Chapter 2
LAYLA’S POVI was trying to figure out what they were talking about so I started approaching Nate’s office but stopped on my track when I saw her coming out and I felt frozen.The woman that was chatting with Nate… my husband with that singsong voice and beautiful smile, I was no other than Chloe, Nate’s ex.What is she doing here?Chloe and Nate had been dating in high school, they were the perfect match because both of them were A-level students and attractive. Everyone was jealous and wanted their relationship. They were older than me with class and age so I was invisible to both of them even though I was really in love with Nate. Nate had been happy around Chloe, and that had never really been the case when he was around me. Which made me feel what I felt when we were in high school all over again. Chloe was smart and beautiful and funny, which was everything, she was that perfect girl and I knew that I couldn’t beat her. I didn’t want them to see me so I decided to hide, I’m going to wait till they are done before I approach Nate to give him his dinner. I don’t get why I always hide when I’m his wife, this wasn’t high school where I’ll hide all the time just to get a peek at Nate. I’m his wife now and I should stop hiding but I didn’t know how to make the old habit die and I also liked being in the shadow which meant less drama and attention. I didn’t get why Chloe was back, I mean she left for LA to pursue her dreams of being a lawyer and as far as I know that was the point when they parted ways so why is she back now? Chloe has always been that extravagant and classy girl that I couldn’t stand close to because I knew I was too normal to be like her or even her friend. I wouldn’t even be surprised if she was the one that Nate really loved because she was his type and also his love in high school. I kept on hiding waiting for the time they were going to be done with their conversation.Seeing her again made me feel like I was thrown back to the school years all over again, when I was self-conscious, self-doubtful and afraid of other people’s attention, even though I had tried my best to grow and push my limits throughout the years. When I got married to Nate, I tried even harder just so I could be more like a match to him.But now I knew I still wasn’t. I waited for a while before coming off my thought. I decided to proceed to the office but I bumped into someone making the whole meal spill.“Ouch” I heard as I looked up to realize that it was Chloe.“I’m so sorry” I quickly apologized.“Oh gosh Layla?” she squealed forgetting the fact that I had just bumped into her. I was surprised she remembered me because I wasn’t one of the unforgettable faces in high school.“what are you doing here?’ she questioned when I confirmed that I was really Layla from high school.“Oh I’m just here to see my friend” I didn’t want her to know about me and Nate especially if Nate hadn’t told her by himself. “What about you?”“Oh I actually came to see Nate, you know I figured that since I was in town, I should at least meet up with him and catch up and stuff” she beamed. I felt weird and awkward again, I didn’t even know if I was comfortable with this conversation or not.“That’s nice” I totally just shamelessly denied my husband.“Well it was nice meeting you again Layla, would you mind if we actually meet up sometime and have a meal?” she requested with a very innocent pretty smile.“Uhmm….” I didn’t know what to say to my husband’s girlfriend or maybe ex…“It’s a date then” she says and I panicked, I didn’t even give her an answer, I ran away. I didn’t even know how to face her. I just wanted to get the hell out of there. Rushed to my car and drove to my house. The minute I entered I called Amanda.“Hey Mandy” I urged and I think she heard it in my voice.“What’s the problem Mrs. Daniel” she asked and I could hear the worry in her voice.“Do you think you can come over please?” I begged desperately“Okay calm down and breathe, are you okay” she sounded very worried “did Nate hurt you? Are you fine? Talk to me” she urged“Just come over. I’ll wait for you.” I didn’t feel like talking about this over the phone now and thank god Amanda didn’t question more. I went to prepare some snacks for our hangout and it didn’t take minute before I heard Amanda’s car pull up in my drive way. I ran to the door to open the door for her and the minute I opened the door, she threw herself on me so hard I almost fell.“Hey babe, what’s wrong? You didn’t sound well on the phone” she said checking my whole body like a mother who just found out her child got in a fight.“She’s back” I said through heavy breathes.“What!!!” she said leading me to the couch.“I went to the hospital to give Nate his supper and I saw her there” I explained“What the hell… how? Why… Did she tell you why she was there or did you at least ask Nate” she demanded.“I didn’t even get close to them, I couldn’t ask hiem any questions and I later bumped into her which led to her saying we should meet up for a meal the next time we meet. She didn’t even deny or hide the fact that she was there to see Nate, they came out laughing like they just had the best time of their lives” I narrated“That slut! How dare she? What gave her the impression that she could go into a married man’s office to seduce him and then ask his wife to go have a meal with her…that she wants to discuss how much fun she had seducing your husband?” Amanda was raging with anger.“I was surprised to see her there and I couldn’t even do anything but run away” I said feeling disappointed in myself that I cowarded and couldn’t stand up for myself to tell her that I was married to Nate.It was as if I stole Nate from her, but I kept telling myself I didn’t.“Did you at least rub it in her face that you were married to Nate?” she eagerly asked staring at me with all her might. It felt like she knew my answer but was hoping I’ll say something else.“I didn’t, I don’t know what she and Nate discussed and I don’t want to trouble him more by spoiling his chances of being with the woman he loves” even though it hurt like hell, I had to admit the truth to myself, Nate didn’t love me the way I did and I couldn’t force him to.“It should not be your fault at all, Nate should have told her that he is married but I guess he is just too much of a jerk to care” she vented out“I don’t think he would actually care to tell her because I actually think he has been waiting for her return” admitting hurt more than thinking about it.“Well to hell with him and his mistress” she said downing the vodka. For a minute there I thought she was the one with the husband that didn’t love her.TBCChapter 3LAYLA’S POV I felt sore and tired from the activities of last night, I didn’t want anything to interrupt my sleep because it felt so nice and relaxing but if course the universe was against me. I heard my phone ringing loudly in my ear, I was surprised at how loud it was because it felt like someone had buried it deep within the walls of my brain. I stood up from my bed reluctantly to pick up the phone . I placed it on my ears after confirming the caller was Amanda.“Whyyyy”I yelled demanding answers for her rude interruption.“Trust me it’s serious. ”she urged, “Well I was on a walk this morning and I passed by a café, guess who I saw at that café with a woman” she asked“I don’t know ? How I’m I…” wait a minute ! She called me to talk about someone being with a woman at a café, it can’t be a nobody it must have been …. Nate.“Was it …was it Nate” I didn’t want to accept it because it hurt like hell. This was a very bad thing to wake up to.“I’m still there and I wa
Chapter 4LAYLA’S POVAfter finally speaking out the buried thought in my mind, I refused to think about it any more. I needed to focus on what was more important, to get this project done and with the research from Prof. Germanus I actually think I’m going to ace this work. I opened my bag trying to bring out my laptop to continue the work but I don’t find it there. I could have sworn that I carried it with me…shit! I guess I just have left it in a hurry when I was trying to check out that café.I don’t feel like driving home but I guess at the end of the day, that was going to be solution. I quickly hurried to the car grabbing my things and dumping them in the passengers seat. I got home not even bothering to lock the car because I know I was going to be out it in a minute. I stepped into the house and was surprised with the sight I met.Nate was sleeping on the couch and I must say this was a first. I knew he had late night shifts but still he always ended up going to his roo
Chapter 5Nate’s POVI dropped the flowers I came with at Layla late dad tomb and gave her some space to talk with her father, I am not good in words and I really don’t know how to console her right now, I know how well she misses her father but too bad she never for once grew some feelings for me.I know she agreed to the marriage with me because it was her father dying wish. I notice the sadness in her eyes, oh God what should I do? Should I caress her hair and speak with her, no that will look a little bit off, what if I hug her from behind and promise her I will always protect her no matter what, even if it’s a one sided love, damn it, none of these even make sense but I need to say something, I will be a bad husband if I don’t mostly now she caught me staring at her. “Hey, are you okay?” Was the only sentence that came out from my mouth.“Yeah.”She replied, how is she this cold? Just yeah? I expected a sweet conversation at least, anyway I placed a faint smile on my face and in
Chapter 6 Nate’s POV “At least be kind enough to offer me a seat.” She said interrupting my thought of telling her if I am married or not, “My bad, please do have your seat.” I said politely and concluded on not telling her about my marriage with Layla. I know Layla wouldn’t like it, so it’s best I keep it from her. “How have your being Chloe?” I questioned her and I found it easy talking to her because she always know how to go deep in any of our conversation. One thing I like about Chloe is the fact that she is a good listener, no wonder she is a lawyer but I don’t have feelings for her at all. “I have been good, I missed you so much and I am happy to see you again.” She said holding my hands and using her finger to flirt with it and I withdrew, “OH yes, I missed you as well, so tell me how is life generally, heard you are a lawyer now, you finally accomplished your dream.” I had to change the topic immediately because I wasn’t comfortable but I won’t blame her. “Well it’s borin
Chapter 7Layla’s POV I left Amanda’s place and headed home immediately to tell Nate my mind, I don’t want such a marriage where there is no love and no hope for love to grow at all.I stood at the doorpost for a minute and took a deep breath before going in and walked straight to his room, I knocked at his door but I got no response, ”Nate are you in?” I also got no response from him, maybe he went to the hospital, I guess I should just wait till tomorrow.I retreated and ended up in my bedroom resting on my bed and holding my pillow so close and tears flow down my eyes like a river. “Why can’t you love me Nate? Why? I am trying and it’s seems I will never win his heart.” I cried throughout and skipped dinner and didn’t know the time I doze off completely.*I woke up the following morning feeling discomfort on my body due to the fact I slept in a wrong position. I walked straight to the bathroom to have my bath and when I finished, I put on my blue dress with my hair packed in a po
Chapter 8Layla’s POVI imagined him kissing me for the very first time and I thought maybe he has feelings for me now but I guess I fantasize a lot, he didn’t kiss me like I thought instead he removed something from my hair.“You had a thread on your hair.” He said and I didn’t know what else to say, I just opened the door and left without saying a word.I didn’t go directly to the professor office, I just rushed to the female toilet and locked myself in, “Why does Chloe have to come back? Why? I am married to him and she is just an ex to him but why does she has more advantage over him? I am married to him this long and we have never slept on the same bed, we have never called ourselves sweet name or cuddle each other, we haven’t done anything as a couple.I remained in here for up to 15 minutes and I tried to put myself together before stepping out and washing my face with the sink. I looked at the mirror after drying my face, I kind of look dull and I don’t want anyone asking me w
Chapter 9Layla’s POVMy phone ringing tone woke me up, still trying to overcome the sleep, I managed to stretch my hands to locate my phone and I didn’t see the caller name before answering the phone and making my phone rest on my right ear, “Layla, where are you?”“I am at home, is there a problem?” I asked and I flapped my lips together.“Don’t tell me you are still sleeping, we were supposed to meet with the other professor this morning, have you forgotten?”“Professor? Why?” I suddenly remembered and I jumped up immediately and my eyes landed on the clock in the living room, 9am OMG, how did this happen? Oh no, I am so late!!I placed the phone back on my ear saying, “I will be there please.” I ended the phone call and dashed to my room.I didn’t have enough time to wash my hair, I guess it’s not smelling after all, I took the document of the research I did and other important file as well and rushed out of my room ready to leave, I saw no trace of Nate’s black Porsche Panamera c
Chapter 10Layla’s POV I didn’t take the bus, I just walked and walked crying out my eyes and everything kept flashing before my eyes, how comfortable Chloe was touching my husband face and I know he likes it, I don’t even have the boldness to touch him at all yet his ex-lover can do so.“Hey you get off the middle of the road.”“Do you want to die?” I heard voices and then I realize I am standing in the middle of the road, I got so carried away with my emotions and left the road apologizing to them.I sat on the bench under the big tree as shade and I looked at everyone walking hand in hand, I also look at some happy couples kissing and holding hands, I imagined if Nate and I will ever be like them one day, I will have no other choice but to go ahead with the divorce plan, I really have no choice, he loves Chloe and I am giving him the freedom he deserves, I hope one day I will get love in return, I really hope for that day to come.I calmed myself and took a cab and headed directly