Becoming strangers again (Lily and Ryan)
Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 LILY My afternoon did no not go as planned at all. When I entered my car to drive home,what I envisioned was telling Ryan about the pregnancy, and in

my imagination, he lifted me into his arms and peppered my face with ki*ses, telling me how wewere going to be perfect parents. Divorce papers weren’t part of that imagination at all. I was stillseated in the same spot that Ryan was seated a few hours ago when he gave me the divorcepapers. My legs had given out the moment he ignored my questions and walked away withStephanic, and that was five hours ago. The distant sound of the front door opening and the softthuds of footsteps proved that he was horne. Dragging myself up from the dining chair, I gripped thepapers tightly and went in search of the man who vowed at the altar that he would love me till deathdo us part, the man who swore never to hurt me or cause me any pain. I walked into our bedroom intime before he walked into the bathroom to take a shower, “What is going on Ryan? What is themeaning of this?” I flung the papers at him and they went flying all over the room. “This is thesecond time you are asking me that he deadpanned, “don’t you have any more questions aftergoing through the divorce agreements?” I can’t believe what I am hearing “I did not go through anyagreement!” I yelled at him, “And I won’t be going through them, not until you tell me why you arethinking of divorcing me.” Ryan sighed. “I am not thinking about it Lily, it is already a reality. Knowthe difference.” I glared at him. “Is that all you are going to say?” I growled but he shrugged inresponse, looking indifferent to the whole thing “What was Stephanie doing here?” is she the reasonwhy he is leaving me! “Why was your ex–girlfriend in our home when you chose to give me the

divorce papers! Folding his hands, he stared at me with a tired expression. “She is a lawyer,” hedrawled out as though I was dumb or something- She is no divorce or family lawyer,” I remindedhim, “so don’t make it seem I do not have the right to question her presence. Biting my lips hard, 1tried to keep the tears in “Is she the reason you are divorcing me?” He stared at me intently withoutgiving me a response. My heartbeat quickened as my lungs threatened to collapse. “Why aren’t youanswering Ryan 1 expected him to assure me that whatever I was thinking was all in my head, buthis silence made me think otherwise. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” I bellowed. “Because I amwondering how this happened. He spat, flicking his hand between us, “How did I end up here?” Iexhaled shaky breath breath. “End up where?” please don’t tell me he is regretting getting marriedto me because I might end up losing my mind. “Here.” He repeated. “Look, there are certaindecisions that we take that do end well for us. Let us take this marriage as one of them. can feel myJungs contracting no matter how hard I try to prevent it “This is because of Stephanie right?Everything was okay until she showed up again and you suddenly want to divorce me” “This hasnothing to do with Stephaniel” he roared angrily, “this has everything to do with us.” He inhaleddeeply. “I have had a long day Lily, and I really want to take a shower and get ready for the team ofdesigners who will be getting me ready for the gala.” He turned to walk away but I stopped him. “Isthis because we don’t have a baby yet?” if that is why he is leaving me then he shouldn’t becausethe baby is already here “Baby?” he smiled sadly, “you know Lily, I have never been so glad that wehaven’t had any baby since we got married.” My lips trembled, “what do you mean by that?” “Imean, there is no baby to deal with the aftermath of our divorce, and also no reason for us to seeeach other or tolerate each other.” “Tole_” unable to take in air anymore, I began gasping. “I can…can‘… Byan..…….” He walked over to the drawer opened it, pulled out a paper bag then tossed itover to me. “You already know the drill,” he said flatly, “take slow breaths into the paper bag and youshould be fine.” Without sparing me another glance, he turned and walked into the bathroom,slamming the door behind him. Watching my husband leave while I struggled for breath painedmore than I could have imagined. I ended up not going to the gala, nor did I take his mother’s callfor gardening. I wasn’t in the right state of mind to interact with anyone right now. 11:28 AM Chapter3 If I face Ryan’s mother right now, I might end up snapping at her or cursing her which isn’t

something I should do since I am trying to get Ryan to change his mind about this divorce, so Ilocked myself away in our bedroom and watched the gala live on TV hoping to take my mind awayfrom the ordeal that has hit me. Watching the guests arrive for the red carpet, watching the cameracapture them, and watching them pose for the camera made me wonder just how strong some ofthem are. I know for a fact that some of them are being faced with different problems, yet they smileat the camera as though all is well. I wonder if I can be that strong. I was still staring blankly at thescreen when Ryan suddenly showed up for pictures on the red carpet, only that he wasn’t alone.Clinging to his arm with a wide smile is Stephanie The paparazzi became even more aggressivewith their picture, no doubt wondering why he showed up with his ex to the event instead of his wife.This was Ryan making it known to the world that all is not well between us, that our marriage isabout to crumble. His silent announcement wasn’t what scared me or broke my heart, rather it wasthe way he stared at Stephanie as she posed for pictures, the way he helped her with her dress,and the way he smiled widely when she whispered something in his ear. I watched my husbandthrough the screen behave in a manner I have always yearned for, only that it wasn’t directedtowards me but to his ex- girlfriend. He is looking at her like a man in love and he isn’t evenbothering to hide it. How much more humiliation do I need to understand the fact that I have lost myhusband to her? How much more heartbreak must I endure? He claims that Stephanie isn’t thereason for our crumbled marriage, but he is either lying to me or himself. Stephanie Waper is thereason my marriage is coming to an end.