Two seasons of marriage

The late night did not make them sleepy. Two glasses of warm cammomile tea did not immediately make them go to sleep. There was no sound, only the chiming of the wall clock that had been busy filling the senses of both of them.

The woman turned her head. The look on her face was chaotic. Her eyes and nose were red. The veins on her forehead were faintly puckered. The emotion that should have come out was held back by that frown.

"Are you serious, Ray? I mean, my dad just died. Can you wait one more year?" she pleaded. The man beside her was Ryan, the husband she had married just one year ago on her father's birthday.

The two were married on the basis of a business match between two companies, without any love at all. One month into the marriage, Lily, the wife, fell in love with her husband. However, like the moon yearning for the moon, her love for her husband did not get a response and ended up unrequited.

"I'm serious. I've been waiting for more than a year, Lily. Should I hang on to her again? Remember, before the marriage happened, didn't I tell you not to fall in love with me?" he scolded. Lily was silent and looked down. She realized that her love for her husband could not be united.

"Okay. I'll sign the divorce papers," she said weakly.

Lily's small hands immediately grabbed the file on the table that had been sitting for more than five hours. She opened it slowly and read them one by one. On the first sheet, she didn't feel anything, but on the last sheet, she shed one or two tears that eventually joined the tears on the file.

"In this divorce, I don't want a lot of arguments. I have arranged all the assets. This house, the car, and the boutique business that you are starting—I will give you everything without exception on one condition." Lily turned her head; Ryan's face was right in front of her. This made her nervous.

"Wh-what?"

"Don't ever contact me again. Whatever problems you're facing, I'm going to start my life with Sarah after this. Understood?" Lily nodded. "Hurry up and sign, and from tomorrow on, we are no longer husband and wife. We are just partners."

Lily immediately put her signature right on the name column on the sheet. Her heart was beating slowly but painfully. While she was still mourning the loss of her papa, who had been supporting her, she had to lose her status as a wife again.

Tonight, the two of them split up their rooms. Lily stays in the main room, which has been their room for the past year. Meanwhile, Ryan chose to sleep in the guest room. Both of them lay on their respective beds with different thoughts.

Lily with her sadness, Ryan with his happiness The burden he had carried for the past year was finally gone. He could marry the woman of his dreams without having to ask anyone's blessing.

Lily rubbed her flat stomach as she envisioned tomorrow morning. The shadow of her father and the uncertain future made her uneasy.

"Let me take you away, son. Away without anyone knowing where we live," she murmured to herself. There, in that flat stomach was a life that Lily had to protect. She found out about it one Sunday before the accident that took her father's life. Today, she had planned to tell Ryan but all hell broke loose when he bluntly gave her divorce papers and plans to marry her husband's former lover.

The morning was the same as usual. Lily prepares breakfast and Ryan's necessities without leaving anything behind. But there was one thing missing this morning: Lily's usual melodious singing voice was now replaced by silence.

Ryan tried to dispel his dissatisfaction with this quiet atmosphere; he chose to be silent and occasionally glanced at the cellphone next to him. Not long after, Lily appeared from behind her room. At first, Ryan looked indifferent, but his attention suddenly shifted to the two large suitcases and one handbag that Lily was dragging forcefully.

"Where are you going? A vacation? That's good, so you can relax," Ryan said behind his lowered head, but he still managed to glance at Lily, who was standing not far from him.

"No, I'm not. I'm moving house. I feel like I don't deserve to live here anymore. You will have a new family. So, it's better for me to give in.

Ryan put down the spoon and the remaining rice that was just about to enter his mouth. His hands were frozen, and his eyes focused on Lily, who looked calm as if there were no burden. Lily repeatedly checked her cell phone. She sat on the living room sofa with her head hanging out the window as if she were waiting for someone to arrive.

Instantly, Ryan's appetite disappeared. He finished it and grabbed his suit and briefcase. Not long after, the front room door opened. A man she recognized appeared and greeted Lily.

"Have you been waiting long?" he asked. Lily nodded. "Is this all?" he asked again.

"Yes, I can buy the rest there."

Without much consideration, the man dragged Lily's two suitcases and put them in the trunk of his car parked in the yard. Ryan followed him. Unconsciously, his hand intercepted Lily's and made her turn to look at him.

"You went out with Steve? We're not officially divorced yet, and you're already looking for a replacement? Remember, a lot of reporters are going to talk about this as slander." Ryan's tone rose; he almost snapped at Lily but decided against it.

"How is this any different from me living with you? We're divorced, Ryan. We're done." Lily let go of Ryan's hand and shook him roughly. They looked at each other for a moment before Lily finally got into the car and drove away, leaving Ryan still stunned.

"Are we going straight to Sandy's house or to the cafe?"

Lily turned her head. She thought for a moment and then pointed her hand to the left. "Let's go to the cafe. I miss her strawberry floats."

"Ok, go for it."

It didn't take long to arrive at the cafe owned by Sandy, one of Lily's close friends. A friend she had known since childhood and was often the one she confided in, including about her marriage. Sandy had advised Lily to reject the arranged marriage and marry Steve, but unfortunately again, Lily followed her parents' wishes.

Lily sneaked into the cafe and stood behind Sandy, who was cleaning up the chairs and tables. Apparently, she was wearing earphones, so she didn't hear Lily's slow steps.

"Duarr...." surprised Lily. Tya jumped in surprise and turned around. Lily was almost hit by the broom that Sandy was holding.

"Oh my, surprised Lily. Good thing I don't have a history of heart disease," she swore. Lily laughed and clasped her hands together.

"Sorry. You were quiet when I called you earlier."

Sandy took off her earphones and put down her broom. She invited Lily to sit in a chair and brought her a drink.

"Where's Steve?" asked Sandy, her head poking out the window in search of Steve, one of her best friends.

"I'm helping out with my suitcase and bag. Oh, yes, today I'm staying at your place. Later, when I have a decent place, I promise to move as soon as possible."

Sandy's warm hand grasped Lily's hand and tightened it. There was silence for a moment, then she shook her head. They stared at each other before Sandy finally broke it off.

"My home is your home. I've never had a problem with you staying there for any length of time. Don't be shy; think of me as more than just a friend," she said. Lily nodded. The next second, they embraced each other and hugged.

"Thanks, Sandy."

"You're welcome. You have a lot to tell me later; I'm ready to hear it all."

'An interesting sight.'