Becoming Strangers Again by Lily

LILY I have been avoiding the truth and reality for a week. Ryan behaves as though I do not exist, he comes hwhen I am asleep then leaves before I wake up, and the few times that I am awake when he returns, he simply ignores me. I want to give it one last try, to try to save my marriage one last time, but Ryan isn't even givingan opportunity "Lily," Becky called out, pullingout of my thoughts. "Are you okay? You've been staring blankly at your juice for stnow." Smiling tightly at her, I picked up the glass and took a sip. "Sorry about that, but I just have a lot of things on my mind, that's all" The fact that I am bouling everything up while dealing with morning sickness is making the whole thing exhausting. "Is Ryan not happy about the baby?" Becky asked in a concerned tone. "You both seemed like you wanted to have a baby badly" Biting my lips, 1 stared into my glass to keep the tears from falling "You haven't told him, have you?" Trust Becky to quickly figure everything out. I shook my head. "I haven't told him yet." 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 I should discuss my marriage issues with her or not. Becky reached forward and took my hand into hers. "You can talk to me. Lily. I always opened up to you whenever I had issues with Derek and you helpedfix them The tears rolled down and I reluctantly wiped them away. "This isn't just an issue Becky," I whispered, "Ryan wants a divorce." She gasped. "A what?" blinking rapidly, she tried to make sense of the situation. "What happened? Why is he leaving you?" I shrugged, hating myself for shedding tears in public. I guess he fell out of love with me." Seeing how he is with Stephanie; I wonder if he was ever in love with me. "He fell..." she smacked her lips, "what does that even mean!" 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 in denial "Don't be silly girl!" she chastised softly, "which man goes to an event without his wife but with his ex?" she scoffed, "I didn't want to say anything about it because you weren't talking about it either." Not sure how to respond to that, I moved my gaze from her. "I can't bring myself to tell him that I am pregnant, not after he toldthat he is grateful we don't have any baby." Her eyes widened. "He said that?" she exclaimed and I nodded. "Have you tried talking to his mum? Maybe she can help talk ssense into him." Mr. Sarah Williams? "She will be ecstatic to hear that Ryan is divorcing me." I mused, "She almost missed the wedding Becky, that is how much she hates the fact that I am married to him." don't getstarted on his father. They all seeas a failed business deal "And his father?" she asked, I understand that women can be tic at times. Have you tried talking to his father?" I shook my head. "Richard Williams is a businessman through and through. That man hasn't said more than twenty words tosince 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 be glad to hear that Ryan wants to get back with Stephanie." Becky sighed. "So, what are you going to do!" "I am going to have a conversation with Ryan for the last tand ask him if this is what he really wants, if he insists, I am going to give freedom. him his Becky cursed under her breath. "Be sure to get enough settlement from him, you deserve it after what his family put you through throughout this marriage duration" She seemed as pained as I am about the situation, "you literally planted flowers while the rest of the family merry inside." 1 chuckled, unable to help it, "I actually liked planting those flowers." It gavetto 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 change into 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 will be gone before I wake up." He puts in too much effort to avoid me. "So no, it can't wait it till morning." 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 really want 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 I reach any decision, I think about them carefully to be sure I do not have regrets." I bit my inner lips. "Can you at least tellwhy?" Ryan cursed under his breath. Do I need to spell it out for you Lily!" "Yes, I do not want to assthings, I want you to spell it out for me." "Our marriage has becan unwanted distraction, and I think it is best we let each other go on good terms before the feeling ingrows into something else." "Something else like what? "Hatred." He deadpanned. "Anger and frustration, the list can go on if you want." Lifting my left palm, I shook my head. "That won't be necessary," As much as I do not want to ask this, I have the right to know. "Did you ever love me, Ryan?" He stared atintently, unable to answer my question I chuckled bitterly, "Do you love Stephanie?" again, he remained mute, but his eyes gavethe answers I needed. Wiping the silly tears that rolled down, I reached for the bedside drawer, pulled out the divorce paper, picked up a pen, and signed on each before passing it over to him. "Goodnight Ryan This is the last twe are going to share the sspace,

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