Love Like Roses, Hurt Like Thorns

I waited two more days for Kellan to leave. It aligned with my plan well.

He went straight to the wench's house. How did I know?

"He's such a cool boss..." The audio played, from a recording from Zara as she was hospitalized for malnutrition. He'll stay there and help her. It was funny how easily he got distracted from sorrow.

Meanwhile, I got ready and met up with a tailored and seasoned real estate agent. He was more than pleased to hear that I was selling the billion dollar house of Kellan, CEO of HanK Group.

"Pleasure doing business with you, Mrs Astrid." The real estate agent Abu Istefah smirked.

"Miss Astrid." I corrected the old man who smirked harder and lit a blunt between his charcoal lips. This was just the beginning of thorn stabs over Kellan.

I was feeling too weak and slept in afternoon. Until evening, when a distraught Kellan shook me awake.

"Baby. Babe! Wake up. What are all these?" He yelled and shoved the phone in my face. I tried to read with blurry vision.

"Cancellation messages." I said calmly, groggily.

"Yes, but what are these for?" He asked, panicking.

"Netflix, Gmail, Amazon Prime, Hulu and other subscription cancellations. You want a damn list?" I acted irritated and that let him be.

"Oh, I'm sorry baby. Let me make it up to you." He cooed but I rolled my eyes and went back to sleep. Around 8 pm, Kellan woke me up with dinner at my bedside with luscious steak and curry. The smell woke me up instantly.

"But I shouldn't eat steak during pregnancy." I stated the obvious.

"Oh. I'm sorry." Kellan immediately threw the food in the dustbin and walked to me.

"Blueberry pancakes?" He asked softly but I shook my head and replied, "Sleep."

Kellan insisted that we cuddled. It was pretty cold so I agreed and let him slip in beside me.

"I love you, Astrid. You know that." He stated, unprompted.

"I didn't say anything." I replied.

"I just wanted to say it." He whispered, then kissed the crown of my head.

"And about Zara Lenning...you're okay with her being the ambassador right?" His wavering voice asked.

"You're the CEO. Not me." My response made him hum softly.

"Zara Lenning is a good woman. She's understanding, supportive and patient. Just like you." His words were growing pissant at that point. Kellan went on and on about her while comparing her traits with mine.

Then I realized...

He would've loved me more if I became HER. And not the other way around. I thought he liked Zara because she was like...me.

In the middle of the night, after I managed to shut down and sleep, Kellan was nowhere to be seen. I turned around to find a note,

- Something came up at work. I love you -

His constant reminders of how falsely he loved me made me sick.

I didn't pay attention to it and slept back right away. It was a big day next day.

Well, the next morning, I wrote a note with a smile. This would be my last piece of communication with my husband.

While I was writing, Zara's message popped up,

- Hey Sissy! Would your husband like premium scotch or white coconut rum? I don't know him as much as you do. Help out a precious princess in distress! -

I made a face of disgust and blocked her contact once and for all.

The words I wrote liberated me out of five years of misery:

THIS IS WHAT YOU DO WITH CHEATERS.

And I was out.

My two bags and important papers were my only luggage. I sold away the mansion, my pieces on moon and on the surface of earth as well.

When I was boarding the plane, Kellan's SOS call made an eyebrow quirk up.

"Yes?" I acted normal and answered.

"You sold my maternal house!? What's going on, my love? Are you still upset? I'll make it up to you, give me a chance!" He mentioned ‘my maternal house’ not ‘ours’. I smirked at that.

"No need for another chance, Kellan. Thick papers from mail await you. Don't forget to receive them for me. Bye!" I cheered at the end, happiness filling me.

"Astrid—!" Before he could convince me to stay on call to track me down, I pulled the SIM out and folded it in half, shoving it deep into the seat crevice.