The Stand-in Wife

Olivia sat nervously on the edge of the examination table, anxiously awaiting the doctor's news. She had been feeling off for a few weeks and she finally made the decision to come to the clinic to get checked out. She tried to steady her breathing, but her mind raced with worry.

Finally, the doctor walked in with a smile on her face. "Congratulations, Olivia. You have been pregnant for more than a month!"

Olivia's heart skipped a beat as tears of joy welled up in her eyes. She couldn't believe it. Her and Ethan had been trying to conceive for months and now it had finally happened. She couldn't wait to share the news with her husband and start planning for their future as a family.

After the appointment, Olivia was so excited that she decided to cook a special dinner for Ethan to surprise him with the news.

She hummed a tune as she walked towards the kitchen. It was one of those rare moments where she found herself alone at home with Ethan out for a business meeting. She had sent the cook home, wanting to make something special for Ethan when he came back. As she entered the kitchen, she breathed in the aromatic scent of spices and fresh vegetables.

Her eyes scanned the various ingredients laid out on the counter - colorful bell peppers, ripe tomatoes, fragrant garlic, and a bunch of fresh herbs. She smiled to herself, already imagining the delicious meal she would prepare. She had always loved cooking and found it therapeutic.

She washed her hands and tied her hair up in a bun before slipping on her apron. The kitchen was quiet, and she relished the solitude as she began to chop the vegetables with precision, her knife slicing through them with ease.

She started to prepare the marinade, mixing the spices and herbs with olive oil and vinegar. As she tasted it, she closed her eyes and let out a contented sigh. It was perfect.

Next, she marinated the chicken and set it aside. She heated up the grill and oiled it before laying the chicken on the hot grates, the sizzle filling the air. She flipped the chicken over after a few minutes, the grill marks making it look perfect.

As the chicken cooked, she started to prepare the side dishes - a crisp salad with homemade vinaigrette and a fluffy garlic bread. She sliced the baguette and spread butter and garlic on top before toasting it in the oven.

As the food cooked, the kitchen filled with a mouthwatering aroma. Olivia checked on the chicken and smiled as she saw the juices run clear, knowing it was done to perfection.

Just as she was plating the food, she heard the sound of a car passing through the gates of the villa. The young woman squealed happily, knowing that her husband was finally home. She rushed to the door to see him arrive.

As soon as she opened it, Olivia found herself face to face with Ethan, who was just walking up the driveway. His tall figure and chiseled features exuded an air of dignity and aloofness, like that of a god. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt, his long legs carrying him gracefully towards her.

Despite their intimate relationship of over a year, every encounter with him still sent her heart racing, like a deer bumping into a tree. She couldn't help but feel her cheeks flush with a rosy hue in his presence. After all, he was the one who had rescued her from the depths of despair and showered her with endless love and care.

He finally passed through the door and his cold eyes set on his wife who had a bright smile on her face. She stood on her tippy toes and pursed her lips for a kiss but to her greatest surprise, Ethan walked right past her.

Olivia was so taken aback that she didn’t know how to react. Ethan had never walked through that door without kissing her lips. He even didn’t wait for her to remove his coat. What was going on?

She quickly tried to compose herself again and closed the door before rushing after him:

"Erm…Welcome home, babe, your hard work is appreciated!" She greeted him with a warm smile as he down the hall.

He stopped in his track, glanced at her and asked, "Did you cook?"

Surprised, she wondered, "How did you know?"

Ethan closed the distance between them. His response was unexpected. He lifted his slender arm and gently rubbed her cheek, revealing a smudge of sauce on his fingertips. She blushed at his touch, but remained smiling. " Yes, I made you dinner. Will you taste it?"

Ethan sighed, "Not yet. I have something to tell you."

Olivia’s eyes widened:

“Really? That’s funny, I also have something to tell you, baby!”

She was about to share her pregnancy news when she looked up and saw the coldness and calmness in his eyes. Her heart sank with an uneasy feeling spreading inside her.

“You go first…” She blurted out. “What is it that you want to say?"

He leaned against the window in the hall, his face partially obscured by the light, and handed her a document.

"Take a look at this and sign it. Any conditions you want to discuss are open for negotiation."

He handed her a thick document that Olivia took with both hands, still confused by her husband’s strange attitude.

“What…?”

Her eyes stared down at the paper in hand and her eyes widened dramatically when they fell on the first words written in bold, capital letters: DIVORCE SETTLEMENT.

“Ethan?” She gasped.

Her eyes switched from her husband to the documents a few times. Her mouth closed and opened as she searched for something to say. Her mind was abuzz, and she struggled to comprehend:

"Ethan, you want to divorce me?"

She tried to laugh it off, but the smile that crept on her face was grotesque, with a tinge of sadness in her voice, "babe, this isn't funny. Please don't joke like this."

As she gazed at Ethan’s face, her heart sank as she saw that his once affectionate eyes were now filled with coldness and indifference.

"Baby..." She tried to reach for him, but he avoided her touch. He loosened his tie and let out a sigh of impatience,

"Once you’ve gone over all the document, you can directly contact my secretary, Bruce."

Without another word, he marched straight into the house, seemingly uninterested in any further discussion with her.

Olivia was filled with confusion and heartbreak, and her tears began to flow. "Ethan, why is this happening?"

They had been so happy together for over a year, and although he had never uttered the words "I love you," he had taken care of her in every way possible. Only three days ago, when he had returned from a business trip abroad, he had brought her a gift.

The Patek Philippe watch still sat on her dresser, so why did he suddenly want a divorce?

She felt lost, as if she had no control over her life. "Did I do something wrong?" she asked, her voice trembling.

The man's footsteps finally came to a halt. He turned around and locked his gaze onto her teary, jade-colored eyes for what seemed like an eternity.

Just when she thought he was going to change his mind, he curled his thin lips into a cold and apathetic smile:

"If you really want to know, Olivia…I’m sick and tired of you now.”

Olivia couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Suddenly, she remembered the words her best friend Phoebe had told her when she was about to get married. She’d said that Ethan didn’t truly love and he’d toss her out like trash once he’d get enough.

Olivia didn’t believe her but now, it seemed like her friend’s omen had come true. Olivia’s heart was racing, and she struggled to speak.

"…Ethan, are you being serious about wanting a divorce?"

Ethan’s lips curled into a cool, emotionless smile. He seemed to be taunting her, refusing to give a straight answer. His indifference made Olivia burn with shame and anger.

She glared at him; her teeth gritted. "You promised to love and cherish me forever!"

Ethan looked at his watch, his handsome face showing casualness and nonchalance. "Mrs. Hansley, sometimes things don't work out. But while I still have patience, I am willing to compensate you for the…Inconvenience."

Olivia clenched her fists, trying to hold back her tears. "I don't want your money! I just want to know why you suddenly want a divorce! Being tired of me is not a reason!"

Ethan’s expression turned icy. "The reason is just that, Olivia. I'm tired. And I don't need your approval to make a decision about my life."

Olivia was stunned, unable to believe what she was hearing. "But...we were so happy together. What did I do wrong?"

Ethan’s eyes flashed with annoyance. "It's not about what you did or didn't do. Sometimes people just grow apart."

She felt like her world was collapsing. She tried to hold onto him, but he pulled away. "Please, baby, don't do this. Let's talk about it. We can work things out."

Her husband’s tone was final. "There's nothing to talk about. I've made up my mind. Sign the papers and we can both move on with our lives."

Olivia was drowning in despair. She searched for something, anything, that could make him change his mind. "What if I'm pregnant? Will you still want a divorce?"

Ethan stopped in his tracks, his eyes piercing hers. "Mrs. Hansley, if I'm not mistaken, you had your period last night.”

Olivia felt her face flush with embarrassment. She wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. She couldn't believe he would say something so cruel and humiliating, pretending that she’d lie about something so serious.

That blood last night wasn’t her period, which is why she went to the gynecologist that morning and discovered she was pregnant.

After those crude words of his, Ethan turned and walked away, leaving Olivia alone with her shattered dreams and broken heart.