[42]
Leonel massaged his temples roughly, his breaths becoming erratic. His heart continued to ache relentlessly. Chloe’s words, which he had recently heard, truly wounded him. But upon further reflection, Chloe’s comments were not without reason. It all started with Leonel’s careless behavior in their marriage without considering how Chloe felt.
Despite her efforts to please him, the image of him leaving Chloe alone kept spinning in his mind. “Forgive me, Chloe,” he whispered.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.
This pain was tormenting Leonel. He never imagined being treated by Chloe the way he had treated her. Now Chloe was candidly expressing her feelings, leaving him feeling so weak.
“If you truly want to fix everything, just set me free. Maybe we’ve reached our limit.”
Chloe’s voice filled his senses once again.
“What must I do to earn your forgiveness, Sa?” Leonel said softly, his eyes welling up. “I regret it. I only just realized that you never complained about being by my side. You always tried to show the best version of yourself. And I wasted it all?” He roughly tugged at his hair. “I was such a fool.”
If he could turn back time, now called the past, Leonel would undoubtedly do it. At least, even if love weren’t present, he would try to be by Chloe’s side. After all, it wasn’t just him who was a victim. Chloe was too. No one ever asked if she genuinely agreed to their marriage. What about her personal life?
No one asked.
Coupled with Leonel’s attitude and neglect towards her, it all seemed like Chloe’s fault.
His cell phone ringing made Leonel wipe the corner of his eye. He slowly got up to retrieve the device he had placed on the nightstand. Chris’s name appeared there.
“Yeah?”
“Once again, I ask, Leonel, canceled or continued?”
Leonel remained silent for a while. His eyes glazed far out the window whose curtains he hadn’t closed. The night atmosphere he saw from his standing position was already quite dark. “Just continue. Nothing can stop Chloe’s desires anymore, Chris.”
“Aren’t you trying harder?”
“I’ve done enough.”
“What have you done?” Chris snapped. “I want to know what you’ve done to earn a second chance from Chloe.”
“Apologizing, admitting that I was wrong,” Leonel choked out. His eyes welled up again. The wounded look in Chloe’s eyes haunted him.
“Oh, my God! You’re a successful businessman in Indonesia. Skilled in business and adept at negotiation. Both friends and foes hesitate to face a man like Leonel Grisham. But when facing your wife, whom you’ve disappointed and hurt, you act foolishly, huh?”
“Don’t pretend to know everything and give me advice!”
“I’m as old as your father, Leonel. I’ve experienced the bitter sweetness of marriage long before you, and I’m not foolish like you!!!”
“What should I do then?” Leonel half-shouted. He couldn’t tolerate Chris interrupting him, but what the man said was true. His chest rose and fell as Leonel tried to contain the turmoil he felt. Once again, he rubbed his face with immense frustration. “What else should I do, Chris?” he asked, his voice much weaker. He slumped onto the sofa, letting his weight fall.
“Goodness, this child!” Chris grumbled in frustration but also with concern for Leonel. However, it was something Leonel had to experience. What more could he want from Chloe? In Chris’s opinion, nothing. Leonel was fortunate to have a woman like Chloe as his wife.
She had few demands, accommodated Leonel’s desires, and could adapt to the Grisham family. Not to mention Chloe’s beauty. Leonel was the fool here!
“Try to prove that you truly regret it, Leonel. It’s not just about words or apologies. Remember your mistakes with Chloe.”
Leonel fell silent.
“You’ve made too many mistakes, causing disappointment in her heart, especially since Chloe knows you openly cheated. The pain she feels is not ordinary, Leonel. It would help if you were grateful she hasn’t gone insane. She still has some sanity left in her heart and mind.”
“I know,” Leonel whispered.
“Now she can voice what she’s been holding back all this time. Are you hurt? Don’t be. Swallow all of Chloe’s words. Reflect on what you’ve done, Leonel. That’s what Chloe experienced. That’s just what she said. Not to mention the tears she shed every night. Do you know that?”
“Why do you seem to understand so well?”
Chris sighed in annoyance. “Don’t forget; I’m a lawyer. I’ve dealt with divorces involving cheating couples many times. And the one who suffers the most is usually the woman. During the divorce process, women liberated from marriages they believe are beyond repair, whether due to domestic violence, infidelity, or abnormal behavior of their husbands, can find their life again. They shine brightly without needing a man by their side. They achieve great things according to their world. But what about the men left behind?”
Leonel straightened his back.
“They crumble, disintegrate, and struggle to rise again even though men benefit more from divorces. For example, in cases of infidelity, they can return to the arms of their affairs. If it’s domestic violence, they just find a new victim. Not their ex-wife anymore.”
“Are you trying to scare me, Chris?” Leonel asked, his mouth agape. Where did Chris’s earlier words come from?
In the distance, Chris laughed. “I’m only stating the facts, Leonel. As for you, I’m sure that you’re already begging Chloe to come back not even a month after your divorce is legally finalized. Oh, you’re doing that now, aren’t you?”
“Are you trying to support me or urging me to speed up the divorce?” Leonel was triggered by anger he couldn’t contain. “You…”
Chris remained faithful to his laughter, enjoying mocking Leonel’s foolishness amidst his affairs. How could he be so foolish in dealing with his wife?
“Prove that what you say, the apology is what you truly want from Chloe, not just empty words. Prove it. You can do it, Leonel.”
“Chloe continues to show antipathy towards me, Chris,” Leonel said with frustration. “As if she doesn’t allow me to say anything else.”
“Do you forget you have also done the same to her?” Chris interjected.
Leonel closed his eyes tightly, biting his lower lip. Those words struck him deeply.
“How many times has Chloe ignored you while you… forgot?” Chris continued.
“Don’t recite my mistakes in this situation, Chris,” Leonel quickly responded, leaning back on the sofa to rest.
“I just want you to know what you should do,” Chris said.
Leonel fell silent, and Chris stopped speaking as well.
“The choice is yours now. Because a few days ago, Chloe contacted our office, Leonel. She wants everything expedited.”
Leonel sighed softly, his gaze drifting to the ceiling of his room. “I guess… there’s nothing more I can do. Chloe seems to suffer with me, Chris.”
“You’re a fool, Leonel.”
“At least… maybe this is what I can do to redeem everything.”
“After your divorce? Will you marry Ester?” Chris asked urgently. He couldn’t understand Leonel’s desires. Despite fully supporting the cancellation of their divorce, Chris saw Leonel as a child. The relationship between his family and the Grisham’s was quite close. The possibility of their divorce deeply saddened him.
Although, in truth, Leonel needed to be taught a lesson. However, considering how Chloe was treated, Chris also couldn’t bear it. Ah, Chris was torn.
“I don’t know,” Leonel said softly. “I no longer have the desire to marry Ester.”
“Why?” Chris asked, this time with a dismissive tone. “Has your love run out?”
“Today, I’ll let you laugh at me to your heart’s content, Chris. You win,” Leonel said with a slight chuckle. Although he felt cornered in this conversation with Chris tonight, at least he expressed many things and listened to some advice that gave him a sense of what he would do.
“I’m asking you, Leonel. Because the upcoming wedding will surely make me busy.” Chris spoke as if he was reluctant to go through this new administrative process, which made Leonel laugh this time.
“I don’t know. In the past few days, I’ve wondered if this is love. Or just a way to prove to my parents that my feelings for Ester aren’t just a game,” Leonel said after controlling his laughter. “You know about my previous relationship with Ester, right?”
“Your parents must have their reasons, Leonel.”
“My father never told me,” Leonel quickly replied. “I just feel he didn’t like Ester because of her job.”
“One of many reasons.”
“But it doesn’t matter now. I’ve lost interest in marrying her. Even if…” Leonel paused for a moment. “Even if I marry Ester later, I think it would be different from my previous desires. The intense desire to make her the only woman I love.”
“Are you trying to learn to love Chloe?”
“I don’t know,” Leonel smiled faintly. “I don’t know. I feel like spending more time with Chloe.”
“But you want this divorce to happen in the end? What do you want, Leonel?”
“You said I should fight for Chloe’s heart. This is my way of fighting. Let the divorce happen, and then I’ll fight to prove myself. I still deserve a chance. And start a new life with Chloe.”
There, Chris was taken aback but quickly smiled, satisfied. “I believe you can prove yourself. Just one thing I want to emphasize.”
Leonel chose to wait for Chris’s following words.
“Forget about Ester. Fight for Chloe.”
“That’s what I’ll do, Chris. So, expedite it. I want this house to be in Chloe’s name, and a few things that I want to be hers.”