Divorce

Eve forced herself on her feet no matter how exhausting it was. She went to the bathroom and drowned herself in the cold bath until her senses started to return. Though not in perfect health, she felt she could see again. 

She forced herself on her feet and left the room. The party had long ended and the maids had left the mansion. There was an eerie silence in the whole building. There might be many rooms there. But Eve knew Cedric only used one room if he did not sleep with her. That was the room he used for gaming when he was young. The dark room with black and white as theme was his only solace.

She opened the door slowly only to see Cedric was sleeping on the bed nude. His lower body was covered by thin sheets. There was no one else in the room. She stood there for minutes before leaving. Perhaps, he slept alone. But as she turned to leave, she heard sounds from the kitchen.

It was early morning but it was still too early for maids to return. Eve used to fix their breakfast and brew coffee for both of them. Did he ask one of the staff to stay since she was not feeling well? Though she told herself that, her heart was already sinking with each new step. 

"Mmm hmm mmm, oh! Eve, did I wake you up?" Elene paused and looked at Eve as if she was looking at a ghost. Her face went a mixture of yellow and red with the brother of purple as she held the night gown tightly around her body.

She was only wearing an outer robe that showed a good part of her breast and her thighs, covered in love marks. Most of the marks are in the same area where Eve had them. Cedric loves to bite her on her breast and on her thighs. Those marks were mocking Eve. about her life, her dreams, her future, about Cedric. Cedric had slept with his lover, betraying his wife.

"It is not what you think." Elene panicked, "it… we were just too drunk to think properly. I told him that you would be angry. But he said that he would handle it. I… I must be leaving already." she panicked and spoke gibberish but Eve had never understood someone so well before.

"He was just angry that you were with another man. It must have been that. Eve, you must be kind to him. If you have been a good lover, it would never have happened. Cedric is a devoted lover." Elene chided her sister softly as if she was worried about her future after sleeping with her husband.

Could there be any better jokes! Ha! Eve trembled with rage as she walked closer to her sister and "pak!" elene stood there stunned. She was not expecting a slap from her meek sister. Her eyes widened and her hands instinctively reached for the slapped cheek. 

"You.. Why did you do that?" she shrieked but Eve did not stand there for long. 

She knew that it was not Elene who was at fault. Her husband was. They have promised each other to be faithful. That night, she did not beg him to marry her. He had come to propose to her. If he only wanted a replacement in bed, he could have gone to prostitutes for all she cared.

She stood in front of her door, but the hesitation only lasted for a second. She opened the door and found the divorce papers easily. She held them as if she was finally holding her life in her hands.

The small walk from her room to Cedric's room felt like an eternity. She could see all her married life in this short walk. How he had ravaged her at nights. How she had whispered her love every time in his ears and how they had dined together.

They never go out as they could be caught but they have shared dinner most of the nights in this building. She had arranged candlelights. They have never danced together but she had sung for him when he was sick in the name of lullaby.

She had nursed him all night. How she had held his hands and told her she would always be there. All this seems like a shattered dream now. She could feel its shards on her skin and the pain seeping into her bones, making her numb.

When she opened the door, he was still sleeping. His face looked so kind, so innocent. Now that his eyes were closed, she could not feel that demeaning aura around him.

She sat there, tears welling her eyes again. But she wiped them and blinked her eyes to make sure that she did not cry when he opened his eyes.

"Cedric, wake up Cedric." her hands reached for his soft hair. An unconscious smile bloomed on his face when she touched him. Was he imagining Elene? Did he think she was still in her bed?

The thought seared her and she moved her hands away. Cedric opened his eyes and whispered "good morning." in that lazy seductive voice that she felt helpless. But as his eyes cleared, they went cold and he looked at her with a brooding gaze. So, he had finally realized it was her, not her sister.

"Last night I was too angry."

"I want a divorce.'' They both spoke at once and then stared at each other. His eyes snapped to the papers in her hands. This was the opening she needed. She did not need an explanation from him about last night. This time he was angry, next time he would be happy. Or god knows what would happen after that. Whatever happened, she did not want to be part of it. So, she forwarded the papers to him.

"I have already signed the papers. You can sign them and submit them to your lawyers. I do not want anything from your property so it should be a simple process."