Becoming strangers again (Lily and Ryan)
Chapter 4

Chapter 4

LILY I have been avoiding the truth and reality for a week. Ryan behaves as though I do not exist,he comes home when I am asleep then leaves before I wake up, and the few times that I am awakewhen he returns, he simply ignores me. I want to give it one last try, to try to save my marriage onelast time, but Ryan isn’t even giving me an opportunity “Lily,” Becky called out, pulling me out of mythoughts. “Are you okay? You’ve been staring blankly at your juice for some time now.” Smilingtightly at her, I picked up the glass and took a sip. “Sorry about that, but I just have a lot of things onmy mind, that’s all” The fact that I am bouling everything up while dealing with morning sickness ismaking the whole thing exhausting. “Is Ryan not happy about the baby?” Becky asked in aconcerned tone. “You both seemed like you wanted to have a baby badly” Biting my lips, 1 staredinto my glass to keep the tears from falling “You haven’t told him, have you?” Trust Becky to quicklyfigure everything out. I shook my head. “I haven’t told him yet.”

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diately and sat down on the chair next to me. “You were ere excited about the news that day Lily,and it has been a week Why haven’t you told him!” I remained mute, contemplating whether Ishould discuss my marriage issues with her or not. Becky reached forward and took my hand intohers. “You can talk to me. Lily. I always opened up to you whenever I had issues with Derek andyou helped me fix them The tears rolled down and I reluctantly wiped them away. “This isn’t just anissue Becky,” I whispered, “Ryan wants a divorce.” She gasped. “A what?” blinking rapidly, she triedto make sense of the situation. “What happened? Why is he leaving you?” I shrugged, hating myselffor shedding tears in public. I guess he fell out of love with me.” Seeing how he is with Stephanie; Iwonder if he was ever in love with me. “He fell…” she smacked her lips, “what does that evenmean!” Becky placed her index finger on my jaw and lifted my head. She wiped my tears with her

thump. This has something to do with the girl he attended that gala with, right?” I shook my head indenial “Don’t be silly girl!” she chastised softly, “which man goes to an event without his wife but withhis ex?” she scoffed, “I didn’t want to say anything about it because you weren’t talking about iteither.” Not sure how to respond to that, I moved my gaze from her. “I can’t bring myself to tell himthat I am pregnant, not after he told me that he is grateful we don’t have any baby.” Her eyeswidened. “He said that?” she exclaimed and I nodded. “Have you tried talking to his mum? Maybeshe can help talk some sense into him.” Mr. Sarah Williams? “She will be ecstatic to hear that Ryanis divorcing me.” I mused, “She almost missed the wedding Becky, that is how much she hates thefact that I am married to him.” don’t get me started on his father. They all see me as a failedbusiness deal “And his father?” she asked, I understand that women can be dramatic at times.Have you tried talking to his father?” I shook my head. “Richard Williams is a businessman throughand through. That man hasn’t said more than twenty words to me since I got married to Ryan.“Stephanie’s family has the biggest law firm in the country, and if Ryan had gotten married to her.Waper law firm would have backed R&W Construction up legally for generations. I think he will beglad to hear that Ryan wants to get back with Stephanie.” Becky sighed. “So, what are you going todo!” “I am going to have a conversation with Ryan for the last time and ask him if this is what hereally wants, if he insists, I am going to give freedom. him his Becky cursed under her breath. “Besure to get enough settlement from him, you deserve it after what his family put you throughthroughout this marriage duration” She seemed as pained as I am about the situation, “you literallyplanted flowers while the rest of the family merry inside.” 1 chuckled, unable to help it, “I actuallyliked planting those flowers.” It gave me time to escape their judgmental glares. Tater that night,Ryan walked in as usual, probably thinking that I was asleep. I let him have his shower and changeinto his pajamas. The moment he crawlerl into the duvet; I opened my eyes. “We need to talk.”11:28 AM Chapter 4 Ryan sighed. “Can’t it wait till morning?” he asked, “I am really tired.” “You willbe gone before I wake up.” He puts in too much effort to avoid me. “So no, it can’t wait it tillmorning.” o this?” I asked calmly. “There is no His face tightened “What do you want to talk about?”“You know what I want to talk about.” I stated firmly, “It is about the divorce, are you sure you reallywant to do going back if I sign those divorce papers.” Craning his neck, he stared at me. “I am a

business man Lily; I do not say or do things that I do not mean.” He folded his hands, “before Ireach any decision, I think about them carefully to be sure I do not have regrets.” I bit my inner lips.“Can you at least tell me why?” Ryan cursed under his breath. Do I need to spell it out for you Lily!”“Yes, I do not want to assume things, I want you to spell it out for me.” “Our marriage has becomean unwanted distraction, and I think it is best we let each other go on good terms before the feelingin me grows into something else.” “Something else like what? “Hatred.” He deadpanned. “Angerand frustration, the list can go on if you want.” Lifting my left palm, I shook my head. “That won’t benecessary,” As much as I do not want to ask this, I have the right to know. “Did you ever love me,Ryan?” He stared at me intently, unable to answer my question I chuckled bitterly, “Do you loveStephanie?” again, he remained mute, but his eyes gave me the answers I needed. Wiping the sillytears that rolled down, I reached for the bedside drawer, pulled out the divorce paper, picked up apen, and signed on each before passing it over to him. “Goodnight Ryan This is the last time we aregoing to share the same space,