1 A Losing Battle

When Natalie woke up in the morning, her eyes squinted when the sunlight slipped through their window blinds. She took her time on the bed, dismayed at how the weather was the total opposite from the turmoil of feelings she was experiencing inside. She was still hopeful that somehow, some things will be better but when she saw her husband's empty side of the bed, her chest hurt and her throat tightened.

Theodore has not come home again last night.

Natalie begrudgingly reached for her phone to check for any messages but when there was none, she searched for the latest news. She kept telling herself to keep doing her best in keeping the marriage together but for two years, it has been very difficult for her. News of her husband's infidelity was hard to ignore when it was plastered on every tabloid she could find. The internet also provided a lot of proofs of her husband's late night shenanigans as the paparazzies were very committed in tailing the married man everywhere. Pictures of Theodore tongue-kissing a gorgeous blonde with the longest legs she has seen, mocked herself as a woman and as her wife.

She slowly drew back the curtains to let the sunlight invade their room, wishing it was that easy to keep fighting a losing battle. While they were husband and wife in the bedroom, Natalie and Theodore were acquaintances in public. As years of her husband's infidelity plagued their marriage, the young redhead still tried her best to keep Theodore home.

Natalie sighed as she remembered how different her husband was before their marriage. Labelling Theodore Dianakis as the perfect man is truly an understatement. He was the typical Greek male who was so family-oriented that everything that revolves around his lineage is important. He especially held his grandfather in high regard. Natalie found out during their first meeting that it was Theodore's grandfather who had set up their marriage in hopes to merge the assets of the two prominent families.

On their first date, Natalie could barely look at the gorgeous male specimen in front of her. But at times that she successfully stole a glance at him, the innocent 18-year old that she was fell inlove hard. Theodore was not only charming, humorous, handsome, and sexy but he also has the set of the deepest gray of eyes Natalie has seen. She could not help but get lost in a trance, which was only interrupted by the man's sexiest, baritone laugh.

Natalie blushed hard at being caught staring by the man himself. She truly believed that they both hit off right from their first meeting. Since both of them were really not opposed of the marriage, after two weeks, they happily walked out of the church as husband and wife.

She sighed in disappointment as she slowly walked to the bathroom to take a bath and get ready. Two years and a half later, their warm marriage has turned cold and barren as the winter. Natalie refused to admit the reason why their relationship went wrong. She knew but still hopes Theodore could see past that.

She has naively hoped in these two years.