Chapter 1 The Return

• I looked at the time again and sighed.
• An hour and a half had passed since I arrived, and I didn’t know how many times I had checked my watch. My husband, Franco River, didn’t appear. He was supposed to pick me up at the airport. But he must be with his girlfriend right now. I shook my head and smiled bitterly at the thought, stood up, and dragged myself and luggage out of the airport.
• I married Franco three years ago. But shortly after our wedding, I received an offer from my dream university abroad, so I went to study there. In the three years I was studying, he never contacted me, let alone saw each other, and he would only spend his time with that woman.
• I waited him for three years, but he didn’t show any love for me, and now that I'm back, it's time to over everything.
• On the way home in a taxi, I sent Franco a message that said:
• "We need to talk."
• Soon, I was standing inside our empty house. I left my luggage aside and headed to the living room. I sat down on the couch and waited. The house looked and smelled as if no one had lived in it for years. The photo of our wedding was still hanging on the wall. It offended and saddened me at the same time.
• I checked my phone again. Franco still hadn't responded. I guessed maybe he wouldn't be home tonight.
• But I sat there for a long time, lost in my thoughts. Then, I heard a car stop outside. I stood up from my seat, feeling my heart racing. Did I still expect something from my stone-hearted husband? Maybe. Maybe not. But at the last moment, I gritted my teeth and clasped my trembling hands together. I reminded myself, 'I'm here to end everything with him.'
• The doorknob turned, and the door opened. Franco switched on the lights, casting a tall shadow of himself down the hallway. He entered. He was dressed in a charcoal black suit and an immaculate white shirt. His expression showed weariness, but he did nothing to overshadow his handsome face. Everything remained the same. He still exuded that icy aura that I could feel from a few meters away.
• As he approached, my heart beat faster, and my breath started coming in short bursts. I couldn't believe I had forgotten how handsome he was. He was like a god who didn't belong in the mortal world. He had the kind of charm that made people surrender.
• Time had turned him into a more mature and striking-looking man.
• "You're back," his icy voice pulled me back to reality.
• "It seems so," I replied, pretending to be calm.
• "My lawyer just emailed you," as Franco spoke, he loosened his tie. His muscular chest peeked through his shirt.
• "Alright, let me check," I swallowed and schooled my features into neutrality.
• I took out my phone and opened my email, and the subject line of the latest email in my inbox jumped right at me: "Divorce Agreement." Though I was expecting it, it still felt like someone stabbed me in the chest. The pain was swift and startling, and the only reason I was grateful was because it momentarily blinded me from Franco's charm.
• "Everything's fine. I'll sign it," I put away my phone and looked back at my soon-to-be ex-husband. Soon, he wouldn't belong to me anymore. I had a good run pretending to be Mrs. River. But it had to come to an end now, and I had to kick Mr. River out of my world.
• “Don't you want to read the agreement first?”
• “ There's no need. I'm sure Mr. River will treat his ex-wife well.”I forced a smile. Ex-wife. I was going to be his ex-wife very soon, but I wasn't sure I agreed with such a direct term.
• “ You'll get the house on Gardner Street. And the apartment downtown...
• “When?" I interrupted Franco.
• “ What? “He frowned and looked at me with inquisitive eyes.
• “When are we going to sign the papers? ”I asked softly.
• “I'll make an appointment with my lawyer “Franco replied, slightly lowering his chin.
• “ Alright. I'll wait for your call ”
• After a moment of silence, he looked at me again.
• “ Sophia isn't in good health. I just want to fulfill her last wish .”he explained.
• "I understand, actually you don't have to tell me about this," I simply nodded, repressed my anger, to avoid out of control to question him, why do I have to become a victim between you and the woman? Well, I supposed I didn’t have the right to be hurt there. After all, I am just a fake Mrs. River.
• “Come see Sophia tomorrow.” Franco stood up and walked over to me.
• He said his last sentence firmly. He wasn't asking me to come see his girlfriend. He was ordering me. What did he think of me? And why should I go meet that woman? Did he just want to rub salt in my wound?
• “And why would I do that? ”I asked him with a serious face.
• “I don't want her to feel guilty about our divorce. Tell her you're in love with someone else. Assure her that our decision to end our marriage has nothing to do with her.” He stopped in front of me and looked into my eyes once again.
• I wanted to refuse. But for some reason, it had always been difficult for me to say no to him. All he had to do was look into my eyes and ask, and I would surrender without a fight.
• “Okay.” I said to him.
• Franco took one last look at me and walked away.
• I watched his figure fade away as tears welled up in my eyes.
• We had been hiding our marriage for the past three years. No one knew about it except our family and close friends.
• A few months ago, the media broke the news of Franco and Sophia's engagement. Photos of Sophia trying on wedding dresses were also published and circulated on the internet. What a perfect match!
• I took a deep breath, but for a long time I could not calm the emotional bomb brought by Franco in the short time. I stood up to go to the balcony to breathe some fresh air. To my surprise, I found Franco's car still parked in the driveway. Why was he still here? Shouldn't he be running back to his beloved Sophia?
• As I stared at his car, my phone rang. It was my best friend, Tiana. I answered her call.
• “Hello, Tiana!”
• “ Bitch! Welcome back!”
• “Thank you.”
• “ I'm still on a business trip. I'm so sorry I couldn't pick you up at the airport today.”
• “It's okay. Work comes first.”
• “Are you back for stay forever or are you going to leave again at the first opportunity you get?”
• “ I think I'll stay for now.”
• “Great! Come work at our radio station then. I mean, you're perfect for the job. You specialized in media, your voice is pleasant to listen to, and you're beautiful. People will love you. You'll fit right in. What do you say?
• “Okay.”
• “Have you talked to Franco?” Tiana's voice suddenly turned low as if she wanted to hide something.
• “Yes.” I looked back at Franco's car in the driveway.
• “Did he mention his little girlfriend to you?”
• “Yes.”
• “ What a shameless idiot! How dare he mention her to you?”
• “ It's okay, Tiana. He asked me to go see Sophia tomorrow and I said yes.
• “What? You agreed to meet that bitch who stole your husband? Are you crazy, Yenefer? That woman seduced Franco and encouraged him to divorce you. Honestly, I don't know why she's wasting her energy. The River family didn't approve of her married Franco three years ago. What makes her think they've somehow changed their minds now?”Tiana was practically roaring on the other end of the line.
• “It's all said and done. At this point, I just want to let the past be the past.” I smiled slightly.
• “ Past? Yenefer, you still love him, don't you?”
• I didn't answer. Of course, I still loved him. I had never stopped loving him.
• “Yenefer!” Tiana's shout brought me back to reality.
• “ I'm tired, Tiana. I'll call you tomorrow, okay? See you soon.”
• I hung up the phone before Tiana could protest and took a deep breath. Franco's car was still there, and it didn't seem like he planned on leaving anytime soon. But what did I care?
• Suddenly, exhaustion finally took hold of me. I went back to my room and got into bed. I lay on my back, looked at the ceiling, and waited for sleep to come. A few moments later, I heard someone knocking on the door.
• Rubbing my eyes to shake off the sleep, I slipped out of bed and opened the door.
• “It’s him.”