My Blind Wife Wants Divorced

Even though it was late at night, Chloe couldn’t close her eyes. She left the balcony partially open, ignoring the chilly night breeze that entered and made her feel cold. Wrapped in a wool blanket draped over her shoulders, Chloe had no intention of moving from there. She held her phone in her hand, which she had been using all this time. Peni had asked for permission to leave her room about three hours ago. Peni needed rest, after all. Chloe intended to rest as well, but her mind was filled with her words and conversations with Agatha earlier. She couldn’t forget or dismiss them because they had truly drained her emotions.

“I can’t, Mom,” Chloe said firmly. “My divorce has to happen. I’m tired of giving Leonel chances. Haven’t I been asking myself what I did wrong for the past five years? What was lacking in me? But Leonel remained silent, not answering one of my questions, Mom.” Chloe’s breathing suddenly became erratic. There was a surge of intense emotions that gripped her.

“I know, Mama,” Agatha said with a frustrated sigh. “If it weren’t for the current situation that is putting the Grisham’s, especially Leonel, in the spotlight, I wouldn’t be asking this of you. Just postpone it, dear. I’m not asking you to give Leonel a chance. I understand and try to empathize with what you’ve been through.”

“Mama has never experienced how I have been here-faithful, patient, submissive, obedient-yet betrayed so greatly. He indulged in his desires. I knew, but I still tried to keep quiet. But seeing him do it so often, even in his office, how can my patience still exist, Mom?” Chloe asked with teary eyes. She could see her vision blur despite the light.

“Yes, Chloe.”

“I don’t care what happens to Leonel out there, Mom.”

“Even if he’s being falsely accused?”

Chloe fell silent, not to think but to give her mother-in-law a chance to explain what happened. And the story unfolded, along with the many news reports about Leonel. This included the impact on the Mountain company and its effects that were starting to be felt now.

“So I hope you can understand. If your divorce becomes public, it will justify Leonel playing with fire with Ester. Tempting Ester even though we know who was the one tempting, right? Ester Gisela.”

Seeing her daughter-in-law’s unresponsive demeanor, Agatha spoke again to influence Chloe’s significant decision. She reached for Chloe’s hand and held it. “It’s not just Leonel who will face the trouble of the news, dear. You will too. Your life will undoubtedly be scrutinized and linked to those tabloid stories. Do you want that?”

Chloe carefully absorbed all of Agatha’s words. The origins of why Leonel had to go to Cattle Village and his version of how he ended up with Ester. Should she believe it? “No, Mom. My decision is final. This divorce stems from their relationship, right?”

Agatha looked surprised at Chloe’s words this time. “Dear?”

“I have made up my mind, thought it through, considered the pros and cons, and consulted my deepest feelings about whether this divorce should happen. During my illness and recovery, Leonel remained the same. Cold and indifferent to me. But once I mentioned divorce, why did he suddenly start thinking?”

Agatha swallowed nervously.

“For me, there are no more feelings left for Leonel, Mom. Not even a hint of pity for the recent problems he faced. None at all. I don’t care what the media says about me or Leonel. Even if they say I’m a clueless wife who’s lucky to leave Leonel, I don’t care. I’ve been unlucky, haven’t I?”

Agatha continued trying to persuade her, grabbing and holding Chloe’s hand. “There’s a high possibility that Leonel’s past affair will be exposed, Chloe. And you’ll be affected by it too.”

“I’m puzzled, Mom,” Chloe slightly withdrew her mother-in-law’s hand. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be touched or felt disgusted, but she was afraid. That touch made her doubtful. No, she couldn’t have doubts now. All her desires were on the line. She couldn’t let anything hinder her. “All this time, Ester and Leonel’s affair didn’t reach the media, right?”

Agatha fell silent.

“Even though Ester is a new model, our marriage was still fresh. I still remember Deborah saying that their contracts are never long when there’s a new face at Soho. At least, Mom, I know how to gather information about Ester before deciding what I should do with both of them. So, Soho and Leonel already knew about Ester, right? The media must have focused on her, right? And working with Soho was the gateway to her success now. Does that mean she’s been showered with a lot of attention and publicity, Mom? So why was their affair kept under wraps?”

Chloe pondered momentarily before finally voicing the thoughts that had long been in her mind. She had never shared this with Agatha, except with Adrianna as a point of consideration. Her friend fully agreed with Chloe’s analysis.

“It means a large sum of money was used to cover up Ester’s suspicious activities related to Leonel Grisham, right, Mom?”

“Mama doesn’t know about that, Sa,” Agatha said, puzzled by Chloe’s earlier words. She didn’t expect her daughter-in-law to know about this, something that she didn’t know.

“That’s right. Mama’s just like me. She didn’t know anything at first. But I secretly observed and found out until it reached a point where it seemed like I was the one who had too much hope in Leonel’s love. From the beginning, Leonel’s love was only for Ester. I was the third person between them, forcing myself so hard, not being acknowledged at all, and in the end, I got tired of being alone, Mom. My struggle to win over Leonel was enough. Let him be with Ester. I can’t handle it anymore.”

“And letting Leonel’s reputation decline even further? Confirming the public’s assumption that they were indeed having an affair behind you, Chloe?”

“That’s the reality, isn’t it, Mom? Why is it only surfacing now? Because the journalists found out that Leonel was with Ester in Cattle Village? I’m sure, a hundred percent sure, that the journalists have known about Ester’s affair with Leonel for a long time. But Leonel has a lot of money, and he can silence them. I don’t know why this news spread and was framed as if Leonel was seducing Ester. If these rumors had been circulating before, I doubt Ester’s name would be as big as it is now, Mom. Think about that.”

Agatha fell silent, clenching her jaw. Chloe was indeed stubborn and not easily persuaded. She only had to wait another six months for their divorce. Even if Chloe made specific demands, Agatha would be okay if they stayed together until this intense gossip subsided.

“I won’t back down from this divorce petition. If this news becomes bigger, the chances of the divorce being approved by the court will increase. Who knows if rumors about Leonel’s long-hidden affair will circulate? Then I can use it as additional evidence that weighs against him and supports my petition later, Mom.”

“Chloe!”

“Why, Mom? Do you understand how I feel? You often say that I should be happy, but where is it? Am I supposed to be content with all this luxury? I don’t want that, Mom! I don’t want to suppress these feelings behind all this luxury. It hurts, Mom. It hurts!”

Agatha stood up abruptly, her eyes filled with anger directed at Chloe. She was deeply disappointed in her daughter-in-law. “I always respected your wishes, Chloe. I also tried to be a replacement mother for Grita for you. I love you and will always support you, dear. I’m just asking you to do this for whom? For yourself as well. So that your name doesn’t get dragged further away, you know how ruthless the media can be, always writing articles that lead people to hate each other and make their assumptions.” Agatha spoke until she was out of breath. Her chest rose and fell with her heavy breathing. “Think about that, dear.”

Chloe fell silent but then smiled. Not because Agatha was leaving her now, but because she realized that everything ultimately revolved around Leonel. No one cared about Chloe all this time. Neither her father-in-law nor Agatha played a part in covering up the affair between her husband and that snake woman. But if Ester was already at Mountain, it meant that it would be soon that Robby at least knew who Ester was.

Chloe didn’t consider that Robby must have loved Leonel, but now, that fleeting thought haunted her slowly.

“Did Mama ever think for once what it’s like to be me? The one who has been hurt so much by your child, Mom? The one who should have received love and affection instead of betrayal. Maybe if Leonel’s love was for Ester, you should have approved it from the beginning. Don’t make another woman beg for a love that can never exist-the one already hurt now. And now, she wants to be free and liberated from the chains of this painful burden. Should she endure for the sake of the person who betrayed her?” Chloe’s words left Agatha speechless. Her steps halted right in front of Chloe’s bedroom door.

“I’m human too, Mom. I’m so weak,” Chloe said, tears streaming down her face. “Don’t force me to be strong once again, Mom. I can’t handle it.”

***This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

The drink she had been enjoying was slowly shaken. Ripples began to form inside due to her movements. In front of her, the bespectacled man appeared busy with his tablet. Their conversation was interrupted by the work brought by his assistant, Emir. But the woman didn’t pay much attention to it. She left the apartment and sat in an empty cafe. It may have been reserved exclusively to avoid any disturbances.

“Sorry, Ester. I have a lot of work,” Josh said as he removed his glasses. He returned the tablet he had been using to monitor his work to Emir. Emir and other reports were scattered on the table not far from where they were sitting. Even though they didn’t have an office, all the work still had to be handled.

“It’s okay.” Once again, she took a sip of the dark red liquid. “I’m used to the busyness of someone who owns a large group.”

“Like Leonel?”

Ester scoffed. “Can we not bring up that name in our conversation?”

“But that’s what we’re discussing, Ester.”

“Why talk about Leonel?” Ester asked, bewildered. “I don’t understand all the news that’s been happening. Is it you’re doing? You asked me to go to Cattle Village, and suddenly this strange news came up. I’m being dragged into a lot of negative press.”

“Is that so?” Josh asked with a sly grin. “Are you sure that news was about you with negative words? I saw many people supporting you to stay away from Leonel. Especially after he was reported causing a commotion at his own company’s party.”

“So, this was all orchestrated by you,” Ester stared intently at Josh, who was still smirking cynically. “What’s your purpose? I did what you wanted. But if you destroy what I’ve built, I won’t hesitate to retaliate.”

“Are you sure?” Josh said dismissively. “You can’t make many moves, Ester. All the trump cards are in my hands. I’m protecting you, attacking Leonel from another side.”

“But why?”

“You don’t need to ask for that reason. You want Leonel’s approval. Then follow what I say. You will get what you desire. Maybe very soon.”

“Soon, I could also become Leonel’s wife.”

“Secondly,” Josh quickly interjected, frustrating Ester. “Are you satisfied with that? Don’t you want to be the first?”

“After this news? Come on, Josh. I would get a bad reputation if I stayed by Leonel’s side. It would seem like I have been having an affair with him for a long time. There would be no timeline where Leonel seduces Ester, but it’s me, Ester Gisela, who has been seducing Leonel!” Ester snapped, feeling indignant. “I don’t want that news spreading around!”

“Just calm down. I’ve covered up much about that, Ester, as long as,” Josh leaned forward slightly. He didn’t let his eyes wander anywhere except Ester, who now appeared uneasy. Concealing her fear with a smile, Josh knew she had a sense of trepidation in her heart.

“Are you threatening me?”

“Do I look like I’m threatening someone?” Josh said with a sharp grin. “I’m offering you a perfect negotiation deal. Just calm down. If you do what I want, my name will always be protected. And yours too, of course.”

“What is it that I want, Josh? You’ve been talking as if you know what I want most.”

Josh chuckled, folding his thick, neatly arranged hair slowly. “What else but Grisham’s approval? I’m right, aren’t I?”

Ester fell silent, her gaze meeting his intensely. Then she let out a long breath, signifying that what Josh said was true. It was indeed something she had desired for a long time. “What do I have to do?”

“Hold a press conference. Tell the media that it’s true. Leonel came to meet you but not to seduce you. A business collaboration needs to be discussed, even though Leonel was somewhat forced to agree because of its high value.”

Ester frowned. “But that’s like admitting my involvement with Mountain.”

“That’s right.” Josh leaned back in his chair. “You don’t need to say anything else. Just say that. If there are pressing questions, I’ve prepared a draft that Sofi can read and study.”

“You’ve prepared all of this?”

“Getting what we want requires preparation, Ester. After that, you’ll meet Grisham. Make a separate agreement with him,” he handed her a document that had been nearby all along. “I’m sure you’ll get his approval.”