One More Chance
Chapter 65: The Ending

~~~All the raindrops in the sky tonight can't compare with all the pain and tears I've cried. All the make-believe locked in this picture frame is gonna stay behind. I never had the strength to pack my bags and leave before, but now I'm done lying to myself when it's clear that you're not the one~~~ -Carrie Underwood-

I woke up the next morning with dizziness and a slight headache, but I tried to get up as I still have to ask Attorney Raymundo if when can I get the copy of the divorce papers. I need to sign it as early as possible and give it to Luke before the stupidity comes over to me and disrupts what I had planned... just like what almost happened last night.

I easily melted at his touch and gave in with his kisses and that shouldn't have happened if I had listened to my mom and Jack the first time they told me to file a divorce petition.

The love I have for him can't be washed and drained of alcohol in just one night. I know it will take some time to forget what happened, but I'm willing to take one step at a time. *Sam, if you will be brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new 'hello'*

I smiled remembering what Paul told me before he sent me home last night. He said he just read those lines in one of his favourite books.

I sighed.

I was about to go to the bathroom when my phone vibrated on top of my bedside table. I checked who the message was coming from and my breath hitched when I saw it came from our Lawyer.

**Ms Soriano, I just want to inform you that I'll be sending you the documents this morning. I asked my secretary to bring it to your house and she's on her way now. Have a good day.**

A weak smile curled up against my lips. 'Have a good day'. Yeah, I wish this would be a good day, smooth and flawless so I could start my plans and finally moved on from this misery. **Thanks, Mr Raymundo.** I replied.

After placing the phone back on the mini table, I went to the bathroom to do my morning routine. I spent almost 30 minutes in the shower room also thinking of the things I have to say to Luke. The things I have to say now before I regret one day for not telling him. I chose to wear a totally opposite type of clothing to what I used to wear... red spaghetti straps that show off a bit of my cleavage and white cotton short-shorts which show my white creamy legs. Yes, I am a wife and a mother but for the past four years, I have forgotten about myself. I forgot that I was also a woman, and that being a woman I also need to take care of myself. I gave up everything when I married him. I lost my confidence when he showed me I have no right to love and to be love. I have been lost and completely forgotten myself since day one that I realized how much I love him.

Wearing the confidence and courage I had gathered in the bathroom, I exited my room and went downstairs. I saw Elaine in the living room and greeted her, but she only gave me a sad smile as a response. She and Rory already knew about my decision and even though they understand it, they said they couldn't help but to feel sad with the outcome of our four years of marriage.

I told them about it yesterday and asked them to help me pack some of my things including those of Cali's as I will be the one to pack my personal things.

"If you're looking for your soon-to-be ex-husband, he's in the kitchen."

"He's in the kitchen, so you mean to say he didn't go to work?" I asked with a frown.

"Haist..." She sighed. "Honestly, I didn't ask him, Sam, I just cooked breakfast for him this morning. I didn't even bother to ask him why he wasn't wearing his suit or why he woke up late this morning."

"Ahh... yeah, maybe he's not going to the office today." I smiled, nodding. I don't want to know why he woke up late or if he really doesn't want to go to work.

I headed to the kitchen after talking to Elaine and there I found Luke, 'my soon to be ex-husband' sitting in his favorite chair which was at the end of the table, staring blankly at the pancakes on his plates.

I walked past him and went straight to the counter to get a coffee from the coffee maker. I felt his stares on my back as I prepared my breakfast and caught him in the act when I turned around. But instead of removing his eyes away from me, he kept looking at me until I pulled the chair next to him.

It has been a long time since we both seated and had breakfast together, so I think after four months, this is the first and last time that we are going to eat breakfast at the same time. "Samantha---" he started to talk but I cut him off.

"If you're going to ask where Cali is, mom picked her up yesterday and she will stay there while we're sorting things out between us." I was slicing the pancake on my plate while I was speaking, so by the time I finished, I shoved the first slice and moaned loudly as I closed my eyes.

I don't care if he's watching me at that moment because from that morning on, I'll be the Sam... the Sam he didn't give the chance to prove herself in front of him, the woman he never loved.

"You didn't tell me your mom picked her up and that she will stay there."

"It's because you didn't ask me and maybe I don't need to tell you everything I do, do I?" I replied, not looking at him but at my plate.

"But she's my daughter too!"

"Hmm... these pancakes are good."

But I didn't respond to what he said and continued to chew the delicious pancake on my mouth.

"Sam, about what you said last night---"

"Which one, the divorce papers?" This time I looked at him but found his eyes devoid of emotions.

"You were drunk last night."

"No." I shook my head. "I drank, but I wasn't drunk. Tipsy maybe, but I know what I said. I've already asked Mr Raymundo to make a copy of the divorce agreement and he sent me a message this morning that his secretary was already on her way to give me the documents."

His mouth hung open and he blinked repeatedly as he avoided my gaze. I don't know what his reactions mean, but I realized I was no longer at the stage in my life where every reaction he had was important to me, so I tried to study and memorize them all. "Why, are you surprised---or maybe you're really expecting this to happen, am I right?"

He turned to me, frowning but he kept his mouth silent.

"Yeah, for sure you're really expecting this to happen because you're not asking me why would I file for a divorce." I bitterly chuckled and then took the coffee in front of me. It's still hot but I tried to sip, no, I tried to drink even it burned my tongue and my throat. Because it's the only way to prevent the tears from forming around my eyes.

**Why is it so hard to say goodbye?**

"I wasn't thinking any of that."

"Really? Well, I don't believe you, Luke. I could still remember the day you told me you love this family, but never felt the same way for me. You never loved me."

I sighed, wearing the same expression I felt the day he told me those painful words.

"Sam..."

"Let's put an end to this misery. I know we will never go back to what we used to be three months---four months ago because as long as she's there, as long as she makes you smile, she makes you happy, as long as your world revolves around her, your life depended on her, as long as you love her, you won't see me. You will never notice me and what worse is that you will never learn to love me."

"You never talked to me about this."

I gulped, closing my eyes and formed my fists under the table. I have said a lot of things, but that's his only response.

"Like I said I don't have to tell you everything I do! And by the way, why should I talk to you? Did you talk to me before you decided to cheat and go back to her? Did you talk to me before you created a scene in the hotel and in the restaurant and before you hurt me? Did you talk to me? No, you didn't, so why should I talk to you about this decision? Actually, I'm already giving you the favor to get your freedom back. And after our divorce papers have already been granted by the court, you can finally marry her and be the husband you never did to me."

"Samantha..."

"Is that all you can say... Sam, Samantha?" I chuckled sarcastically. "Why? Did you suddenly lose your words?"

I shook my head before taking the glass of coffee and brought it to my mouth.

"I know from the very beginning what we had was just a one-sided relationship--- oops, no, I remembered we don't have any relationship except that I am the mother of your child. And I also know that you just forced yourself to stay with me just to cover up your feelings for her, your longings for her, so there's no reason for us to stay in the same roof and be called a family."

I stood up and was about to take my plate, but I stopped and looked at him.

"Can you just bring my plate and cup to the sink? You can also wash them if you want and don't worry, this would be the first and last time you'll do it for me."

But I was just taking a few steps when I felt him stand up.

"What about Cali, how are you going to explain everything to her?"

That made me stop and turned to him with a smile.

"Don't worry about her, she will understand it eventually. Well, I think you've forgotten that she's smart at her age to understand the word mistress and the truth that her father never loved her mother."

"W-What do you mean---"

"Yes, she already knows about it. And like I said, she's smart so I know that when I explain to her about what our situation will be in the next few days, she will understand. Maybe she will ask because she's still a child and it's normal for her age to ask the thing she couldn't easily understand, but eventually she will when the time comes."

But he just stared at me.