Chapter 5 She Wants a Divorce?
1010 Words
Oh, right. Gabriel finally recalled that his grandma had called him this morning, mentioning bringing Ashley back, and he had agreed. However, amidst his busy schedule in the day, he had completely forgotten.
Narrowing his eyes, he carefully sized Ashley up.
How she had changed! The girl before him had long, silky hair cascading on her slender body. She had lost a lot of weight, including her baby fat, making her gorgeous facial features stand out. She looked delicate, but her eyes were resolute and firm, emanating the kind of charm that belonged to a mature woman.
Despite Gabriel's efforts to hide it, Ashley could see a flicker of panic and shock in her husband's eyes.
Three years had passed since the last time they saw each other. She was just a young girl at that time, but now, she had become a pretty young lady. If not for those blue eyes, Gabriel would not have been able to connect the woman before him with the girl three years ago.
She really had changed a lot, Gabriel thought, but his words took another direction.
"It seems the food abroad isn't very good."
Ashley wiped her mouth, confused. "What?"
Gabriel stepped closer to her, his scent of alcohol invading Ashley's senses.
"You've lost a lot of weight," he said after staring at her face for what seemed an eternity.
He thought she also looked more beautiful, though he left that unsaid.
Ashley intended to walk past him when suddenly Gabriel called out to her. "Wait."
"Why are you avoiding me?" He demanded, leaning against the door frame.
"I'm not." Ashley shifted aside. "The light is too bright."
Ashley wanted to simply ignore Gabriel. In fact, had she had the money to pay for a hotel room, she wouldn't have returned to the so-called "house they shared".
Gabriel scoffed. "It's been three years, and you've become even more delicate than before."
He reached out his hand and pinched her face, caressing her with the tip of his fingers. Ashley frowned and grabbed his wrist, then took a step back.
Gabriel was surprised to find out how much strength she had.
"You've gained so much strength. I'm surprised. You must have worked hard during the three years spent learning dancing." Despondent, he pulled back his hand.
"Of course," Ashley responded with a cold smile.
She was not going to tell him how hard it had been: studies, pregnancy, childbirth, work, the bills, kid's formula milk...
It had not been a mere challenge. It was pure torture, which had changed her completely.
As a soon-to-be single mother, holding the baby in one arm was a basic skill. That was how she got strong arms.
"How have you lost so much weight?" Gabriel was still curious. He wanted to know if it was because she missed him.
Ashley shrugged. "It's just that I've been too busy."
In her eyes, Gabriel couldn't discern a single shed of nostalgia for the past. He suddenly felt a bit lost.
He didn't know why, but while he wasn't fond of Ashley three years ago, his feelings seemed to have changed.
For some obscure reason, he seemed to enjoy talking with her. He even liked being in the same room with her.
"Go pick out a guest room and settle down. Let me know if you need any help."
"It's okay. I don't have much luggage. I'll just find a sofa to sleep on."
But she didn't say the real reason—the guest rooms were adjacent to Gabriel's master bedroom, and she didn't want to be too close to him.
Gabriel got silent. Ashley seemed much less talkative than three years ago. She didn't seem to react much to him.
Could three years abroad really change someone to this extent?
"By the way, do you have a moment?" she said.
"Yes, why? Do you want to talk?"
This man. He was still as proud and arrogant as before. Three years' time had washed away any lingering feeling she might have had on him. Some things are better dealt with fast, Ashley thought.
"Wait." She paused for a while and retrieved a document, then opened it in front of Gabriel. "Take a look. If there's no issue, sign it."
What was this? Gabriel took the document and saw the title: "Divorce Agreement".
After three years' disappearance, her first order of business was divorce?!
He flipped through the document. She didn't ask for anything, and the reason for divorce was lack of emotional intimacy.
And it was written two and a half years ago—merely several months after her arrival abroad.
"This is the first thing you want to talk to me about?" he said while staring at her eyes, still unable to find the slightest hint of nostalgia in them.
"Isn't this what you wanted?" Ashley was not intimidated by his gaze.
Gabriel was stunned—she had overheard his conversation with his grandma!
"This should have been taken care of three years ago. Now that I'm back, let's get it over with as fast as possible," she said.
"You want a divorce right after you arrive. Don't tell me you've been with someone else." Gabriel sounded displeased.
Ashley laughed, her voice a bit tired. For three years, she'd been occupied by studies, work, and kid. Her life was a whirlpool of endless tasks.
How on earth would it be possible for her to have a new relationship?
Indeed, many men had been attracted by her beauty, but she had rejected them all.
"There's no one else," she spoke gently, "I know that our marriage was never your choice. I want to set you free and let you find true happiness. Wouldn't that be fair?
Gabriel went silent for a moment and answered: "Very good. But Grandma is not feeling well these days. Let's hold off the decision till she gets better.'
What she said was reasonable. Still, uneasiness simmered inside him.
"Agreed," Ashley said instantly.
"Good." The matter was solved; Gabriel stood up, still feeling a bit down.
- Writer
