Our Loveless Marriage

Chapter 3: Returning

I had strolled along the beach in the early morning, relishing the sensation of the sand under my feet, while the cool morning breeze gently rustled my yellow dress. It sent shivers down my spine, but I refused to turn back. Everything was packed, and I was prepared to return home, yet I wanted to savor every moment of this trip until the very end.

When Nathan had abandoned me to stay home in Chicago, leaving me to wonder about his whereabouts, I had been furious. Hurt consumed me, and it felt like I could see my entire future laid out before me—a future filled with unhappiness. But then, I did what everyone advises you to do. I chose to see the glass as half full instead of half empty, and suddenly, I realized the freedom he had inadvertently given me.

Who would have guessed that I had such a wild and fun side if no one was there to watch over my shoulder and rein me in?

I shed tears when I arrived at the hotel, but as the day progressed, I gathered myself, slipped into a snug dress, and ventured to the bar just across the street. After a couple of drinks, I made my way to the restroom, where magical things always seem to happen in the company of other women. I forged friendships like no other, and strangely enough, these newfound acquaintances were staying at a hotel a bit further down the street.

From there on, we had an absolute blast together. They introduced me to more of their friends and informed me that they were all enjoying the final two weeks of their summer vacation before returning to their studies. They hailed from Europe, Germany to be precise. We exchanged numbers and i********: accounts, and they insisted that if I ever decided to visit Germany, I should give them a call.

A smile graced my lips as I reminisced about our wild nights, beach parties, and the moments we spent gathered around the bonfire in the dead of night after our swims. I even grew quite close to one of the guys in the group. He was more my type—his dark and vibrant green gaze fixated on me so intensely.

Yet, while I knew Nathan wouldn’t care who I slept with, and he likely had already “betrayed” our marriage, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I left my ring at the hotel and resolved not to wear it again until I was on the plane, but it felt like it taunted me every time I returned, tempting me to let this newfound freedom take over and passionately kiss that charming German guy.

But I just couldn’t. It didn’t feel right to me. Despite enjoying this liberated version of myself, I couldn’t cross that line. It felt too much like cheating, and I prided myself on being honest. An honest person who had never dated or had a boyfriend but was now married. I certainly seemed to have skipped a few steps, hadn’t I?

A soft chuckle escaped me before I turned my gaze toward the ocean, immersing myself in the soothing sounds of the waves. I wanted to linger, but I couldn’t. My new life awaited me in Chicago—a city where I had spent my entire life, yet now felt like an entirely different person as I stepped off the plane and surveyed the bustling streets.

I wasn’t sure why I had anticipated Nathan’s presence, but at least there was a driver ready to take me to “our” home. It was a mansion in the suburbs owned by his grandfather, gifted to us. However, I knew Nathan had his own penthouse, more centrally located in the city. Probably his personal retreat, where he would vanish to, leaving me alone in the sprawling three-story mansion with no clue what to do with it. What on earth would I occupy my days with here?

Exiting the car, the driver assisted me with the suitcases, but before I could reach for the door handle, it swung open, revealing a lovely older woman standing before me.

“Mrs. Hill.”

Oh right, I was no longer a Johnson. Now I was Megan Hill. That was going to take some getting used to.

“Here, let me help you with those,” she offered.

She possessed kind, warm brown eyes and elegant dark hair styled in a bun at the nape of her neck. She wore a dark dress and black flats.

“Thank you,” I replied, but I only allowed her to take one of the suitcases.

I wasn’t fond of others taking over tasks I could easily manage myself.

“I’m Maya. I oversee things here in the household.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” I responded, as she guided me toward a staircase, leading us to the next floor.

“I’ll show you to your bedroom.”

Ascending another floor, she opened the double doors at the end of the hallway, revealing a spacious and elegant bedroom with white walls, a king-sized bed against the far wall, a bathroom adjoining the bedroom, and a dressing room. I opened the doors to stow my suitcases, only to notice men’s clothing inside.

“Is this... Nathan’s bedroom?” I inquired.

“It’s your bedroom,” Maya replied, as if my question were peculiar.

I mustered a smile, attempting not to panic. After two weeks of solitude, I had no intention of returning here to sleep beside Nathan.

“Where is Nathan?” I asked.

“He’s in New York.”

“Sorry?”

“He had business there. He didn’t tell you?” Maya inquired.

I shook my head. I should have felt hurt or perhaps a bit surprised, but I wasn’t. Not after he practically kicked me out of the car and sent me on our honeymoon alone.

“Oh, well, I am sure he will text you soon.”

No, he wasn’t going to, and I wasn’t about to stay awake waiting for a call from him, I decided.

“I will let you unpack and go make dinner.”

I nodded gratefully, but I wasn’t going to unpack here. Once I had eaten dinner and settled in, I was going hunting for another bedroom.

I walked out of the dressing room and over to the bed, sitting down before I began to massage my temples. Nathan wasn’t even here, and my head was already throbbing. I had to get a grip, I told myself. This marriage wasn’t much now, but maybe I could still salvage it. I didn’t like Nathan, but I was not about to be trapped in a marriage I hated.