One More Chance
Chapter 52: I am his wife

~~~I can't find a reason to let you go even though you've found a new love and she's what your dreams are made of. But I can give you one good reason to show you love's not blind, she's four and you know she adores you, so how can I tell her you've changed your

mind?

-The Chicks-

"Husband? You called him your husband?"

"Yes, because we're married! We have been married for more than four years!"

She laughed again and deep inside I swore that if she did it again, my bag would surely fly to her direction.

"Oh, yeah, of course, I know you're married, but I also know that your marriage was just on papers and he doesn't have feelings for you. He told me he never had feelings for you even in those four years that you're living in one house together."

-'ouch!'- my heart screamed silently inside. That was a hard blow.

"It's none of your fucking business whether he learned to love me or not because the point here is that we're married, just as simple as that. I have his last name and we have a daughter!"

"A daughter? You only had a daughter because you seduced him."

"How dare you!" I slammed my hands on the table.

"Why? Isn't it true? Do you think I don't know the truth four years ago? You seduced him that's why you had your daughter and that's only the reason why he married you, but he never loved you!"

"Oh, is that what he tells you, huh? Well, you know nothing! You don't know the truth and what really happened that night, so stop acting as if you knew everything! I'm telling you this again, stay away from Luke! He already has a family and he already has an obligation to this marriage and to my daughter, so stop being his mistress!" "For your information, I am not just his mistress! I love him and we love each other!"

The laugh that came out of my throat echoed in the ears of the customers sitting inside the cafe. And it became louder when I noticed that her expression couldn't be painted when she looked around and saw that almost everyone was looking in our direction. "You love each other, but he 'married' me."

I shooked my head as I remembered the same line from my husband three days ago when we talked in his study room.

"And ohh...if you're not his mistress, then what would I call you? Because as long as I can remember, I was the one who carried his last name which means 'I am his wife'. So if I am his wife, then who are you.. his other woman? His number two? His mistress? His side chick? His illicit lover?"

"Stop it!"

"No! I'm not yet done!" My voice came out loud this time. "I still have names in my head! How dare you call yourself not my husband's mistress, then what should I call you? A homewrecker? Paramour? Bedswerver? Seducer?" "I said stop it!"

"Tell me who are you? If you're not his mistress, then are you his kept woman? His kerida? His concubine? I am not asking you a favor, Cherry Petterson, I am warning you. Stay away from my family! Stay away from my husband!" "What if I don't?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

"What?" I formed my fists.

"I had him first! We were in a relationship before you entered the scene, you seduced him---"

"Then bullshit! That was four years ago and we're already married!"

I screamed and stood up that caught everyone's attention.

"Don't test my patience, otherwise you would no longer experience your popularity, freedom and everything you have right now. I have evidence that will prove your relationship with my husband! So if you don't stop and keep your itchiness in your pocket, then I have no choice, let's just see each other in court!"

That made her mouth hung in midair. I took my bag and smiled at her... a sweet smile as if nothing had happened.

"Have a good day, Miss Petterson."

I leave some cash on the table, it's my payment for what Nolan ordered and I turned around.

"Whew! That was intense, huh!"

Nolan exclaimed when we were already in my car and I just smiled at him.

"I stayed in the Philippines for too long and got busy for work, so I didn't even have an idea what's going on with you and the rest of my family."

"Shh... it's okay, at least you're here now and you helped me."

He turned to me and ruffled my hair like he used to do when we were young.

"Ahh!" I patted his hand but he just chuckled.

"So what are your plans now, Sam?"

I sighed and leaned my head against the headrest of the driver's seat.

"I don't know."

"What you mean you don't know? Are you not going to confront your husband?"

"I already did, Nolan."

"And what did he say?"

I started to tell him everything that happened. I started with how I met Luke, how my feelings for him developed and even what I did that night and that the result was my daughter. I also shared with him our current situation and even Luke's feelings for me or should I say Luke empty feelings for me.

He listened to me but in the end, I was surprised by his reaction.

"That fucking bastard! He doesn't have the right to call himself a father! Come on, Sam, just say a word and I promise all your problems about him will disappear!"

"Huh? What do you mean---Oh, my God, no!" My eyes widened in shock. "Even though he hurts me, I still won't come up into that kind of decision." "Haist, idiot!"

My head snapped at him.

"Who are you calling an idiot, me or Luke?"

"Tsk.tsk.tsk. well, it's up to you to decide who you want to call an idiot, you or your husband. But it can also be the same... you two are both idiots."

"Ouch! You're so harsh, I'm not an idiot."

"Then don't be an idiot if you don't want me to call you an idiot."

"Haist! Can we just stop this nonsense idiot conversation?"

He gave me a hilarious laugh and a few minutes later, we turned back into being serious again.

"You know what, why don't you divorce your husband? Why don't you just file a divorcee petition, so you won't think about his mistress anymore? I'm sure the court will grant it immediately."

"It's not easy, Nolan."

"It's not easy or you just don't want to do it?"

"Both! I love him and I can't just let him go."

"See? I was right."

"But I was also thinking about my daughter, I don't want her to grow up without a complete family."

"Samantha, you can't hide the truth from her forever, besides, how would you fight for someone who has already given up on your marriage?"

"He didn't give up---"

"Is that why he cheated because he didn't give up? He didn't even learn to love you as you said, then why would you stay in that marriage?" "Because I have a daughter. Haist! You don't understand!"

"I do. I understand your point, but is that your plan for your daughter? Are you going to raise her in a family full of lies?"

"But divorce isn't the answer or solution to every marital problem."

"Yes, but it depends on marital problems. You shouldn't divorce your husband if you have seen him having an affair, but he apologized, asked your forgiveness and promised he will change and choose your family over his mistress. But in your case it's different, Samantha, it's completely different. You found out that he's cheating, but you never even heard a single apology from him, instead, he screamed in front of you that he loved his mistress and not you and he never learned to love you."

I remained silent. He has a point and I don't know what to think anymore.

"By the way, your family still has no idea regarding this matter, am I right?"

I nodded.

"Oh, Jesus! You must talk to them, Sam. Ask for some advice, so you don't carry everything yourself."

Tears formed around my eyes and no matter how much I prevented them, they flowed freely down my face.

"Ohh... you shouldn't cry for someone like him, my dear cousin." He pulled me into a hug. "Take this as a piece of advice, stop breaking yourself by trying to make your relationship work which clearly isn't meant to be yours. You can't force someone to love you, to care for you and to be faithful to you. You can't force him to be someone you want him to be. You're beautiful, you deserve better, much better than him."

"Thank you, Nolan. I know you're busy with a lot of cases you're holding, but you're here and you have helped me."

"Tss! It's nothing, just promise me you will talk to your parents about it, okay?"

I nodded and smiled at him.

"Anyway, I have to go, just call me anytime you need help again."

"Thank you."

"Bye." He kissed me on the forehead before opening the door to the passenger side.

His car was parked a few meters away from mine and I waited for him to leave first before I started the engine.