Chapter 5 Antonio grabbed the speaker , about to fling it out the window , his face twisted with disgust , a stark contrast to the guilt hed worn before . This is getting on my nerves . Im tossing it . As the speaker was about to go flying , I stopped him , letting out a sigh , Dont bother . Im really not bothered by it . Antonio looked at me with a pleading look . Honey … Anyway , you two are going to be together , and shell be pissed if you do , I said . Antonios face drained of color at the words , and I shifted my gaze to the view outside the window . Once we were back home , Antonio informed me that hed booked us flights to Adaleth for November . Youve always wanted to see the snow there , havent you ? Take this time to have a good rest , and well head over in November . Its all sorted . I used to fantasize about leaving it all behind and escaping to Adaleth with my partner , enjoying a couple of weeks soaking up the simple joys of life . But throughout our five year marriage , whenever Id mention it , Antonio would dismiss my dreams as naive and impractical .. A year back , a buddy of mine kicked off a travel agency and invited me on an Adaleth tour . Chapter 5 Antonio got wind of it , canceled my flight behind my back , and lashed out , Lila , why do you always have to bother others ? Dont you realize your actions will interfere with his earnings ? And come on , is our country not vast enough for you ? Youre acting like a sycophant , always fawning over foreign stuff ! Actually , I knew clearly that Wendy called Antonio in tears that day . She said that she looked up to me and envied the free life I led while she was stuck back home , watching me take off on all these adventures . Antonio , feeling sorry for her and trying to soothe her , decided to cancel my trip behind my back . Everythings set , and Ive got a buddy there who can arrange accommodation for us . Antonio was all excited , laying out his grand plan . If the place my friend lined up isnt your style , we can get someone else to fix us up , he added . Youd better cancel the tickets , I said , my lips pursed . Huh ? I gave him a cold stare , my face a blank canvas . Antonio , the thought of traveling with you just saps all the joy out of it . Youre just bothering me . Your behavior will just upset me and interfere with my earnings . I hurled his own words back at him . Antonios face lost all color . He parted his lips but was lost for words . 17.77 % 1373 Chapter 5 288 Vouchers Antonio got wind of it , canceled my flight behind my back , and lashed out , Lila , why do you always have to bother others ? Dont you realize your actions will interfere with his earnings ? And come on , is our country not vast enough for you ? Youre acting like a sycophant , always fawning over foreign stuff ! Actually , I knew clearly that Wendy called Antonio in tears that day . She said that she looked up to me and envied the free life I led while she was stuck back home , watching me take off on all these adventures . Antonio , feeling sorry for her and trying to soothe her , decided to cancel my trip behind my back . Everythings set , and Ive got a buddy there who can arrange accommodation for us . Antonio was all excited , laying out his grand plan . If the place my friend lined up isnt your style , we can get someone else to fix us up , he added . Youd better cancel the tickets , I said , my lips pursed . Huh ? I gave him a cold stare , my face a blank canvas . Antonio , the thought of traveling with you just saps all the joy out of it . Youre just bothering me . Your behavior will just upset me and interfere with my earnings . I hurled his own words back at him . Antonios face lost all color . He parted his lips but was lost for words . 17.77 % 13:24 Chapter 5 I stormed into the guest room and let the door shut behind me . By the time I rolled out of bed the next morning , Antonio was already off to work . I had my lawyer drop off the divorce papers . Once I signed them , I left them on the coffee table and walked out the door with my bags packed . While I was holed up in the hospital for three days , I was as busy as a bee , getting everything in order . As the plane descended in the afternoon , I switched on my phone , which was immediately flooded with a bunch of missed calls from Antonio . I didnt call him back but just sent him two texts . Sign the divorce papers , and we can split amicably . Ignore them , and my lawyer will handle it . I hit the ground running at the branch office , burying myself in work . Two days later , Antonio touched down in Vortexburg . He showed up with a huge bouquet of roses and had two guys hold up a banner that read , Lila , forgive me . Despite the security guards efforts to chase him off , Antonio remained stubbornly at the offices door . Id given the team a heads up before . If anyone let Antonio in , they would be fired . 13 24 1 Thus , my staff steered clear of Antonio whenever they were entering or leaving the office . Antonio just had to suck it up and wait for me downstairs , hanging out there all day long , even taking his meals right by the building . On day three , a chill swept through Vortexburg , and Antonio , not built for such hardship , passed out cold . The guards whisked him off to the hospital . He woke up and called the cops to force me there . With the divorce papers in hand , I kept my cool . Sign these , and we can call it quits nicely . Antonio propped up in his hospital bed and shook his head . His voice was barely there . I cant sign , honey . Im done with Wendy . Shes out of my life . Please , just forgive me … I wasnt in the dark about their split . Wendy had been blowing up my phone non stop like crazy for the past five days . Lila , did you push Antonio to dump me ? No surprise the universe turned on you , causing that miscarriage ! Women shouldnt make things hard for other women . How can you be so cold hearted ? ? Youre really crafty , playing it cool to reel Antonio back in . It seemed that I underestimated you . I read her wild messages and shot back a cool response . Chapter 5 Truth is , I hope you two can be together forever . If you can get him to sign the divorce papers , Ill be grateful to you . A week later , Janessa rang me up . She filled me in . After getting the boot , Wendy wouldnt back off , hanging around Antonios place , bawling and raising a fuss to see him . Antonio dodged her , so Wendy lost it , banging on his door in the dead of night , causing such a commotion the neighbors called the cops , claiming a break in and noise disturbance . The cops showed up , and Wendy hands on hips , declared the place was hers . Cocky as she was , she denied the break in . And the noise ? She was too thick skinned to own up . The neighbors , out of options , went back inside . The next day , Antonio stepped out to find his door tagged with dog pee , a gift from the neighbors . That night , he couldnt take it anymore and moved out straight away . I said directly , Antonio , Im done with you . Being around you makes me sick . As for you and Wendy , it wouldnt faze me if you two got it an in front of me . All I want is out of this marriage . Antonio gaped at me , a flicker of pain in his eyes . Chapter 5 286 Mouchon I dont want a divorce , honey . What will it take to make you forgive me ? Can I get down on my knees ? he begged . Under the astonished gaze of the cops , Antonio heaved himself up from the hospital bed . Dropping to his knees , he slapped his own face so hard it left a mark . That slap left his face red and the corner of his lips was slightly bleeding . Antonio pleaded , Honey , Im begging you . I cant go on without you . In that silent ward , Antonios begging sounded really pitiful . Nurses walking by stopped dead in their tracks , staring at the affectionate scene . I gazed at his tears , unmoved , as if they were fake , just crocodile tears . The night I discovered his affair with Wendy , I had pleaded with him just the same .