The quietness of the night deepened. Sandra was feeling troubled, having been unable to enjoy a good sleep and often tossing and turning, muttering in her dreams.
She was conscious of an extra hand on her waist. Deliberately moving a few inches towards the edge of the bed, she’s drawn back in just as she was about to fall asleep. Being stubborn, she moved away for the second time, only to be forcefully pulled back into Manuel’s embrace.
So it went on, time and time again until things began to advance.
Manuel's desire for dominance was successfully awoken by her. He went from getting a hold of her waist, to something even more daring. His touch became increasingly audacious.
"Will you stop already!" Sandra muttered as attempted rolling off the man's strong grip.
Fully more awoken than she was initially, she gripped his muscular arm in another attempt to push him off, beseechingly pleading with a hint of fearfulness, "I truly don't feel like it today."
In their three years of marriage, she had always been synonymous with gentleness and docility. This was the first time she had dared to refuse his demands, and of course, she knew there were going to be dire consequences.
Manuel turned a deaf ear to her, flipped over, undid her collar, and began spreading domineering kisses from her rounded shoulders.
"I beg you Manuel, not today," she begged with tears of helplessness flowing down her cheeks. The more she resisted him, the more he made her think twice before resisting him again.
Sandra’s eyes become empty, numbly enduring his domineering advancement as there was nothing left for her to do. Tears surged out, just like a Pandora's box being opened wide.
...
Several hours before, Sandra had been to a bar to send something to Manuel's sister. While returning, she had been a victim of a robbery.
The two thugs showed no interest in her branded handbag, jewelry, and even wallet. They only took her wedding ring while trying to drag her into the darkness for assault. It didn't seem like a robbery for money but more of a premeditated violation.
Thankfully, a God sent in the form of a passing policeman had stepped into the scene, if not, tonight would have marked her demise.
She squatted on the curb, clutching her torn clothes and trembling as she dialed Manuel's number. And to add up to her night's struggle, a charming female voice on the other end answered, "Manuel is taking a shower now. What do you need from him?"
The sweet and melodious voice accompanied by the faint sound of running water from the phone put her in a great misery while rendering her speechless. Silently, she put away the phone and wept inconsolably under the streetlamp.
The voice was no longer unfamiliar to her at all ever since the lady on the phone first showed up after a long time. She was Priscilla, the woman Manual cherished deep in his heart.
Sandra's phone vibrated and she checked it immediately only to see a provocative message from Priscilla. She had attached a picture to the worst sentence she had ever come across.
"Only the one who isn't loved, is a mistress."
When she zoomed in, the picture turned out to be a B-ultrasound scan showing a six weeks old embryo with a clear gestational sac.
She quickly recalled that more than a month ago, Manuel was on a business trip to The United Kingdom for a week, and the timeline matched perfectly.
He must be looking forward to their baby.
with so many things happening all at once, Sandra felt her brain could barely take in everything. The words of the policeman who saved her kept echoing in her ears,
"Those two were hired hands, but we still don't know who sent them. Have you offended anyone?"
Sandra's heart was flabbergasted, wondering who could possibly wish her harm. As a housewife who barely got out of the house, who could she have offended? After much thought, there was only one person who could harbor such hatred for her
...
Lost in her thoughts, Sandra became somewhat absentminded, the heartache numbing her emotions. Manuel's grip tightened around her as if punishing her drifting attention.
"Priscilla is back in the country and our agreement is almost up. Let's find a time to finalize the divorce proceedings."
Hearing Manuel utter these words, Sandra's heart palpitated violently, the pain was so severe that it left her breathless and gasping for air. She had expected his proposition to end their relationship but she hadn't anticipated it being during such an occasion. Engaging in something so intimate and discussing his future with another woman.
It was more heartbreaking than anything she had ever imagined.
"Manuel, I am not an insensate thing. I have a heart and you can do more than this," she lowered her voice while trembling underneath him. She strained to compose herself, so her voice wouldn't break.
"Excuse you?" Manuel's tone changed immediately.
Swallowing hard, she hesitantly muttered, "Well then, congratulations to you both. May true love always find a way."
She couldn't hold back her tears from falling as the darkness helped to conceal it from Manuel.
"Are you crying?"
In defiance, Sandra responded carefully, "No."
However, Manuel was not satisfied with her blessings. He turned to hitting her and afterwards, he lay immobile by her ear for a long time.
"I wish you can reunite with my brother, Marcus, soon, as a couple. Feel free to come to me if you encounter any difficulties in the future," he spat with no trace of remorse in his voice before leaving her on the floor.
The next morning, when Sandra woke up, there was no sign of Manuel on the bed. He was extraordinarily disciplined that regardless of what time he went to bed, he would wake up on time in the morning, do his exercise, eat breakfast, and read the news, all like a machine installed with fixed procedures.
After Sandra quickly freshened up and came downstairs, she heard the morning news from the TV, reporting about a sexual assault attempted incident that occurred on Bahamas Street last night. Manuel was sitting in the small dining room. His black shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing a part of his smoothly muscled forearm.
He had a financial magazine in his left hand, a freshly made sandwich in his right, and had no interest in the shocking news playing on the TV. His whole person exudes a forbidding and cold demeanor.
The nanny, Cordelia, saw Sandra coming down the stairs and quickly approached her with a smile, "Good morning, Mrs Sandra. What would you like for breakfast today?"
Sandra pursed her lips before speaking up. "Anything is fine, Cordelia. Also, it's better to call me Miss Sandra from now on."
Cordelia's smile froze on her face while she tried to understand the deeper meaning of those words. Her gaze swept between Manuel and Sandra, not daring to reply.
"Let her be."
An indifferent reply came from Manuel. His gaze remained focused on the magazine in his hand, not lifting his eyes even once.
In the midst of their meal, Manuel got up and left. Roughly a minute later, he tossed onto the table two divorce agreement forms and a check.
"Sign this. Fill in any amount you want on the check."
Sandra paused for a moment before lifting her gaze met with his deep gaze, reminiscent of black obsidian.
He was the successor of the Williams's Mining Group, controlling the economic lifeline of the capital city. A formidable figure in the business world, he never gave any quarter in dealings. Yet here she was, futilely attempting to make him fall in love with her, to gain a sliver of love from him.
How laughable.
Sandra took the pen and immediately turned to the last page, signing her name without looking at the contents.
"When are we going to exchange certificates?" She asked.
A faint flicker of annoyance crossed Manuel's eyes.
"Are you really in such a rush?"
Sandra took a bite of her dumpling, which tasted like waxen dust. Her expression was indifferent, but her heart was a storm of emotions. The overwhelming dismay threatening to break her cool composure, even her breath was shaky. She tried her best to keep her emotions in check, not letting her fear show, preserving the last shred of her dignity.
"I just don’t want to hinder you and Priscilla"
Manuel scoffed lightly, took back the agreement, and grandiosely signed his name in the spot for the first party.
"Or perhaps you're in a hurry to be with your dear Marcus," he smirked.
