Matias glanced at me before lowering his head, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. “I choose to drink.”
That day, he downed five whole bottles of alcohol, drowning himself in his sorrow, only to witness me being swept away by Clayton.} “Irene, I stood by your side, yet I had no right to care for you.”
“I endured that pain for eight long years.”>
“Now, the heavens have finally shown me mercy.”
With that, Matias pulled me into his arms, his lips pressing against mine over and over as if he had finally claimed a treasure he had been yearning for.
“Irene, you’re my moon.”
As I smiled and turned to leave, he grasped my hand, dropping to one knee. He pulled a ring from his pocket, his eyes full of hope and devotion.
“Irene, marry me.”
“I won’t be like Clayton. I waited for you for eight years and I will love and protect you for the rest of my life.”
His heartfelt gaze nearly shattered the walls I had built around myself.
For a moment, I hesitated, but then! surrendered.§
“I agree,” I said, my voice soft as I extended
my hand.
Back in Summerville, I received a call from my lawyer, confirming that the divorce proceedings would begin soon. He was confident they could ensure Clayton would walk away with nothing.
“Irene, I’ll give you everything you want. Not a penny of it will be mine.“}
Just then, Clayton appeared, his eyes red and desperate as he appeared behind me.
“I’ll give you anything, Irene. Just don’t leave me. Please, don’t divorce me.”
I turned to face him, my expression cold and unwavering.
It had only been a few days since I had last seen him.
His temples were graying now, his face haggard, a shadow of the man he once was.
It was clear that the relentless pressure from both his family and career had taken its toll on him.
“Irene, you don’t have to worry about that bitch Odessa anymore. She went to the hospital to have an abortion. She’ll never be able to have children again, and she won’t be a threat to us.“}
I stared at him, disbelief flashing in my eyes.”
“Clayton, what right do you have to take away a woman’s chance to bear children?”
“The problem was caused by you. So why should someone else pay for it, and why should I forgive you?”
“You really are shameless.”
I sneered, the words bitter on my tongue, but Clayton only pressed his lips into a thin line, his silence louder than any defense. “Irene, I know you don’t believe me, but the truth is, she seduced me.”}
“She always wanted to marry me, to become a rich man’s wife, even selling herself, I admit, I couldn’t resist her for a moment…” “But Irene, the only one I love is you. I never wanted to marry her.”}
No matter how sweetly he spoke, it only filled me with disgust.
“Clayton, i raised my hand, the gleam of my new wedding ring catching the light. “I’ve already agreed to Matias’s proposal.”
“From now on, I have nothing to do with you.”
The divorce was swift and final!
Clayton was ordered to leave with nothing, and his company, once thriving, faced devastating losses, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.
The man who had once bought every rose in the city for my birthday, creating a perfect romantic atmosphere, was now no more than a fragile bubble, shattered beyond repair.
Clayton had fallen from grace, and in his desperation, he came to beg me.
“Irene, now I finally see how deeply I’ve hurt you.”
His eyes, full of regret, locked onto mine as he watched Matias and me, hand in hand, his gaze filled with despair.
“Seeing you two together feels like a knife is stabbing my heart. I can’t breathe.”
“I’m sorry…”
Lately, it felt like Clayton had become a shadow in our lives.
When Matias and I went to pick out a wedding dress, he trailed behind us, keeping his distance but never really leaving.
