My Blind Wife Wants Divorced

Chloe once had a dream, and it was beautiful. She was beside her husband, listening to music they both liked or whatever Leonel liked. They hummed along, enjoying the road with tall pine trees standing around them. Their route was wet from the rain and slightly foggy but very romantic to pass through. Their destination was around the Rhineback area or Ellicotville, where Grisham’s luxurious villa waited for them to unwind and relax together.

They held hands as they walked on the dewy grass in the morning. They felt the cool breeze that soothed their hearts and minds. And afterward, they spent time like a couple deeply in love, with loving words until their vacation ended.

It feels like a lie if Chloe didn’t want that to happen in her life. Each time she fell in love with a man, in this case, she fell in love with the right person. Her husband. Not someone else or someone else’s husband, right? But why? Why did her husband extinguish that love until it vanished completely? Where Chloe struggled to keep the flame alive and warm herself.

Just thinking about it made Chloe’s chest tighten, making her breathing hard.

And the universe truly knows how to play with someone’s heart and emotions. Just when Chloe started to withdraw and let go, Leonel made one of their countless fantasies about being together a reality. Although now, it felt pointless to Chloe.

“Your phone is ringing, Sir,” Chloe wasn’t bothered, but there was a slight uneasiness because Leonel repeatedly ignored his phone, demanding attention.

“It’s not important, I think,” Leonel glanced briefly at Chloe, who was still paying attention to the road. They would arrive at their destination soon. If Leonel could be honest, there was a meeting he had to attend to discuss the launch of a new product and brand. There was a separate team that precisely handled that part. But Leonel still needed to oversee it, right?

“You’re very peculiar, Leonel.”

A faint grin unconsciously appeared on Leonel’s face. The way she addressed him had changed. It didn’t matter, but his emotions weren’t as high when Chloe called him by his name. “Me? Peculiar? Why?”

“Why waste time escorting me? It doesn’t seem necessary.”

Leonel chuckled. Through the rearview mirror, he motioned for Peni to talk. “Explain to me, Pen, am I wrong to accompany Madame to therapy?”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Peni, who had been observing her two employers, was taken aback by Leonel’s question. “Ah, um, no, Sir. It’s not wrong. You’re not wrong.” Peni stumbled over her words due to nervousness. After speaking, she bowed, hoping Leonel wouldn’t talk to her anymore.

In Peni’s eyes, Leonel was like a stiff employer who spoke little. A single word made her shudder as if talking to a terrifying ghost. While working to supervise and accompany Chloe Delilah, Peni had never said much. She only occasionally reported important aspects of Leonel’s wife’s condition.

“See?” Leonel chuckled. “Peni said I’m not wrong.”

Chloe was too exhausted to argue with Leonel. She chose to lean back and folded her arms, hoping they would arrive soon.

“Oh, by the way, Peni, does Doctor Darren know Mrs. Chloe’s schedule?”

“Y-yes, Sir,” Peni quickly replied.

“Tell him I’ll be the one to accompany her,” Leonel asked, but his eyes glanced at Chloe. Somehow he eagerly awaited Chloe’s change in expression when he mentioned Darren William. The doctor had been caring for Chloe since she left the hospital after her recovery.

“N-no, Sir.”

Leonel sighed softly. “Tell Doctor Darren that I’ll be the one to accompany her.” The words slipped out, but he didn’t want to take them back. Although in his heart, he cursed multiple times due to the strangeness within him. Since he decided to hold Chloe’s hand and slightly force himself, he had been troubled by his own emotions.

What’s going on?

But his eyes couldn’t lie as he repeatedly glanced at Chloe. There might be something he wanted to confirm here. If they indeed had a special relationship, Leonel shouldn’t feel annoyed. He started it even before they got married. He broke the promise that once came from his lips when they stood side by side at the altar. And now, when Chloe recently pushed him aside, why did he feel restless?

“We’ve arrived, Sir, Madam,” Peni’s voice broke Leonel’s reverie. Once again, he made sure that Chloe’s expression was not disturbed by anything. Even the words of affirmation he asked Peni to convey received a cold and flat response. His wife was strict. Why did he even bother? But could his wife be good at acting now?

Leonel let out a soft sigh and then signaled to accompany Chloe. Peni followed the two of them. As he opened the door for Chloe, his wife still refused to move from her seat. “Come on, Chloe.” After a while, Leonel reached out for Chloe to hold, but she moved independently and ignored Leonel’s extended hand.

This made Leonel growl softly, but he still tried to be patient. His curiosity was still powerful. He had to find out what kind of relationship Darren and his wife had. Not wanting to start an unnecessary argument, Leonel followed Chloe and Peni from behind, observing how his wife’s slender back moved slowly toward the therapy room.

Once again, his phone rang. The annoyance that he had been suppressing finally came out. He glanced at the name Deborah appearing on the screen. Oh, Leonel thought it was Ester trying to call him. He quickly slid the green icon on the net. “Yes, Di?”

“I’ve sent you the report via email, Sir. You need to recheck it. I contacted Mr. Wisnu, and he’s no longer concerned about replacing you.”

“Okay.”

“That’s all I wanted to inform you.”

“Thank you, Deborah.”

Leonel didn’t need any closing remarks from his secretary. He quickened his pace to catch up with Chloe, who had already entered the hospital lobby. Meanwhile, Peni seemed to hurry toward the reception desk. Leonel took advantage of the opportunity. He stood beside Chloe, where his wife only glanced at him reluctantly. Seeing Chloe’s sulking face made Leonel want to gaze at her for a long time.

“Come, Sir, Madam; Doctor Darren is waiting.”

Today, Leonel had to repeat Chloe’s words, which had struck him. Maybe they were true, maybe not. But Leonel felt unfamiliar with the sudden surge of emotions when their hands touched. Where Leonel shamelessly interlocked his fingers with Chloe’s tiny hand. His wife was surprised, but Leonel ignored it. He chose to hold that hand and gently pull it.

***

Ester sat restlessly, repeatedly squeezing her hands. Sometimes she glanced at her phone, which hadn’t received any messages or calls from the man she had been trying to contact since morning. Even after finishing her photo shoot, the man hadn’t given her any updates.

Initially, she thought Leonel must be busy because he rushed to the office yesterday. But Leonel had never disappeared without a word like this throughout their relationship. No matter how busy he was, he always provided updates. Ester strongly suspected that Leonel was with his wife.

Who else could distract Leonel’s attention besides Chloe?

Despite the past five years, Ester had never felt this anxious because Leonel was more attentive to Chloe. The accident had worked in Ester’s favor, but if Leonel turned the other way, she would be frustrated and want to speed up their divorce process. But how?

She couldn’t just come out and announce their relationship to the public. Her reputation was at stake. Leonel could always keep the journalists from interfering in his private life, including his relationship with Ester. If she acted recklessly, she could become a target of Indonesian netizens. It’s not that she wasn’t ready, but everything could become chaotic and messy.

Chloe was the one who took Leonel away from her. Not Ester. And she didn’t want anyone to think otherwise. She would never allow it.

“I called Vania. She said she’d be free after lunch,” Ester nodded slowly. “Couldn’t reach Mr. Wisnu yet?”

“Not yet, Miss. Her secretary said she’d bring is-”

“What?” Ester interrupted quickly. Her eyes glared fiercely at Sofi, who was standing beside her. The girl seemed to shrink back in fear due to Ester’s behavior. But how could she not be angry with Leonel, who disappeared without a word and suddenly accompanied Chloe? That’s just not right!

“Rio,” Ester called immediately, making the driver turn quickly. “Take me to my father’s house.”

Ester’s request surprised Rio. It was risky to make a U-turn when they had already started merging into the right lane to enter the highway. But Ester couldn’t be debated with. Rio might receive scolding if he didn’t comply with the woman’s request. He quickly tried to control the car he was driving.

Luckily, there weren’t too many vehicles behind them, and the left side was slightly congested, allowing Rio to guide the car out of the entrance lane. He nervously gripped the steering wheel, but their turnaround would be too far if the vehicle entered the highway. Usually, if Rio drove a little rough, Ester would be angry. But perhaps because she was so eager to go to Leonel’s house this time, her lover, Rio, wasn’t scolded when he abruptly turned to the left.

Although it was a bit bumpy, the journey went smoothly, and they arrived safely in front of the black gate of Leonel’s luxurious house. The guard there let them in when he saw the car’s owner. As Ester exited the car, she could see Leonel’s sedan parked there. Ester never hesitated to enter because of one thing she always held onto.

Chloe allowed her. She even asked Leonel to tie Ester to the engagement. However, somehow Leonel acted differently, and Ester wasn’t a concern anymore. Leonel said he would marry Ester soon. However, Leonel couldn’t confirm when the wedding would take place. If Ester didn’t remember her goal that would be quickly achieved, she would be very angry with Leonel’s behavior.

“Is Mr. Leonel here?” Ester asked as she was greeted by the servant in the house, a middle-aged woman who seemed uncomfortable letting Ester in.

“He’s here, ma’am,” she replied curtly. “Come in.”

Ester didn’t care if her arrival could cause problems. She just wanted to meet Leonel. After all, they were going to get married soon. When she was in this house, she was only considered a passerby, but when Ester entered the Grisham family, she would make sure anyone who looked at her dismissively would face the consequences.

She continued walking towards the dining room, where Leonel and Chloe were already there. He sat right next to Chloe and …

“Leonel!”