanted him to see her supple cleavage. The moment she looked up and saw Brylee's gloomy expression, she couldn't help smiling.

Brylee was jarred from her world of thoughts when she locked eyes with Nicole.

She knew that the Harrisons disliked her, but she was only just discovering that they had no regard for her.

All the insults they had given her since she came into this family weren't as hurtful as this utmost disrespect.

They treated her like an outcast to the extent that they had no issue with Davies and Nicole being all mushy in her presence.

Nicole brushed past Brylee as she pushed Davies' wheelchair to the dining room. With a condescending look, she elbowed her aside and said, "Get out of the way!"

Brylee stumbled back. Her down jacket fell to the floor.

The wheelchair ran over her down jacket, leaving a gray imprint on it.

Davies acted as if he hadn't seen what happened. He just looked ahead, resting both hands on the armrests.

After giving Brylee a look of mockery, Nicole said to Leslie, "Mom, let's go have dinner."

"Okay."

Leslie closed the gift box and returned to the table with a smile.

Tears welled up in Brylee's eyes. She swallowed hard and blinked her eyes several times to prevent herself from bursting into tears.

Unbeknownst to her, Davies saw her reflection through the glass of the tall wine bar. He saw how she clenched her fists as her chest heaved.

With a frown, he tapped his fingertips on the armrest, lost in thought again.

"Ma'am."

A male voice came from behind.

Brylee turned around to see Vincent picking up her down jacket. He wiped off the dusty imprint before holding it out to her.

He flashed her a friendly smile. He was such a gentleman.

After a moment of silence, she took the jacket and thanked him in a low voice.

She turned around and took a deep breath. Just as she walked slowly to the dining table, Nicole slipped into the chair beside Davies.

There were no more empty chairs at the table.

A maid began serving the dishes as Brylee was left standing.

The pain in Brylee's heart intensified. She stood there for a while before she summoned the courage to turn around and ascended the stairs quickly.

Everyone at the dining table was in a world of their own.

Ten minutes passed before Davies, who had barely spoken, set his glass down. He heard a few bumps come from up the stairs. His eyes were fixed on the stairs for a long time.

"Where are you going?" he bellowed suddenly.

Everyone stopped what they were doing. They looked in the direction of Davies' stare.

Turning a deaf ear to that question, Brylee dragged her suitcase to the front door. Her shadow on the sparkling floor was just as determined as she was.

Nicole snickered with pleasure. Victor shot her a glare, causing her to cover her mouth.

"Brylee!" Davies' voice boomed in the dining and living rooms. His handsome face was as cold as frost. "Have you gone deaf? Why are you starting another drama?"

Brylee halted in her tracks. She turned around and uttered mockingly, "Oh, I'm not an actress, so this is definitely not a drama. I'm just doing what your family has always wanted. Look at their faces. They seem happy, don't they?"

Davies held his head. With his eyebrows knitted, he said, "Is this some kind of a joke?"

"Come on, Davies. You and I know that I'm not joking." Brylee tucked her bangs behind her ear. She scanned through the faces at the table before settling on Davies'. "We already discussed this, didn't we? It doesn't matter if I leave earlier than envisaged. Come to think of it. It will make both of us happier."

"What the hell is she talking about?" asked Adam, looking at his grandson sternly.

Davies ignored that question. He pulled down his tie irritably and roared, "You'd better not take this too far. Did you have to make a scene in front of everyone? This isn't funny!"

Brylee raised one of her eyebrows as she stared at Davies. Why did he just say that?

Suddenly, it hit her. It seemed that Davies didn't want his family to know they were getting divorced. He was labeling her actions as just throwing a tantrum.