A Ruined Marriage: Me, My Baby and My Dear Ex-Husband

CHELSEA

The next day, Nicolas and I made our way into the civil affairs building.

As we walked, I tried to distract myself by playing with my hands. Nicolas was pacing back and forth and saying things that shouldn't be shouted out loud as I was in the elevator attempting to calm down my emotions.

“Wait, just why do I feel nervous more than you are?” Nicolas stated. I looked at him with a clouded mind.

Yes, Nicolas, my best friend was also my lawyer. Raphael was aware of the fact that I had never had legal representation, but here, I have Nicolas with me.

Nicolas has always had an interest in law, back to when he was still in high school. He would go on and on about it, all the while tuning in to Law & Order whenever he had the chance.

I must confess that I was taken aback that he really pursues it, because Nicolas doesn't give off the vibe of someone who would want to have a career in law.

My attorney, Nicolas, was standing over there in the corner of the elevator considering whether or not he should be professional or give Raphael a piece of his mind, with the latter option potentially causing him to lose his job.

As soon as the doors to the elevator opened, we went straight into the conference room. As much as I wanted to keep my head down, I was aware that doing so would only make me seem guilty.

As a result, I kept my head up and looked ahead as Nicolas and I sat on the other side of the large table.

Raphael, his lawyer, and Sylvia, his slutty assistant, were standing in front of us at the time. The sneer that was plastered on her face as she sat so next to Raphael made me urgently want to leap over the table and smack her upside the head. I maintained my focus on my hands, which were clasped together and resting on the glass table.

“What is that bitch doing here?” Nicolas asked but I didn’t respond.

I am furious as much as he is. I'm willing to wager that Sylvia was involved in some way with those fake and photoshopped images that Raphael showed to me. ‘This leech got the nerves!’

"Ms. Sheldon, are you sure that you don't want any of the money that Mr. Ludington has offered to split on your behalf?" The attorney made the request for the third time.

And for the third time as well, I nodded with confidence.

"I have complete faith in my client's ability to take care of herself. She will not have any need for any financial assistance from Mr. Ludington.” It was Nicolas, who answered with words in my behalf. As I listened to his comments, the beginnings of a grin crept their way towards my face.

"All right, since Mr. Ludington has already signed before you arrived, the only thing left for you to do at this point is to simply sign this paper, and then you'll be finished." As the man continued to narrate, the breaking of my heart became even more intense.

[DIVORCE AGREEMENT]

‘So, this is it. We are really cutting the ties now. This simple paper will put ending in everything I and Raphael have.’

I rapidly wrote my name with nervous hands as the attorney slid the paper towards me, and then I pushed them both back towards him. I had just enough time to grab the closest pen before he moved the document.

"Are we done here?" During the time when we were getting ready to go, Nicolas inquired.

"Leave us for the time being." I was startled into looking up by Raphael's motion, which was directed at him and me.

While his lawyer and assistant were unwillingly departing, Nicolas glanced at me, concerned that he would be leaving me by myself. I indicated to him with a movement of my head that he should wait outside the room.

After everyone had left the room, the tension had reached an even higher point. After a few more seconds, Raphael finally opened his mouth to say something. "Why didn't you take any of the money that was offered to you? Isn't that the reason why you really consented to being married to me two years ago?"

His words, it was like daggers that kept on hitting me on the chest. He has no remorse, even at the very end.

Two years, we had been married for almost two years, yet he was fooled by the phony photographs he received by whoever lunatic it came from.

I jumped up from my seat quickly, and he did the same thing at the same time. As I could feel tears beginning to gather in my eyes, I kept my head bowed down. I can't let him see me sobbing.

"You decided to divorce me just at the time when I needed you and your support the most! Raphael, I am…" I started, but then he snapped cutting me off.

“I put my faith in you, Chelsea. I have loved you more than you could ever imagine, and now you're treating me like this! Why'd you, do it? Was I not up to your standards? Am I not enough, huh? I really must find out the reason for this damn betrayal!" He shouted, preventing me from continuing my words.

It wasn't until I felt one of his rough, large hands hold onto my chin that I realized he was standing in front of me. As a result, I was forced to look up at him.

"Raphael, for the nth time, I am telling you that I didn't do it. I never cheated on you," I lowered my voice and attempted to avoid making eye contact with him while I spoke. As he looked up at me, he was struggling to control his breathing.

"Enough with the bullshits! Don't make up lies to me!"

"I'm telling the truth, Raphael!" I sobbed as I pulled him away from me and frantically wiped the tears that were streaming down my cheeks as at the same time I yelled out.

“You said you have faith in me, right? Then you should already be aware of the fact that I wouldn't fucking lie about anything like this!”

“You are nothing but a piece of trash who is being kept in the dark by their own sense of superiority. What type of spouse can't tell the difference between photos that have been retouched and the woman who is really his wife?”

“Raphael, I have always been here for you, through the good times and the bad. I stayed up with you in every possible way I could. I assisted you in everything, may it be in my simplest ways. And because of what you recommended, I really quit working and became a full time house wife.”

“Yet, here we are. Ending the ties. Because after all, you still can't hear me out, after all that I've already done for you, can you?”

“You can't for the life of you open those darn eyes and see what's really taking place, can you? Do you still think that the main reason I stayed in this marriage was for the financial stability it provided? If that was the only thing you wanted to say, then this conversation is over. If you had enough, then I had enough too!”

“I really hope that you have a wonderful time adjusting to your new life and that you meet someone who appreciates your unique attitude and unconventional approaches to problems. I wish you wouldn’t want to find me in the future, but if you do, please, don't bother." I said before abruptly turning around and leaving as the last strains of my voice faded away.

I made my way to the parking lot where Nicolas is waiting. And as soon as he saw me, he run towards me and gave me one of the warmest embraces he could offer.

“I am here for you, Ches. Don’t worry. I will help you to get through this.”